The Roms
Favorite Quote
*Books eligible could be published in any year, they just had to be read by me in 2024
Clicking on book cover, brings you to my review or GoodReads page if I didn't write one
Nominees:
1. Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read
Suddenly we really saw each other, and it surprised us both.
My favorite thing in romance is when the characters are falling/in love because they see the other so clearly and are amazed others don't see it too. I like this quote for highlighting that moment and the wonder of it.
2. Gold Ring of Betrayal by Michelle Reid
'Then go and do whatever it is you want to do, Nicolas,' she sighed, turning away from him in disgust. 'For I rescind the right to give a damn!'
The way I went around and annoyed people with "I rescind the right to give a damn!" weeks after reading this.
Honorable Mention
'Have you quite finished?' he inserted coldly.
She nodded. 'Yes.' She felt flushed and breathless, incredibly elated. In all her twenty-five years she had never spoken to anyone like that. It had been almost as good as the sex!
Nothing hits like good back-talk!
3. The Prism Society by Gabi Salas
His eyes held mine in a silent conversation, filled with unsaid words and hushed confessions that had yet to cross our lips. It was as if his stare was whispering secrets his voice couldn't articulate.
Another highlighting of my favorite things, the angsty moments of emotional drama created when a character can't or won't verbally express their feelings but are yelling it out their eyes.
4. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan
He was a hero of the people, a legend of our realm...but for today, I just wanted him to be my husband.
"I just wanted him to be my husband." Oh the emotional exhaustion and want in this quote. It's understanding that our other person might be needed for the outside and their importance in that other role but some of that need and selfishness for them to only belong to you.
5. Sleeping Beauty by Judith Ivory
What he wanted, when she stopped before the front door, was to say, Tell me more about this ferocious thing that rises up inside you. Who are you? This gaiety of yours, how much is real? How much is well-rehearsed pretense—a metaphorical black-iron gate with wild thorny roses defending where pointed pickets don't suffice?
More of that wanting to see and know the other person, said in that beautiful emotional way Ivory is so damn good at.
6. Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
It wasn’t a monster come to eat me. It was this monster. Who’s come to eat me out.
I think this quote perfectly encapsulates the Wut I was feeling reading this. I love the many facets of romance and it's subgenres.
7. Orphia and Eurydicius by Elyse John
Snuffing out the voices of women. It was how they set up the game so that we would lose, even as we convinced ourselves that it was our fault. If we could shout for help, then we might take the hands of our sisters, swim ashore, and manage to win.
A reminder that we need to all start taking the hands of our sisters and start fighting to win, because we can do this.
8. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
Will Parker's eyes were drawn to her stomach as she rested a hand on it. He thought about how maybe there was more than one kind of prison.
Going to zip-off for a second and donate to an abortion fund.
9. After Hours by Cara McKenna
But it was so un-fucking-fair that he could do that. That he could get the better of Marco, make some difference in my problems, just because he was strong and male and pushy. Just march in against my explicit wishes and muscle through the mess I’d been living with for almost three years with his big, stupid arms. And I couldn’t do shit, because Marco couldn’t give a damn what anybody thought unless they were tougher than him.
I could scream.
I love McKenna and how she has her characters emotionally wrestle, they're not perfect fully formed beings always saying "the right thing". Part of that is emotionally wrestling and ugh, oh my god this. I hate how as a woman you can do all the logical stuff and even get illogically tough and it will still sometimes never make a difference. And working through getting attracted to men for the reason that infuriates you.
10. The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby
“But what about Grandma?”
This is said by a little girl when she sees Misty Copeland touted as a first Black ballerina when she knows her grandma was one. It's a stark statement that holds confusion and centuries of pain. It starts a book off about reclaiming your place in history with the perfect tone.
Honorable Mention
Art is activism. Let the gorgeous lines of his dancers’ bodies serve as fists in the air.
Indeed.
11. The Master of Black Tower - by Barbara Michaels
He walked like Satan through the wrath of heaven, with a long, free stride and arrogantly poised head; and I wondered how many years it would take to wipe that picture of him out of my mind.
HE WALKED LIKE SATAN THROUGH THE WRATH OF HEAVEN
Excuse me!!! Like. Damn. This is descriptively how you grab the reader (me, anyway) in.
Winner:
What's a quote you read in 2024 that still lingers in your mind?
Next time, Favorite Leads...
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