Growing up I was never quite drawn to romance books. I tended to steer clear of any books that contained it. At times I felt like I was never going to have a great romance. Or be in love so why would I want to read about other people getting their HEAs and being happy. My relationship with romance books was complicated.

As I started to get older it became apparent that romance books didn’t talk about the kind of love and romance I was searching for or felt. In books there was very little bisexual romances explored. Growing up in a place and time that didn’t openly talk about it. At times I felt like my feelings were wrong or I was just confused about what I wanted and what I liked.   

It was in my 20s that I fell in lust. I experimented with my feelings. I had my heart broken, fell in love for the first time, got cheated on, tried to find myself and learn to love myself. Through each relationship and connection. I began to analyze and judge each based on past experiences and compared one situation to another.

In the past few years I have been drawn back to romance books. At first reading them was just a way to up my year books read goal. Romances are quick fast guilty pleasure reads most times. But as I sat down to write this I realized it’s more than that to me.

I had a friend recently tell me that I’ve been really into romance books lately because I’m in love. Now I believe I can say that’s currently not the case. As everyone comments on my current relationship status and the “oddness” that might be perceived. On the way it’s going and benchmarks we may or may not have it. Or even the fact we haven’t DTR and it’s been close to 2 years ( I know what you are thinking).

Not only has reading romance been able to make me fall in love with the idea of love. It has shown me that all relationships are unique. There is not one cookie cutter kind or even an instructors manual to find your HEA.

It’s a lesson of learning, learning yourself and what you want as well as exploring that with your partner. It is doing what’s best for yourself and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. It’s doing what makes you happy even if there are some bumps and missteps along the way. It’s not judging your current relationship on your first love because nothing will ever compare to that list of firsts. Because they were new and shiny.

But life isn’t shiny and neither is romance. It’s rough and dirty and raw, but it can be sweet and beautiful. It’s really what you make it. 

~ PIN IT ~

Romance Recommendations

Volition by Lily Paradis

The Rogue King by Abigail Owens

Ice Planet Barbarian by Ruby Dixon

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

This is just a few romance books from a variety of different authors, sub genres and romantic relationships. If you are looking for more recommendations let me know!