For Pirates read:

• Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods. It’s a retelling that takes themes from Cinderella, The little mermaid and Blue Beard. Technically this book doesn’t have any pirates BUT there are smugglers and on a technicality let’s just pool them into the same group. The love story also has a heavy amount of yearning.

• The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. The book takes place in an alternate version of Victorian England where lady pirates & thieves rule the airspace. There is tons of gossip over tea, attempted assassinations and sword fights. Also did I mention that these women have magicked the shit out of their Victorian townhouses and fly them around town shooting cannon balls out their living room windows. It’s also Enemies to Lovers.

For Princesses read:

• The Swans Daughter by Roshani Chokshi. While mc is not technically a princess, the love interest is a prince which is good enough imo. The story is inspired by a bunch of classic fairytales and features a bachelor-style tournament. Basically it’s a slow burn, friends to lovers romance. One of our mc’s is the daughter of an evil wizard and an enchanted swan. Whose magical gift is that her singing voice forces anyone who hears it to tell the truth. Our other love interest is a cursed prince who’s fated to be murdered by whoever becomes his wife.

• Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. Greek Mythos is an acquired taste but there are some really good ones out there. Ariadne focuses on the story of the Princess of Crete, Ariadne, and her adventures and eventual betrayal (that’s not a spoiler the myth is thousands of years old) by the “hero” Theseus. It explores how women are used as political pawns or collateral damage by temperamental gods and power-hungry men. If you’ve ever heard of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, then you’ve heard of Ariadne.

Other fantasy recs:

• Anything by T. Kingfisher. She’s the queen of modern fairytales.
• Anything by Sarah Beth Durst. Impossibly cozy fantasy.
• Belladonna series by Adalyn Grace. A woman immune to death finds that she can communicate with Death himself. Enemies to lovers, yearning. It’s a gothic fantasy murder mystery and that along should be enough to warrant a read.
• The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones. Set in a remote village against a Welsh inspired backdrop. Our MC works as a gravedigger to keep her family afloat after the death of her parents. But the dead don’t stay dead in this town, instead then start rising from their graves and attacking civilians. Thus begins a journey to find the source of the curse and destroy it. Dark fantasy with elements of horror and a slow burn romance. Also the MC has a pet goat.

Ooooh, this is my favourite genre of horror.

• Literally anything by Grady Hendrix. His books are phenomenal. It doesn’t matter what you pick up, you will not be disappointed.
• How to Survive Camping series by Bonnie Quinn. Absolutely brilliant. Think cryptids, ancient curses and ignorant tourists.
• The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington. YA Slasher, a group of friends are pursued by a killer that strictly follows the rules of a slasher film.
• How to kill a guy in ten dates by Shailee Thompson. Romcom meets horror.
• The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. One of the only classics from memory that fits the brief and also one of my all time faves. So funny and timeless. Super short as well so it makes for a quick read.
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Dark comedy/satirical thriller.

I love a sad ending, these are some of my favourites:

• Me before you by Jojo Moyes. Technically this is part of a series but it can be read as a stand alone. I’ve only ever read the first novel.

• They both die in the end by Adam Silvera. The title is self explanatory. There are three books in this series, technically all standalone but all from the same universe.

• They book thief by Markus Zusak.

• The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

• All the bright places by Jennifer Niven.

• Looking for Alaska by John Green. Technically most John Green books could be on this list. The man thrives in sad.

• I feel like the majority of the Hunger Games novels also qualify.

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I don’t think it’s that controversial to say that the movie is better. But the book is still devastating.