The thing I love about romance novels
(other than the sexy bits and swoon-worthy HEAs, of course) is the VARIETY.
Seriously, there is a romance novel for all tastes.
Like your romance hot and heavy? Erotic
romance has you covered. Want something with a sprinkle of faith? Read an
inspirational romance. Don’t care for regular guys? Try paranormal.
Even within the subgenres there a massive
choice of styles, voices and tropes. Billionaires (because millionaires are so
2014) and marriages of convenience, cowboys and secret babies, amnesia
(pregnesia!), wrong bed, sleeping with the boss…if you like it, there’s a
romance novel out there for you.
Today I’m going to share one of my personal
favorites: friends to lovers.
There are so many reasons why I love this
trope, I guess part of it is that is seems so plausible. How many people fall
for their friends? It happens all the time.
Of course, friends to lovers stories can be
mixed in with other tropes as well—what if that friend was a rock star? Or was
the brother of the heroine’s ex-boyfriend? Yep, see what I mean. Variety!
Here are a few wonderful stories that you
should definitely check out if you’re a friend to lovers fan as well:
This is a really cute story that mixes the
friends to lovers trope with a fake engagement. Wes and Dani have been BFFs
since college but a single awkward kiss gone wrong has put them off ever trying
to take their relationship further. When Wes’s sister announces her plans to
appoint none other than the ex who left him high and dry a few years ago as her
bridesmaid, he decides there’s no way he wants to face that alone. so he calls in reinforcements from his friend,
Dani.
It wouldn’t be a recommendation list
without a Sarah Mayberry book. This is another friends to lovers mixed with a
fake engagement, but there’s also a whole lot of unrequited love. *swoon*
At the annual Valentine’s Ball Andie allows
herself a moment of sheer fantasy to fill out an entry form for the Great
Wedding Giveaway. Andie channels years of fantasy and yearning for Heath
McGregor onto the page, but she never intends to actually enter the Giveaway.
Afterall, they’re not engaged. The form, however, finds its way to into the
hands of the judges and shenanigans ensue.
Get
yourself a bottle of water – Rule of Three
by Kelly Jamieson
Friends to lovers works equally well in erotic
romance. Here you’ve got friends to lovers with a ménage twist. They totally
had me at the tag line: Kassidy is a good
girl who wants to be bad. Dag is a bad boy who is very, very good. And Chris?
He likes to watch…
This story is filled with lots of steamy
scenes but also had real heart and emotion at the core of it. If you can get past the fact that they have a
character named Dag (which means something very
unappealing in Australia) then this read is a lot of fun.
Are you a fan of the friends to lover’s
trope? Tell me your recommendations below.
HI Stef! Friends to Lovers is one of my fav tropes too!
ReplyDeleteSarah Mayberry - any Sarah Mayberry - is a great rec. Thanks for the Kelly Jamieson one - just one clicked that sucker!
My recs would be - (and there are sooo many FTL out there its hard to narrow down) Just read Kelly Hunter's Casey which is an awesome friends to lovers. Another one I've loved is Victoria Dahl's Fanning the Flames, its a couple in their 40's too which gave it an extra layer of humour with adult children in the mix. And I adored Sold Short by Ainslie Paton.
That should be enough to be going on with ;-)
I've seen Casey a lot on Facebook lately, I might move that up my 'to buy' list! Thanks for the recs :)
DeleteHi Stef!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. You've mentioned a few that I haven't read but yes, definitely to the Sarah Mayberry.
I have to confess I don't automatically pick up friends to lovers stories. I seem to be drawn to a back cover blurb that promised lots of sparks, more like an enemies or strangers to lovers plot. But I've read some beauties, including by our own Michelle Douglas and by Liz Fielding.
Aw, thanks for the mention, Annie. You know I'm partial to a friends to lovers theme...and they've proven a lot of fun to write too. :-) Also, I LOVE Liz Fielding's books...and you put us in the same sentence. Happy sighs. ;-)
DeleteThey're definitely often not as dramatic as some other tropes, but I think that's why i enjoy them so much. Sometimes I just don't want anything OTT!
DeleteI love friends to lovers stories too, Stef. I also love Sarah Mayberry books although I haven't read one for a while, so must get cracking. Thanks for the recommendation, Amy. I download Kelly Hunter's Casey.
ReplyDeleteSarah Mayberry is incredible. She's definite writing goals!
DeleteFriends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes too, Stef. And Sarah Mayberry has written one of my favourites called, funnily enough, "Her Best Friend." Another one that I totally adored was Jessica Gilmore's "Proposal at the Winter Ball." It's one of those tropes that can be so full of emotion...and risk! I haven't read any of the three you mention, though, so shall have to go and check them out! Love the sound of your recs too, AA. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've actually read that SM book - I'll check it out! Yes, I agree that the risk element is so wonderful, especially when you get to the end. Thanks for the recs :D
DeleteHi Stefanie
ReplyDeleteI too love a good friends to lovers troupe and I have read a lot of them over the years now I need to remember the titles LOL the memory is not what it used to be
Have Fun
Helen
Ha! I know what you mean, that's why I have to log all my books in GR otherwise I never remember the titles.
DeleteI love me some friends to lovers. Hmmm, trying to think of some recs but none spring to mind...I have Mondayitis! I will definitely get the Sarah Mayberry one though, haven't read one of hers for a few years!
ReplyDeleteShe's definitely my go-to for those realistic, emotional reads :)
DeleteHi Stefanie, I've read your Sarah Mayberry recommendation and agree it's a good one! I love that blurb for the Kelly Jamieson book!
ReplyDelete