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Business Insider •

I spent my entire life running from my hometown. At 32, I moved back to save money, and I've never been happier.

When I left my small Maine hometown for college at 17, I felt ecstatic.

It was a good place to grow up, but I was ready to meet people who hadn't known me since I was in diapers, see new things, and move far away … permanently.

So, when I decided to move back home a few months before my 33rd birthday, no one was more shocked than I was.

I figured this would be a temporary phase — something I'd endure, a layover on my way to somewhere better. I certainly didn't expect to bloom in a place I'd o...
Dipsea •

12 slow burn romance books that are worth the wait

Romance is all about the fantasy, but love at first sight isn't for everyone. If instalove would have you rolling your eyes in real life, you might need something that takes its time. With the slow burn trope, the connection between the love interests starts small and grows slowly. The pining, the tension, the angst, the anticipation…all of it simmers on a low flame until it suddenly erupts into a boil.And after such an intense build-up, the relief of the love interests finally getting together...
Dipsea •

11 full cast audiobooks to get lost in (romance & more)

Audiobooks have come a long way! What started as simple one-person readings of the books we know and love has evolved into a whole production. In particular, full cast audiobooks—where different narrators combine to voice individual characters—help bring each moment to life.So ditch your podcasts and discover different worlds brought to life by a full cast of narrators with 12 of the best full cast audiobooks.The way this story is framed as an oral history of an iconic fictional band from the 19...
Dipsea •

13 enemies-to-lovers romance books that have everyone talking

We all have a person that just…bothers us. They’re annoying, frustrating, and sometimes rude. Or maybe they’re perfectly nice and that makes us even MORE annoyed because we can’t figure out why we don’t like them. Then suddenly everything changes. And mayyyyybe that sworn enemy isn’t that bad after all.Enemies-to-lovers books serve up all the laughs, steam, and emotions we’ve come to love from romance books with a hefty serving of tension, annoyance, angst, irritation, and chemistry. These chara...
Dipsea •

9 romantasy book worlds to get lost in ASAP

Romantasy is having a moment like no other genre. Part romance, part fantasy, it’s 100% fun and it’s no wonder why romantasy books are climbing the bestsellers list.One of the best parts about reading is being able to dive head-first into different worlds. In fantasy romance books, the worlds are jaw-dropping. The details, the characters, the plots—all of it combines to create an epic fantasy world you want to stay lost in.And with so many romantasy novels being part of a series, you get to stay...
Dipsea •

15 spicy romance books to break you out of your reading slump

Sure, you’ve heard of #BookTok, but what about #SpicyBookTok? Scroll for just a few minutes and you’ll be flooded with spicy romance novels packed with all of the sweet moments and tropes we love with the addition of open-door steamy scenes.From contemporary romance to romantasy, sports romance to historical romance, you won’t find any fade-to-black scenes in these books! Between the loveable characters, incredible plots, and steamy scenes, these spicy books will have you blushing and swooning a...
Dipsea •

Why the enemies-to-lovers trope makes you swoon every time

The enemies-to-lovers trope has been captivating readers since the dawn of time (well, since “Pride and Prejudice,” Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy hit the scene anyways). And while Jane Austen might have written the blueprint, a quick scroll on #BookTok will tell you this trope is still one of the most beloved today.The enemies-to-lovers trope centers around love interests who for some reason do not like each other. Whether they’re sworn enemies, workplace rivals, at odds over a misunderstanding, or j...
Dipsea •

Why you’re obsessed with the forced proximity trope (and what to read)

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder but any good BookTok fan will tell you that nothing stokes the flames of love quite like forced proximity.The forced proximity trope in romance novels is centered around the idea that for some reason our main characters are forced to spend time together in close quarters.This can come in tons of different packages:No matter the circumstance, this trope revolves around our characters spending a lot of time together (and, no, they're not always happy ab...
Dipsea •

12 books to read when you’re done with “Fourth Wing”

If you’ve been anywhere near BookTok, then you probably know that Rebecca Yarros took the world by storm with “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.”The epic fantasy series captivated readers with the dangerous lives of dragon riders at Basgiath War College and the sizzling chemistry between Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson. Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance?“Iron Flame” ended on a cliffhanger, and the third book in the series, “Onyx Storm,” doesn’t come out until January. What’s...
Dipsea •

14 second chance romance books you need to read ASAP

The saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try again” has never rang truer than with second chance romance novels. These books focus on main characters who have had love slip through their fingers but now, they’re lucky enough to get a second chance.Second chance romance novels are filled with drama, tension, and angst, and are usually a bit of a slow burn. After all, there’s years of history and heartbreak to wade through before we can get to a happy ending!This trope can manifest in a lot of d...
Dipsea •

Why the touch her and die trope wins booklovers over every time

Whether you’re brand new to this trope or have been a fan since you first read Twilight and were smitten with Edward’s protective streak, welcome to Touch Her and Die Trope 101. Grab your notebook and your Kindle because class is in session!With this trope, one main character is super protective of the other and they have no problem letting that be known. The name stems from a fan-favorite scene that often comes up in this trope: where the protective character implies (or blatantly states) that...
Dipsea •

11 spicy audiobooks to press play on right now

Audiobooks are a great way to sneak in a little reading time into a packed schedule. Stuck commuting? Swap your favorite podcast for an audiobook! Making dinner? Audiobook time! On a hot girl walk? You guessed it—grab your earbuds and queue up a spicy audiobook.From theatrical dramatizations that are like a movie for your ears to full cast audiobooks to single narrator stories, there’s no bad way to consume an audiobook. From contemporary romance to fantasy epics, it’s easy to find a love story...
Dipsea •

Steam + STEM: 12 college romance books we gave an A+ to

When the nights are cooler, the back-to-school supplies appear at Target, and pumpkin spice flavored goodies start popping up, I automatically crave a college romance novel.From Ivy League colleges brimming with small town charm to magical universities teeming with mythical creatures, college campuses are the perfect backdrop for a love story. Grab your bookbag and go back to college life with some of the best college romance books out there!Garrett is the captain of the hockey team at Briar Uni...
Dipsea •

What is a slow burn? Shows, movies & books that simmer slowly

What do Luke and Lorelai from “Gilmore Girls,” Nick and Jess from “New Girl,” and Jake and Amy from “Brooklyn 99” all have in common (well, apart from being fan-favorite couples)? Yup, you guessed it: all three of these iconic relationships are slow burn romances. From the moment they stepped on our screens we knew the chemistry was there, but it took entire seasons before they got together (and sometimes even longer to get together and stay together).So what is it that makes us love the slow bu...
Dipsea •

Opposites attract: Why we love it and what to read

If there’s one thing I know about physics (actually, the only thing) it’s this: opposites attract. True in physics and true in fiction, opposites attract is more than just a catchy song by Paula Abdul: It’s the foundation on which many a beloved BookTok romance is built.The “opposites attract” trope is when a character is attracted to someone who is completely different from them. Whether the main characters are enemies who hate each other at first glance, an extrovert high school football playe...
Dipsea •

Why you love a love triangle so much (and what to read)

Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?Who was Rory’s best boyfriend: Dean, Jess, or Logan?Should Carrie have ended up with Aidan instead of Big?If you have an answer ready to go for any of these questions (and are ready to defend that position!), then congratulations: You’re a fan of the love triangle trope.Take a look around and you’ll find some of your favorite books, movies, and TV shows are packed with the love triangle trope. From fantasy romance favorites like “Twilight” and “Vampire Diaries”...
Dipsea •

10 lesbian authors you need to read right now

Radclyffe Hall first blazed the trail for lesbian writers and lesbian romance stories when she published the lesbian novel “The Well of Loneliness.” Nearly a century later, queer women have become an incredible force, publishing everything from thrillers to memoirs to books of poetry. When it comes to romance, there’s no shortage of incredible options.Here are some of the best sapphic authors taking the romance genre by storm.Nobody writes a friends-to-lovers sapphic romance like Haley Cass! Her...

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