romance

  • The Romances of Baseball

    The Romances of Baseball

    We love our sports teams when they’re doing well, but that may turn to love/hate when they’re not, as disappointment and frustrations swell during losses. The ups and downs of a good romance novel can be just as emotionally fraught as an MLB season: the initial swell of attraction/love (winning streaks!), the pitfalls of actually… Continue reading

  • Sports Romances to Accompany the Summer Olympics

    The 2024 Olympics kick off in Paris on Friday, July 26, and sports content is on everyone’s minds. If you want to immerse yourself further in the world of competitive sports, check out a sports romance, perfect for indulging fantasies of the goings-on in Olympic Village! As a recent convert to the joys of women’s… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo NW 2024: BIPOC Romance

    This summer, dive into these romances starring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) characters that may have you smiling or swooning in the sunshine (or rain). The Mis-arrangement of Sana Saeed by Noreen Mughees follows Hijabi Sana Saeed in her pursuit for ishq (a transcendent love that intertwines “mind, body, and soul”) in this second chance romance… Continue reading

  • Love and Magic

    Sometimes on a dreary day, there’s nothing better than escaping into a book with the perfect mix of magic and romance. Here are some titles to start with: The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia In the city of Loisail, Nina arrives for her first season among high society, but she struggles to control her telekinetic… Continue reading

  • Take Flight with Dragon Reads

    Between the Year of the Dragon, the popularity of Fourth Wing, and the release of a new book in the legendary YA series The Inheritance Cycle, I’ve got dragon books on my mind. Try one of these titles to get into the spirit, with options for all ages! Dragon fantasy romance doesn’t always have to be serious… Continue reading

  • Choose Your Own Romance Adventure

    With cold weather and dark nights, there’s nothing I enjoy more than curling up with a warm romance book. If you’re new to the genre, you may be overwhelmed with all of the settings, tropes, and pairings, but here’s a small selection of some of my favorites to sample! Fake Dating One of the most… Continue reading

  • Hot Monster Summer

    A friend of mine recently showed me a funny new twist on the “Hot Girl Summer” trend: Hot Orc Summer. As a fan of all kinds of romance, my brain immediately went to the currently exploding subgenre of Monster Romances! Here’s some highlights from the genre. And remember, if SPL doesn’t have a title you… Continue reading

  • Talking Romance (and Sci-Fi and Speculative Fiction) with Librarian Misha Stone

    At the Emerald City Writers’ Conference in October, the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America (GSRWA) named our very own Adult Services Librarian Misha Stone their Librarian of the Year, citing Misha’s commitment to promoting the romance genre and uplifting traditionally marginalized voices. Misha has been a librarian in the Seattle area since graduating from… Continue reading

  • Fall Into Reading: Beyond Halloween

    The leaves are crunching beneath our boot heels, the sweaters are coming out of the corners of our closets, and cozying up with a book goes along with this season like a warm fire and fuzzy socks! Fall into the season with these reads celebrating all the various festivities the season has to offer! The… Continue reading

  • Witchy Reads

    Fiction has been awfully witchy this year, with strong showings across historical fiction, romance, and general fiction. For your reading pleasure, an incomplete list: HISTORICAL FICTION Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen In 1615 Germany, 74-year-old Katharina Kepler is accused of witchcraft, an accusation she shrugs off until it starts to… Continue reading

  • 50 Ways to Find Romance at your Local Library

    No, not that kind of romance, silly! Not that we don’t know some wonderful couples who first met at the public library, but we’re not recommending our libraries as pick up spots: that would be creepy. However, every week dozens of new fresh romance novels arrive on our shelves, ready to be taken home by… Continue reading

  • Of Food and Love

    As a lover of food media such as the Great British Baking Show, as well as a lover of romances, I am definitely the target audience for romance novels that include a strong food-based storyline. If you are too, or want to see what that means, check out one of these recent romantic comedy novels… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2021 Romance

    Need a suggestion for your #BookBingoNW2021 Romance square? Look no further than the comforting, happily-ever-after recommendations listed below: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai  Rhiannon and Samson are rival dating app creators with a complicated history. Forced to interact on a professional level, they both wonder if a second chance at love might be possible after… Continue reading

  • New Always Available eBook Collection

    I love living – and being a librarian – in a city of readers, but I won’t lie: the eBook hold queues can be intense. New this month are 170 eBooks that are always available – no holds, no wait! Here are some highlights to get you started. Book Club Picks Continue reading

  • A guide to exploring new genres

    Each year, groups of librarians from across the country hole up in a room (this year, a virtual room) to discuss and select the best books from the year before. The Notable Books List features literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; the Listen List is all about outstanding audiobooks; and The Reading List, which I want… Continue reading

  • Read Something Amorous

    Read Something Amorous

    Maybe it’s Bridgerton, or the promise of Spring; Valentine’s Day, or the promise of vaccination day, but more and more readers these days are discovering the wondrous and diverse world of romance fiction. Ever one of the most popular genres around, last year saw rising numbers of romance readers, with more expected in the year… Continue reading

  • Romantic Christmas Movies

    Nothing says Christmas season to me more than cuddling up under a warm blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and watching a holiday romantic movie.  Unfortunately, I don’t have cable so I can’t binge-watch the Hallmark Channel.  But luckily for me, the library owns a lot of the movies.  To find the whole list… Continue reading

  • The Romance of Reality TV

    One of my guilty pleasures is watching Romance reality TV. Specifically, lately, it has been 90 Day Fiance, including the spinoff show, The Other Way.  Since I am watching this on a streaming service, I am always a season or two behind. Unlike others, I started my obsession with reality TV by watching The Amazing… Continue reading