Julie Bulger
When I think about my own reading interests, I tend toward books containing elements of fantasy, supernatural, humor, and a touch of science fiction and mystery. It’s always nice reading genres I enjoy since it is both comforting and entertaining. But I also work at a place where I’m surrounded by all sorts of reading materials, and one of the services we provide here at the library is assisting patrons in finding new things to read. If I’m only reading certain types of books, how can I best help other people explore new titles?
At the beginning of the New Year I decided to set some reading goals. The purpose of this was to challenge myself to read genres I normally wouldn’t gravitate toward but would be interested in exploring. Take romance for instance. I’ve only read a handful of them in my life, but for some reason I don’t think about romance titles when I’m looking for my next read. Romances are a popular genre, and I’ve helped quite a few patrons find romances to read. Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at what’s out there in the world of romance so I can feel more comfortable with the genre.
I compiled a list based on what sounded interesting to me (Goodreads can be a source of inspiration) as well as what was available through the library (including our ebook collection). I found myself excited for this reading journey since it was new and different. I’ve now read a handful of romances since the beginning of the year. They’ve been entertaining, occasionally humorous, engaging, and sometimes steamy. The characters have been complex and interesting. Okay, I’m actually enjoying them! They may not be my go to genre, but I won’t be overlooking them when I’m looking for new titles to read in the future.
Here’s a quick overview of what I’ve read so far:
In Get A Life, Chloe Brown, the titular character suffers with chronic illness and meets a man who has just come out of an abusive relationship. And yet the book was charming and entertaining while dealing with difficult life situations.
The Right Swipe dealt with issues surrounding contemporary dating and dating apps (a subject I’m totally not familiar with but still found interesting).
I really enjoyed the romantic comedy of The Rosie Project where the main male character is on the autism spectrum and uses a scientific approach to help him find the perfect mate. But then he meets Rosie, who challenges everything he thinks he knows about relationships.
In The Kiss Quotient, it’s the lead female character who is on the spectrum, but her approach to relationships is much different in this reverse Pretty Woman inspired plot which I found engaging.
Finally, as a movie lover, I couldn’t resist reading the young adult title My So-Called Bollywood Life about a high schooler who loves Bollywood movies and is trying to put together a film festival at school while navigating a complicated love life and her meddling family.
Thanks to my reading goals I’ve been enjoying more books this year. Getting out of my comfort zone has been a good thing, and now I need to decide the next genre to delve into!
Looking to try something new yourself? Sign up for our Next Reads newsletters. Pick a category that interests you and get new title suggestions with each monthly or bi-monthly newsletter curated by our Adult Services staff. Also check out our Reviews and Recommendations page for other resources to explore, such as Novelist. And, most importantly, enjoy your reading journey!