There seems to be a whole hot dang lot of small town romances out in the market these days. I can’t walk down the aisle at the bookstore or even in Target for that matter without seeing at least five different small town romances.
There’s the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr (which is at book 25 now?), the Fools Gold series by Susan Mallery, A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane, and well, you get the idea. I find that I’m over small town romances. Where once, I used to love the heck out of these small towns and the steamy romances that went with them, I can’t be bothered to get excited about them anymore.
I just finished reading and re-reading books like About that Night by Julie James and Some Like It Hot by Louisa Edwards and I find myself wanting to read more romances set in big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc…
I want the hustle and bustle of the downtown cities. I want the traffic and the smog, I want coffee shops on every corner and high rise apartments that you can’t find in small towns. I also want experienced heroines instead of virginal brides.
Any titles jumping out at you? Please share, I’m kind of in a reading rut and would like to get out of it asap!
What about you guys? Are you overdosing on something in romance? Share your thoughts with us.
I’m tired of the virgin heroines too. Unfortunately, I seem to be running across a lot of those lately.
I can’t think of any contemporary romances that are set in big cities right now except for Julie James’ books. What about Sophia Kinsella’s new book? I think that one might be set in a big city.
Oh! I agree, I think that everything is Small Town just now, and we need a balance of it all, between big city and small town so there is a variety and something for everyone
There are way too many historical romances out there for me!
You might want to try Anne Calhoun’s “Versed in Desire” set in NYC.
No, not overdosing, but the last romance I read just felt like a repeat of everything else out there. I don’t know, I’m thinking of laying off the romances for while. Sorry, apparently I’m not much help.
I love small town romances; don’t ever think I will get sick of them.
Also love the restaurant or food related books. Only read contemps and the occas western historical.
No paramanormal etc for me – like what I call a straight romance.
Patoct
I gave up on small town romances months ago when I found myself rooting for the hero and the heroine to move away. There’s just something claustrophobic about small towns, but that may be due to my being a city kid.
I’ve also had enough of dystopias, but that’s mostly in YA.
I think I am tired of not necessarily the small town book, but the on going series of books so many authors are doing. The stand alone books or big city books mention other characters but it isn’t about them in any way. I want me authors to spread their wings and try something outside that small town comfort!
@Samantha: I think I read Kinsella’s latest release and it was a great read. I adored it, the romance, everything. I’ve read all of James books as well, she can’t go wrong with me.
Its funny that I say that I’m tired of small town romance because I’m making a liar of myself since I just finished Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis and really, LOVE! I can’t wait to read the other books in that small town romance series…
Ugh.
@Alex: Yes, I’m all about an even balance of everything.
@Estella: I didn’t pick up on that until now, you’re totally right.
@Kaye: I’ve never read anything by Calhoun before. She’s going on my list, thanks for the heads up.
@Jenny Girl: Do you read any YA?
@Patoct: Sounds like we have a lot of reading things in common. I love foodie books and contemporaries. Am not a huge fan of paranormals, not anymore anyway.
@Sheree: Haha, there’s nothing wrong with big cities, is there? I’m all for heroes/heroines to move out of small town to big cities with corporate office jobs.
I hear you on the dystopian overload. With all of The Hunger Games hype going on, there seems to be loads of dystopians coming out of the woodwork. I’m going to pass on them, for the next little while anyway.
@Lana: Good point, I wouldn’t mind more standalones at all. =)