Romance Genre Challenge discussion

Here's a link to the Seattle Public Libary's post. There you'll find a link to a pdf version of the checklist.

Let's talk about it! How many do you want to read? What's your plan of attack? Any genres you're nervous about?

Edit: Google Doc link to the checklist (Thanks, Mireille!)

I want to READ THEM ALL!

I've read a lot of the romance genres over the past few years, but some of these will be new to me. As a bonus, this can help me clear out some of my to read books!

Jess commented on Twitter about the lack of category romances on this list and I am also surprised at the lack of motorcycle club romances. I guess I could fit some of those in the "other" slots.

We could always add genres!

In addition to the lack of category thing, I'm sort of wondering what they meant by "straight contemporary." Because while I agree with their contemporary subgenres, I'm not sure there's a ton left that's not covered in them. (Insert discussions about lack of city based romances here.) And really, are there that many Roman era historical romances? Because I'm not sure I've seen even one.

What's a category romance exactly?

And flapper romance, too! I think probably I'll have to read historical fiction with strong romantic elements for some of these categories. (And noooo idea on what I'll read for "straight romance." Maybe that's when I'll sneak in a category.)

Even some of these paranormal romance categories . . . well, I'm fairly confident they're out there, but outside of shifters and vampires, the examples that come to mind are more urban fantasy.

Mireille, hopefully Jess will come back with a fuller/better explanation, but it's generally used to describe the Harlequin lines. Each line has a specific tone to it and the books are pretty short.

Oh! And I know there's a military category, but there should so be a separate SEAL category.

This is a pretty good summary.

So, for instance, I've been binge reading Harlequin Presents titles for the past two years or so and the defining characteristics of that line might be exotic locations, billionaires, alpha heroes, and lots of virgins. (The heroines aren't all virgins, but there probably at least 60% are.) Those average about 200 pages per book. They've also got a line called Blaze, that's got more explicit sex. And then their SuperRomance line is contemporary romance dealing with more serious issues, that also are a little longer. Etc.

I like them a lot and if people want to read for tropes, categories are really the best place to find what you're looking for to scratch your itch, IMO. Because you know exactly what you're getting going in.

I see!!

I feel like there should be a "food" category for contemporary. There are a lot.

Would the FBI/Lawyer Julie James series work for Cop? I'm not big on cops...

Have you read any of that series? Because I'd actually put the first two (maybe three) in the romantic suspense category, subgenre FBI/CIA. The last two I'd put in straight contemporary.

No, didn't read it because I'm not a big fan of cops/murders/suspense. But I liked the book of hers I read, and you guys are such big fans!

I would call her light suspense, but for the first two, it's definitely an important part of the book. Read the first one and check off a suspense box then, I say. I will try to think of a cop book for you.

My brain didn't even register the romantic suspense, haha, like I always skip over those books in the books-on-sale posts. ;)

I feel like there should be a "food" category for contemporary. There are a lot.

I was thinking about this beeeeecause I'm reading a Laura Florand (The Chocolate Touch) and that's gotta be my straight contemporary, right? It doesn't seem to fit anywhere else.

Unless we do "other: food"? Do we do the "others"?

Haha, I was just writing that question elsewhere. What do you think? I sort of thinking either people don't need to complete it at all or people can choose whatever they want (er, that fits the overall category) for that one?

I think we could let people do whatever they want. Unless nobody has any idea, like for Inspirational. Or Other: other, haha.

Hahaha, I suppose Other: Other could be a novella, but, well, I will probably use novellas for some of these other categories. Unless that's cheating!

Def not cheating, I have to do that if I have a hope of catching up to you guys! ;)

I am almost certainly choosing books at random for inspies. What does my library have in? SOLD.

My mom read inspies, so I'll have to remember which ones she told me to read!

The one I read about the Chicago fire was pretty decent so I will probably try that author again. I don't think she writes Amish though.

I will probably read The Choice for Amish 'cause it's on my Kindle. (It was and IS free!)

Drenched in Light and Candle in the Darkness (free!) are mom recs. Her favorite is probably Dee Henderson, but I didn't like the one of hers I tried (years ago). Those are all non-Amish.

Amish, she likes Beth Wiseman. And Steph might have recs. Cooooome to us, Steph!

Okay, so INTERESTING. I want to play! Not sure how long it will take me, but I saved the checklist and am going to start mapping out what I can read for each genre/category.

Yay, Grace!

Oh, thank you, Katie! I will check those out. BUT YES. We need Steph.

GRACE, YOU'RE HERE!!!!

I invited Steph! Maybe she just hates us.

No no no. I'm here! Sorry, I just logged on and saw the invite. Yes, I have inspirational recs Jess. At work right now so I can't check but I will throw a few up later tonight (do you want Amish too or just inspirational? 'Cuz I would put those in different categories)

Also is there an end date for this? I'm going to try and read as much as I can but it might take me awhile.

No, I want both. The thing we're using has Inspirational as a category, with Christian and Amish as subcategories, which I think sort of makes sense?

I think we said October 1???

*giggle* No, I figured you were just busy. Recs for both would be great! This list actually breaks it down into "Amish" and "regular Christian," so, please give us all the "regular" Christian recs! :D

Mireille and I said October 1, but it can certainly be modified.

I just saw the official rule page and October 1st works perfect for me. Whew. And ok cool, I'll look through my stuff at home for ones I liked for you.

So I've been looking for a historical cowboy romance . . . turns out that's in the contemporary category! Reading historical would probably be cheating just a bit too much. :P

There's a historical cowboy too! :D

What does one suggest reading for the historical cowboy category?

I'm planning on Golden Chances: Romance from the Heart of America.

Hahahahaha I love how that book's description ends with "and together they discover love. Original." Sassy, goodreads!

The PDF annoyed me so I made this: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e...

Feel free to duplicate or copy-paste it for your needs! :D

(I AM INTO THIS IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL)

AW YES, GOOD.

I like that Mireille. Using it! Thanks.

yes, thank you!!

Oooh, thank you!! I'm definitely using that!!

You're very welcome ;)

Thanks again for the list, Mireille! I added links to it everywhere. :D

Witches and Sorcerers are pretty much the same thing, right?

Yeah, I'd consider them about the same, really. Especially since there isn't any other "magic user" category.

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!

I know!!!! I love it too! :D

What do we define as "pets and vets"? Jennifer Crusie's books often have very prominent pets, but there's usually no vet...

Do you want a specific recommendation?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

There are definitely lots of books out there with vets as the hero, but Crusie's are pretty pet=prominent.

I know that's not an answer . . . go with your concience? :P

Here is another vet one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

And yeah, I say go with whatever you want.