beach reads that won't melt your brain

"Romantasy" BookTok hasn't won yet

Okay, this is a little different than other essays I’ve published here. But it’s my Substack, and I’ll do what I want.

If you’re on the Internet, chances are you’ve heard of BookTok, a community of readers on TikTok and Instagram mostly discussing and promoting fantasy and romance novels. I’ve followed this community, from a respectable distance, for a while now. I have been reading fantasy for about as long as I can remember (my mom is a fantasy author), and I personally love a little romantic subplot. I’ve read a few of these “BookTok books” and some of them are pretty good — but many are not. I think, as is often the case with trends in artistic spaces, anything deliberately intended to follow a certain trend will fall flat. Romance as a genre is especially dependent on “tropes” nowadays — enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, “oh no there’s only one bed!!!”, etc. This has bled into the genre of romantic fantasy (“romantasy”). Tropes are tropes for a reason — they’re fun and they often work as plot devices — but if they’re forced, you can tell. Personally I don’t like when books feel inauthentic in that way, or are clearly trying to make me like them, simply because I fall into their target audience of young women.

You might have also heard about the spice-ification of fantasy and romance books. “Is there spice??” is a very common comment under any video about a book on the Internet these days. I won’t go into this whole controversy; just know I’m not a fan.

BUT. Just because books are overly marketed or share the same genre classification as a book you don’t like doesn’t mean they’re bad. And of course, just because they are marketed towards and mainly enjoyed by young women also doesn’t mean they’re stupid, or shallow, or any other words I’ve heard to describe this genre. In many Catholic/Christian circles, I find people declaring that Lewis and Tolkien are the only fantasy authors worth reading (sometimes they throw in Sanderson if they’re feeling generous). I think that’s too bad; there are so many good books being published today. I still like reading modern fantasy — even romantic fantasy! — despite being disappointed a few times in recent years. Plus, it’s almost summer. Far be it from me to deny the need for a good fantasy or romance book to bring to the pool or beach. So here are some romantic fantasy (the best of both worlds) recommendations. Just for fun!

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

I read this book a couple summers ago and absolutely fell in love. It might even be one of my favorite novels. It’s set on a fictional island off the coast of Scotland, inhabited by two clans who generally dislike each other. Jack, one of our main characters, has been off on the mainland studying music for years, but he is called back home to the island when young girls start mysteriously going missing. There is a subtle magic system involving music, wind, and weaving; a coming-of-age love story, a mystery, and a very touching plotline about marriage and family. Sidra was my favorite character — I loved how she discovered the deeply beautiful and painful joy of being a wife and mother through all of her suffering and uncertainty. And the atmosphere of this novel is stunning! Lots of mountains, forests, and plaid.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

I have to thank my mom for putting me on this one. It’s a short novel with a distinct fairy tale feel. The protagonist, Marra, is in her thirties (which is ancient compared to most fantasy main characters) and struggles with social anxiety. This is in many ways her biggest obstacle in her quest to save her sister from her abusive royal husband, and I loved the way Marra’s mental health was portrayed without ever being preachy. Along the way, she befriends a fairy godmother and a possessed chicken, as well as a down-on-his-luck knight who is an endearing love interest. Classic, charming fantasy without being cliche.

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

This one is YA, but still feels mature. Again, thanks, Mom, for putting me on this one! My friends and I have a joke that we were all obsessed with historical tragedies as children (think the Titanic, triangle shirtwaist factory, orphan trains, etc). Mine was the Black Death. Don’t ask me why. But imagine my excitement when I found out that’s what this book was based on! It’s set in a kingdom rising from the ashes of its own fictional Black Death, and the protagonist is a young noble returning from years of exile. He has survived the plague and it’s left him with the ability to see and talk to ghosts, and the inability to form meaningful connections to the world and people around him. But he is thrown against his will into the search for a mysterious assassin and a friendship with a kindred spirit. The main character’s point of view was written so well that I really felt a bond with him by the end of the book, and his trauma both enhances and obscures many of the world building elements in a fascinating way. Overall it’s sort of a bleak story but tinged with hope and redemption.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

This is another YA novel that I’ve enjoyed as an adult. I was told it was reminiscent of Spirited Away, and I agree that the aesthetic is similar, but it’s not quite as…well, strange. The Studio Ghibli vibes are still strong, though, and the best word I can think of to describe this story is heartwarming. It’s set in a beautiful world based on Asian mythology, following a young girl who deeply loves her family and her home, and who must learn how integral self-sacrifice is to true, lasting love. I cried at least once while reading this, which is always a great look at the neighborhood pool.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

This one is kind of a deep cut. Circa 2010ish, Cashore’s book Graceling was pretty popular, but I didn’t much care for it. Fire is technically the second book in the Graceling “trilogy”, even though it’s a prequel and reads like a standalone. Basically, you don’t need to read Graceling to read Fire. It took me a while to pick it up, but I’m glad I did! Fire is also the name of the main character, who is cursed with a monstrous beauty that makes people, especially men, become obsessed with her (in an often dangerous way). This premise almost turned me off from the book, but it’s actually handled very well. Fire doesn’t hate men, or anyone for that matter, which becomes more and more difficult throughout the book. She is brought to the royal court to use her powers to uncover a plot against the king. This is a more classic fantasy book in that there is a lot of political intrigue, but equally compelling is what is happening inside Fire’s head. She has to learn how to trust people knowing how deeply flawed they are, and in doing so, how to trust herself. I was particularly struck by her deep desire to be a mother, although she knows her children would inherit her curse. Her relationship with the king’s brother is integral in her realizing how painful but beautiful love, especially familial love, can be.

I could go on, but I’ll leave it at these five books. Finding good romantic fantasy is a bit of a treasure hunt these days, and it’s hard to know what you’ll get when you pick up a book at a bookstore. But it’s very rewarding when you find a good one — sometimes even on the Internet. If you do end up reading one of these, you have to tell me what you think!