INTRO TO ROMANCE

[@jennirogan1284]

Your smirk after saying that contemporary romances lack "details you enjoy" made me lowkey cackle

[@chandlerainsley]

i'm so glad that you picked up on it hehe

[@vegazyla1402]

"Lacking in details I enjoy." Girl, if you don't 😂 *I'M DECEASED*

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Okay... but your cat is prettier than me...

[@chandlerainsley]

girl... me too...

[@BookishBabbles]

You smiled so much in this video!! You love your smut, don’t you?!

[@chandlerainsley]

girl you already been knew

[@hellokatryna]

"full force into bang-town" lolol..LOVED this video and it was very helpful since I always say I want to give romance a try and never knew where to start

[@chandlerainsley]

yay good! i hope you enjoy them once you start :)

[@princesskittyXx]

The moment you showed your "cat" I SNORTED. We love a clever queen

[@chelseadollingreads]

be still my hufflesmut heart

[@chandlerainsley]

oh god why is this comment screaming at me to read that sorting hat fanfic

[@YankeeCountess]

I would also include Historical as a category; granted, you can have crossover between historical and erotica, historical and smut, and of course, historical and romance, but when you go the bookstore, so many books on the shelves are historical romances, so I feel it deserves to be mentioned.

[@chandlerainsley]

i'd probably categorize historical in the general romance category in terms of sexual content which is sort of the differentiation for the vid but i get ya!

[@miranabil8771]

Kulti is one of my favorite books too ❤️❤️

[@chandlerainsley]

love love love it. need to do a reread soon

[@lidette711]

Attachments is the best! It's in my yearly re-read! I enjoy smut, but there's something about Attachments that is just so satisfying. It makes me feel all the feels the chaste way. 😁

[@vitoriacastro2518]

I like how chan is so unashamed (is that even a word?) About liking J. R. Ward's books, because i've loved them forever but was always too embarassed to say that i like it, seeing her being open about it makes me less embarassed.

[@victoriashaz]

I love that you break this down in such a straightforward and concise way. Loving your recommendations too, I’ve put a few on my tbr!

[@chandlerainsley]

yay!! thank you

[@isastar940]

This video is acc so helpful! Thank you so, so much ur da best!!! 🥰🌸♥ - btw, how does a rom com e.g Christina Lauren book differ from a chick lit book?

[@readingwithkelsey]

Ooh I was looking at JR Wards books .... 👀 I will put them higher on my TBR

[@mikaylablackwood5286]

"Lacking in details I enjoy." ......Me too!!! ugh

[@DeSireeAlicea19]

Hi Chandler, I loved this video! As a romance reader these types of videos warm my heart, it sometimes feels like romance gets glazed over on booktube a bit. As you mentioned in your video, smut is it's own category and I thank you for that. Smut and romance are not synonymous, this has to be one of my biggest pet peeves when people talk about romance books because smut has no plot (they can be fun yes) but they literally only focus on the sex. Since romance is 90% of what I read it's frustrating to know that it's all thought of as smut and when I hear that, I think other people think I'm not reading anything with a plot so I get a bit huffy lol Great recs too btw, I've been meaning to read Kulti for ages, I need to get on that.

[@chandlerainsley]

thanks so much De'Siree! i totally agree, i wish people were aware of the nuances cause it would make it feel less awkward to read romances without peoples' judgment imo.

[@DeSireeAlicea19]

chandler ainsley yes! For sure!! Also BDB IS THE BESTTTTTTT

[@tarabite8469]

I ADORE the Original Sinners series! I fell head over heels for Soren.

[@chandlerainsley]

i hated him initially but... he's really hard to keep hating once your learn his backstory

[@tarabite8469]

@@chandlerainsley I didn't even need to know his back story to love him. I guess that's the masochist in me..

[@KerriHughes]

i am living for this holiday aesthetic, chan! my tbr just grew by like all of these books lol

[@TheBluehollywood]

Omg BDB 😍 absolutely love this series, it was also my introduction to romance and brought back my love of reading!

[@chandlerainsley]

i don't care how cheesy the references and dialogue are, it's still my favorite

[@TheBluehollywood]

chandler ainsley hahaha same 😁, they will forever be my favourite vampires of all time!

[@BaileysBookBabble]

Totally agree Erotica is a totally different category I feel it mainly just focuses on the sex without much plot.”sweet sweet love making” 😂 Great recommendations!! I used to feel really shameful about my love for Romance books but don’t really care anymore I just love it!!

[@chandlerainsley]

same same same, 2018 has been all about embracing things that people try to shame me for lol. it's worked out well!!

[@anna.francesca]

Very interesting video and you really unpack what can be a vast genre.

[@averagejoereads7271]

This is a genre I’ve never dipped my toes into, but I have to say you have me intrigued. I would like to give it a try!

[@Chattermute]

*back river quiver* I’m quivering!! That title is the best. Edit: I’m reading the first chapter and I can’t. I’m already laughing.

[@chandlerainsley]

YESSS FINALLY SOMEONE LISTENS TO ME!

[@Chattermute]

chandler ainsley aaaaand I’m done. Holy shit that was hilarious. Have to say my first smut experience ain’t half-bad!

[@likeliterallyliterary]

I love romance books (okay, I love anything romance) but it don't get around to reading many romance books. Movies, TV shows, I'll watch it right away but I've always let those romance books slip through the cracks. UNTIL NOW! I'm currently reading one and have a few on my TBR for December. I'm a changed women.

[@chandlerainsley]

i LOVE that for you

[@LeandraWallace]

I just finished The Hating Game today!! I went into it not knowing alot about it, thought it was a typical chicklit kinda book, and then whooa boy, was I surprised, lol! But I loved it. I have total after-book glow happening. =D Can't wait to read Sally Thorne's next book.

[@gaiaathena-books]

This was so educational!! Contemporary romance is my pick of the four category (for me I call it rom-com rather than chick-lit).

[@justvynexa]

*SINGING LOUD AND OFF KEY* CHRISTMAS TREE OH CHRISTMAS TREEEEEEE! I love that you made this video because honestly I’m the worst at knowing what genre and category a book belongs to. sometimes it’s at the beginning of the book but oftentimes they’re not. now I want to reread The Hating Game. thnx queen.

[@chandlerainsley]

HAH doooooo itttttt

[@brennaclark9385]

Just more reason for me to read Attachments finally! I can’t believe that’s the one RR book I haven’t picked up yet 🤦🏻‍♀️ thank you, Queen Chan for taking your subjects by the hand and leading us through this treacherous terrain. My smut knowledge pretty much is contemporary romance with like a *hint* of romance, but I’m compiling a list of your recommendations so I can branch out! Thank you for not treating smut as a taboo and instead, something that should be celebrated! ❤️

[@chandlerainsley]

YES WE STAN SMUT ON THIS CHANNEL! ily

[@markiehicks6740]

That does really help me chandler because I couldn’t tell the difference between erotica and smut and new adult so your video really does help

[@TheWordN3rd]

Thank you for this. I'm trying to get into reading more romance, but I don't always know what I'm getting myself into. Lol.

[@oona4085]

BDB was my introduction to romance and it was everything when I was in high school 💞 I haven’t read any book after the Blay and Quinn book, so I need to catch up

[@chandlerainsley]

honestly i don't love much after the Blay/Quinn book except for the ones that revisit old characters like Rhage and Wrath... but i think they're worth a read!!

[@WishFulfillment]

Okay, adding all of these to my TBR. Thank you!

[@PagesandPens]

I’m in love with this video and cannot wait to dive into Back River Quiver. You sold me!

[@chandlerainsley]

ahhh thanks Julie!!! and omfg i cannot wait to see your reaction honestly

[@randomgirl01300]

I don't even read romance, but I love your videos

Such a helpful video! Love all the good recommendations 😏

[@AuthorAllisonAldridge]

Can we talk about how amazing both you and your Christmas tree looks in this video! Also, love the video Chandler! I need to start reading more romance!

[@chandlerainsley]

ahh thanks allison

[@readinginthelairlunadrakon8028]

A kiss of Shadows, first book in a paranormal erotic series by Laurell K Hamilton, has smut and plot.

[@Bougie_Nerd]

I always heard of "smut" and "erotica" as "bodice rippers" which makes it sound more exciting.

[@chandlerainsley]

haha i do like that phrase. it's typically associated with historical romances though!

[@Bougie_Nerd]

@@chandlerainsley so the only kind I read 😅

[@sophiasthoughts]

Ha, 'full force into bang town' 🤣 love it! And, again, BDB swoon! I should have mentioned this on my other comment but have you read the lords of the underworld by Gena Showalter? Very BDB esque

[@chandlerainsley]

i have not! which is dumb of me since i believe JR Ward and Gena are friends

[@sophiasthoughts]

@@chandlerainsley I would highly highly recommend them, the romance elements are great with the same level of steam as BDB but the sub plot is also super interesting x

[@rachaelmarie3194]

Swamp angel 😂😂😂 This was super helpful. Thanks Chan! X

[@niharika8297]

I don't know if you have read it but you should definitely check out Storm and Silence series by Robert Thier. This started on Wattpad but has been published. It is soooo good and it is that one book that got me addicted to reading. I love the female protagonist Lily, it is historical set in London and she is feminist and the male protagonist (obviously hot) is just the opposite and Lily starts to work for him disguised as a man because woman were not allowed to work at that time.

[@chandlerainsley]

i have that on my TBR actually! i didn't know it started on wattpad, that's awesome

[@oliviareadsalatte]

oh my god thANK YOU i'm so terrible with romance, literally this video is what i need. i'm probably such a weirdo, but if there's more plot and romance, aka not just getting sexUAL, than anything else, i love it more. maybe that's why i'm down for the contemporary romance how you describe it.

[@chandlerainsley]

totally get that, i love how much variety is within the overall romance category too. something for everyone :)

[@sophiagideon73]

Hey Chandler can u give suggestions for fantasy or more specifically magical romance books

[@Islaa247]

What like Paranormal? I think she has a video on that

[@jane-vh5rw]

I have found my soulmate

[@amberinoface]

I made my partner watch this and he literally referenced Shrek with the last book and I have to know, is the love interest Shrek?

[@myreadingisodd]

SMUT ME UP LADY

[@myreadingisodd]

TAKE ME TO BANGTOWN.

[@chandlerainsley]

MOM GODDAMIT

[@StoryGlyph]

What a banging video!

[@Batsnang]

Okay but can we get a smut recs video that focuses on books with, ahem, more accurate sex scenes? In that, they actually mention that thing that starts with a C and ends in an IT, and other things usually left unincluded? lol

[@chandlerainsley]

definitely not opposed to it but tbh i don't usually look at smutty scenes for like accuracy if that makes sense? i guess i typically go in with the assumption that the scenes are going to be unrealistic haha

[@Batsnang]

@@chandlerainsley that's fair 😅 I suppose I should change my expectations to that as well, bc I have yet to find an "accurate" one

[@dylanisreviewing]

lets get SMUTTY

[@Stephanie-mh4ee]

Can you give us a black dagger brotherhood video!? 💖

[@chandlerainsley]

ugh i need to. i also need to reread like all of em first lol

[@wochenente6977]

So what does the After series fall under? Is it still romance or already erotica? I don't have a ton of experience with romance so idk how many sexy scenes a romance book has on average, but I feel like After has quite a lot of them? I mean, it's their way of making up after arguments, it's the only think that keeps them together, really. And I guess it's popularity comes mainly from it containing quite a lot of sex. But I feel like the scenes aren't *that* graphic, and the things they do aren't out of the ordinary. So it's probably still considered romance, right? Since the only reason Tessa stays with anger management king Hardin is because she's in love with him, not because the sex is so amazing or unique🤔

[@chandlerainsley]

it’s new adult romance

[@wochenente6977]

@@chandlerainsley and is the amount of sexual content within the average range of NA? Cause reading it, it feels...excessive. And idk if After is just NA being NA and that's normal amounts of sexual content or there are really more scenes like that than what's to be expected from NA because here it's an actual plotpoint (it's almost always used to make the characters make up after their fights)

[@rosieblue1689]

So smut is basically the book equivalent for porn. 🙌

[@chandlerainsley]

i mean.... ur not wrong

[@heathur256]

have you ever read the mageri series?? it's such trash fantasy romance. one of my FAVORITES

[@chandlerainsley]

ooo i haven't heard of it but def adding to the list!!