Reacting to the Goodreads Choice Awards 2023 | Romance and Romantasy Categories

[@midnightblack07]

Nothing makes me feel as if I'm NOT the target audience for mainstream romance than the GR Choice Awards. The fact that they never include historical romance is already a big enough let down for me. I do like that they added a Romantasy category because the subgenre is catering to a unique audience and its a powerhouse within the industry right now. I voted for Carissa Broadbent's Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (which I LOVED), but we all know Fourth Wing is going to clean house lol.

[@kartik3719]

Oh they DEFINITELY made the romantasy category just to put Fourth Wing in 😂

[@elise85391]

The fantasy readers readers would have RIOTED if they put Fourth Wing in Fantasy and it won, so I kind of get it😂

[@chriswildfire]

@@elise85391yup was saying the same thing

[@taylorgayhart9497]

Can we talk about how there was not a single queer story and only ONE author of color in the Romance category, and only three authors of color in Romantasy, when one white author was on that list THREE times, so there was DEFINITELY room for more diversity?!?!

[@ladyfoxreader1608]

i thought this award to judge the books not the author's skin colour

[@aliesbookishlife]

I agree! But Pucking Around is queer!

[@lunacarmin]

Every year we KNOW some books are just nominated because author is always there, not because the book is great

[@lindscap]

Give yourself the gift of reading The True Love Experiment! In the author’s note they call it something like their love letter to romance. It’s really something special.

[@brooke4556]

I second this! This is one of their better books for sure.

[@victoriasromancereads]

I voted for The Right Move I absolutely loved that book! Maybe instead of reading books on the list you could read books by BIPOC authors that should have made the list

[@shelleyfrank6909]

In The Likely Event was actually VERY interesting and felt very different from anything I'd ever read before and completely engrossing. I read it in one sitting and was sad when it was over and there wasn't any left to read. I've been resisting Fourth Wing but decided to give Yarros a try with this one and I think I'll be reading Fourth Wing now because I enjoyed In The Likely Event so much.

[@jessicaweisenburger9911]

Fourth wing is so worth the read

[@juliep971]

I feel the same way about In the likely event. I really liked how we see these characters together and apart and their struggles. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this.

[@elise85391]

I thought it was weird that they didn't have a Middle Grade section this year. Like that just gets zero recognition as one of the three major reading group categories? I thought that was kind of weird. I don't read a ton of middle grade, but I was just surprised it wasn't even a category. I think I only voted in 3 or 4 categories because for most of them I haven't read a single book.

[@hiddenrainbow12]

The true love experiment is EXCELENCE by CL. It's so good it hurts. Their best yet imo. Give it a chance!

[@shelleyfrank6909]

BIG agree here. I loved it more than I've enjoyed any of their other books and up until then Twice In A Blue Moon was my favorite. But The True Love Experiment was incredibly good. And now I'm sitting here thinking that I might reread it today 🤣

[@sassycatz4470]

I loved The Soulmate Equation, so I'm definitely planning to read The True Love Experiment.@@shelleyfrank6909

[@cherylNA]

The power of a Reese’s book club pick….I think that’s why Curtis Sittenfeld was included because her book was a club pick in the Spring.

[@pardonthisbookaddict]

I’m feeling salty that Kennedy Ryan isn’t on there. I didn’t read 7 of them.

[@jmf670]

Hanging City is likely on there based on purchases noy reviews, it was an Amazon First Reads book a few months ago so was free and advertised

[@Gabby-vi2oq]

I voted Love, Theoretically (it is… just the best), but I HIGHLY recommend you also decide to read the Katherine Center book! It’s amazing!!!

[@yaelsbookthoughts9792]

I'm actually curious about the Rebecca Yarros "In the likely event" book. I'm only a bit hesitant since it's supposed to span several decades... but it boasts a strong politician heroine and a bodyguard hero, forbidden relationship... it all sounds really good... I'm excited!

[@teganbaker-smith9387]

I adore this book! Its told in flashbacks and present time. If that doesnt put you off

[@melaniewhite7677]

The Romantasy options are basically Fourth Wing. How do they make these lists? Is it based on sales and reviews?

[@cassiek67]

I read Romantic Comedy and gave it 5 stars. I’d consider it a romance, especially if books like Emily Henry’s books get to be counted as romance! But Yours Truly got my vote, hands down.

[@wantonoboe]

You would love the angst of In The Likely Event. It's somewhat set in Afghanistan, but it's a dual / multi timeline second chance romance that takes place in multiple locations in the past. It was really beautiful, definitely my pick for this year.

[@kells11290]

I’m voting for yours truly! Currently reading things we hide from the light and planning on reading the seven year slip so my vote may change

[@brendacollier5075]

The True Love Experiment is fantastic.

[@aliesbookishlife]

I had to vote for Pucking Around because to see an RH/poly book on there is so exciting!!

[@brendaprimeau4272]

I was shocked that Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go wasn’t on the list! That was a 5 star read for me! I voted for Abby Jimenez’s Yours Truly. It was so good! And I actually enjoyed CL’s The True Love Experiment. You, Again does have some queer romance in it from what I understand. I have a copy from BOTM that I haven’t read yet.

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

Kennedy said her book didn’t qualify because I think it just missed the cutoff?

[@Therealhousewifeofreno]

A long time coming was my favorite of the three. It was really cute and made me laugh.

[@emmaclark5836]

is abby jimenez not poc? it’s probably bad of me to assume but that’s a very poc last name to me. either way, there still needs to be more poc authors on this list.

[@jkpiowa]

No, I think she's American-Sicilian.

[@emmaclark5836]

@@jkpiowa ohhh okay that makes sense! thanks for letting me know

[@steffisteffie7703]

In the likely event was really awesome ❤ Yes it takes place in Afghanistan, but that only intensifies their lovestory 😊

[@60sbaby70sgirl]

In the Likely Event was an Amazon First Reads pick so I think that might have made a difference in it being chosen because a lot of people probably got it when it was available for free to them. I got it then but haven't read it yet. I think you should read the Katherine Center book. I loved that one. I'm not sure what I'm going to vote for in the romance category because there are 3 that I truly loved. I wish I could vote for all of them. I don't read the fantasy so I won't be voting in that category.

[@Cityofstarlightvelaris]

A court this cruel and lovely is so so so good!!

[@Georgia7Pap]

I voted for Ana Huang and Scarlett St. Claire. They are the only ones that I read. And I read them as soon as they released. I have a few of the rest on my tbr like Happy place and Love theoretically. Also the Jennifer L. Armentrout books are always a must read. At some point I'll also read Forth wing. I'm waiting for more books to come out in the series.

[@danimorin6283]

haven't even watched this yet but i must immediately comment on your side eye in the thumbnail 🤣

[@mirandaolson7403]

Assistant to the Villain does have a romance 😊 It’s no spice, but a cute and cozy read. I enjoyed it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Persophone73]

I liked A Long Time Coming. I struggle with RomComs but this one is really cute.

[@allisonmyers5874]

Ok hear me out: - one true love experiment is special! It's so freaking good. CL is usually whatever, but this book is really, really well done. Pls read! - the hanging city was really different and good! Great world building and awesome characters. It's really well written. - love, theoretically is my fav Ali Hazelwood by a lot. So funny and sweet. - happy place was too depressing and boring to claim happy in the title tbh.

[@moodyfloral6234]

As a queer person I‘m also disappointed that there‘s next to no representation in the awards, but I did want to point out that the FMC in You, Again is queer and it does play a role in the plot because of her ex. (It‘s also my fave book of the year)

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

That’s what someone told me yesterday!! I didn’t know that it had a queer character! That definitely makes me more interested in reading it! The list definitely still needs more queer rep!

[@teganbaker-smith9387]

In the likely event is my favourite book of 2023z

[@liezllovesbooks]

Christi Read An Unlikely Event by Rebecca Yaros, and she gave it 2 stars so I’m not excited about that one. oh my God, but did you see Lacey got an ark of caution to the wind

[@jenastorm86]

The book the coven is really good

[@Townsendhouse1]

The Coven is really good! First in a series.

[@poodlemuffin]

Dumb question, but I’ve seen a few different reaction videos over a number of genres now and I’m genuinely questioning my assumption. Aren’t the nominations based off the most read or a similar metric? That means the chronic lack of diversity is down to the people reading and rating rather than Goodreads. I feel unclean even sort of defending an Amazon company, but this feels very much like a problem with the general reading population.

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

It’s supposedly based on the amount of times a book has been shelved on goodreads, but it’s for-sure a curated list. Especially seeing how many books they ignore (like indie romances). They’ve added books that weren’t necessarily the most shelved in years past. But yes, reading on goodreads in general severely lacks diversity, which is a bigger problem in itself.

[@chriswildfire]

@@PeaceLoveBooksxo yes it goes by most popular most shelved not the highest rated as long as it’s above a 3.5 but I still question what they consider a romance I saw that book in the likely event and I didn’t predict it would be romance seen more like chick lit

[@melaniewhite7677]

I voted for Final Offer.

[@justinkhchen]

I'm surprised Forget Me Not by Julie Soto isn't there! Otherwise my vote will go to The Seven Year Slip.

[@daKal481]

I think Reckless was better than Powerless. I listened to The Long Game audio - the narrators were amazing which made me really enjoy this book. The male had a sexy, British accent and the female was fantastic. Give it a try.

[@ruffoloreads]

I was SO disappointed with this list.. like WHAT?! caught off guard for sure... but I guess its nice to see fine print and elsie and such. ugh idk.. never heard of the Rebecca Yarros one lol

[@SharonReads-ob7mk]

Honest question: what makes The bodyguard or Hello stranger not really a romance? Don’t they have an hea and a couple that are interested romantically in each other?

[@manana6646]

I don't really get it either.. I voted for Hello stranger. I enjoyed reading it so much. It was such a fun and different plot. The ending was kind of meh but it still is the book that stood out from the others for me. I almost voted for the seven year slip but it was too instalove. I mean, let's be real, (while talking about a ghost story 🤣) the characters barely interacted.

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

The story doesn’t actually center the romance, it’s just a subplot to the actual plot which is about the character’s journey, which makes it more fiction than romance.

[@susannahedwards758]

How is Romantic Comedy not a romance?

[@taylorburks6835]

Hey Jess I'm disappointed that there is a lack of diversity in the Goodreads Awards this year

[@melissarodriguez2062]

Lauren Asher is Cuban American. Her family left Cuba 🇨🇺 when Castro took power.

[@Nt-ns6dj]

There are no black authors

[@velvetstonebraker9874]

Really disappointed in the list this year! BIPOC needs to be more represented

[@sassycatz4470]

I own both Romantic Comedy and Hello Stranger and plan to read them at some point, but probably not before the winner of the category is chosen. I have no problem with so called women's fiction that has a romance element being in the category, mostly because I don't care for calling a genre "women's fiction" since they don't have a "men's fiction," so if a story has a romance in it and it ends happily why not include it if it deserves it? What I do have a problem with is the total lack of historical romance. I just don't get that at all -- leaving aside the lack of diversity which is bad -- but NO historical romance? That's a huge part of the romance genre!

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

There’s a fiction category, so I would prefer those to be place in fiction rather than the romance category. But yes, I would love to see more historical romance on the list!!

[@sassycatz4470]

I would agree if that could be more easily defined. I haven't read either of the books currently nominated, but I've read both authors before and I would definitely say that Katherine Center writes romance. Sittenfeld is more debatable. I only read her Eligible which was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. That's why I think it could be up for interpretation. @@PeaceLoveBooksxo

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I haven’t read more then half of these 😬

[@jesstheneverendingbookshelf]

I was so disappointed and confused by the books nominated in the romance category this year. Apart from the lack of queer books by POC authors/featuring POC characters. Why are there so many that only just came out? In regard to The Unlikely Event by Rebecca Yarros, that was pretty hyped before it released and after and is very typical of her contemporary usually. Fourth Wing was her first dip into fantasy, which made her a household name, but she typically writes contemporary with military aspects as she is from military family. Pucking Around by Emily Rath is huge of tiktok and was picked up by a trad publisher this year.

[@PeaceLoveBooksxo]

I’ve been reading Rebecca yarros for years, I’m just not interested in her new romance and was surprised to see so many people have read it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@toribrookss]

the lack of diversity in the GRCAs is always disappointing but especially this year!

[@zubaerchaudhari8267]

Hello there hey

[@caracoates4834]

In my opinion We Hide from the Light was better than book 3 personally.

[@hannahduncan4223]

I mean its still not enough but Abby Jimenez is POC isnt she?

[@happily_ever_april]

the goodreads choices are whack. i loved the coven and jess has read it too. but i think thats because its our catnip lol.

[@leanrtospeel]

Yeah I'm not super interested in the book selection this year.

[@punkinpiebeadyeye]

I think the majority of readers really don't like to read about queer couples🤷🏼‍♀️not meant to be a hateful comment so please don't take it that way!

[@marcielajoy4802]

Queer people should get over themselves, you’re not the center of the world

[@velvetstonebraker9874]

Everyone deserves to be represented and celebrated.

[@marcielajoy4802]

@@velvetstonebraker9874 haven’t the LGBT community been celebrated enough ?? even now people keep celebrating the community just because there wasn’t queer romance in every categories you guys still keep whining

[@marcielajoy4802]

@@velvetstonebraker9874 and that’s the problem with you guys , you always want more and more no matter how much people keep celebrating and representing the queer community , that’s so selfish you guys are so self-centered