#romcom reads

[sharpie707]

🎭 Book Review: Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

This book is pure serotonin in paperback form. I ended up reading this book because it was suggested by a YA fan I know and it was pretty cute, it’s not normally my up of tea but it was absolutely precious and a pretty good palate cleanser after the trauma that was Under Your Scars inflicted upon me. And as a former theater kid it was pretty nostalgic. If you’ve ever been a theatre kid, a D&D nerd, or just someone who loves a good fake dating trope—you need this book in your life. It’s sweet, funny, nerdy, and full of heart. We follow Riley, a musical theatre girl with Broadway dreams who ends up grounded and working at her dad’s game shop (tragic). Enter Nathan: quiet, awkward, and deep into the world of Dungeons & Dragons. They strike up a deal……..he’ll cover her shifts if she helps him make his crush jealous by “fake”-flirting with him. Cue the chaos. Cue the chemistry. Cue the actual feelings. Watching Riley get pulled into Nathan’s D&D campaign was so wholesome. The way she slowly starts to enjoy it? Adorable. The way their fake flirting turns into something real? Swoon. And the emotional growth? 10/10. This book is: 🎲 D&D meets drama club 💕 Fake dating with real feelings 🎶 Theatre kid energy 🧠 Nerdy, soft boy love interest 🫶 Found family vibes Final verdict: Dungeons and Drama is a cozy, feel-good romcom that totally lives up to its name. 10/10 would roll for initiative and fall in love again.

[mellosghosts]

in my heart this joke is in the movie, but unfortunately im afraid only we, hughjackmaniacs, would get it 🥀

[plagueislost]

i love being late to trends. my new years resolution is to be late to every trend ever. and you know im serious because im even late to new years.

(theres an inverse version of this by @chamiryokuroi , you should go check it out! i started making this before i saw theirs, but i think its cool that now theres both versions)

[technically-human]

It's already requited, they're just stupid

[annafromuni]

Beth O'Leary Is the Best Rom-Com Author

There are many things I love about The Flat Share and Beth O’Leary’s narrative style. Many things that I cannot help but laugh at (and cry at) and overall simply appreciate when it comes to good writing. Let me show you some of my favourite details. Let’s start with one very important wonderful detail – the representation of bigger bodies in romance. Now I know Tiffy isn’t described as a ‘s…

[imissmymonster]

Also, what's the best book you read this year?

I'm a very curious human! Tell me! haha

[time-woods]

I love your cosmic owl design like when I see him I goes "yeah the owl, that's him". Can you share some thoughts on his designing process I'd love to learn a bit

Also he gives off Garfield vibe(affectionate) for some reason

ooo!

i did this really quickly but i hope this makes some sense- i had a ton of fun designing him and im really glad a lot of people like him ! ! i rlly wanted him to read as cosmic owl as much as i could.

i also put in some lil character traits for this version of him that i think fit

[likesunsetorange]

the concept of maomao working at a flower shop im emotional i just love her sm (ik flower shop au’s are So Cliche but it FITS HER)

[royalarchivist]

Pili: [In Chat] Pac, please let me revive you.

Pac: But I’m alive! I'm alive! I only disappeared because... The monk I swore eternal love to never woke up again. And so I have no reason to live.

Pac: [Evil smile] Don't mute it!* Don't mute it, because it's lore. ☝️😌

* Chat jokes they turn off their sound when he flirts with Fit because it's embarrassing, so the running joke is every time he says something embarrassing, Chat threatens to mute him.

[urfriendlywriter]

3 prompts a day!

(i wanna readd so tag me when yall use it!)

Them rushing into your arms after their achievement. Tears blur your eyes as you hug them tight as the word erupts into cheer. His heartbeat is louder against your chest, limbs shaking, "I did it, my love. D-did you see?" (play Alchemy by TS!!)

When they're trying to tickle you but you distract them by kissing them instead. And it renders them stuttering for a minute straight before they gently caress your face-- "That is so unfair.." They say tenderly, pressing a soft kiss to your nose. "You had to go be all cute and perfect..." (manifesting!!)

"Even sober, i can't think straight when I'm with you.." They mutter, visibly gulping as their nose brushes yours. "Please, darling.."

[mardyart]

can you believe they invented the quote “to be loved is to be changed”

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

“My Dress Up Darling” is one of the best examples of how perspective is important to character development and the story. Because if you think about it, MDUD is a love story between two protagonists. Both Marin and Gojo fulfill the role of the “average” MC and the person who is out of the MC’s league. It’s like this:

From Gojo’s POV, he’s the social outcast loser who fell hard for the gorgeous, popular, cool girl at school. He can’t fathom why this super cool girl wants to hang out with him, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep their friendship going. Even though he’s crushing hard on her, he thinks he doesn’t have a chance with her, thus his focus is just to maintain their friendship.

From Marin’s POV, she’s the weird, lovable nerd who is a klutz and constantly embarrasses herself. She then falls hard for this sensitive, handsome artist who takes care of her needs (like cooking her delicious, healthy meals). The artist also agrees to make her dreams come true - cosplaying - by designing clothes for her FOR FREE, which makes her fall even harder for the artist.

This is also why I believe the story really gets going after the Shizuka arc. Once you start seeing the story more from Marin’s POV, Marin starts coming off as more of the “average” person while Gojo becomes more of the dreamboat. It’s fascinating because both perspectives work. Marin IS super cool and a klutz. Gojo IS a social outcast and a handsome, sensitive artist. It makes for a fun dynamic, especially when the story switches POVs.

Also, this helps flesh the characters out. I feel like MDUD would not be anywhere near as successful if it didn’t do the switches to Marin’s POV. If the story didn’t, then Marin would just be another manic pixie dream girl there for Gojo’s development, which would be lame. Ironically, Marin’s character becomes more lovable and interesting when the story starts letting her be more flawed, accident-prone and flustered.

Gojo’s character also becomes more lovable because making him the out-of-their-league person from Marin’s perspective feels like a natural progression. I mean…he’s a handsome artist who is an amazing cook, designs 5-star level cosplays for free, and is a subconscious smooth talker (the “beautiful” line). In any other story, he’d be the object of affection.

Anyways, I recommend My Dress Up Darling.

[ireadyabooks]

Just Another Meet Cute: Read an Excerpt

Boy saves girl stuck on a disastrous hike. What could go wrong? So. Much.

Just Another Meet Cute is the joyful and funny story about what happens when you realize you're dating the wrong twin.

When seventeen-year-old Nina Riley gets saved by a super cute Knight-in-Faded-Khakis just as she lands in an embarrassingly 'ahem' sticky situation during the most disastrous hike known to man, she wasn’t exactly looking for a meet cute. She really just needed some peace and quiet from her complicated family. Unfortunately, he disappears before she can properly thank him or get his number. All she has is his name (Ian Nguyen) and a navy jacket with a dog keychain, a gym card, and laundromat receipt. But a meet cute is a meet cute. And armed with years of watching Veronica Mars and a techy cousin, it should be simple enough for Nina to find the boy of her dreams, right? But when she finally tracks him down, he's different than she thought —right down to his name. Ryan is just as cute as she remembers, but the chemistry isn't there like it was before. After a few dates, she meets Ryan's family: his sweet grandma, his enthusiastic sisters, and his twin brother —​​​​​​​—Ian.

READ AN EXCERPT

Just Another Meet Cute Excerpt by I Read YA on Scribd

GET YOUR COPY!

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[bonedazes]

pt1

pt 2 here

[lordenz]

some books i read recently → people we meet on vacation by emily henry

“You asked me who I was, and—it was like the answer came out of nowhere. Sometimes it feels like I didn’t even exist before that. Like you invented me.”

+ how i obviously pictured it: emily bader as poppy wright and tom blyth as alex nilsen

[aroaessidhe]

2025 reads / storygraph

Something Extraordinary

historical platonic-romcom

an aromantic woman tired of feeling unworthy when the people closest to her leave her behind for romance, and a gay man in unrequited love who is planning on giving up and marrying a woman in misery and drunkenness

she kidnaps him the day before the marriage to stop him ruining his life, suggesting that they get platonically married instead - and on the ridiculous journey to scotland to elope, they have to convince each other if it’s what is best for them, and what they want out of life/love/and friendship