Welcome to Three on a Theme! I’m trying something out where I focus in on a romance theme or trope and then give three recommendations for books featuring it.
This week, I’ve been spending a slightly embarrassing amount of time watching reality TV, both because it’s been a balm to my cold-fogged brain and because Netflix has sucked me back into their reality empire yet again with Perfect Match. Unsurprisingly, I started thinking about reality TV romance novels, especially with the flood of cooking show romance novels that we’ve gotten in the last few years. (I guess fake dating has an extra zing when you’re embarking on it for cooking show dominance?)
I think part of the appeal of the setting is that it comes with built-in external conflict, whether the main characters are competing against each other in a test kitchen, butting heads on a home renovation, or falling for each other when they’re supposed to be romancing someone else. There’s a comforting structure to a lot of reality TV, especially competition-based shows, and all kinds of clever things an author can do with that structure.
One of my favorite parts of world building is fictional pop culture and I love seeing what authors come up with, particularly when they get really into the details and sneak in little in-jokes. Plus there’s just something inherently juicy about getting a peek behind the scenes.
Here’s three books that I think are the perfect blend of behind the scenes fun and strong character development:
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London: This novel about a plus-size fashion blogger who becomes the lead of dating show Main Squeeze after her drunken rant about it goes viral is my platonic ideal of a vacation read. It’s smart, funny, and sincere and the pages just fly by. I love the heroine Bea and how the narrative lets her have moments of vulnerability and strength. This is borderline women’s fiction, as the focus is primarily on Bea, but the ultimate romantic arc is so swoony and satisfying. I also really love the commentary on body image and modern media. The book includes tweets, articles, and podcast transcripts interspersed between chapters and Stayman-London is so good at capturing the way that women get talked about online and the media ecosystems that spring up around reality TV. The podcast segments and the excerpts from a group chat about the show are spot-on and so funny. (Just barely open-door. It’s a one-page scene and it’s very low steam.)
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun: I have dedicated far too many hours of my life to watching The Bachelor and I have the feeling that Alison Cochrun has too. This m/m romance about the lead of a dating show who ends up falling for his producer is charming, earnest, and tender. There’s subtle nods to the franchise that had me giggling and sly flipping of reality TV tropes that had me cheering. On the more serious side, there’s some really thoughtful mental health representation for both main characters. If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I think you’d really like this one too. (Open-door.)
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall: This thinly fictionalized take on The Great British Baking Show had me cackling from page one but also contains some beautifully done moments as our protagonist Rosaline comes into her own and learns to look beyond the beliefs she’s grown up with. Similarly to One to Watch, this straddles the line between romance and women’s fiction, with a lot of the book dedicated to Rosaline’s growth, but still has a romantic relationship to root for and a love triangle that very smartly mirrors Rosaline’s character arc. It’s hard to be simultaneously funny and moving but Hall pulls it off with dazzling ease and an endlessly engaging writing style. I grabbed this book off the shelf before sitting down to write, just to flip through a few pages, and had to tear myself away before I reread the entire thing. (Open-door.)
Currently reading: The Reunion by Kayla Olson, which I’m medium on at the moment. I’ll always try a celebrity romance and I like the main character Liv and the storyline about her rebuilding her career but the romance is just…enh? I’m more than halfway through and don’t feel like I really know much about the male love interest. The book is asking us to buy into the fact that there’s all this history and deep emotion between Liv and Ransom but I don’t know if it’s actually backing that up with their on-page interactions.
What’s bringing me joy this week:
The news that Tor is launching a romance imprint! I’ve loved seeing them publish a few more romance-heavy fantasy and sci-fi novels in the last few years and can’t wait to see what they put out with this imprint.
Dim sum. I had my first New York dim sum experience last weekend at Jing Fong in Chinatown (would highly recommend). Nothing fills my heart with delight like rolling carts bearing dumplings, rice noodles, and steamed buns.
The new collection from Joanie Clothing, a British brand that’s one of my favorites. I’m obsessed with the retro prints and 60’s and 70’s-style silhouettes.