Pop Sugar's Annual Ultimate Reading Challenge discussion

Ok, this may be a silly one to be stumped by - but what is everyone reading for this category? I guess a lot of YA dystopians would fit this right? Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm reading The Time Travelers Wife.

ooohhh, thats a good idea, I've been meaning to read that one for awhile now... :)

I haven't picked anything out for this category yet, but here's a thread with people suggestion futuristic romances: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I haven't read through the whole thing, so I'm not sure how helpful it will be.

Here's an actual list of books that might fit: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

One more post I found: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

That one looks the most promising to me.

I was also concerned about finding a book for this category, which meant that I ended up reading it really early in the year.

I'm using Cinder from the Lunar Chronicles for this category as it's definitely future and romance-y enough to count. I was originally planning to use this for the fairy tale category, but I'm honestly more excited about the options for fairy tale adaptions, and would rather just knock this one off of the list.

I have Freak of Nature by Julia Crane on my list for this category. It seems like it would fit, but I probably won't know for certain until I start reading it. Has anyone else read this book that would know?

I was stumped by this one too!! But then I was randomly in a bookstore and saw this:
The Mammoth Book of Futuristjc Romances.

Isbn: 9781780330389

I'm going with Orx and Crake. The description begins with "Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future," and Margaret Atwood calls her work an, "adventurist romance."

Stacey wrote: "I'm going with Orx and Crake. The description begins with "Oryx and Crake is at once an unforgettable love story and a compelling vision of the future," and Margaret Atwood calls her work an, "adve..."

It is. Oryx and Crake is a beuatiful book. I started reading Illuminae and realised it fits the category. I don't like it that much so far, but it has a love story in it and it's set in the future so... :D

I'm thinking "Divergent".....but I don't know if it'll fit. I don't know how much 'romance' is in there in the book, I'm only sure about the 'future' part.

Ran wrote: "I'm thinking "Divergent".....but I don't know if it'll fit. I don't know how much 'romance' is in there in the book, I'm only sure about the 'future' part."
Divergent will definitely fit into this task. If I hadn't read it for the trilogy task last year, I would be reading it for the future romance this year.

Sam wrote: "Ran wrote: "I'm thinking "Divergent".....but I don't know if it'll fit. I don't know how much 'romance' is in there in the book, I'm only sure about the 'future' part."
Divergent will definitely fi..."


Yesss! Thank you so much Sam! I will definitely get "Divergent" next time I go to the bookstore.

Jayne Castle writes futuristic romances with a strong thriller plot. You might know her as Amanda Quick (historicals) or Jayne Anne Krentz ( contemporaries). Jayne is a good writer. Another option is Yasmin Galenorn's Otherworld series, which I found through her mysteries written as India Ink. Lots of authors use pseudonyms when crossing genres.

I had an epiphany last night! We are all thinking far too narrowly as to the meaning of 'romance' in a novel. 'Romance' in literature has meant a tale of adventure and chivalry of some sort - Dumas Pere et Fils wrote romances, for example, or the King Arthur stories. 'Romance' does not just mean it has to be a love story or have a love story in it.

Merriam Webster Unabridged definition of 'romance':

1. A medieval tale of of knightly adventure;
2. A prose narrative dealing with heroic or or mysterious events set in a remote time or place:
3. A love story;
4. A romantic attachment or episode between lovers.

This opens things right up - no love story needed! I think I'll head straight to fantasy -- something set in the future involving heroic or mysterious events should be a pretty easy find? At least it gives a broader area to look.

Interesting Theresa, I might look into that closer to when I am gonna try to check off this category

You can also read any of the "IN Death" series by JD Robb. All of them are romances set in the future

Samantha -- great suggestion! I've been meaning to try out JD Robb and this might just be the vehicle to do it. I also believe I have copies of a couple of the paperbacks passed on from friends and family.

I thought of an excellent book for this category -- 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. Yes, it was made into a blockbuster of a movie with Matt Damon but that does not mean the book can't stand on its own and give you a whole new experience.

Theresa wrote: "I had an epiphany last night! We are all thinking far too narrowly as to the meaning of 'romance' in a novel. 'Romance' in literature has meant a tale of adventure and chivalry of some sort - Dumas..."
Oh now that's a thought. With that interpretation I'm tempted to use the last Patrick Ness book in the Chaos walking trilogy 'Monsters of men.'

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart