R.O.W.E. Week 8: Romance Novels by Women

I’m Brianna Kratz, a Chicago poet and literature enthusiast. In 2016, I'm reading only women authors for my Read Only Women Experiment (R.O.W.E.). For weekly updates on challenges, conversations, and monthly round-up lists of books I’ve read during the month, keep up with me via Goodreads or Twitter.

In February, I focused on reading romance novels in honor of Valentine’s Day. Here's a list rounding up everything I read in February.

Romance novels. Photo courtesy Andrew Gingerich.

1. Absolutely, Positively by: Heather Webber

   Following Lucy Valentine, the daughter of a family blessed (or cursed, depending on who you ask) by Cupid, this book focuses more on mystery than romance.

2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by: Jenny Han

   I loved this book. I wrote about it a couple weeks ago, but it’s a fluffy YA romance that follows Lara Jean who writes love letters to cure her of her crushes. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!

3. Soppy: A Love Story by: Philippa Rice

   I bought this comic after I saw excerpts online and squealed over how adorable they were. Read it, feel the warm fuzzies.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by: Laini Taylor

   Another YA romance with a Romeo and Juliet feeling shared between angels and chimeras. I loved the way magic was handled.

5. Lies We Tell Ourselves by: Robin Talley

   This YA romance had some historical fiction aspects in that it took place during the integration of high schools in 1959 Virginia. It was difficult to read in some parts because of violence, but definitely worth it.

6. Pop Corpse! by: Lara Glenum

   This wasn’t technically a romance. I’m not sure what it was.

7. Stage Kiss by: Sarah Ruhl

   Recommended to me by a friend, this was a cute romantic play about love onstage and off.

8. The Highlander's Touch by: Karen Marie Moning

   My mom lent this to me. I was skeptical. If you liked Outlander but thought something was missing, read this. It’s like Outlander but replaces some of the heavy historical bits with magic and fairies.

9. The Love Songs of Sappho by: Sappho

   Poems and fragments by the ancient Greek lady poet that made me want to learn more about Sappho in history.

10. Bridget Jones's Diary by: Helen Fielding

    I’ll confess that I didn’t like Bridget Jones’s Diary in movie form, so I’m not sure why I picked up the book at all. It was a little less painful than the movie.

11. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by: Laurie Viera Rigler

    I LOVED this book. It combines all the best parts of Jane Austen’s novels while reflecting on them with a contemporary sensibility. Read it if you’re a Jane Austen fan, or give it to your Jane Austen loving friends.

12. Confessions of a Shopaholic by: Sophie Kinsella

    I haven’t seen the movie, and the book stressed me out because the main character spends money she doesn’t have. It might be a light and charming story for most readers though.

Currently reading: Assassination Vacation by: Sarah Vowell