What ridiculously trashy books/authors do you love?

Upthread was a mention of Julie Burchill's 'Ambition' - awesomely trashtastic. My copy nearly fell apart I read it so many times, and I still snarfle at clever lines from it today.

Also fan fic from AO3 when my brain needs to switch off a bit. With well-written filth , just because.

Most of the ones already mentioned above. Also
Rebecca Chance
Tasmina Perry
The blue Mills and Boon (the smutty ones)
J.R Ward (the Black Dagger Brotherhood, awesome filthy vampires)
Sherrilyn Kenyon

And I freely admit to reading them for the sex as well.

I wouldn't count the Captive Prince series, it's a really great series with good plot, pacing etc. I read it less for the sex, and more for the world-building, plotting-for-the-throne antics, characters, surprises.

Does Virginia Andrews count? I'm a bit embarrassed to have Flowers in the Attic on my bookshelf

I've enjoyed a couple of Paige Toon books, although I'm not sure they were trashy either actually, just chick-lit but half decent.

Sophie Kinsella's 'Shopaholic' series of books are hilarious, especially 'Mini Shopaholic'.

An avid Georgette Heyer fan, although as above poster says, her books were too well researched and written to be classed as trash.

One or two Mills & Boon authors I enjoyed reading - Margaret Way, her descriptions of outback Australia were brilliant, and other M & B's had a rich sense of humour.

I like Dan Brown books and I am not ashamed! They're my go-to when I want my brain to vegetate a bit. I can't always read high brow stuff.

toddles off to look at: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books...

Placematting :)

Danielle Steel. Sorry.

I think I have read every single one of her books. And every time a new one is published I remind myself that I don't really need to read it, that there are so many other things to read instead.

But I buy it. And read it in one sitting. And then contemplate buying a cashmere sweater and slacks just like the main character.

Disclaimer: I read about 60 books/year so it's a small percentage.

The usual- Dick Francis, Penny Vincenzi (I hate read those, I always despise all the characters and can work myself into a thoroughly enjoyable self righteous fit of rage), Fiona Walker, Maeve Binchy, Tom Clancy, Jeffrey Archer. The junk food of books. Sometimes they're just what you want.

Totally second the rec for Smart Bitches Trashy Books! Looove that website!

Having spent most of my teens and twenties reading very serious and deep literature, I make absolutely no apologies for now being a devoted reader of trashy novels. I happen to think that many are actually superbly written and characterised, and they suffer because they are written by and for Women.

Lots of stuff I don't think of as trash here like the chalet school and Marian? I think she's very clever and the fact I can laugh and cry reading her and devour a book doesn't mean it's trashy. Rather that than something I started last night and felt stupid because I didn't get it. (The reader on the 6.47 or similar it was called- I'll try again but felt like I was missing something)
I had to read a lot of hard stuff at university so maybe that's why I like an easier read but also reading Zadie Smith which I would have thought "above me" but it looks good
I love reading and would hate to be judged

Oh, and talking of vampires I suppose most of Anne Rice's books could be defined as trashy, and I really enjoyed a lot of them. (The Vampire Chronicles series and also the Mayfair Witches series). She has lost her touch in recent years though. I thought the original one 'Interview with the Vampire' was the best, and that seemed more literary.

Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse vampire series (on which the TV Series True Blood was based). They have titles like 'Dead to the World' 'Dead as a Doornail' etc. Trashy I suppose, but I just couldn't put them down and Sookie is an appealing heroine. The ending was disappointing I thought (and so did other readers) but it was a good journey along the way.

Funnily enough, I tried a couple of her books from other series she has done (all fantasy) and couldn't get into them at all. It has to be Sookie and the vamps in Bon Temps, Louisiana!

Oooh yes, Jilly Cooper! And Linda Howard - terrible, but so very readable!

I have just acquired the whole series of Chalet School books courtesy of the PILs' attic so will be starting them soon!

Please don't judge but the occasional Mills and Boon got me through my PhD. Also Stephen King although I didn't bother finishing some of the longer later ones. I kept putting them down and then completely forgot what was happening in the over-convoluted plot.

Loving the Chalet School love!

I'm very fond of Jenny Colgan's books. They're very formulaic - heroine breaks up with partner, moves to remote place or new city and starts some food based enterprise at which she excels and all the locals take her to heart immediately. I love them.

I like Sophie Kinsella too! I love Marian Keyes but I wouldn't call her trashy. Fiona Walker is another one especially French Relations and Well groomed.

Just checking that the Chalet School fans have read the hardback version of Exile as well as the paperback, which was abridged? There is an additional chapter!

The first chicklit book I read was Rosie Meadows Regrets by Catherine Alliot and it still makes me laugh. I also love Freya North, although I'm not sure her most recent books count as trashy!

Can't believe no one has mentioned Stephenie Meyer. Her books make me angry but I've read them several times! I just love to hate them.

I also enjoy Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and similar chicklit.

Has nobody mentioned Jackie Collins?

Lucky Santangelo got me through my English literature degree when I couldn't bear to read anything except for trash when I wasn't studying.

Sarah Morgan

I love settling down with a large Penny Vincenzi. Although they're light escapist reading they're well written IMO. Particularly love the family saga about the publishing house though the name escapes me!

Louise Bagshawe (now Mensch).

I very much dislike the woman (she used to be a Tory MP) but her books are pure, trashy escapism. I think I've read them all.

Julia Quinn