I received an email from Lily, who is looking for some romances for a friend of hers who is going through what sounds like a very crappy divorce (not that there are all that many fun and exciting divorces, obviously).
I am looking for some books to recommend to a friend in the midst of a bad divorce. I know romance can often be a sort of…template? Guide? to examining situations and circumstances. The comment she made that I’m looking to resonate with was essentially, “He has hurt me on such a deep level that I literally don’t know if I can ever let someone else in completely.” I would like to give her a book or two that actually deals with that.
I know a LOT (and by lot I mean metric fuckton) of contemporary romances have a hero/ine/both who “got hurt” that one time and has sworn off love. But I can’t recall a single book that actually really examines that deeply, vs just using it as backstory/plot point to have some kind of impediment to the HEA. I can’t recall any that deal not with fidelity trust issues or “I’ve been wanted for my money/looks too much” trust issues or “s/he broke up with me and I will never do the feels again” issues but more the trust you have to give someone not to use your love for them against you. The shit she’s told me about makes all the scenarios I’ve read seem even more flimsy than they did before.
Admittedly I do not read all that much contemporary romance, so maybe the ones I’ve read were exceptions rather than the rule. Even if not I am hoping you’ve either read or heard about a few books that deal with this particular kind of hurt.
Sarah: I want to make sure I understand the query: you’re looking for romances, contemporary if possible, where the hero/heroine but preferably the heroine have major trust issues concerning fidelity to overcome in order to achieve their HEA. Is that right?
Lily: Definitely looking for contemp with major trust issues, though the reason for them doesn’t have to be infidelity. The main thing is having it treated as genuine deep emotional scarring that can’t be overcome by a couple nights of sex and a few words. (historicals would not be turned away if that’s what comes to you as treating this kind of subject seriously.)
Sarah: I can think of a few, but I know y’all probably have many to recommend.
First, Carrie rightfully suggested Fast Women and Faking It by Jennifer Crusie ( A | BN | K | G | ARe | iB ). I’d recommend Crazy People ( A | BN | iB ), a collection of short stories and sketches that are connected to her novel Crazy for You.
But in terms of deep pain from the actions of others, Deeper by Robin York ( A | BN | K | G | ARe | iB ) might fit, as it deals with the aftermath of revenge porn. And though historicals aren’t what was asked for, Seven Nights to Forever by Evangeline Collins (SB Grade: B-) deals with a hero who is abused by his spouse and is learning to be intimate with the heroine, who is a courtesan.
I know you must have some ideas, too. What do you suggest? We’re looking for books where the heroine or hero are dealing with big trust issues after a huge emotional hurt that undermines their ability to confide in people.
What do you recommend?