The Contemporary Romances We Can’t Get Enough Of

Written by Nazneen JoshiAug 12, 2024
THE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF
Wedding bells are ringing loud all around us—so whether you fall in the category of ‘@#$%^&!!! I’m just about to get married’ or whether you’re riding the singleton-boat—we’ve got a one-bill-fits-all feature for you. Contemporary romances have nothing to do with your relationship status—we’ve all got  a soft spot for them, and no, I’m not talking about the gooey, mushy, ‘I’ve found the love of my life’ type. Here, we’ve found some paperback romances that come with an added punch. So stir up your dry martinis, kick everyone one outta the house [or at least your room], get the plush cushions ready and enjoy.

Breathing Room

A Half Baked Love Story by Anurag Garg and Gunjan Narang

Have you ever fallen prey to love at first sight? Proposed to your girlfriend after boozing and fainted before knowing the answer? Went on your first date with an empty wallet? Risked your IIT exam to meet her for the last time? Well if any of that excites you—this read is right up your alley. As the book unfolds, you’ll be witness to a candid narration by love-struck Aarav, who confesses every detail of his love life to his drunk friends on a new year night—the tale of his first love, Anamika.

Breathing Room

Faking It by Jennifer Cruise

Love and deception have a lot in common: the risks are intoxicating and if you’re really good at them, they both pay off. Jennifer Cruise’s Faking It deals with a mutant dachshund, a juke box stuck in the 60s, questionable sex, the growing realisation that you can’t turn your back on the person you were meant to be, or the people you were born to love—this is one novel that makes it’s all worth it. Packed with pop-culture trivia, dynamic characters and crazy families, it’s so much more than what your average romantic-fixation delivers.

Breathing Room

That’s the Way We Met by Sudeep Nagarkar

Aditya and Riya could never imagine life without each other. Since their accidental meeting two years ago, they have been inseparable until an unexpected tragedy promises to change the course of their lives forever. Will their love stand the test of time? From the intoxicating rush of Mumbai and Delhi to the scenic beauty of Manali, Sudeep Nagarkar will take you on an unforgettable journey through life and love.

Breathing Room

Agnes & the Hitman by Bob Mayer and Jennifer Cruise

Take one food writer, add a hit man, mix them together with a Southern mob wedding, a missing necklace, two annoyed flamingos, and a dog named Rhett and you’ve got a recipe for a hilarious novel about the disastrous side of true love.

Breathing Room

For Matrimonial Purposes by Kavita Daswani

Anju wants a husband. Equally important, her entire family wants Anju to have a husband. Her life in Bombay, where a marriage can be arranged in a matter of hours, is almost solely devoted to this quest, with her anxious mother hauling her from one holy site to another in order to consult and entreat swamis and astrologers. As Anju’s 20s slip away, she’s fast becoming a spinster by her culture’s standards, so she moves to New York City to work in fashion. For Matrimonial Purposes is the hilarious story of Anju’s journey, her quest for love, and the choices that she must make while trying to remain true to herself and satisfy her family and tradition.

Breathing Room

Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

She’s Dr. Isabel Favor, America’s diva of self-help. He’s Ren Gage, Hollywood’s favourite villain. Sometimes you just know that God has a sense of humour. This contemporary love story has all the heart, wisdom and wit that has made Susan Elizabeth Phillips the gold standard for women’s fiction. As one reader pointed out, this is just the kind of book that as soon as you finish reading you want to pick up right back and start all over again, immersing and re-familiarising yourselves with the characters all over again. It’s a romance that blossoms over time and one your mind keeps wandering back to. Plus, you’ll be left with an urge to visit Italy—which is never a bad outcome.

Nazneen Joshi

Written by

As the esteemed Dorothy Parker once said "living well is the best revenge" and I take that piece of advice to heart. A babe in the woods for all things theatrical--I like to see drama in the mundane. Fresh off the yacht into this editorial world, I look forward to bringing in a fresh, beautiful perspective.
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