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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be totally addicted to romantasy books?

80 replies

yourethemoon · Yesterday 14:44

I know I know, they’re not exactly literary greats.

But I can’t get enough of them. I’m on my fifth romantasy series back to back, I’ve read 19 books in the last 6 weeks! I just eat them up. My partner thinks I should broaden my horizons a bit because, in his words, it’s “fairy porn” without much value.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Justanopinionnothingmore · Yesterday 14:45

Who cares what your partner thinks? You are reading and reading is a valuable pass time. Keep it up and enjoy it!

Needmorelego · Yesterday 14:46

If you enjoy it..... keep reading.
Ignore him.

hotmumshit · Yesterday 14:48

Reading something is better than not reading, keep on!

But I do judge your tastes sorry 😩😄

FrankAbagnalesLies · Yesterday 14:49

As long as they aren't negatively impacting your life who cares? Like what you like.

Lyra87 · Yesterday 14:49

Ignore him, he doesn't know what he's missing.
I got through the Massverse catalogue in 6 months I loved it that much.

Allmarbleslost · Yesterday 14:55

I've been toying with giving romantasy a go. Where would be a good place to start for a romantasy virgin? I've read nothing but psychological thrillers for a very long time and im getting bored!

Dr13Hadley · Yesterday 15:07

YANBU I discovered them about a year ago starting with ACOTAR and have been devouring them ever since. Last weekend I read Crown Me Dead and Crown Me Yours by Liv Zander within 24 hours. DH and the kids think I’ve abandoned them!! It’s brilliant escapism.

runnerducky · Yesterday 15:08

Enjoy yourself! I go through binge phases with romantasy too and love every moment.

I think ACOTAR is a good gateway to romantasy for newbies, especially right now as there’s a new one coming out next month. It might not be the best but I certainly think it’s one of the most broadly appealing and accessible.

Throne of Glass is my favourite series of all time but it’s a bit more heavy on the fantasy than the romance (although there’s still plenty of the latter).

I am reading and enjoying One Dark Window at the moment and have the second lined up!

BlueFairyBugsBooks · Yesterday 15:09

How can it possibly be unreasonable to enjoy a genre of book? You like what you like.
Personally I think most romantasy is shit. So I dont read much of it. But that doesn't mean someone else shouldn't.

runnerducky · Yesterday 15:14

Also I work in book publishing and read a tremendous amount for work and leisure across pretty much every genre, and I would never judge someone for liking whatever they like. Book snobbery has no place in my life. There are books for different seasons of life, for different moods, for different purposes, and no one should feel judged for it. I spent a few months reading more obscure and some quite challenging classics that I hadn’t got round to in life yet, and then went on holiday and devoured about 10 sports romance books in a week 🤷‍♀️

yourethemoon · Yesterday 15:20

Lyra87 · Yesterday 14:49

Ignore him, he doesn't know what he's missing.
I got through the Massverse catalogue in 6 months I loved it that much.

3 weeks here!!

OP posts:
SilverTotoro · Yesterday 15:20

Thanks for this thread - lots of new book recommendations! It goes without saying YANBU. I read lots of book genres but romantasy is my go to for escapism.

pasturesgreen · Yesterday 15:21

Worse things you could be addicted to...
Your partner should mind his own.

mixandmatch · Yesterday 15:26

Completely ignore him - can't bear book snobbery and reading any books is more worthwhile and valuable than 90% of what most people spend their time doing these days - i.e. scrolling.

In every genre of books (from classics and literary prizewinners to very commercial) there are good books and bad books. People who think all mass market fiction is trashy don't know what they're talking about.

yourethemoon · Yesterday 15:52

hotmumshit · Yesterday 14:48

Reading something is better than not reading, keep on!

But I do judge your tastes sorry 😩😄

I just can’t get enough of them!

OP posts:
yourethemoon · Yesterday 15:52

runnerducky · Yesterday 15:08

Enjoy yourself! I go through binge phases with romantasy too and love every moment.

I think ACOTAR is a good gateway to romantasy for newbies, especially right now as there’s a new one coming out next month. It might not be the best but I certainly think it’s one of the most broadly appealing and accessible.

Throne of Glass is my favourite series of all time but it’s a bit more heavy on the fantasy than the romance (although there’s still plenty of the latter).

I am reading and enjoying One Dark Window at the moment and have the second lined up!

ToG is my favourite ever. I’m reading it again, I adore it

OP posts:
CruCru · Yesterday 16:00

pasturesgreen · Yesterday 15:21

Worse things you could be addicted to...
Your partner should mind his own.

I was going to say something like this.

Crediblehedge · Yesterday 16:03

I love romantasy books too!

Me and my husband run an entire shop based around fantasy role play and tabletop RPG's, he does the face to face general stuff and I do the background - admittedly romantasy books are never exactly high fantasy and most of our reading is generally a bit more world buildy and lore heavy than most romatasy novels, but occasionally I can get him to read one and he does enjoy them. He calls it fairy or dragon porn too mind 🤣

Sometimes he pops out with a quote and a little play along when we are in the moment and I love him for that.

RightOnTheEdge · Yesterday 16:08

YANBU.

My friend nagged me to read ACOTAR and I was reluctant because it's not my usual type of thing but gave in and then moved on to Throne of Glass, Cresent City and Fourth Wing.
I've read Quicksilver/Brimstone and Alchamised as well this year.

I've reread Fourth Wing and I'm rereading ACOTAR before the new ones come out.
I don't kid myself that they are great literary works but they are great escapism from work and bills.

Tell.your dh to mind his own business. They have got value to you because you enjoy them.

MickyMoonshine · Yesterday 16:11

All reading has value.
I really, really despise literary snobbery. Reading is supposed to be enjoyable so read what you enjoy.

pointythings · Yesterday 16:20

I love romantasy, but am selective about them because so many are written in the first person present tense, and I hate that.

I refer to them as'my trashy novels'.

Duckduckgander · Yesterday 16:23

yourethemoon · Yesterday 14:44

I know I know, they’re not exactly literary greats.

But I can’t get enough of them. I’m on my fifth romantasy series back to back, I’ve read 19 books in the last 6 weeks! I just eat them up. My partner thinks I should broaden my horizons a bit because, in his words, it’s “fairy porn” without much value.

AIBU?

I can totally relate, any particular recommendations? 😏

ArcticBells · Yesterday 16:29

Please could you recommend some more books

HarryPotterandtheClimateofFear · Yesterday 16:30

I love Rosa King’s Dragonland series.

Everleigh13 · Yesterday 16:36

I don’t understand why people talk down about books that they enjoy. I read loads of romance, thrillers etc. I enjoy them and so I talk about them in a positive way. I work with someone who will say “I really enjoyed X, but it’s just trash”. I don’t get it. Each to their own I guess but I respect the books that I enjoy and don’t consider them to be rubbish or trashy. I would say read what you enjoy and don’t get drawn into criticising something that is giving you pleasure.