Happy Fri-yay readers! We’ve reached the end of another week in 2020. Let’s reward ourselves with some spicy reading recommendations.
Fun fact for you: July 6th was International Kissing Day, an unofficial holiday set far out and away from the ever notorious Valentine’s Day. The idea behind Kissing Day was a reminder of the simple, and oft forgotten pleasures of kissing for kissing’s sake, as opposed to kissing as a social formality and/or custom, or kissing as a lead into other adult activities.
In these times of social isolation, it is a reminder not to take our spouses and significant others for granted. For those of us fielding the ups and downs of social distancing alone, it is a keen reminder of different times.
Fiction provides an escape, a reminder, a feeling. So today, in honor of the simple, yet intimate act of kissing, we are sharing our favorite kissing books that remind us about kissing for the pleasure of kissing. And for kissing leading to other things. And for all the kissing fun to be had. Because no matter what your situation, sometimes it is important to read for the joy of it.
S & S Staff Picks for Kissing Books
Lucy: Despite the name, Alice Coldbreath writes some incendiary kissing and... other stuff. I'm part-way through (another) re-read of her related medieval romance series, The Vawdrey Brothers (HER BASEBORN BRIDEGROOM, HIS FORSAKEN BRIDE, and AN ILL-MADE MATCH), and Brides of Karadok (WED BY PROXY, and THE UNLOVELY BRIDE), and I can't promise that I won't read them all over again very soon.
Laynie: For the sweet side anything by Sarah Dessen, Jennifer E. Smith, Nicola Yoon, or Sophie Kinsellla. For slightly spicier, Alyssa Cole (especially The AI Who Loved Me, which was an amazing mix of traditional romance and accessible SciFi). And for super spicy, the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day (think fifty shades but with good writing).
Nicole: Rosalind James - Welcome to Paradise! One of my favourite quick romances with a historical reality show twist. Love it so much I’ve read it at least ten times because it’s an easy, fun story.
The other one I’d pick is Tamara Lush - Dirty Games! A tech celebrity realizes he has fallen back in love with his ex-girlfriend when she ends up delivering pizza to his beachfront mansion. Made it to my favourites list immediately.
MB: Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series is my romantic guilty pleasure chock full of all the kissy scenes and Scottish rogues that just make you feel all warm and tingly inside.
Jennia: For specific books, Finding Fraser is like a dream come true romance for book lovers. The main character searches for her real life Jamie Fraser and stops at numerous bookstores and literary travel destinations while meeting other die-hard fans.
J.M.: I forever stan the love story in the A Court of Thorns and Roses, specifically A Court of Mist and Fury. Anyone who says they didn’t like it can fight me.
Kristin: Listen, I've been binge reading a lot of romance lately so I am reccing Talia Hibbert's Mating the Huntress because I adore me some paranormal stories and this is something you can plow through (heh heh) in an afternoon, both spicy and adorable. I also want to recommend Leigh W Stuart’s Mischievously Mine, because those kiss scenes are ‘fan yourself’ worthy and the pranks are wonderful.
Bonus: S & S Author Picks!
Justine: Okay mine is a little bit off the beaten path. In Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It by Kerry Winfrey, a large part of the story is her wanting to get a kiss before she gets major surgery on her jaw. The entire novel is about her pursuit of all the things she wants to do before the surgery. When she finally gets her kiss, it isn’t perfect romance, but it is romantic comedy gold. And when she gets a true perfect kiss, it is so well-earned and beautiful, the payoff is worth the wait.
Haleigh: There are so many but the first few to come to mind are Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
