

Imagine if Jane Austen and Terry Pratchett wrote a rom-com together. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton provides a similar but unique, cheerful yet deadly romantic tone. Spending time with a little murder, a bit of romance, and a sprinkle of magic seems like perfection. It encourages a relaxing hour of tea, cozy blankets, and delicious cherry pie. The whimsically romantic and deadly magical show has that perfect confection of comfortable fantasy vibes. It is impossible to think of another show more deserving of a revival than Pushing Daisies. Why you should read it: Cozy romance and magic match each other so well. The honest communication about disabilities, mental health, and body positivity makes this a feminist rom-com that will have romance and fantasy nerds flailing. After a troll infestation, he asks April Whittier, a Lavinia fan, on a date. Marcus Caster-Rupp, the star of Gods of the Gates, moonlights as a fanfiction writer, an outlet for the frustration he feels at the show’s creators. If you love the idea of two Game of Thrones-esque fanfic writers falling in love, Spoiler Alert will hit the spot. Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade is for all the fans that got burned. Still, fans make reaction videos, fanfiction, and Twitter threads piecing together the intricacies of Sansa Stark, Jaime Lannister, and Theon Greyjoy. That ending still hurts, something we all took as a personal affront.

Why you should read it: What happens when a celebrity romance meets fandom? Game of Thrones has some of most addictive storylines and character arcs. Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie via Indiebound here. Pick this up if you’re desperate for a feminist slow burn romance and for a little more of what you’ve discovered in HBO Max’s new period drama. Oh, and that pool table scene certainly makes this glittering romance blush-worthy. With Frank’s help, Mamie hopes to be like a Gilded Age-esque Robin Hood. But like Marian Brook, Mamie wants to do something good with her life. Charming lawyer Frank Tripp and socialite rebel Mamie Greene have what the Russells have but with an extra dose of happily ever after. The Rogue of Fifth Avenue, the first in the Uptown Girls series, is all about the glitz and glam of those rich Gilded Age daughters and social climbing boys. A well-known historical romance author, many of Shupe’s books take place smack dab in the center of Gilded Age New York.

If you want those aesthetics with an emphasis on romance, then meet Joanna Shupe.

Okay, so we’re all in love with old New York elites, bustles for days, and power hungry social climbers. Why you should read it: The Gilded Age has me swooning like the wicked romantic that I am.
