Fans of Eloisa James & Julia Quinn discussion

Well, it looks like it's Goodreads Choice Awards time again. What do y'all think of this year's slate of romances? I've gotta admit I really wish they would have created a New Adult category when it became obvious that all but two of the selections would be NA. Not that I don't think they count as romance but because I think the ballot should reflect all kinds of romances. And there's no chance to vote for either JQ or EJ. :(

I thought the same thing. I really do wish they would have sub-genres for some of these categories that have so many subs in them. That way they can also be represented and not just by one book, like last years. (50 Shades... no~) >_<

JQ entered Sum of All Kisses as write-in and I seconded (or hundredth...) that vote.

How can one determine the best of a given year if the year is not yet over?

Kym wrote: "How can one determine the best of a given year if the year is not yet over?"

They go from November 2012 to November 2013. The best of 2014 will run from November 2013 to November 2014. So it is technically a year. Just crosses over from one year to the next.

Ki wrote: "I thought the same thing. I really do wish they would have sub-genres for some of these categories that have so many subs in them. That way they can also be represented and not just by one book, li..."

I agree with you, Ki. In this category I had not yet read one of the books and I've read plenty of Romance books that were new this year. I think they should have several sub-genres here!

Everyone I know who reads traditional romance is very surprised by the selection. As you say, Manda, dominated by NA and by erotica / romantica. How do they nominate the books, in fact?

Of course it's normal that NA be represented, but not the detriment of contemporary and historical romance. I don't know the statistics, but it doesn't seem representative of the most popular styles of reading.

All I can think, Pirouette, is that because these NA and Erotic romances came on the heels of Fifty Shades, with its huge audience, they have been read and rated by more people than typical contemporary, historical, and paranormal romances. And that GR is relying strictly on numbers. A few years ago when they had the first GR Choice awards they had lots of books in the romance category that weren't even actual romances. Their explanation then was that they were going strictly by books shelved as "romance." Which, since many folks don't know the RWA definition of romance where a happy ending or happy for now is required, meant that lots of romantic but not romance novels were on the list.

I suppose we romance fans must seem picky to people who don't know or care about the distinctions between the subgenres but I think we, above other fandoms, really know how important those distinctions can be--especially since for some of us "romance reading" is compromised of only one subgenre, with only an occasional cross-over.

Ah well. Maybe we should start a List of our favorite romances of the year...anybody want to start?

I can't take on this project, but I'd be really grateful to see some lists that allow for us to add our own contributions -- then we'd have a really good list of recommendations, wouldn't we? Maybe the person [bless her] would start out with sub-genres, so people who don't read paranormal, or time-travel, or werewolves, or regency or contemporary, or whatever, can find the lists they want to see. Now I'm just being really fussy when I am not the volunteer.... :)

LOL I thought someone already started or did something like a list before? Hmmm Maybe it was also just a suggestion in another group chat?

But I'm all in Manda! But Charlene does make a good point although I would love to see them all together because I do like to jump for sub-genre to sub-genre. It'll just be easier for me, personally, to look through.

Okay, here we go:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

I've only clicked on your first list, and I already want to read the Ruthie Knox and the Penny Reid. I should stay away from the other lists ;) I've already got Terri's :p

I get it now, if you say that it is solely based on numbers of readers. It is sad news if this is what most people are reading, but that is just my opinion as a traditional romance reader.

Hopefully NA will bring some of those readers to traditional romance. A rising tide raises all ships, and all that. At least that's what I'm crossing my fingers for!