The Bergman Brothers - and Why Romance Matters!

[@ThePengfish]

Just think it's worth saying that Kit has done really well here for a first video. People tend to underestimate how difficult it is to speak well on camera, as I'm sure you well know by now! 😊

[@KitCronk]

Thank you! Also, all credit to The Book Guy for editing this so well - we had to record it TWICE, and the second time it was over an hour of footage that ended up a 20min video 😅 I'm great at public speaking to a crowd, but into a camera feels so different!

[@SleepyWiredStudios]

Kit has a lovely voice.

[@SleepyWiredStudios]

The Bergman Brothers series sounds a lot like the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid

[@KitCronk]

@@SleepyWiredStudiosyes! But more lighthearted. I’m reading through The Winston Brothers at the moment and hoooo-boy the abuse those kids (and some of the adult characters) copped was intense. Also, Cletus is my fave.

[@valliyarnl]

OMG THE BOOK GAL!! Love this video, Kit 💞

[@helsbelle]

I'm in a place where I need escapism and I read book 1 on your recommendation. I loved it! Got book 2 ready to start this week! Thanks, I would never have found this series otherwise!

[@rose_roots]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I loved this video, please do more! ;) I've been going through a reading slump and I think I found my cure!!!

[@RAHowes]

Nicely done! I'm not an avid romance reader, but I do enjoy the occasional one. It's great to see a measured discussion on the genre.

[@AlvrodBooks]

I LOVE romance, it is my prefered genre. As much as I love it, sometimes internet pressure makes me feel a little sad that I prefer such stories, but whenever I'm reading a good romance I'm reminded why I love it so much. With all due respect to all genres, nothing comes even close to what romance makes me feel. I'm so happy it's getting more popular and valued, as well as we having more stories with all kinds of diversity and representation.

[@KitCronk]

Yes. Just yes to all of this comment.

[@andieland1923]

This was so well done, amazing job, Kit!! Please please please do more romance videos! While I do love SFF, romance is my "safe" genre that I read most frequently because it doesn't trigger my anxiety as much. I've only read the 5th Bergman Brothers book (and LOVED it), I'm going to have to read the rest now!!

[@Djcooksandbooks]

Very nice introduction to the Romance series! 😃

[@PhoenixSuki]

Going to give the first one of these a read 🥰 thank you Kit. Hadn’t heard of these before. I am autistic as well, nice to hear that this series has good representation.

[@thestorytellingmathematician]

I'm not usually a fan of romance but I've been looking specifically for romance stories with disability rep (especially autism, adhd, and chronic illness) so I'll definitely check this out!!!

[@AlvrodBooks]

I've only read one but it was really good and left me wanting for more. Haven't read them myself, but Helen Hoang and Talia Hibbert are said to also have good representation for autism and ADHD

[@Readatrix]

If you like a fantasy element, you might like Allegra Pescatore. The author has a host of chronic illnesses and it's reflected in her books.

[@KitCronk]

​@@AlvrodBooksI've loved Talia Hibberts books, but just a quick warning that I found the autistic rep in the Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang a bit... problematic.

[@AlvrodBooks]

@@KitCronk thanks for letting me know! Can you explain it a bit more, please?

[@KitCronk]

@@AlvrodBooks it’s minor spoilers, but the premise of The Kiss Quotient is gender reversed Pretty Woman. The autistic female MC has some intense sensory issues with intimacy. But then she starts “practicing” with this guy, and they magically go away. And that’s just not how sensory issues work. It would have been more accurate / powerful to show how they as a couple accommodated her, rather than the issue just going away because he was so good at s-x. I also felt like the character just perpetuated a lot of autistic stereotypes, some of which are harmful. To be fair, the author herself realised she was autistic while writing the book, so I think her understanding and communication of autism might improve in her future books, I haven’t read them yet. It’s not a terrible book, but I just wouldn’t recommend it to people who haven’t read much other autistic rep to compare it to.

[@Beech27]

A bit of unsolicited advice to my fellow SFF reading guys here: there probably is romance you’d like, adjacent to subgenres you already love, and if you have a partner happy to buddy read with you, it’ll be an S-tier reading experience. Don’t self-reject!

[@intogrey2038]

Wonderful first video I do not really read Romance but this might change that.

[@theskeeter389]

omg I love this!! Have been looking forward to it since the q&a :)

[@ninjakedari5440]

YIPPIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Book Gal is here !!! YAHOOOOOOO !!!!!!!

[@carliewritesstuff]

MORE REPRESENTATION!!!! 🎉🎉🎉 absolutely loved this! Can’t wait for the next installment ❤

[@kirstendickinson1361]

Great Video! Personally, I read just about every fiction genre, so it's nice to see this on the channel. Would love to see more in the future 😊.

[@hanashadowlen]

You did a great job, Kit!! Romance (my fav series as the first discussed) and the normal sci-fi/fantasy content makes me love this channel more!!

[@AmandaInEly]

Kit, I've been looking forward to your voice. Nicely done!

[@thesuperheroguy1]

Well done! Make more videoes!

[@mastersal4644]

What a lovely video - loved the genre and looking forward to seeing more from the Book Gal.

[@susinok]

I love romance, and I'm happy that it's included here. I will check out this series.

[@rafaela00002]

personally, i don't care much about romance novels, but it's nice to hear kit talk about it!!

[@amyaybar7894]

One of my favorite series and authors. Great job summarizing it!

[@brunobaerlepups6269]

i have been looking to get into romance, so thank you so much for this

[@hectatereads105]

Well done! We’d love more Kit in the future 😊. I’m definitely going to check out this series as I’m adhd and autistic as well

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

Adding this series to my TBR, for sure-Thanks! 💖😊

[@nicolea8046]

well done, love seeing more Kit! You rocked it girl.

[@Nixapher]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassss! all hail the Queen ^_^

[@ann-sophiesick199]

Just downloaded the first book on my kindle while still watching the video

[@lilou8269]

I love this serie too ❤ great video

[@lorimariebee]

I usually read a few books at the same time and one is almost always a romance. It's nice when I want low stakes easy read when I need a break. I don't gravitate towards contemporary but this series sounds like I should check it out. Great job on the video!

[@KitCronk]

Honestly before this series contemporary romance wasn't really my thing either 😅 but there are some truly excellent ones.

[@lysandergrey]

i lost this video in the sea of my watch later playlist but finally got to it, and man, these books sound awesome!! i don't tend to enjoy romance stories - probably partly due to the internalized misogyny i'm still working through, partially because they usually are so heteronormative they're really frustrating (i'm trans, mostly gay, aromantic, and polyamorous, so hooo boy do i not have a typical relationship with... relationships, i suppose), and also romance just isn't a genre that moves me much - but it's really important to me to learn to respect books that other people enjoy, and honestly i'm so impressed by the list of representation you gave that i really might give this series a try. thank you, kit, genuinely

[@hamstershadow]

Best KZbin channel!

[@Avid_Reader]

Well done! I love how you finished the video dancing to NSYNC!

[@KitCronk]

Thank you! I have a tendency to break out into spontaneous music numbers when I'm nervous 😅

[@pixiestyx]

Loved this! I wonder if the surge of romantasy like Sarah J Maas has helped the romance genre get more popular in recent years (even though I'm not sure whether those books are classed as romance or not, maybe people got back into reading in general partially due to that and then hopped over to some romance books). I'm currently reading the Dragon Heart Legacy by Nora Roberts, and it's got a great mix of fantasy and romance! The Book Guy might even like it! ;) I'd love more romance reviews, I'm intrigued by these and will add them to my TBR!

[@KitCronk]

That’s an excellent point, I think the popularity of SJM acted as a bit of a gateway not just to get people back into reading but also made a lot of us realise how much we enjoyed the romance-y side of it and wanted more of it. Also thank you for the book recs, I’ll check them out!

[@CarpinchoStormBlessed]

Congratulations on your first video! I'm not a fan of Romance literature, but I'm all in for knowing about other generes and open up the spectrum. I hope we see the book gal more often! Cheers!

[@matthewbackhouse6309]

Yay a great video by the book Gal! i love the style of videos on this channel

[@Wouter_K]

What a fun video Kit. Very interesting and entertaining. Not a Romance reader at all but I love how you come up with all these examples that do not seem to adhere to my experiences and prejudices about this genre. Generally, I tend to hate how romances in any medium enforce toxic and unrealistic expectations in relationships. I'm saving this video for when I"m in a 'something fresh and different than my regular reading'-mood. Thanks!

[@ashleyscozybookcorner5577]

Amazing I love the channel merge! Fantastic job, you'll have to bring her back again in the future❤! Please lol

[@92ajdavis]

Not my cup of tea but very informative of my fiances favorite genre so I will be sending it her way ☺️

[@Readatrix]

I've read 3 or 4 books in the series and I've really enjoyed them. Edited to say I was going to say the Harry Potter references bother me, and so I'm glad you covered it. For fantasy fans who want disability rep, check out Allegra Pescatore.

[@lilybugslibrary]

Thanks for sharing. I love the Bergman Brothers.

[@juttascharlau7645]

Thank you for the incredibly well done video. I agree wholeheartedly with all the points you make and I'm especially stoked to see a video like this on a primarily sff book channel. A lot of folks that read sff seem to be more on the romance intolerant side and I'm always saddened by the ranting about romantic subplots or romantasy, for example, especially when so many people find comfort in reading stories centered around emotion, relationships and love. I'm primarily a sff reader, but in my late 30's/early 40's I went through a very challenging phase in my life (autism diagnosis, miscarriages, loss of parent, suspected fibromyalgia/other health problems). I discovered romance as a comfort genre and soon realised that there's a lot more to it, especially in terms of representation, just like you mentioned. I now regularly read romance and can use it as a tool to ward off stress and get through tough times. Neurodivergence, mental health and disability representation play a major part in what romance books I choose to read and enjoy. My favourite romance books are probably Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon and Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb (birding is one of my special interests). I really like the grumpy/sunshine, especially when a woman is grumpy like myself 😅 and enemies to lovers trope. I also think Chloe Liese's Wilmot Sisters series is stellar in terms of neurodivergence and mental health representation, however for me personally the pacing felt off. You've definitely convinced me to check out the Bergman siblings series next. So again, thank you for the video! This really needed to be said and you're doing an awesome job!

[@KitCronk]

What a wonderful comment, thanks so much for the book recs and your thoughts!! I really enjoyed the Wilmott Sisters books by Chloe Liese as well - it’s the first time I’ve read an autistic character with ARFID/food sensitivities and it was handled so beautifully, I cried 😅 understand what you mean about the pacing though, personally I think the Bergmans are better. I hope you enjoy them!

[@Readatrix]

@@juttascharlau7645 The Brown Sisters books by Talia Hibbert features chronic pain, anxiety, and neurodivergence.

[@KitCronk]

@@ReadatrixI really enjoyed the Brown Sisters series, the plus size rep is great too. The second book is my fave. Personally I felt a bit of the autistic rep in book 3 felt off, but overall still a great series.

[@Readatrix]

@@KitCronk I'll defer to you on the rep. Good to know!

[@KitCronk]

Oh I just saw a birding related romance was released today and rushed here to tell you! It's by India Holton (who is autistic and writes in prose style that makes my brain VERY happy). It's called The Ornithologists Field Guide To Love, I think. About two competing ornithologists looking for the same magical bird.

[@lilsnamp]

YAY VIDEO BY KIT YAYAYAYAYAYAY

[@alison-1921]

Nice video. Well done, Kit :)

[@thelibrarianofalexandria6200]

Been a romance reader a few years now. Great video Kit👏👏 My fave: Alyssa Cole historical romances, Alexandria bellefleur books, as a lot of people RWRB, the boyfriend project by farrah Rochon

[@Kialas]

Thank you!!!🎉 Great video! We want more! 😊

[@WhiningMoon]

Yay Kit!!! Didn’t see a notification so I’m late to this one, but great video! Hope you’ll do more romance recs 😊 even if I mostly read fantasy, probably still need to find the one that works for me. I tend to read romantasy between ‘heavier’ books, it’s for me the perfect cleanser between things. (The latest one I enjoyed was the serpent and the wings of night, far from perfect but I had fun) You guys are awesome and I hope you’re having a wonderful day. 🌻😊

[@rafaelsousa9447]

I have to say, Book Gal is a natural on camera! I haven't dabbled much in romance books, but I think they can be fun from time to time. I read two books with my girlfriend (and another one planned). One was a spicier one from Tessa Bailey and the other from Emily Henry. I enjoyed the latter much more, as I felt the characters and the plot were a lot better. I also think it handled the spice better by having a single scene closer to the end, instead of various scenes right from the near the start. There's a better tension management that way. Overall, I think it shows they're books by women for women: the male characters felt unrealistically flawless. Also, the books would have 100 pages less if characters communicated better. Sometimes it can be annoying to have miscommunication has a way to move the plot, but I guess in real life miscommunication also exists. And despite all the flaws I'd find, the truth is that there is an element of coziness in these books. And they're also easy to read and the pages flow fast and you always want to see what happens next.

[@KitCronk]

So much great stuff in this comment. I feel you about the miscommunication trope - it’s one of my least favourite things to see pop up in romance books. I’ve read a lot of Tessa Bailey and love her writing - but yes, it’s very different and probably more smutty than some other contemporary romance authors. I don’t think that’s a bad thing though, so long as you know what you’re in for when you pick up one of her books. I’m fascinated by your observation of the men being unrealistically perfect (I don’t disagree with you, there’s definitely a lot of intentional wish fulfilment in the genre)… do you think this is a dealbreaker for the genre on the whole? Because I’ve experienced a lot of the same with how male fantasy writers create female characters too. Not saying it’s OK on either side of things but it’s an interesting thought to compare!

[@kirstendickinson1361]

This kind of made me laugh. I feel like the miscommunication trope is so over used, and you quickly picked up on that after just 2 books 😆. I have read a few lately that didn't use it, so that's been nice.

[@rafaelsousa9447]

@@KitCronk Exactly, I picked that Tessa Bailey one because I specifically wanted a spicier one. But I found it interesting how I enjoyed the spice better in the other book, despite not being the focus as much. In the Tessa Bailey one (I think it was called It Happened One Summer), it had several sex scenes spaced throughout the book. But after the first, they felt more of the same. The one from Emily Henry was more like: tension... tension... tension... TENSION... AVALANCHE. Even if it was less explicit, I felt this management of tension made the payoff better. I also felt much more connected to the characters, so that helped. Yeah, I'm definitely recommending it! This one was You and Me on Vacation, by Emily Henry (there's also with the title People We Meet on Vacation) As for the male characters, I'll give the preamble that my sample size is quite small. But yeah, I felt they were a bit too perfect. Incredibly handsome and in great shape, polite and understanding, super into the protagonist, and of course, a greek god in bed. If it's a dealbreaker? I don't think so. I understand it's done on purpose, even. As long as everyone has a book that fits their needs, that's great. Reading a more wish-fulfillment book from time to time might just be what you need. But from these books I've read, I think the book would only have to gain by having the male protagonists having some flaws too. Like, instead of having him being in great shape from the get-go, why not have him start chubbier and then say "I want to work on myself?". Or instead of always being very into the girl, why not have him have some doubts?

[@Readatrix]

There are lessons for men in these books. While perfect (unrealistically flawless) isn't impossible, these books reveal what women really fantasize about. Of course, a lot of books are JUST fantasy, and don't try this at home, but there are nuggets of info that are truer than anything the pick-up artists and Andrew Tates of the world can provide. I just read a romance novel where the heroine wakes up after a night of steamy sex and finds he's plugged in her phone, and put her bonnet on her -- she's a Black woman. While they play with dominance a little, consent is there, and concern is there. In this plot, the heroine is having a tough couple weeks, and the hero's primary goal is to support her. The miscommunication trope is often mishandled. I think it works when it's a true extension of character and an opportunity to grow. It doesn't work when it's tossed in for a story beat and the result of character's not imparting logical information or -- and I hate this the most -- they uncannily get interrupted every time they start to clear things up.

[@KitCronk]

​@rafaelsousa9447 aaah I totally agree with you about a lot of romance men being physically "perfect" and immediately amazing in bed. I don't like that about the genre - I've been actively looking for books with more body diversity in the male love interests and have struggled to find them. But I will say I do love the wish fulfilment of male characters being enthusiastically romantic and sincere and emotionally communicative.

[@timburbagereads]

Well done Kit and Cronk. Great video.

[@caitcoy]

Yes! Love the defense of romance and actually convinced me to try Bergman Brothers even though I usually avoid contemporary romance. I love romance, just usually want more escapism. 😅

[@ArborWinterBarrow]

Omg 😲 adding Everything for You to my list. I love Roy Kent. Have you read B.K. Borison's Lovelight Farms books?

[@KitCronk]

Yes!! I just finished Business Casual yesterday and now I want to re-read the whole series. It’s so sweet.

[@subtlefire7256]

Such a great video, and I'm very impressed by just how well Kit did on her first try, wow. And these books sound really good! I always have such a hard time finding romance books I actually have a chance of enjoying. I adore a good love story, but as a genre it gets kind of difficult for me. The main problem for me is that I need to know and care about the characters in order to get swept up by the love story, and a lot of romance is naturally so focused on that one aspect that it often loses me pretty quickly. I just struggle to get emotionally invested when I've only just met characters and am supposed to immediately care about their love life and more or less only that aspect of their life and personality. That's also why almost all the romance I do read and enjoy is fanfiction lol, because I already know and care about the characters, so I'm already invested in their happiness. Hearing how Kit describes this series I need to know, has she read The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun? That one I DID love, and going by this series it might be something she'd enjoy.

[@Readatrix]

One of the best things about the Bergmans is that you really do get to know this family, and their friends, so you really get to fill more invested with each book.

[@KitCronk]

Thanks for your comment! I think you'd really enjoy this series, you get to know and love the characters really well. By the final book you will be SO invested in Viggo after waiting for his love story for so long! I started The Charm Offensive ages ago but didn't finish it. Not because of the book though, I think I was just in a reading slump and only got a few chapters in.

[@Alkemisti]

I have noticed that I like romantic K-dramas and anime shows (regardless of orientation) quite a lot, but I do not care much about romance otherwise. I do not know why it is so.

[@KitCronk]

Totally valid, it makes sense that there are some genres we like in certain mediums more than others. I've never watched a K Drama but I feel like I'd probably love them and get addicted 😅

[@Alkemisti]

@@KitCronk I recommend trying _Alchemy of Souls._ It is probably my favourite K-drama.

[@michaelaporee260]

Love Kit!

[@valliyarnl]

Also editing question: where do you guys find your memes? they're very good and when I edit I struggle a lot in finding the best clip. any advice? 🙈 thank you!!

[@madhulih]

Thanks for a great video! I'm still trying to figure out if I'm a romance reader or not. Some of my favorite fantasy books are romance heavy, but most of the straight up romances I've tried have been meh at best. I'll go give a Bergman brother (or sister) a try.

[@mariacifarelli4204]

Watch out book guy Kit is amazing …. 5 stars

[@92ajdavis]

Oh idk if you guys do mystery/detective books but the Harry Bosch series or Jo Nesbo Harry Hole series would be pretty cool.

[@valliyarnl]

Last comment, promise. Have you read Emily Henry? Would be very curious about your thoughts.

[@KitCronk]

I haven’t read any Emily Henry yet, but I’ve heard a lot about her! Any book of hers you would recommend to start with?

[@kirstendickinson1361]

Yes I would love to see this, Emily Henry is my favourite romance author. All of her books are good, but will say Happy Place feels more like literary fiction than a traditional romance. I just haven't read her latest book Funny Story yet (waiting for it to go on sale lol), but have heard great things about it.

[@valliyarnl]

@@KitCronk ooo so she’s very hit or miss for me (either loooove her book or hate it so she definitely has range and I think it’s about which book suits which person). I think an all around people pleaser is probably Book Lovers so I think it might be a safe bet?

[@Readatrix]

@@KitCronk I didn't think I'd like Emily Henry until I tried her. Romance is lower on my genre preferences than ever before. My fave is Book Lovers.

[@Tharia1981]

Cool, 2, 4 and 5 have 5 stars for me too. But 6 is 5 stars too, I liked that one and the last one, after the horrible start, got good too. I just hated half of the first book, I liked Ryder, but I hated Willa. And the 3rd book was a 1 star, because I can't give minus stars. And I can't rant enough about how much I hate Freya. I mean that poor man, Aiden, has anxiety, and Freya is such a bitch to him. What kind of wife is that? A selfish one and I hate her so much. I don't get people who like that book. But yes, 2, 4 and 5 were great and I loved them so much.

[@EmperorZelos]

Romance genre, great BUT DO WE FUCKING NEED ROMANCE EVERY WHERE ELSE!?

[@KitCronk]

Yes.

[@Readatrix]

@@EmperorZelos So you want every other genre to be devoid of romantic relationships?

[@kirstendickinson1361]

I mean, I would mind a little romance sprinkled into all the stories.

[@Readatrix]

@@kirstendickinson1361 Would or wouldn't?