Book Pong is BACK (plus, Five Summer Romance Reading Recommendations)
Romance author Betty Corrello is kicking off season 2 of Book Pong! Isn't is romantic?
June has been an important month in my career as a romance writer.
Eight Junes ago, I landed my first romance ghostwriting gig.
Four Junes ago, I married the love of my life and wrote my own vows, only to be asked by my videographer afterwards if I had “ever thought about becoming a writer.”
Two Junes ago, I sold my debut queer romance to Penguin Books in a two-book deal.
One June ago, I had a complete mental breakdown that rendered me unable to write for months. (Actually, it’s been exactly one year to the date! Happy breakdown-iversary, everyone! You can read about it in my essay about car maintenance and mental health.)
This June, I am doing much better – thanks for asking! I just submitted developmental edits for my second novel (more on this soon) and started writing what I hope will be my third. And romance writing is still in the air: the second 3-episode season of Book Pong premieres today and is all about romance! Guest Betty Corrello is a romance author and stand-up comedian who might just be the Isabella to my Lizzie McGuire, you know? She’s the Italian version of me.
If you loved the humor and heartfelt moments of I’LL GET BACK TO YOU, I enthusiastically insist that you read Betty Corrello’s latest, 32 DAYS IN MAY.
And if you haven’t read I’LL GET BACK TO YOU, it’s literally pride month. That’s so homophobic of you…
Watch (and like and comment and subscribe, please!) the new episode of Book Pong here!
And if June has you in the romance mood, too, here are my recommendations:
My Top 5 Summer Romance Recommendations
32 Days in May by Betty Corrello
All my favorite romance novels are Trojan horses for larger conversations. 32 Days in May is a whirlwind summer romance with the main character’s recent Lupus diagnosis as the spine of the story. Chronic illness has affected my family in big, big ways over the years, and I’ll say it: representation matters! Also, they go to Rome…maybe I was spot on with that whole Lizzie McGuire thing…
Favorite line: “That’s what really unites humans regardless of race, gender, or creed: no one likes a woman in a weird hat.”
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
I am such a lake book person. Every romance novel should take place on a lake. It’s the midwesterner in me. Throw in a kooky grandma and a subplot about artistic integrity…I mean c’mon. This book might’ve been manufactured with me in mind. I’m trying to figure out how to get my grandma to read it while somehow redacting the sex scenes from the audiobook.
Favorite line: “I'm lucky to have so much past, so many memories. It's a gift to age.”
Note: This book exists within the same universe as Fortune’s debut novel, Every Summer After, so if you can, I’d suggest starting with…
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Perhaps you saw this coming. Dual timelines! Second chance romance! Friendship fallouts! Friendship bracelets! This book is what I wanted Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren to be. Skip that one. Read this instead.
Favorite line: “And not for the first time, it feels like someone stole the whole script to my life story and wrote it all wrong.”
Happy Place by Emily Henry
This book is the closest I’ve ever come to feeling like my friend group was represented in a hetero romance novel. Typing this, I have just now decided I’m going to re-read this book. It was my first Emily Henry book, and if you somehow have avoided her this long, I suggest you make it your first, too. Another read that I’d highly recommend to anyone who loved I’ll Get Back to You. It’s just as much about the evolving nature of friendship as it is about romance. Just how I like ‘em.
Favorite line: “Everything is changing. It has to. You can’t stop time. All you can do is point yourself in a direction and hope the wind will let you get there.”
Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
You didn’t think we were going to get through this list without a queer romance rec, did you? Full disclosure – I’m still reading this one, but I am absolutely obsessed and couldn’t possibly wait to tell you about it. Scream it with me: BI GIRL GOES TO CHURCH CAMP AND FALLS IN LOVE WITH PASTOR’S DAUGHTER!!!! With an opening chapter titled Everything That Happens Next Is Because Of Shrek the Musical, I knew I was in for a book that was written specifically with me in mind. I do not yet know Jenna Voris, but it is encouraging to know that we will be best friends. Note that this is technically Young Adult!
Favorite line (so far): “I don’t like imagining my enemies complexly. It really ruins the whole ‘revenge at all costs’ thing.”
~If you made it this far, can you make sure you like and comment on the latest Book Pong video? It helps a lot. Thanks. ;)