An Ode to the Romance Paperback
I opine about the tradition of creased and inherited romance novels!
Hi friends!
Here’s something you may not know about me. I was once in a cult. Well okay not really a cult but a very intense theatre society - which is sort of the same thing. During college, I was a (mostly) proud member of the Wellesley College Shakespeare Society. Even then, I had very complicated feelings about The Bard but the society was a community where I loved performing, socializing, and gossiping - after all there’s no drama quite like theatre drama.
The society was housed in this really gorgeous Tudor style-house (see below) which is its own story. But inside the house was this mysterious trunk. No one knew how it got there. And no one could explain what was inside it - hundreds of mass market paperback romance novels. Specifically historical romance novels. 1
For the four years I was in the society, I thought about that trunk constantly. I was desperate to know its history. I thought someone clearly loved those books enough to collect them but not enough to take them along once they graduated. But almost four years after I myself graduated, I believe my original interpretation is all wrong. I think those romance novels were left there on purpose - for the next generation to discover. Because that’s the tradition of historical romance readers.
For generations, people ( women primarily) have devoured these stories whole and then passed them on - to a used bookstore, to the library, to a goodwill. And maybe a few days later or even a few decades later, some curious teen will see a cover of two thirsty people clutching each other and take it home. And the universe will exhale - finally. Because a new romance reader has been born.
Now am I waxing poetic? Maybe! It was certainly my romance reading origin story - I picked up some mass market romance paperbacks when I was far too young to be reading them and was immediately hooked. But I also think there’s a lot of truth there.
This whole essay is inspired by a post I made on bookstagram a few weeks ago (@bookishyani - shameless plug). I was at the library absolutely tearing through the paperback section and picking up more historical romance novels than I could possibly carry home when I noticed that all the spines were creased. I’m no book structural engineer but I know that those creases don’t happen after just one or two reads. It means that person after person poured over those books - held them close to their hearts, swooned or maybe even gagged a little (romance can be be a little icky too - especially if written before 2000. there’s some real dubious consent and misogny going on).
Those romance paperbacks are well loved - they’ve passed from hand to hand. Each previous reader a mystery to the next. Or perhaps not. Some people inherit entire romance collections from grandmothers and mothers.2 Regardless, I think it’s so beautiful that we all choose to participate in this shared tradition. One that has stood the test of time and derision. I’m honored to be a part of that legacy. And as I wrote in that instagram post, as long as there’s authors writing stories about two idiots in love, I’ll be greedily gobbling them up.
And of course this wouldn’t be an edition of Kalyani’s Korner without some book recommendations. So I’ve rounded up some of my favorite historical romances for your reading pleasure.3 Not all of these were read in paperback (though that is clearly my preferred form) but my hope is that at least one of them brings you joy. And I’ve linked to my Goodreads reviews if available.
As always, if you read something I recommend, my only request is that you come tell me how you felt about it! Happy happy reading.
Historical Romance Recommendations <3
An incomplete list but here’s some titles to get started with!
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
(the best in the bridgerton series tbh)
After Dark With the Duke by Julie Ann Long
(one of the only big age-gap romance that’s worked for me. so slow burn)
It Started with A Scandal by Julie Ann Long
(perfect for anyone who likes romance novels that deal with class differences.)
Last Night’s Scandal by Loretta Chase
(childhood friends to lovers - frustrated and chaotic edition)
Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston
(you won’t believe how this Fail Man becomes a Doting Father but somehow Langston makes it work)
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
(Courtney Milan is the only author who could make me believe in instalove)
The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan (I love most entries in the Brothers Sinister series but this was my first and maybe my favorite?)
(scientist gf x secretly yearning rake bf)
A Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
(matthew swift the man that you are)
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
(charm out the wazoo!! plus golden retriever Highway robber x black cat aristocrat)
The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath
(oh no man taken down by competent woman he’s charged to find him a wife)
The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
(a romance novel at least partially set in India? not as likely as you think)
Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
(mafia romance but make it historical??)
The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin
(a courtesan and a constable team up for an angsty love story - one of the few historical romances set in Asia to my knowledge)
Historical Wild Cards.
I didn’t love these books but they’re a) well loved by others and b) so bonkers you might love them.
At Your Pleasure by Meredith Duran
(the first part of this novel was five stars…they were in love as kids but then tragedy!!)
A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
(she’s a widow who needs an heir urgently and for noble reason and he’s the bored rogue willing to do it. but it’s strictly business like seriously no romance until loooooong after they start having sex)
The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath (the infamous gorilla twins romance novel. iykyk)
(the mmc’s identical twin dies after getting crushed by a gorilla (no i am not making this up) but his wife is pregnant so he pretends to be his twin?? so much to unpack )
Thats all for now! As always, you can tune into more of my book ramblings on my bookstagram (@bookishyani)
Catch you next chapter,
Kalyani
Now I don’t actually have a picture of the books in the trunk. I know I can’t believe it never occurred to me to take a picture. But I promise it was real. And I’ve reached out to other members of the society who can hopefully send me a picture! Who knows maybe someone will even have an explanation of where the books came from.
After I posted on instagram, I heard from Sarah T. Dubbs who is author of Birding With Benefits - another romance novel coming out in 2024. I reviewed it earlier this year for NPR . Dubbs wrote this really beautiful essay about her mother the romance reader. I think it’s worth a read.
I would love to have more diversity on my historical romance TBR !! If you’ve got recommendations of historical romances by authors of color - specifically those set in non-European settings, I would love to hear from you.
Hahahahha the gorilla twins book hates to see me coming. 🤣