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Sep
07
So, I Read a Romance Novel…
2010 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
And I liked it! And if I could have come up with a clever way to bastardize Katy Perry lyrics for this post, I totally would have.
If you’re sitting there scratching your head, thinking, “How the hell did The Book Lady end up reading a romance novel?,” then you obviously missed this post.
Here’s what I read:
Because this was my first romance novel EVER, I’m not going to write a traditional review. I’m hardly qualified to do so, given my lack of familiarity with the genre and its conventions and the fact that, oh, you know, I have no idea what a romance reviewer looks for in a book. It wouldn’t be fair to the book, and it wouldn’t be fair to you.
In lieu of a critical response to the book, I’m going to tell you about this romance reading experiment, the literary fiction critic who lives inside my head, and why I’ll never look at a Krispy Kreme doughnut the same way again.
Are you excited?
So, Bet Me begins with heroine Min Dobbs (whose real name is how-far-from-sexy-can-you-possibly-get Minerva) getting dumped. At a bar. By a guy she didn’t really like all that much to begin with. And he’s dumping her because they’ve been dating for two months and she won’t sleep with him.
Say it with me: douchebag!
Min is at said bar with her two best girlfriends (one an uber-romantic who is looking for the fairy tale, and the other a superhot man eater who doesn’t buy the fantasy), and the saucy friend (Liza) spots a hot guy across the room and sends Min over to meet him. As Min approaches, she hears the guy who just dumped her bet the guy she’s come over to meet—his name is Cal and he is smooth with the ladies—that even he couldn’t get frigid Min in bed within a month. The men, of course, don’t know that Min overhears this conversation, so when Cal asks her to dinner and she accepts, he has no idea what’s going.
Let me rewind for a minute to tell you that Min is chubby, a frumpy dresser (except for her funky shoes, her one indulgence), unhappy (because she’s just been dumped), and always on a diet (thanks mostly to her neurotic mother, who forbids her to eat carbs or butter…or, really, anything that tastes good). She is also an actuary (hello, most boring, practical job ever), so she is practical to a fault, and she’s not interested in being charmed or wooed or romanced in any way. (Unless the man is Elvis reincarnated. Min loves Elvis.)
Poor Cal Morrissey, smooth operator that he is, has his work cut out for him.
Anyway, Cal gets Min to go to dinner (which was a side bet, by the way), and there’s witty banter and sexy food talk (because Min actually eats, and man does she enjoy it), and it’s obvious that they have great chemistry….but Min isn’t looking for a relationship, and Cal’s not used to having to work for it, and they end up deciding they are wrong—ALL WRONG!—for each other. And that’s basically the premise of the book. Two people who make absolutely no sense on paper are meant to be, but there’s a lot standing in the way, including both of their exes AND their families and the fact that neither of them is willing to be the first to admit to falling for the other.
And oh, by the way, this whole story takes place inside a month. (Which is really my only quibble with this book in the end. I just can’t suspend my disbelief quite enough to believe that people can not only fall in love but build the foundation for a rest-of-our-lives marriage in thirty days.)
In between the beginning and the ending, which—spoiler alert—is exactly what you’d expect from a romance novel (sex! love! marriage!), there are several misunderstandings, a few more fights, some really delicious talk about food and foreplay (in a very Nine 1/2 Weeks kind of way), and somebody gets tied to a couch and covered in the icing from a chocolate Krispy Kreme doughnut. And Crusie does it so well that by the end of the scene, you’re all, “Yeah! Krispy Kreme is sexy.”
Or maybe I should just speak for myself.
So, that’s the story. But how was it for me?
I’m not going to lie. It was hard at first (no pun intended). I’m so used to reading literary fiction, and to always (always!) reading with a pen in my hand, that I think I just went into auto-pilot for the first couple chapters. It irked me that Min seemed so stereotypical for a romance novel heroine—I mean, come on, does she have to be a frumpy girl whose one touch of frivolity is shoes? Does she have to take near-sexual delight in eating? Why do I feel like I’ve heard this story before? And as fun as her banter with Cal was, it too seemed too perfect.
But then it dawned on me that that is what romance novels are all about—they’re about the fantasy. They’re about being flawed and imperfect and finding someone who seems way too good to be true but discovering that that person thinks YOU are perfect.
So yes, Min isn’t glamorous. How many of us would really identify with her if she were? Would anyone want to read a romance novel about an uptight skinny bitch who counted calories, was always miserable, but looked great in a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress? She’s the woman we love to hate, not the woman we believe ourselves to be; not the woman whose shoes we can easily slide into for a few hundred pages.
After that realization, I put the pen down and made a conscious effort to shift out of my usual reading mode and into a mindset of just giving in to the story and enjoying it. And guess what? It totally worked!
When I asked for a romance novel recommendation, I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into. I assumed romance novels were essentially “lady porn,” for lack of a better descriptor, and I expected there to be sex and lots of it. Bet Me, as it turns out, is heavier on the romance than it is on the sex (though there are several makeout scenes that aren’t too shabby), and it was a lot like reading a romantic comedy. You don’t ask too many questions and you let yourself believe because hey, it’s fun.
It doesn’t hurt that Bet Me has many of the features I enjoy in my usual reading fare: the plot is presented from multiple perspectives, and there are layers of story where different characters have different amounts of knowledge about what is actually going on. Crusie’s writing is crisp and snappy, and the story moves along at a pace that, though not quite feverish, keeps the pages turning. This is smart romance, and I am glad to know it exists.
But I do wish it had been a little dirtier. I mean, all the wanting and wanting for 350 pages before any actual sex?
I guess there’s always next time….but until then, I’ll be thinking about Krispy Kreme.
Related posts:
i’ve only read “Maybe This Time” by Cruisie but I love her style. It was nice hearing your feedback about another one of her books. I think you should explore the genre further, I’d love to hear what you think about other chick-lit authors.
Kate´s last [type] ..Monthly Mission- September
I do love me some Krispy Kremes! That they factor in to this story in a unique (or maybe not so unique) way makes them all that more appealing. Glad you enjoyed you’re first foray! I’m interested to see what the follow-up is.
MIchelle´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon – 9-05
As if we needed another reason to love Krispy Kremes! Sounds like fun. I am not a big romance person either, but I have read them and enjoyed them from time to time. I think, if I were to be really honest with myself, that inside my cynical little heart, there is a romantic in there somewhere that will only be acknowledged for brief moments.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Monday Movie Meme – Stormy Weather
Congratulations on reading a romance
I’m impressed. Though I’m still not venturing there – YA fantasy is my ‘turn off the brain and just enjoy it’ genre 
Amy´s last [type] ..Review- Dark Song by Gail Giles and Dust by Joan Frances Turner
I always try to ignore the fact that most romance novels take place in less than a month because I just can’t believe it either. Jennifer Crusie’s books are very fun though. I haven’t read this one myself but I have really liked the ones I’ve read, particularly because they tend to be more complex than your garden variety romance novel. I couldn’t only read them, but they’re very enjoyable when I do.
Nice! I too, have steered clear of the romance genre—not that I don’t love a little down and dirty, I just hate when things get too sappy. I guess I’m kind of a weird girl that way. Good on ya for crossing genre lines!
Kristin Russell´s last [type] ..Chihuly
I have been looking into a romance book as well, but I do have to agree with the dirtier aspect. I have NEVER read a romance book, and I also thought they were supposed to be really dirty and sexy. I might need one that gets to that part faster
I’m so glad you picked up a romance novel! And that you read it with an open mind. So many people tend to frown at romance novels, and not even bother to give them a chance. If you’re ever looking for another romance novel, that does have some sexy moments try one of Victoria Dhal’s Tumblecreek books. (Talk Me Down / Start Me Up / Lead Me On)
Jess.´s last [type] ..Teaser Tuesday September 7 2010
You have given this romance writer a very big grin today.
There are a lot of people who don’t think romance can be smart, that it’s simply, as you put it, lady-porn… plotless and unthinking.
There are all kinds of romance. I love Crusie for her witty romantic comedy. There are also very elegant historicals, raw and gritty urban-set, sweet and simple love stories and psycological thrillers. Any kind of story you want can be found as a subgenre of romance.
Congratulations on putting down the pen and diving into something new.
I’ll admit to not being a romance reader, but they do bring me joy. Whenever I’m down, I love going to the romance section of a bookstore and reading the back blurbs in moviefone voice.
Also, the titles and character names are pure joy. The other day: one book named The Devil Wears Plaid? Another book with a main character girl named Jenner Redwine?
I hope I’m not sounding like I’m poking fun, because I mean it in all seriousness. I’ve actually bought copies that really tickle me to give to the library (my all time favorite remains LET SLEEPING ROGUES LIE… Well, that or BIG SPANKABLE ASSES ha!)
Pure joy.
Although I am a tad snobby over the books that I read, I do think that it takes quite a bit of skill to write a good romance novel. Especially the ones that include sex scenes. I think the writing is what sets them apart from say, lady porn, as you put it.
Someone sent me a really trashy book that I keep on my nightstand. I’ve picked it up a couple of times and laughed out loud over it. The fact that I keep it on the nightstand is an ongoing joke. I mean, really, would one even expect to find such a book on my nightstand? I think not.
Ti´s last [type] ..Review- Fever Dream
You read one of the best romance novel out there, there aren’t many as fun as this one. I can only think of “Practice Makes Perfect” by Julie James. Those would be my two favorite romance novels
Emily and her little pink notes´s last [type] ..Waiting on Wednesday
Now you know why romance reviewers are judicious with their use of the word “hard.”
Read a Nora Roberts romance. You’ll get hot sex as well as romance and you won’t have to wait 350 pages. And the woman has good plots, too! They’re not stupid books.
I don’t like her paranormal stuff, but I adore the others.
I’m so glad you liked your first romance novel. Crusie is good and I enjoyed this one too. I like the romance more than the sex. Reading some of the more erotic scenes in some book just make me roll my eyes. Although there was this one I still reference because the author kept referring to, well you know, as the LIFE GIVER. Needless to say when I say LG to my hubby we both have a good laugh
Stacybuckeye´s last [type] ..Monday Movie Meme – Best Biopics
Love this review!!!! I rarely indulge in romance novels, in fact it had been forever until just recently (with Soul Mate by Ronald Lewis Weaver). This book brought back the enjoyment this genre and it did it with an interesting twist. Now I may need to check out ‘Bet Me’. Thanks for the review!
Molly´s last [type] ..MollyB777- I love the unexpected
[...] might recall that I recently read my very first romance novel. I had been wanting to explore the genre for a while, but I knew I had to go to an expert…and [...]
Hey Book Lady! That “wanting and wanting for 350 pages” gotta be some weird masterclass in sexual tension. Some authors take the concept too far.
Lilly´s last [type] ..COMO CREAR TENSION SEXUAL EN UNA NOVELA ROMANTICA
YAY! Believe me… I received a Masters in Lit and now I’ve been totally sucked in to the whole Romance writing thing. Most Romances I can’t stand to read. The characters are just too…. pathetic.
I hope the ones I write aren’t too pathetic…. Been working on that.
You might want to check out what we’re doing… Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style Contemporary Romances… Just for fun. We have our first one up on our author’s website.
[...] Sexy by Erin McCarthy:I had such a great time reading my first romance novel that I had to ask for a second, steamier recommendation, and this is what I got. What better time [...]
I have to say I agree with the ‘gushy blah blah but it was my bday and my Aunt got me an eBook thinking she was being hip…lol! I got to the site and I automatically thought SMUT (extasybooks, seriously?). My husband wanted to read it though! I admit it, I was wrong and that is why i am writing this. The name of the eBook is Serenity Lost, it is the author’s first book and I am upset that I am going to have to wait for the next book. It was unexpected…the read is sexy, fun, tense and twisting. It is great suspense and I had a hard time putting it down. I have to say it got 4 heats on the site. I agree with this but I don’t. the one scene is HOT!! but when I see 4 flames I think…porno. This is the exact opposite! Heat yes, BUT it is one scene AND compels the story forward and YES THERE IS A STORY! Shocking RIGHT??? So I said it, i was wrong. I will be waiting for news of the next, I have already begun following Amy on twitter and her site. Anxious to see what’s to come. Well done rookie. Cassie
[...] not nearly well-versed enough in Steampunk to write a critical review, this is, much like the time I read my first romance novel, simply a discussion of my experience exploring a new [...]
I have to say that I am a romantic at heart. I both read and write romance and romantic erotica. I can believe that two people can fall in love in a month. My parent’s did it. Actually, for them, it was two weeks from introduction to elopement. They were together until the day my father passed on, forty-six years and six kids later. My mother still loves him.
My husband and I fell in love in about the same time frame and decided to marry, though we let my parents plan a wedding. Seven months, almost to the day, after we met, we were married. Twenty-eight years later, here we are, still married and loving each other. He is my biggest fan, supporter, photographer and marketing assistant.
Am I a romantic? Do I believe in love at first sight? You BETCHA!