Recs if you like Long Shot...

Romance books with characters and a romance that feels mature. There is no or very low drama in the romance itself. It's often a slowburn, sometimes medium burn and feels very natural. The characters are either emotionally aware, possess a decent level of emotional intelligence, or are actively trying to communicate even if it's hard. Aside from the romance there is ample time for the characters to have growth on their own.

Keywords; Mature, slow/med burn, no drama, steady, emotional security.

I have not read all of these - I do have a life

Black love in all its glory

Romances where the FMC has been victim of SA and is now healing and learning how to trust again or is assaulted 🍇 in the book itself and the after is part of the plot as well.

(Added some content to the recs in the comments. Please do your own research into the potential triggers as well before diving into any of these as some are quite dark.)

My absolute fav trope in the world!!! because nothing hits harder than the slow burn, the pining, the “we’ve always been just friends” until suddenly one touch changes everything 😭💌 Like… the history, the comfort, the way they already know each other’s hearts, it just makes the romance 10x more swoony.

List of books that @thebookbaron talks about and recommends on her YouTube channel.

a list full of books about black women being loved

(i haven't read many of these)

FMC that has gone through it and is scared, vulnerable, painfully shy. Books with PTSD representation and a fair amount of trauma healing.

How not to love these

class is in session!

Books that (if you have functioning tear ducts) leave you crying. Stories that feel hopeless and dark.

Warning; not all have a HEA (and there's one non-romance, My Dark Vanessa).

Sports romance recs from across our three sports romance episodes, with guests including authors Jenny Nordbak and Farrah Rochon and sports journalist Jessica Luther.

The heartbreak. The longing. The emotional punches I was not prepared for. These books didn’t just make me tear up; they stayed with me, lingering in that quiet space after the final chapter. Soft souls, proceed carefully.

For readers who like their fiction tragic, their prose pretty and their emotional recovery indefinite.

If someone is even tangentially connected to sports