At what age is it suitable for teens to read romance books?

I really want to start reading romance books... I'm 15, and I consider myself mature for my age. (I know everyone says that, but I seriously do.) My mom has let me read books like Tom Clancy - Without Remorse, books by John Grisham, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, and etc. But I wouldn't mind something sappy so I have a quick little page turner in between heavier reads like ones I previously mentioned. She is very open with me about all things sexual, so I assume that she would be okay with me reading smut books. We have very honest conversations with each other, and she treats me like an adult. I really want to read books by Catherine Anderson. I'm wondering if you think that she is a good author to read? I have read excerpts of her books and I really like them. Please let me know what you think.

Hi and welcome to LibraryThing.

Though I certainly understand your desire to pick up a quick fluff read in between bigger books, I'm not sure why you'd ask a vast audience of strangers. Our opinions should count a lot less than those in your own household.

Perhaps you are feeling an immovable opinion from Mom. In that case, you might explore her boundaries and suggest a variety of titles or genres at the edges of that.

Romance is not a genre I focus on, but it's nigh impossible to miss them entirely. I've never read Catherine Anderson, so I have no idea if there are objectionable parts.

You might get some traction by starting with some vintage titles.

Now Voyager!
The Ladies of Missalonghi
Here Comes the Sun!
A Room with a View

Or what about YA books that contain a romance but have other themes as well? Lots and lots of those too nowadays. One of the most intriguing I've read recently is Every Day.

Good reading to you!

Thank you for your response! I was just curious about other's opinions on this topic. To be honest, most older classics I've read I don't find very interesting. I like more contemporary books, sorry! What would you consider objectionable parts? To be honest, I feel that this depends on the person and his/her maturity level.. If my mom suggested I read books like the ones I mentioned previously that had some very graphic rape scenes and etc, what is the problem with good love scenes? At least it isn't abusive. I mean, sex is a part of life, I don't really get the issue with it as long as it isn't being misused. Sorry, went on a little rant there! I will definitely try the books you suggested, thank you so much!!

It occurs to me that your mom might be concerned that you would be sucked in to reading only romances. I do know one or two people who limit themselves like that. And, frankly, they are not very interesting people.

Would your mom be happy with an agreement with a firm ratio reading plan?

I give some serious thought to your question because a love of books is essential to a good life. I put strategy into making sure my own daughters read a lot, and a lot of what I thought appropriate.

Which reminds me that I read some of the trash my daughters brought home, just so I'd know what they were filling their heads with.

I completely understand that worry, and I read everything she suggests that I read. I'm currently reading a lot of Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Louis L'Amour, and old western books my Grandpa suggested I read. Basically whatever they tell me to read, I read. I like those books, but I do get tired of some of the darker themes, like murder especially. Which is why I wouldn't mind something lighter to read in between the darker books. I just love reading, and I would like to have some books that I picked out. For the last 5 years I've read so many YA books, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, and books that my parents have suggested. I would like to branch out a little bit, if that makes any sense.

>3 midnightmonkey: I know what you mean by "most older classics I've read I don't find very interesting."

I think that's partly a function of English curriculum. Classics are not presented as books to just enjoy. They become work projects instead. But beyond school, I found thousands of old titles to savor.

You've come to the right place to get book ideas. Find a couple of groups to join. Riffle through other members' collections. Importantly, begin adding your own books, and you'll begin getting recommendations.

Yes!! A lot of the older classics I've read have been on my school reading lists. To be honest, that just takes the fun out of reading, hahaha! Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it. Oh, and I feel like I need to defend romance readers. We all have different tastes, and what one finds absolutely amazing another might find the most boring read ever, so keep that in mind. I need to remember that, too. I feel like sticking to one genre of books is such a waste of time, though, because there is so much out there to explore and read!

>7 midnightmonkey: Thank you for defending romance readers, midnightmonkey. Romance gets a lot of abuse; it's hard to understand why a genre that is so woman-positive and celebrates equality in relationships is so dumped on. No, wait--maybe it isn't hard to understand... :/

There's plenty of romance out there that isn't heavy on the erotic side, if your mother has that concern. Try books by Kristan Higgins for a start, if you're looking for good contemporary romance that's funny but heartfelt.

>7 midnightmonkey:, Of all the books I was talked into reading, some of them I was lucky enough to enjoy and appreciate to this day. But my very favourite books, I found all of them myself and chose to read those ones willingly. I don't think that's a coincidence.

>1 midnightmonkey:, I don't know whether I'd purposely go seeking out books likely to have objectionable stuff in them. Just be prepared for whatever you encounter out there, because you just never know what'll suddenly happen in the middle of otherwise innocent-looking fiction. Sounds like you have the background you need to understand things in context, take the author's intent into account, etc.

When I was sixteen I picked up Gary Jennings Aztec, thinking it would be cool to read some historical fiction about that civilization, and my eyes almost fell out. Did NOT share that one with my mom, I can tell you.

I read a lot of 'quick little page turners' that might be considered 'romance', and most of them I would not recommend to a 15-year-old. It is impossible to tell ahead of time whether you are going to get a fast fun book, a fast fun book with sex scenes that are not really needed for the plot, or soft porn that doesn't really need the little bit plot that got mixed in by accident.

The main problem is how unrealistic these books are. The beautiful heroine and the handsome hero know at first sight that they are made for each other. They fall into bed together with no awkward moments, both having an earthshaking experience at the same time right off the bat without being sore the next morning. Sorry, but real life is not like that, and reading too much of it at a young age is likely to make you think it's going to be like that for you, and make what you really experience less magic.

Lackey's Valdemar books starting with Arrows of the Queen are fantasy, but do have love and sex in them. But they have realistic scenes like being frustrated at being the unpaired person in a group. (Also people working more than horses and more than raptors.)

(>9 Cecrow: mentions Valley of the Horses. I'm now on book 6 of rereading that series. I like them, but someone should have cut at least half the text including about 3/4 of the sex.)

>8 Marissa_Doyle: Of course I am going to defend romance readers! I agree with you about dark erotic romance, I personally feel that a lot of those books are really not good to read. They often have some abusive themes.. and no one needs to start feeling that that is acceptable to do. I am staying away from those books, they definitely are not good for people my age. Thank you so much for the book recommendations! I'm excited to try them out!!

>9 Cecrow: Again, as far as objectionable content goes, I think that is different for every person. It depends on their maturity and whether or not they can deal with it. I have read a few books where I literally was like, nope, never again.. And it didn't bother me at all after that. But, thank you for your concern, I will definitely be very careful and responsible about what I choose to read.

Touchstones

Kristan Higgins

Arrows of the Queen

Argh! One of the dangers of hanging at this site is having TOO MANY recommendations!

>10 MarthaJeanne: I understand what you mean about them being unrealistic. I feel that I am mature enough to understand that the authors write like that because that is what sells and their readers eat it up... It is not at all how things work in real life. But, for myself I don't see the problem reading one or two, right? I've noticed that a lot of the conflict gets solved so quickly... Hahaha, what a joke! I really dislike books that have more sex than a good storyline; soooooooo boring. Thank you for your comment, though!

>14 2wonderY: I did have the touchstone working when I saved. Don't know why it disappeared.

It does that sometimes.

I don't think my parents ever offered any guidance to me as to when I could or should read any book or genre, nor did I with my own kids. If they wanted to read it, they read it, and they could always talk me into buying them another book.

Romance is not my go-to genre (prefer fantasy, SF and mystery) but I've read many books outside my usual genres. My grandmother was a huge romance reader, and I can remember running out of my own reading material when visiting her and in desperation reading stacks of her Harlequins. They were dated, repetitive, and a bit nauseating - girl meets handsome doctor and lives happily-ever-after.

There are lots of very good books that I'd classify as romances, though, which are maybe not as obviously in the romance category. For example The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is what I'd call a historical romance, although the history is post WW2, so not so far back.

For really historical romances, you can't go wrong with Georgette Heyer's Regencies. Something like The Grand Sophy or The Unknown Ajax, which are amusing and well-written. I adore Heyer, and I'm sure I was reading them when I was 15.

Yes, do try Heyer. They are very well written, real characters, believable plots. She is head and shoulders above the others. Partly because she did really solid research into the period. My favourite is Frederica.

Just throwing this out there...

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Considered classical, contemporary, romantic.

>20 perennialreader: I don't think you will persuade a teenager that an author who died thirty years ago and whose books were mostly written over 50 years ago, is contemporary.

>21 anglemark: I am happy to read anything, hahaha!

Also, I was wondering if any of you have read this book before? It's driving me crazy trying to remember it, haha! I don't remember it super well, but basically there was a single mother running away from her ex... and I'm pretty sure the guy she ends up falling in love with is a police officer (?). She has a young kid. I remember that there was one night where her ex (I think) broke into her house and was trying to rape her and I think there was a broken window... I remember that she popped the cork on the wine bottle and pointed it at her attacker or something to hurt him, because that is what the h told her to do? Sorry, I know that isn't much to go off of, but if this rings a bell or anything, please let me know.

>23 midnightmonkey: I see you already asked on namethatbook! That's probably the best place to get an answer for that kind of question.

As to reading romance novels as a fifteen year old - I think a fifteen-year-old should read anything they're comfortable reading. Do you feel comfortable reading books with a lot of sex in them? In that case, you should read books with sex in them.

I personally think authors like Tom Clancy and John Grisham often write books that are just as unrealistic and formulaic and shallow as romances (and are just as likely to have bad sex scenes, and more likely to have extreme violence), it's just that the ways they are unrealistic are different. So if you're old enough for Tom Clancy, I don't see why you couldn't read romances, if that's what you want.

If you want to read from publishers like Harlequin or Mills & Boon, they have different series of short romances that have different levels of sex - from Heartwarming (hugs and kisses only) to Blaze (lots of kinky sex). So you could go to a library and try a few of the different series to see which ones are what you're looking for. A lot of the authors who write for the romance series write longer books as well, so it's a good place to start to find people you want to follow. There are also series for things like historical romances, or romances with mysteries or suspense in them (there's even one for just romances about doctors!)

There are also websites like http://allaboutromance.com and http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com that have lots of reviews and recommendations just for romance readers - I don't read many these days, so I can't suggest particular authors, but I bet those sites have lots to say about Catherine Anderson!

>24 melannen: Thank you so much for your response, I really appreciate it! I really liked what you said about Tom Clancy and John Grisham books; I agree as well. I thought that since my mom lets me read extremely violent books that do talk about rape and more, she would be fine with me reading more sappy books as well. I really appreciate your advice, it was extremely helpful! Also, I'm still looking for that book... Do you have any suggestions of where I could try to find that book or get help finding it? I'm currently searching Google books, and I've gotten nothing so far. I'll keep looking, though.

Have you tried any of the Outlander series books by Diana Gabaldon. They are a mixture of time-travel, historical fiction, and romance. The series on STARZ is extremely popular right now (I think the TV series is up to book # 4). There is a fair amount of graphic sex, including some violence, but mostly within in a loving committed relationship.

Lighter reading / chick lit
The Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Trains and Lovers by Alexander McCall Smith
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Enjoy this new phase of your reading journey!

>26 BookConcierge: Yes, I've read the Outlander series. I loved them!!

There are some really good YA romances out there! My favorite series is the Thunder Road series by Katie McGarry.

Start with Nowhere but Here.

midnightmonkey, Have you read any Jane Austen yet? I discovered her books later in life, so I have no idea if younger women would appreciate them.

I read through my father's Lois L'Amour and Zane Grey shelves, then my mother's murder mystery shelves when I was about 15. After that my mom suggested books like Shogun, The Thornbirds and Pillars of the Earth. I remember blushing and hiding to read some bits of Pillars of the Earth!

After those, I tried a few Harlequin romances and tired of them very quickly. My go-to comfort reads are mystery novels now.

The genre of Urban Fantasy offers a lot of variety. One of my favorite authors there is Jim Butcher. There is romance, heavily salted with action, imagination, mythology and good fun.