What ridiculously trashy books/authors do you love?

[Sadik]

Not the likes of Georgette Heyer (not truly trashy IMO), but the really indefensible.

Mine is Cassandra Clare - I'm currently eking out her latest book, ignoring the massive plot holes (and improbable lack of communication without which things would be resolved in about 2 chapters) in the certain knowledge that it'll no doubt end on a cliffhanger which won't be resolved until book 3 in about 2 years time.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Placematting :)

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.

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 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.

"I read it less for the sex, and more for the world-building, plotting-for-the-throne antics, characters, surprises."
That's what they all say

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.

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.

YY to some good well written fanfic :)

If anyone else shares my Cassandra Clare habit, ashesandhoney writes some fabulous Infernal Devices fics. (Anyone adult - I wouldn't recommend them to your teenage dc )

Kathy lette

In my teens I loved Virginia Andrews - please don't judge
Bought a copy of Heaven as remember loving it as a teenager - now OMG really bad !!
I love chick lit and have just bought flavour of the month based on MsJupiers recommendation !

' "I read it less for the sex, and more for the world-building, plotting-for-the-throne antics, characters, surprises."
That's what they all say '

Honest!

Lots of the authors mentioned here are comfort reads of mine - Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Linda Howard. I haven't read Laurell Hamilton or Charlene Harris for years though, maybe it's time to have another look at them.

And can I add Jayne Ann Krentz, quite similar to Nora Roberts I suppose but I slightly prefer JAK. Also Nalini Singh books, altho I'm not as keen on her Archangel series, prefer the Psy/Changling books.

And now I've got a list of new authors to try from this thread to look out for at the library next time I'm there - lovely

Someone on here has clearly been raiding my trash shelves for the Dick Francis, Penny Vincenzi and so on. Usually very cheap from the charity shop though, and easy to return once read so they go on fund-raising.

cranky - did you know Jayne Ann Krentz writes regency crime novels as Amanda Quick, and futuristic /mystical stuff as Jayne Castle? Some of the series cross over
Big Georgette Heyer fan , along with Dorothy Dunnett
I still go back to Agatha Christie myself, its like a comfort blanket , but I love Donna Leon - food and Venice in the stories - what not to like :)

Does she indeed?! Excellent

Looks like once I've hit the library I shall have a lovely large stack of books TBR [happy face] thanks to this thread.

I love jane costello, milly johnson, Giovanna Fletcher, Sophie Kinsella.

Love Sophie Kinsella and Jo-Jo Moyes.

Just coming back Somerville and Noodle to say thank-you for the Captive Prince recommendation. I read all three in about 3 days this summer (on my phone, so no need even to shelve spine inwards!) Fantastic :)

The Captive Prince books are interesting because the author was originally intending to write something trashy (as can be seen from the first few chapters of book 1) but it ran away with her and turned into real literature.