Hello boundlings! I'd LOVE to know whether you prefer romance as a main genre in books, or romance in other genres as a subplot.

Not sure if I'm the only one who feels this way, but I find most (contemporary) romance books to be sort of predictable (especially since they MUST end in a happy ending), hence why I tend to not pick them up as often. Not hating on them or people who read them, tho! It's just not my typical things, unless I have a reading slump 🫶🏼

HOWEVER I love romance in other genres. Idk why, but the romance tend to feel more fleshed out and interesting despite being a subplot. Like it's woven into the main plot really well without overshadowing it, get me? Fantasy with romance is definitely my favorite! I also read a lot of mystery with a romance subplot.

There are also some types of books where the romance overshadows the main genre, which I HEAVILY dislike in books, especially if the romance is marketed as a subplot only.

hi pagebounders, i’ve had severe focus issues ever since i was a kid that prevented me from reading. i became an avid reader while i was on meds and now i’m off them again and struggling with reading. is there anything you guys do to help focus or immersion?

edit: thank you all for your amazing advice :)

Sooo, I've been contemplating a new genre to explore however Fantasy doesnt interest me at all. So if anyone got any recommendations, I'd be open to trying them out. Thanks fellow readers 😊

That one quote that’s stuck with you. Whether because it was tuff, because it was profound, because it gave you an epiphany, because it was that funny, etc. What’s that one book quote that’s stuck with you? Recently or way back in the past. I’m kinda asking this out of boredom, and maybe looking for new books. Or I can put them on some bookmarks.

(I’m very bad at remembering exact quotes lol. I remember that one line in Remarkably Bright Creatures where Marcellus goes like “Day insert number here, oh let’s just cut the crap”. See? Very bad at remembering. One I kinda remember is from Lies My Teacher Told Me, “If this country is so great, then why must we lie?”. So I guess I’m not that bad at remembering).

I don't even know if it's a trope, but it's specific character dynamic. Move over enemies-to-lovers and rivals-to-lovers. I want teammates-to-lovers (name pending).

I want a story with a significant romantic subplot (or straight up a romance book) where the leads are working together and fall in love while doing so, I want a to see a relationship that starts from a place of trust and only build to be stronger. Think Kaz and Inej from Six of Crows or Yu Wayin and Xiahou Dan from How Dare You?! (sorry to bring in tv shows but they are THE blueprint), Emily and Wendel from Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. Preferably fantasy, but not necessarily.

If there are any lists with this trope please send them my way, I don't even know what to look for. Thank you!