This request comes from Grace. Thanks, Grace!

I have a weirdly specific rec request. I guess you could just call it mail order brides, but more specifically: Sarah Plain & Tall vibes?

I’ve been re-watching the Sarah Plain & Tall movies with my grandma lately. I’ve loved the book & movies all my life and they were VERY formative in becoming a romance addict, but being from the kids’ POV, we only see an outside view of the adults’ developing relationship.

I’ve always wished for a grown-up behind-the-scenes version of it, focusing more on the relationship building and feeling each other out, growing affection (and sexual tension), overcoming (emotional) obstacles, that you know must have been happening but don’t see.

So I’m looking for romances with similar vibes: mail-order brides, probably – precocious kids, trial period, and still-grieving widow(er) status optional – and more focused on the characters and emotional development than outside conflict. Don’t need too much action, danger, evil villains, etc – some is okay, but I mostly love character growth and gradual building of affection and intimacy, which is hard to find done well.

I’ve read and really liked several Beverly Jenkins books, but otherwise have NO idea where to start with westerns. Some are very action/adventure, older ones often don’t hold up well, and it seems half of the recent ones I look at turn out to also be in the Christian romance category, and it’s hard to tell if they just mean there’s no sex (not a dealbreaker) or overtly religious (not my thing).

I’d love some recs of books or authors that might satisfy my longtime itch for Sarah Plain & Tall vibes but more focused on the romance!

Sarah: Beverly Jenkins is a great choice, for sure. She does mail-order/marriage of convenience stories very well

With the caveat that it has been a long time since I’ve read some of these, so I’m not 100% sure if they fit the brief (please correct me if I’m wrong on any of these!)”

In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman

The Admiral’s Penniless Bride by Cara Kelly ( A | K | G | AB )

Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath

Duncan’s Bride by Linda Howard ( A | BN | K ) might work, but I recommend with caution because Howard’s books don’t usually work for me.

Julie Garwood has written a few arranged marriages, but her heroines are VERY plucky and usually not plain.

Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry ( A | BN | K )

Also, way back in 2017, we did a Rec League for mail order historicals that weren’t overtly religious, so this list should pair very well as an update to that one!

Claudia: LaVyrle Spencer also has a few, in Morning Glory ( A | BN | K ) the female main character places an ad for a husband (and helper, she’s a widow with kids during WWII)

Kiki: I really liked Julianne MacLean’s Prairie Bride—( A | BN ) mail order bride from the city meets farmer who has lost all his family and been spurned before, very focused on them learning to work together. Also it has one of the coolest settings I’ve ever come across in a romance. They live in a sod house that’s dug partially into the ground!!

I’m seconding LaVyrle Spencer, with the note that her books are 30ish years old so maybe read her Westerns with care!

Also kind of Western adjacent (similar vibes to a western but they take place in Fredonia, NY which is west of some places but is certainly not The West) is Wendy Lindstrom’s Grayson Family series. I think they did gradual emotional development suuuuper well, especially the second and fourth ones: Shades of Honor and Lips That Touch Mine. ( A ) And of course I always love some Upstate/Western NY representation.

[note: they also have closed door versions with different titles which is a weird and annoying concept to me but whatever]

Amanda: Maybe Rebel Carter? I think someone read these?

Kiki: Yes! Rebel Carter always as a Western recommendation. Not all of those books have worked as well for me, I think sometimes they don’t take the time needed for the emotional development, but absolutely worth trying out!

Are there any mail-order bride romances that give Sarah, Plain & Tall vibes? Tell us in the comments!

This Rec League is from Elizabeth. Thanks so much!

After reading this one and The Worst Guy (also reviewed on the site, also hilarious!), I discovered I have a thing for romance novels about villains, or at least jerks who find happiness with other jerks. I wonder if there is a whole genre of those.

Amanda: We have a Villains Redeemed Rec League, but I definitely want to focus on the jerks 4 jerks part of the request because that’s super interesting! We haven’t done that one before.

Sarah: This one really stumped me. The villainous or mildly jerky characters I can think of usually end up with people who provide redemption or at least a morality chain arrangement.

Amanda: Laura Hankin’s One-Star Romance has some jerkish characters. I didn’t love it but

Sarah: Oh! Hang on. The one with the carapace guy. The Auditor is the heroine. But not really a romance. Very mild pants feelings IIRC.

Hench!

That’s the one. Good job brain

But not quite a fit for the request. I wonder if most of the suggestions will be for secondary characters. It might be easier for two secondary characters to be terrible jerks who find each other.

There is often an expectation of likeability or reader approval for main characters especially heroines.

Amanda: I think Lothaire ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Scribd ) could maybe fit? Lothaire is definitely a jerk. I wouldn’t say Ellie is a jerk per se but she has a snarky streak.

Elyse: Pretty much everything Holly Renee has written but for sure The Touch of a Villain ( A )

Master of Salt & Bones (but beware this book is all kinds of f’d up)

Shana: Not Here to Make Friends! ( A | BN | K ) And maybe Assistant to the Villain? ( A | BN | K ) Because Evie does start to like the idea of torture.

Elyse: Any of the VE Schwab books work? ( A | BN | K | AB )

Which books would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

This Rec League request is from Kir in our SBTB Patreon Discord:

Can anyone recommend any books where the main characters solve a theft please? As opposed to solving a murder, or books that follow the thieves doing the heist. Can be mystery/romance/any genre, but bonus points if it’s in a secondary world.

Lara: I haven’t finished it yet but The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson ( A | BN | K ) seems to focus on a theft only.

Sarah: There are many books across subgenres with one character being a thief, a con artist, or a protégé of one, the other, or both, but that’s not what the asker is seeking, really. That said, if half the duo is seeking a thief (that might be the other person) Hot Pursuit by Kay Marie, ( A | BN ) has a daughter of a famous art thief, and an FBI agent.

Suzanne Enoch had a whole series about a thief, as well. Samantha something. Found it – Flirting with Danger. ( A | BN | K ) Samantha Jellicoe. But did my brain say “The one with the yellow tights?” Yes, yes it did.

The cover illustration has a model with hands and legs the same color as the Android ball of goo emoji.

Susan Sey also wrote procedural contemporaries, with thieves and law enforcement. Money, Honey ( A | BN | K ) was the first one. I haven’t read Sey but I remember folks talking about her books very positively.

Do you have any recommendations? Drop them in the comments!

This Rec League comes from Anna. Thanks, Anna!

This might be a long shot, but I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts the other day and enjoying the banter between one of the hosts and the producer, and it made me think of how many fun dynamics there are in that scene. Are there any romance novels set in the podcasting industry? The closest thing I can think of is The Ex Talk, which I loved, though that’s public radio rather than podcasts. I guess the question can be expanded to romances set in creative, collaboration-heavy workplaces in general. Thank you so much!

Sarah: Radio makes me think of Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie, ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) which is about late night radio (the great grandparent of podcasting).

Amanda: I know there are a couple where the heroine runs a podcast, but not both characters.

Those would be Royals Next Door by Karina Halle ( A | BN | K ) and What If You & Me by Roni Loren ( A | BN | K | AB ).

Elyse: Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell ( A ), the heroine has a podcast.

Do you have any recommendations? Let us know in the comments!

This Rec League comes from Cyndy. Thanks, Cyndy!

I love suspense/thriller romances but have gotten pretty disillusioned with the military and police for all the reasons you’d might expect. I’ve gotten by with some books about ex military groups or non government entities and I can apparently suspend my disbelief enough in those circumstances to have a good time (think Adriana Anders’s Survival Instincts series, which I LOVE).

I’d appreciate if there are recs along this line, or perhaps other books that might scratch the same itch (teams working together against a common enemy, tension from being pursued by a “bad guy,” high level of competence from both leads).

Sarah: Ok so hear me out: a lot of mid 2000s paranormal will be this exact thing: romantic suspense, likely with shifters, but no cops or government bureaucracy.

But that isn’t exactly what this request is seeking.

Pamela Clare’s I-Team series would qualify. Journalists and activists, surely but not police unless my memory is faulty (and it often is)

Some Nora Roberts suspense novels do not feature cops – especially the earlier ones like Honest Illusions. ( A | K | G | AB )

Amanda: I thought I-Team has government and politics.

Sarah: And Katie Ruggle’s Search and Rescue series would definitely work.

It has some government but not law enforcement to my recollection.

Elyse: Bodyguard romance maybe? But I’m drawing a blank.

Sneezy: If it’s okay for police to be Background man 1 and 2, the webtoon My Second Husband might fit the bill. Although one of the leads was/becomes a judge, that’s not part of the story because it’s a time regression story and all the action takes place during the leads’ uni days.

Only Hope is similar, and also has time regression elements.

My Second Husband is complete, while Only Hope’s translation of the second season is just coming out. I wouldn’t wait for Only Hope to finish though, because Line Webtoon puts completed stories behind Daily Pass, where you only get one free chapter per day if you don’t want to buy them and sometimes makes the final chapters of a series pay only. It really adds up for longer series, and Only Hope is already over 50 chapters! Even if you don’t mind the cost, you might be like me and find starting a webtoon with 100+ chapters intimidating.

I think Only Hope does a better job with the romance parts of the story, but both are stressful in the way of suspense stories and has competent leads

Shana: I haven’t read it, but what about Iron and Velvet by Alexis Hall? It’s about a queer private investigator.

Also, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer ( A | BN | K )

Sarah: Was it Katherine Center who wrote the female bodyguard romance? It’s pink and peach on the cover…along with 6,823,725 other covers I know

Amanda: The Bodyguard lol ( A | BN | K | AB )

That one wasn’t too suspenseful if I remember correctly.

Which books would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

This Rec League request comes from Arden. Thanks, Arden!

Bitchery, I want to get into monster romance and I don’t know where to start! I want quality writing along with blush-inducing smut. Non-con is a no-go for me.

What do you suggest?

Sarah:  Railed by the Krampus ( A )

A Lady of Rooksgrave Hall 1000000%. And the sequel, The Company of Fiends ( A )

All of CM Nacosta for sure: Morning Glory Milking Farm ( A )

The Dragon’s Bride and sequels by Katee Robert ( A )

Deceived by the Gargoyles ( A | BN )

How do I know so many titles?

Amanda: Especially since this isn’t usually your thing lol

Sarah: This is not my lane but I know ALL the cars on the road over there.

Which monster romances would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

This Rec League request comes from Varian in the SBTB PatreonDiscord. Their request:

I’d like some romances without an act 3 breakup.

Amanda: Note that I guess this could mean spoilers for certain books, so FYI before reading further.

Sarah: Courtney Milan doesn’t like 3rd act breakups.

Shana: I love those books so I can’t wait to see what the Bitchery comes up with for this one. Ana Maria and the Fox doesn’t have a 3rd act breakup. The characters are briefly apart, but not by choice. Never Cross a Highlander has the same thing.

Courtney Milan’s The Duke Who Didn’t is truly Act 3 breakup/kidnap/separation free. And a delight. In fact, I may need to reread it soon. sarah

Sarah: Thought of one! Something Wilder ( A | BN | K | AB )

Oh – and a LOT of Nalini Singh’s contemporaries have problems with external influences or boundaries, but not 3rd act upsets.

The Flatshare! They work together to solve a bunch of big problems (CW/TW for intimate partner violence) but they don’t fracture really.

What romances would you recommend? Let us know!

This Rec League comes from our SBTB Patreon Discord, from user LyricLorelei:

Does anyone have any good time loop story recs? Or things with showing multiple options/versions of life choices?

Amanda: There were a bunch of great recs in the Discord, but I thought opening it up to the larger community would be even better.

We had a Rec League on Dual Timelines that may have some overlap here.

Elyse:  Yes! The Darkness Outside Us ( A | BN | K )

It’s m/m sci-fi romance and I ugly cried

Shana: Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron is basically a retelling of the Keanu Reeves movie The Lake House, but there are at a few time loops as she keeps trying to reset the past.

Sarah: This may be not quite what this person is after, but The Last Daughter of York ( A | BN | K ) has a time slip and the plot does circle somewhat (trying not to be spoilery).

Time slip, where characters move back and forth between time periods (Nicola Cornick, Susanna Kearsley) aren’t quite the same thing as time loops.

This is How You Lose the Time War ( A | BN | K | G | AB )

A Knight in Shining Armor ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) is probably one of the most famous.

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon ( A | BN | K | AB ) – that has a character stuck in a one-day repeat

Sneezy: Through a Dark Glass by Barb Hendee ( A | BN | K | G | AB )

Elyse: Outlander, obvs. ( A | K | G | AB | Au )

What books would you recommend? Let us know!

This Rec League request was sent in by Wait, What? (Great name!)

I was hoping to have a “rec league” post for books featuring a demon as a main character/love interest. I recently read the Demon Codex books by Annette Marie, and really enjoyed them. I especially liked how Zylas, the MMC/demon, was written. For reference, I don’t like grimdark books, BDSM is so not my jam, and I am not interested in vampires.

Sarah: Sarah Hawley’s books!

Lara: That’s who I rec too! Not the best books but definitely demons!

Amanda: Sadly the demon romances I’d recommend feature worlds that heavily include vampires like Immortals After Dark and Larissa Ione’s demon hospital books.

Sarah: The Kimberly Lemming books work as well (I think I may have said that already).

There is another series and I am blanking on the name, but there are a bunch of demons who have come to destroy a small town because it’s impervious to their influence. The town turns out to be guarded by three witches (one owns a knitting shop) and instead of showdowns on mainstreet they have sexy times in other locations.

Amanda: I remember Sarah talking about those books on a podcast episode. Can we HaBO?

What demon romances would you recommend? Let us know!

Hi, all! This Rec League is for me! During the RT Rewind series we’ve been doing, I mentioned to Sarah that I’ve never read a category romance. I’d love some recommendations that fit along my reading tastes, though we did do a Recommend Category Romance Rec League a few years ago.

In terms of my reading tastes, I prefer sexy contemporaries and historicals, paranormal romances, and anything with fantasy elements (though I don’t think Harlequin has any fantasy romance lines). No romantic suspense or secret babies please!

I don’t often gravitate toward second chance or friends to lovers romances.

I also some authors write a lot, so if it’s easier to give me author suggestions rather than specific titles, I’ll take those too!

This Rec League came from Kirsty. Thanks, Kirsty!

Ace-spectrum and or aro-spectrum fiction (both romance and non-romance) is fine. Bonus points for characters exploring/still trying understand their a-romanticism/sexuality.

Shana: One of my favorite authors for ace romance is Claire Kann. I’m reading The Romantic Agenda ( A | BN | K | AB ) right now, and I love it! Most of her asexual characters start the book with an understanding of their sexuality though, and the plot is more about them finding a good partner and learning how to navigate differences in sexual orientation in a relationship.

Sarah: Amanda, what was the one with the gamer? I can NEVER remember the title.

Amanda: Play It Again by Aidan Wayne

What books would you recommend? Load up those comments!

This Rec League request comes from Briney in the SBTB Patreon Discord:

I just finished another book where the male main character was ripped and I’m tired of this being the model for male leads. Give me the dad bods, the bears, the beefy guys. What books should I read for that?

Amanda: Our discord recommended: Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade, Role Playing by Cathy Yardley ( A | BN ), and Rhythm by Marie Lipscomb ( A | BN | K )

Sarah: One of Rebekah Weatherspoon’s – Xeni? I think? had a large hero.

Shana: Honey and Pepper is a historical m/m with a chubby hero. ( A | BN | K ) The Stand-up Groomsman by Jackie Lau. Role Model by Rachel Reid has a chubby hero.

I feel like the hero in The Lady’s Champion by Marie Lipscomb fits but I’m having trouble remembering. I have COVID again so not operating at 100%.

The House in the Cerulean Sea. Although very fatphobic language is used to describe his body.

Amanda: I also believed we had some in the comments in the Rec League for Plus Size Heroines.

What books would you recommend? Let us know!

This Rec League request came from JoVE on our SBTB Patreon Discord:

I’m staying with friends. Their daughter (17) would like to avoid all sexual violence in books, including consent violations. I figured people here would understand what that means (their experience is people define sexual violence too narrowly). I know she likes fantasy but possibly other stuff. Any suggestions?

Elyse: Legends and Lattes. The sequel comes out next month I believe.

If she’s looking for contemporary The Cane Brothers series by Meghan Quinn. ( A )

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson ( A | BN | K )

I’m thinking Jackie Lau is pretty safe to recommend?

Sneezy: Ya, Jackie Lau is super safe for that

Plus there’s all that wonderful food.

Sarah: Murderbot, obvs! ( A | BN | K | AB )

Shana: I can’t think of any fantasy books with zero consent violations but I always recommend Cathy Yardley’s Fandom Hearts ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) for excellent consent

Which books would you recommend? Let us know below!

This Rec League came from Meg in our SBTB Patreon Discord server. Thanks, Meg!

Do you have recommendations for books based on or inspired by Shakespeare plays? I recently read Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese, which is inspired by Much Ado About Nothing (my favorite play) and it made me want more! Shakespeare’s comedies end in marriage, so they seem like good candidates to be adapted into romance novels.

Sarah: Ramón and Julieta!

Amanda: Eva Devon’s Much Ado About Dukes. It’s the second in a series and they’re all literary-inspired.

Sarah: Nisha Sharma’s two newest. Tastes Like Shakkar ( A | BN | K ) is a Much Ado About Nothing retelling.

Oh there’s a Mary Stewart – This Rough Magic ( A | BN | K ) is the Tempest. And the early Eloisa James novels I believe too – her first few were retellings, weren’t they?

Amanda: She has some fairy tale ones but not sure about Shakespeare

Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights ( A | BN | K | AB ) is inspired by Romeo and Juliet (so not a comedy) but it’s a new adult romance set in a magical 1920s Shanghai and the main characters are the heirs to rival crime families.

Kiki: Ten Things I Hate About The Duke by Loretta Chase is a Taming of the Shrew retelling and one of my favorite romances of all time

Elyse: The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin

Amanda: Oh that’s right, she did For Love of the Bard! ( A | BN | K )

Which books would you recommend? Tell us in the comments!

This Rec League comes from Sarahjane:

Was listening to (and loving, as usual) the latest podcast and have a bit of a Rec League request. I’d love to find more books that have a plot of “We main characters find ourselves on the fringes of spooky/mysterious/magical/alien shenanigans and must solve the mystery (or defeat the aliens or banish the ghosts, etc.) One of my big favorites is KJ Charles’ Magpie Lord series. I especially love queer romances (of any orientation).

Sarah: The Allie Therin series with the silhouette covers! Look at my partially booted up brain doing things.

The Magic in Manhattan series, first book is Spellbound. ( A | BN | K | G | AB )

Elyse: Early Simone St. James

Her historical were delightfully spooky. Her contemporaries are darker.

Susan: Okay, this is my wheelhouse. Widdershins by Jordan L Hawk is pulpy cosmic horror – I agree with all of the points that Carrie made about it in her review, but it’s still a comfort read for me. Plus, the Whyborne and Griffin series crosses over with one of KJ Charles’ series!

Also I assume that this requester has read KJ Charles’ Spectred Isle, ( A ) but if not: that is one of my favourites by her!

The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window has a man who really wishes he couldn’t see all of these ghosts start working for a man who solves hauntings. It’s kinda like xxxholic in its premise, except that instead of solving problems with magic, karma, or a baseball bat, the protagonists here solve them by uhhhhhh touching each other’s souls in a very horny manner.

What books would you recommend? Tell us in the comments!

This Rec League is from Clare. Thanks, Clare!

So I’m reading another shifter fated mates book and the heroine is all up in arms again that fate is dictating to her. Are there any books with dated mates where a protagonist is just like, oh thank goodness I don’t have to think or wonder or stress, this is just my person and now I don’t have to date anymore? Like, as a person with anxiety, fated mates sounds pretty ideal and where are the people leaning in to it?

Shana: I feel like there’s one or two Ice Planet Barbarian books where no one is mad.

Barbarian’s Choice ( A ) seems the closest? It’s one of the few in the series where both of the main characters are aliens.

L. Starfyre’s Klaxian Cyborgs’ Mates series ( A ) has heroines who choose to be part of a polyamorous setup to find their fated mates. I didn’t love the disability rep in the first book, but it was nice to have minimal conflict in the pairings.

Sarah: I’m pretty surprised that I haven’t read a book that fits this ask. I need to go lie down.

Do you have any recommendations for this request? Let us know!

This Rec League request comes from Rose. Thanks, Rose!

I’m looking for a romance series that contains a mystery of some sort that spans the length of the series, i.e. is introduced in the first book in the series, clues and whatnot (say, murder) happen and are given throughout the books in the series, and then it is solved in the last book of the series. BUT, I want the heroine/hero to be different in each book of the series, so that each book is it’s own contained romance with a HEA rather than a slow burn single hero/heroine romance that spans the series and mystery. I can find those easily.

I prefer historicals and know Sabrina Jeffries is currently writing one of these, but it’s a bit lackluster and the series isn’t finished. I’m looking for something that I can binge read, so a completed series would be ideal. I also love m/m romances, so those would be great, and am feeling desperate, so will take contemporary or pretty much anything at this point.

Sarah: The Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt and Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) would qualify.

OH – Erica Ridley’s Wild Wynchester series ( A | BN | K | AB ) should also fit this request, though there are individual heists and cases in each book.

Shana: KJ Charles has a trilogy like this. Sins of the Cities. ( A | BN | K | AB ) Parts of the mystery are solved in each book but I seem to remember that the final resolution doesn’t happen until book 3. However the third book has a nb/m pairing and I recall mixed reviews of the trans rep.

Which series would you recommend? Let us know!

This Rec League request comes from Claire. Thanks, Claire!

I’m looking for a GOOD magical academy/other paranormal school romance. Preferably, but not necessarily, poly. I enjoyed the Cimmerian Cage by Cate Corvin but I felt like it was kind of rushed and I wanted a little more Sarah J. Maas-style SUFFERING before she began to find her power. Also, Corvin set up a *delicious* dynamic with the professor of Discipline but then they only had like two kinky interactions and after that it was just banging. The other magical academy stuff I’ve looked at frankly hasn’t been very good– I’m looking for well-developed characters, not just bland badasses or Mary Sues. I really don’t enjoy bully romances or ones where the heroes are just straight up awful (hence Zodiac Academy not working). Also, quality prose would be nice. Doesn’t have to be fancy just evocative and well-proofread.

To sum up: magical academy please. Good writing. I love a romance with a professor. I love a kinky professor. I love a slow burn or a drawn-out, torture-the-reader journey to *sexy world domination*. I much prefer adult or New Adult rather than young adult (no high schools please) and I would like it to be sexy even if there is limited boinking. I know this is a lot but if you have anything that fits just a few of those, I would be delighted!

Sarah: On behalf of our departed friend Catherine I want to suggest the Celia Lake books. She LOVED the series and it’s both slow burn and also teachers at a magic school.

There’s a guide to the world building as well.

Then there’s the Magic University series by Cecilia Tan. The magic is sex magic. So it’s v. sexy.

The first one is The Siren and the Sword ( A | BN | K | AB ).

A bit of a toughie! Got any recommendations?

This Rec League comes from Will. Thanks, Will!

I’m looking for a recommendation of a queer romance novel (ideally f/f or m/m or trans) with great side characters. I’d love a book with the feeling that the side characters have their own lives and their own stories. Bonus points if they don’t ship the main couple, get bored when the main character talks about their love life or are so occupied with their own problems they don’t let the mc get a word in edgewise. Quirky or deeply strange side characters are also good.

Sarah: The first series that pops in my mind is Queers of La Vista by Kris Ripper. If I recall, there’s a lovely evolving group of friends in the five books.

Lumberjanes for sure sure because camp!

Julian Winters’ books would definitely work, especially Summer of Everything and Running with Lions.

Elyse: Miffy and Alex in Boyfriend Material although their part is small, it’s hilarious

Sarah: Oh the superhero series that Carrie liked.

Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee!

Lara: I absolutely adored the side characters in Cat Sebastian’s London Highwaymen series. Read them close together though because they’re deeply interwoven.

Sarah: Yes! That’s a great rec.

And a lot of KJ Charles’ books involve friends, family, and characters who try to manage the others in loving ways

Tara: One Last Stop‘s side character game is really strong, although some people had mixed feelings about how much the found family was doing for the lead.

Off Limits by Vanessa North ( A | BN | K ) is another great one, especially since one of the leads is in a band. Anything by Robin Alexander tends to have hilarious side characters. I would start with Just Jorie or Always Alex, especially if you love sassy grandmothers.

Melissa Brayden also has a couple of series I enjoyed that have groups of friends who find love. One of them starts with the book Kiss the Girl and the other with Eyes Like Those, both of which are among my favourites of hers.

Shana: I know I keep recommending For Her Consideration ( A | BN | K ) for every rec league, but I just love it so much! The main character has a group of queer LA friends who are loving but totally willing to call her out, and they all have their own life stuff. But the most scene stealing character is probably her extra fabulous elderly aunt.

I think a Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall has exceptionally hilarious and memorable side characters. I loved the heroine’s sister in law and her feminist group of friends.

And in How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole the heroines spend the middle of the book on a cargo ship filled with memorable misfits. I remember wanting all of them to have their own book.

Which books would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!