ANYWAY, not a one of us has a ton of time, but every single one of us … especially you dedicated and gorgeous and smart and funny That’s Normal readers … wants to make time to read the best books.
But who has time to wade through the recommended section on Goodreads, or the staff picks at Barnes and Noble (also, the staff there probably has wretched taste because I never see smut on those shelves, NEVER). So this is where #TNReads comes in to the rescue. We recommend with short and sweet and quick reviews the best books we’ve been reading lately.
If you want more books from That’s Normal, check out our books page and Boozy Book Club! We have doozies for you this month and all the time.
The Dare and the Doctor
Written by: Kate Noble
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Genre: Regency Romance
Release Date: 11/22/2016
Rating: 4 Eligible Bachelors
Recommended for: Friends who would rather be lovers
I have a habit of following romance authors on Twitter with every intention of reading their books, but very little follow through. But when Sarah MacLean tells you to read a regency romance you read it. Immediately. Thus, I found myself reading The Dare and the Doctor by Kate noble. This is the third in a series that I haven’t read (yet) but you ca easily follow the love story of Doctor Rhys Gray and charmingly awkward Margaret Babcock as they navigate their sweet journey from friends to lovers with a few surprising bumps along the way. Their story is heavy on the yearning and light on the sex, but it won’t let you down when it comes to romance. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
Gays of Our Lives
Written by: Kris Ripper
Reviewed by: Beth
Genre: Queer Romance
Release Date: 7/11/2016
Rating: 4.5 Cranky Gays
Recommended for: Romance readers who like being surprised
I usually steer well clear of soap opera-esque romance novels and series. I find them (usually) unreadable and unwanted. This first in the Queers of La Vista series takes the soap opera melodrama inherent in the title and turns it into a conceit that works because it knows what it is.
Our main character, Emerson is effusively self-destructive and self-deprecating, even to the point of breaking the fourth wall to tell us not to picture him super hot or buff or whatever we want to think. His body doesn’t respond the way he always wants it to. He has MS, and it is affecting everything: his job, his mental state and certainly his sex and romantic life. Enter Obie, a motorcycle riding hipster who makes ties on Etsy and a concerted effort to be happy with his life and his unexpected place in Emerson’s. This book is compulsively readable, even when the sex isn’t everything you or Emerson expects. Even when the drama in this melodrama is understated. Just a really great, quick, hot, funny and UNEXPECTED joy. Buy it.
Someone to Love
Written by: Mary Balogh
Reviewed by: Heidi*
Genre: Regency Romance
Release Date: 11/8/2016
Rating: 4 Rags to Riches Orphans
Recommended for: Who doesn’t love a good Duke?
Someone to Love was my first introduction to the prolific works for Mary Balogh, but it won’t be my last. Anna Snow is an orphan of unknown origins who finds herself the center of a huge scandal amongst the English aristocracy. Despite her protests she is suddenly thrust into the world of the London Ton where she must learn to navigate the rules of society while staying true to herself. It doesn’t hurt that mysterious Avery Archer, the Duke of Netherby, is nearby to lend a begrudging hand and, you know, kiss her when they both least expect it. This romance is true to the genre and features a whole host of side characters who I can’t wait to get to know in future novels. I’ll know you’ll fall in love with Archer (and Anna) just like I did. Buy it.
*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review
Embracing Derek
Written by: Nicole Stewart
Reviewed by: Beth
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: 8/29/2016
Rating: 2.5 is not quite a menage
Recommended for: MMFers
I love me a good MMF story: two peens are better than one. This was just an OK menage story, and that is saying something because like the threesomes in it, it came with two books for the price of one.
Derek is unsure about his place in the world, his job, his sex life. He sees a beautiful woman and he and his best friend take her home. Suddenly, he’s having feelings for his best friend while still pursuing the girl. That leads to more … and more … and more. There’s a lot of unnecessary angst in this duology. And there’s a huge helping of the Gay For You trope that permeates so much of these types of stories that seem to be geared toward straight women. So I didn’t love it. But sometimes you have to weed through the mediocre MMF waters when you’re in a smut drought. Buy it.
There you have it! Real quick reviews for books we loved … real quick because we lazy. Hope you find something new to read. But in the meantime, tell us what you are reading in the comments or on twitter using #TNReads.
