I could not finish it. Found it gringe and corny, and acting was wooden. Was so disappointed after seeing so much hype about it. But as it is so well loved by so many I would like to hear why you liked it.
Her new book, Hopeless Romantics is set to be published on Valentine’s Day in 2027. I’ve been saving her books reading them slowly one here other one there. Last night (at 1.30 I might add ☺️) I finished Between Us, and it was another great read from her. I could read her shopping lists and find them fascinating. I thought there were two more books left but there is only one; Cover Story. I’ve been reading her books in the order she’s written them since May 2025. No other author just hit the same (Well Sherry Thomas’s historical romances, but I’ve read them all as well).
Mhairi’s fans, what is your favorite of her books? I think If I Never Met You might be my favorite, but I honestly have loved every single one of her books.
She writes smut so well, it’s a great balance of not being too explicit or tasteless but not ridiculous with flower petals and such. She uses expressions that are just right for this genre I think. I just listened the only a bit more detailed scene in Devil in Spring (the mild bondage scene) and started to think that I don’t remember how much spice her books in general have. It’s been a few years I went through her catalog. I admire how she writes.
Listening to Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas for the hunderth time. This book is peak HR for me until Pandora says yes. I usually leave this book after the dancing scene. Would love a book that has a FMC who has reasons not to marry and isn’t easily changing her mind. Of course it will be disappointing when she finally accepts but that has to happen since it’s historical romance.
Marry me if you dare by Alyssa Clarke is another great example.
Started listening to this brilliant book and almost missed the prologue when rushing to chapter one. I’ve forgotten how much fun this prologue is. Sebastian Duke of Kingston is such a rake, Evie’s rake.😍🔥
I love reverse age gap and a FMC who doesn’t want to have children. Anyone but you by Jennifer Crusie has this and it was auch a great and funny read. But I would love to read angstier stories as well. I’m sure these exist. Do you know any?
I grew up watching Anne of Green Gables and it is perhaps my all time favourite tv show of everything I’ve ever seen. The ultimate comfort show, perfect in every way. I’ve showed it to my daughters as well and they love it too. None of us have watched the Netflix version. I tried once but it felt all wrong. I know many prefer Megan Follows as Anne and the older version over Amybeth McNulty. I was wondering have those who love Anne with an E seen Anne of Green Gables.
No magic fixes, *he* chooses *her*. I think I’ve read only two books; from Cecilia Grant and Killian McRae. Would love to read more.
I’m confused. I just started watching The Forsytes as it came available in our country. The Forsyte Saga 2002 is one of my all time favorite period dramas ever but it’s been years since I l’ve last watched it, might be over 10 years.
The new version has this Louisa Byrne character who is Jolyon Forytes former lover, first love and has his twins. I don’t remember anything like this being part of the 2002 version. I haven’t read the books.
If possible, don’t give any spoilers, I’m only halfway through the second episode. Just curious to know was Louisa part of the 2002 version? Is she in the books? She must be, it’s such a big plot in the series.
HR has changed a lot over the years. I’m looking for older (or controversial modern) greatly written historical romances that probably have lot of stuff authors wouldn’t write today. Whitney, my love by Judith McNaught is a one example. I just feel that these older books have something (don’t mean non con) that is lost in modern books.
I made a request earlier today of fics that have Hermione being child free by choice and this causes conflict in a story. It could be conflict with Draco or with other people expecting her to want to become a mother or whatnot but it has a part in the story.
(EDIT, the conflict doesn’t have to be between D&H. I understand the difficulties with that, although in my opinion not impossible in any rate as fiction is fiction. But lets say all their friends have children and they are giving H&D hard time because they are child free. Just an example. Something that challenges motherhood being an ultimate goal for every woman’s life.)
This request has got some reactions against it, and I started to wonder that is it Dramione in particular that causes these reactions of Hermione being child free by choice or is it about children in general being intrinsic part of romance for many?
I find this topic fascinating but also frustrating. I was hoping to find lot of fics with this premise because fanfictions don’t have to follow general romance rules, but I’ve gotten a feeling that necessity for children seems to be quite strong in Dramione fandom. Or is it?
I would love to read stories that has a conflict about having children and Hermione doesn’t want kids and there won’t be kids. I have been reading published books lately and trying to find this set up but failing miserably. So decided to try fanfiction. This is not only a childfree request, those are easy to find, but a request that has a conflict caused by choice to stay childfree.
(EDIT: it seems that people think I’m only looking for fics having this conflict between D and H. But I also meant conflict with anyone. Say their friends all have kids and they are judgmental about them being child free. Just that it is a conflict, motherhood/parenthood as an ultimate goal for happiness challenged)
This is quite specific I’m looking for. He is rich a bit of an arrogant ass who is competitive sailor or something like that. She works at the harbor, hates these arrogant pricks who flaunt with their money at the place she works. MMCs meet and she isn’t shy about her opinions but sparks fly, it’s one night stand, he leaves but can’t get her out of his mind. Would love to have recommendations meeting my requirements quite specifically.
Is it a good song? Lyrics are moving of course and the song is part of her character growth. But if we just think about the song without the context, is it any good? Curious to know what people think?
I made a request of stories about arranged/forced marriage in which the heroine doesn’t want to get married and is furious about her situation. And hence she doesn’t want to have anything to do with the hero or with her duties as the mistress of the house. She hadn’t asked any of that. Maybe she also hated the obligatory consummation of the marriage and doesn’t want him to touch her ever again. But the main thing is that she keeps to herself doing her own stuff she enjoys, whatever that is shutting the hero and her duties as a new countess or whatever out completely.
Is it really so that there isn’t such stories? I don’t like marriage of convenience or arranged marriages tropes because I think that authors don’t use the potential this setting offers to write a great angsty stories. It feels I read the same etory over and over. Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas is the angstiest one I’ve read and did absolutely loved it, but in this story the heroine is dutiful and doesn’t only take in all the chores meant for the mistress of the house but starts to work together with the hero becoming great busuness partners before becoming lovers.
Where are the stories heroines are furious about them being forced to marry and showing their displeasure with their actions and not submitting being good wives? I would kill to read a story that had a heroine who hates the man she’s forced to marry or the position the marriage puts her in. She has to consummate the marriage, hates it and tells the hero never touch her again, then leaves him to do whatever and concentrates on taking care of her dogs or horses, maybe leaves to London to spend time with her friends, anything but just doesn’t give a fu*k about the husband or her duties. She gets lot of shit from her own parents and in-laws, but she doesn’t care only says it’s on you, you forced me into this marriage.
She keeps to herself. After being forced to consumate the marriage she doesn’t want to have anything to do with the hero. By forcing I mean she has to do what is required to legalize the marriage but she doesn’t enjoy it and tells the hero not to touch her again. Devil in winter doesn’t fit, Evie went to Senastian herself and made the offer of marriage. She has her own stuff she’s engaged with, it can be pet or animals, painting, going walks whatever. She is furious for being forced to marry and it doesn’t change easily. Is there such books?
I read Anyone but you by Jennifer Crusie a few days ago and it was an instant love for me. I knew this author was one for me. Then I went to buy next book from her I thought I wanted to read, Grazy for you only to notice that her ebooks are very expensive, around 15 usd. I read mainly e-books because I can get them instantly and they’re usually considerably cheaper than physical books. Lyckily I found these on second hand book shop on line, four books with delivery 24 euros!! Only downside is that I need nighttime light to read late into the night. 😅
So which to read first?
- Fast women
- Tell me lies
- Bet me
- Faking it
I just finished Anyone but you by Jennifer Crusie which did not only have reverse age gap but also a childfree FMC by choice and an adorable morose dog, a mix of beagle and basset hound named Fred. Fred was the absolute star of the book. Then the FMC, Nina met Alex who had dated younger women looking for husband and father for her future children. His family also expected him to marry and have children but he doesn’t want kids.
So I’m looking for something similar: A fmc who knows she will never want (not cannot have but have chosen not to have) children and she finds a man who doesn’t mind or doesn’t actively want them either AND, this is important, they have an adorable pet they both are very devoted to. Dogs are my favorite but it can be a cat or whatever. And maybe people around them think they will change their minds because of course everyone wants children, but they don’t and won’t. If you know such a book, please let me know.
I think I found myself a new favorite author. Jennifer Crusie has a bit same vibe as Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Mhairi McFarlane!! This book has been recommended to me a few times but I waited this long, because it’s a short book (under 140 pages) and I love longer books. But I started reading this because I’ve been looking for FMCs who have made an active decision not to have children and I just don’t seem to find books that handles the issue the way I want. The FMC of course find herself a man who doesn’t want children either, books where this is a conflict between the mmcs are pretty much nonexistent.
This is absolutely a delightful read. I can’t believe that this book was written in 1996, well I can, but to have such refreshingly modern men (Alex and his big brother Max) for such an old book was absolutely amazing. I love reverse age gap older woman younger man stories, Nina is 40 and Alex 30, and this book made it very well. Unfortunately this was over way too soon, but it was a wonderful read with great banter and other funny stuff and the absolute star in this book was Fred, the smelly basset beagle mix. Dogs always make books better and this was no exception. Also there is something fascinating in these books written 30 years ago, something that modern books just don’t have (except Mhairi’s books).
I wished there were more books like this, and perhaps there is. Will look into Jennifer Crusie’s books.
EDIT. Jennifer Crusie seems to be internationally popular author as well. I just found four of her books here in Finland in a second had bookshop online. They cost 4-6 euros each, bought them without checking what the books are all about, each are mentioned in this post. Ebooks are incredibly expensive, like more than 15 usd each.
I just started reading {Come undone by Jessica Hawkins} and not sure is this a book I’m going to finish. No spoilers, please☺️
One of the reasons I feel this book might end up being a dnf is the dynamic between the MMCs. The FMC cannot help her body reacting to this man who is not her husband (I’m afraid there will be my-body-betrayal coming soon) and how the MMC comes on to her knowing she’s married and says shit (yes, in my opinion) like this:
"Being away this weekend was his mistake," David said. "If you were mine, I'd never let you out of my sight unless I absolutely fucking had to. And if I did, no man would make the same mistake I did and presume you were single. Every person within a mile radius would know you were mine."
Do you find this hot? Romantic?