8 months ago

Review:  Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance NovelsAuthor: Sarah WendellPublisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca, a division of Sourcebooks IncSource: ARC from Sourcebooks Inc Aisle B Rating:  Introduction  Welcome to Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels.  In this handy little book, we can celebrate all the wonderful things we’ve learned about real-life love and romance that are hidden and not-so-hidden inside the average romance novel. What you thought all those heaving bosom covers with impossibly Technicolor eye shadow were just for visual embrassment and titillating thrills? Nope. Romance novels are much more complex than meets the eye- and we readers of romance know better than most.Excerpt from Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels, page xii -xiiiSarah Wendell is better known to most as the review blogger from -Smart Bitch Sarah, a popular romance novel website Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels. Wendell has done what we all dream of - write about romance with a blast of emotions advocating the genre with humour & intelligence.. This short read is a collaboration of thoughts & quotes from romance readers and some of the heaviest names in the world of romance writers. You’ll swoon at the names that come up, here are a few to make you sigh: Loretta Chase,  Robyn Carr, Nora Roberts, Julia London, Teresa Medeiros and Christina Dodd.Wendell breaks down the dynamics of sighs associated to all types of romance reads and focuses on the reality of this genre. Romance genres reinforce women to value themselves as individuals and to know what they should be able to attain in a “real relationship”. It is an identity that reconfirms what is acceptable and the importance of self esteem & self love.I found myself devouring Wendell’s list of Top 9 Heroes where JD Robb’s In Death series hero Roarke is listed for his smoldering devotion to kick ass Eve. Just thinking of Roarke leaves me breathless. Wendell also adds Gabaldon’s Outlander Jamie Fraser and the ever so classic Fitzwilliam Darcy - or just Darcy from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know I don’t have to point out who these men are since we all know them by their first names, sighs again at Roarke.At the end of the read, I took down Wendell’s Shopping List for the references made to her all time fave moments in romance reading. I can’t wait to jump into these and discover them too. I enjoyed this quick read and YES Ms Wendell - Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels will be shared with friends and families.  This little book packs a wallop of laughs, spews smart sarcastic rhetoric with sound advise - add to that creative longings to make us dream, and mullets for years to come.  Finally a book that exudes the “whys” to the “sighs” of the romance genre with finesse and tactful intelligence!

Review:  Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels
Author: Sarah Wendell
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca, a division of Sourcebooks Inc
Source: ARC from Sourcebooks Inc

Aisle B Rating:3.83 of 5 stars3.83 of 5 stars3.83 of 5 stars 3.87 of 5 stars3.83 of 5 stars

Introduction

  Welcome to Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels.  In this handy little book, we can celebrate all the wonderful things we’ve learned about real-life love and romance that are hidden and not-so-hidden inside the average romance novel. What you thought all those heaving bosom covers with impossibly Technicolor eye shadow were just for visual embrassment and titillating thrills? Nope. Romance novels are much more complex than meets the eye- and we readers of romance know better than most.

Excerpt from Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels, page xii -xiii

Sarah Wendell is better known to most as the review blogger from -Smart Bitch Sarah, a popular romance novel website Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels. Wendell has done what we all dream of - write about romance with a blast of emotions advocating the genre with humour & intelligence.. This short read is a collaboration of thoughts & quotes from romance readers and some of the heaviest names in the world of romance writers. You’ll swoon at the names that come up, here are a few to make you sigh: Loretta Chase,  Robyn Carr, Nora Roberts, Julia London, Teresa Medeiros and Christina Dodd.

Wendell breaks down the dynamics of sighs associated to all types of romance reads and focuses on the reality of this genre. Romance genres reinforce women to value themselves as individuals and to know what they should be able to attain in a “real relationship”. It is an identity that reconfirms what is acceptable and the importance of self esteem & self love.

I found myself devouring Wendell’s list of Top 9 Heroes where JD Robb’s In Death series hero Roarke is listed for his smoldering devotion to kick ass Eve. Just thinking of Roarke leaves me breathless. Wendell also adds Gabaldon’s Outlander Jamie Fraser and the ever so classic Fitzwilliam Darcy - or just Darcy from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know I don’t have to point out who these men are since we all know them by their first names, sighs again at Roarke.

At the end of the read, I took down Wendell’s Shopping List for the references made to her all time fave moments in romance reading. I can’t wait to jump into these and discover them too. I enjoyed this quick read and YES Ms Wendell - Everything I know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels will be shared with friends and families.  This little book packs a wallop of laughs, spews smart sarcastic rhetoric with sound advise - add to that creative longings to make us dream, and mullets for years to come.  Finally a book that exudes the “whys” to the “sighs” of the romance genre with finesse and tactful intelligence!