Looking for reading recs - Contemporary/ light fantasy romance

I’ve been in need of some audiobooks to listen to over the next month or so. Which tenders to double as writing research since I recently switched genres.

I’ve been leaning heavy towards contemporary stuff, am open to paranormal and fantasy elements. Though, at the moment prefer more character driven rather than like world building driven.

Preferences (not requirements):
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Shy/ awkward Male Lead
-He falls first
-Friends to Lovers
-Or enemies to lovers
-Fluff heavy, lighters on spice
-I strongly prefer no accidently/intentional pregnancy
-Honestly if it reminds you of an Ali Hazelwood book I’m down
-Weirdly enjoy academic/ science romance idky

*Double points if it’s Fall/Halloween related

Books I’ve read:
Love Hypothesis -If you have anything like this, I will love it. Legit my fav book
Anything else by Ali Hazelwood (she’s just so good literally my hero)
Beach read - Was okay
Do your worst -Pretty good
My roommates a vampire - Cute but not my fav
Ice breakers -Not my fav but pretty ok
Twice Shy- pretty cute
Go hex yourself and What the Hex
Phantasma -Wasn’t into it
Butcher and Blackbird - Was very good but not really feeling the dark stuff rn
A court of thorns and roses series - Tamlin was not it, Rhysand was great but just couldn’t really get into it into it because I was so not into the first book.

Thank you!

2 Likes

Hmm, not my genre of expertise but I can try some suggestions

Keeper of the Bees • Meg Kassel - YA contemporary urban fantasy romance. Beauty and the Beast but make Beauty schizophrenic and Beast made of evil bees. No spice, only fluff, he falls first and he’s a bit awkward/antisocial due to being made of evil bees.

Bone Gap • Laura Ruby - YA magical realism with romance subplot. Low spice with an awkward mmc and he falls first. Set in late summer/early autumn with Spooky Corn Vibes.

Ballad • Maggie Stiefvater - YA urban fantasy romance. No spice, enemies to lovers. The worldbuilding is a bit more important in this one because it involves the fae (as in follow-the-rules-or-we’ll-eat-you real folklore fae not sjm fae) but I don’t think its overwhelming.

2 Likes

Thank you, these sound fun. Also, I am so glad we still have eat people fae out there. I love to see the real folklore getting some love.

1 Like

Have you read Howl’s Moving Castle? It’s not exactly contemporary and it’s very different from the movie, but it seems like something you would appreciate.

White Walkers, Rise Up!