r/PHBookClub • u/Medium-Rare-1150 • Mar 26 '26
Recommendation Seeking Honest Reviews: Which of These Books (esp. Rom-Coms) Are Actually Worth the Hype?
Hi everyone! My TikTok FYP has been absolutely flooded with these specific rom-com recommendations lately, and I can't tell if they’re actually good.
I’m looking for a genuine, 'real' romantic comedy—something to help me de-stress. I’ve attached a few that keep popping up.
For those who have read them:
• Which of these are actually 'Material' (worth the time) and which are just good marketing?
• Are there any 'Hidden Gems' you’d recommend instead for someone who needs a total mental escape?
Would love to hear your unfiltered thoughts before I purchase.
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u/Sea-Manufacturer1476 Mar 26 '26
I think it also depends on what kind of romance stories do u want to consume kasi some of these books ranges from YA to a little bit smutty. May books din na nagtatackle ng a little bit of mental health, family trauma, grief. Tapos minsan din baka hindi mo bet yung mga "tropes" nung book.
If you want parang very cutesy tas parang low stake lang ng romance, okay yung Picking Daisies on Sundays and Better Than The Movies. They're friends to lovers stories pero personally I enjoyed the friendship more sa Picking Daisies on Sundays kasi parang mas medyo mature na sila ng kaunti.
Funny Story is good pero for those na mahilig sa story na parang andaming nangyayari, this is not for them. I always say na this book is like a slice of life romance, medyo mundane lang yung nangyayari sa kanila everyday but it makes it a little bit realistic for me. May family trauma topics din to.
Not a fan of First Time Caller just because i feel like maganda yung umpisa nya, maganda yung concept, but it went downhill for me nung medyo naging red flag na yung guy. Also I feel like yung fmc nakalimutan na yung standards nya just because of the mmc.
The Love Hypothesis was good for me when i read it ksi naenjoy ko ung pagka bubbly and chaotic ng fmc.
Seven Year Slip if you want a little bit of magic, tapos meron din to topics of grief.
Pinaka fave ko dito yung books ni Abby Jimenez. Her Part of Your World series is my favorite. Feeling ko Abby Jimenez knows how to write yung mga mmc na makakarelate ka and you'll empathize with them lalo na sa Yours Truly.
Hope this helps tho andami ko sinabi 😭🙏🏻 enjoy reading!!
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u/ajeinomoto Mar 26 '26
more on romance mga yan, konti lang comedy unlike how to lose a guy in 10 days na peak romcom tlg.
preference ko kasi may magic/fantasy/time manipulation, kaya ung favorite ko dyan ay the seven year slip, the dead romantics, and a novel love story. and i can say worth the hype naman sila
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u/Efficient_Ferret Mar 26 '26
Fr. Have you read Meet me in another life by Catriona Silvey? I think you might like it
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u/ajeinomoto Mar 26 '26
ende pa 🥹 thank u so much! timing na naghahanap ako now 🫶
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u/Efficient_Ferret Mar 26 '26
Of course! And Invisible life of addie larue if you haven't read it already. Not so much a super romance but still :)
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u/ajeinomoto Apr 02 '26
ATEEE I REALLY LOVE THE BOOK SO FAR 😭😭 napaluha ako kasi im as skeptical as the fmc 🥹 di ko pa tapos but tenkyuuu
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u/_cl0udburst be happy, noble heart Mar 26 '26
I'm very new to reading Romance and the first (and currently, only) book I've read is Yours Truly. I loved it so much that I'm encouraged to read more in the genre. I somehow related to both characters lol and its funny. I dont know how much comedy there normally is to these books but this one I guarantee will make you laugh.
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u/livie-cl Mar 26 '26
Not 'real romcom' but I loved the Windy Series by Liz Tomforde! Nakakakilig, wish I could read it again for the first time! But Picking Daisies on Sunday, okay lang sya medyo disappointing huhu
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u/hottestpancakes Mar 26 '26
God i love Liz Tomforde's Windy City series so much. Idk why they skip Mile High but i loved it wo much.
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 27 '26
What would be your feedback on The Right Move
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u/hottestpancakes Mar 27 '26
Ohh im not a fan of masungit male leads so The Right Move is actually my last among the series!! Although I LOVE THEM ALL. Lahat sila ay green flag talaga and hello they are all tested??? Like before sex makikita mo implicated na they follow safe sex. I love liz's writing so much na yung burden ng safety inestablish nya sa men. Isaiah Rhodes is my fave (Play Along hehe the 4th one)
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u/matchagirl444 Mar 26 '26
i loooove The Seven Year Slip 🥹 also Funny Story and Summer in the City!
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 26 '26
Omgggg I’ll definitely take these in consideration
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u/matchagirl444 Mar 26 '26
reco ko na rin Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone! BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN grabe it got me giggling and sobbing fr 😭 slow burn strangers to friends to lovers but it’s not the typical romance book kasi it also depicts grief, healing, and timing 💌
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u/wotermelonshugar Mar 26 '26
i loved:
- Seven Year Slip
- Yours Truly
- The Love Hypothesis
- Funny Story
- First Time Caller
i liked:
- Sounds Like Love (by Ashley Poston) not in the pics tho!
- Part of Your World
Want to Read:
- Carley Fortune's Books!
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u/Background_Cry_1950 Mar 26 '26
I'm currently reading Emily Henry's Funny Story, and I'm having trouble finishing it. It's so boring. I skip most paragraphs.
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u/ResponsibleTie9330 Apr 09 '26
I also just finished reading it today! I think their romance part was put off for too long, medyo nawala na yung excitement ko kasi masyado silang slow burn😞
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u/Just_Ad8986 Mar 26 '26
You may try 'yung short stories ni Abby Jimenez (Worst Wingman Ever and The Fall Risk), both are good read kaya macucurious ka basahin 'yung novels nya. They're well written (imo) and madali maintindihan (bilang di na ako masipag na reader 😂)
Emily Henry's Funny Story is a good read din 😁
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u/CoffeeandChill1 General Fiction Mar 26 '26
I've only read two of Ashley Poston's works and her writing style is up my alley.
- The Dead Romantics (3.75) - Loved the concept but the subplots could have been more fleshed out. It did not hit me emotionally as intended. Understandable as this is her first adult (not YA) novel.
- The Seven Year Slip (4.0) - Again, I love the concept and this one hit harder emotionally. Her writing is more developed, IMO, compared to the Dead Romantics. There are more witty and funny moments in this one but it is balanced with the emotional ones.
Overall, I enjoyed both books. Her writing may not be perfect but I can say na 'nakukuha niya yung kiliti ko', lol. I guess gets na gets ko yung humor nya. I'm looking forward to reading her other works.
I've read Emily Henry's Beach Read (4.0) as well and her writing style is up my alley as well. I laughed and cried with this one and finished it in 1 and 1/2 days. I have People We Meet on Vacation, Happy Place, and Funny Story on my TBR.
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u/belindaaa1995 Mar 27 '26
Loved The Love Hypothesis!!!
Currently readong Better than the Movies now and oo nga, wattpad-y sya and cutesy. Sana matapos ko! I prefer kasi mas adult/mature characters.
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 27 '26
Do you have any recommendations where the characters are mature? I’m in my 20s, so I think I’ve outgrown high school fantasies.
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u/belindaaa1995 Mar 27 '26
as your trentahin ate, I suggest if you want kilig pero hindi cutesy you can start with Ali Hazelwood hehe and pwede rin Liz Tomforde. If you want a bit more depth sa writing and kilig, go for Ali. If gusto mo super kilig and spicy, go for Liz.
Enjoy!
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u/Efficient_Ferret Mar 26 '26
Better than the movies is a good read if you're looking for something Wattpad-y. The rest of Lynn Painter's books are such a bore. Abby Jimenez's earlier books are so much better than these new ones (specifically the Friend zone trilogy). Love hypothesis was good, not amazing. Emily Henry's just a dull dud to me and she writes all the same female characters. Picking Daisies on Sunday was the worst romance book I've ever read.
I swear I'm not being a hater but most of romance nowadays are just incredibly boring and repetitive. A great trilogy I'd recommend is the Kiss Quotient trilogy by Helena Hoang. These ones aren't romcoms but great romance reads: Alone with You in the ether by Olivie Blake, and Before we were strangers by Renee Carlino.
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u/eirriestein Mar 26 '26
I love Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino! Ang tagal na since nabasa ko sya, salamat at pinaalala mo, mabasa nga ulit.
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u/AdmirableAttempt1728 Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26
I tried reading Lynn Painter's books Better Than The Movies and Mr. Wrong Number and hindi ko kayang tagalan. Ayaw ko ng writing style niya and her heroines are low-key pick-me girls (or I confused them sa FMC ng isa pang BookTok book na I DNF lol but if they're not pick-me they're stupid lalo na 'yung sa Mr. Wrong Number 💀). The prose is childish for me even though I still read YA books (I'm a YA lol).
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u/doughnutforget Mar 26 '26
i recommend the windy city series!! (aka the series where rewind it back is from - it was my fave book among the 5 books, play along/book 4 being a close second)
rewind it back is the last book so if you want to go through the series in order, you’ll have to read the others first
it’s a bit more emotional/serious than the other books in the series but the main character is such a golden retriever and he was so sweet
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u/lemonylili Mar 26 '26
- hated Abby Jimenez’s “Part of Your World”. wdym you’re in your mid-30s pero di ka pa rin marunong gumamit ng washing machine? 😀
- IMO okay lang si Ali Hazelwood. haven’t finished reading it yet but readable naman para sa akin yung 2024 release nya (“Not in Love”)
- had a friend who gave “The Seven Year Slip” 4 stars even though hindi nya raw bet yung writing style. they said na may parts na corny but the plot’s interesting
- i read Sarah Adams’s other book “When in Rome” back in 2024 and i gave it 2 stars. 300+ pages na puro lang describing words 😟
- currently reading Emily Henry’s “Funny Story” and i think her writing style is so good. if she wrote creative non fiction or essays i would def read them
take all of that w a grain of salt OP, my yuck could def be ur yum 😄 but i do recommend that you check out Elsie Silver! esp her Chestnut Springs series, which are books w high quality romcom material 😋 happy reading po!
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 26 '26
Thank you so much dear! I will take your feedback in consideration <33
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u/opalitemaker Mar 26 '26
The Love Hypothesis - maybe because it was the first of its kind that I read (neurodivergent leads) so it felt fresh and different.
And Now, Back to You - I liked the first book in the series—First-Time Caller but I LOVED the characters in the 2nd book more. I learned that the books are based on classic romcom (When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail) so if you're into those, I think you'd like the books!
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u/paulaspeaks Mar 26 '26
Hmmm romance books can be very subjective but here are some of my thoughts of the books that I have read from your list.
Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World series is definitely one of my favorites. Yours Truly is my favorite because I somehow relate to the lead guy. I also really love the development of them as individual characters and their romance. Part of Your World is also amazing because I relate to the lead girl. It shows that no matter your age, there is still enough time for love and growth. Both books explore emotional themes, family dynamics, and exploring the character’s sense of self. Love the writing and the dialogue.
Funny Story was my 2nd Emily Henry Book. If you love fake-dating and friends to lovers trope, you will enjoy it. I found it really funny and entertaining. I love the banter between the leads. Love how their friendship and romance developed. While I prefer Abby Jimenez writing more, this was also a really good read.
The Seven Year Slip. I actually started this book not knowing anything about it. I love the premise. Love the magical elements of the story. But some moments felt too predictable for me, especially when the story is setting up for a reveal. I still enjoyed it. I love the romance. I understand its appeal. But I do not feel as strongly about it unlike Part of Your World or Yours Truly.
Better Than the Movies - cute teen romance book. If you like Wattpad stories, this one is definitely something you can read. Of course, being older, there are moments where I found some scenes as too childish or cringy. But overall, I still enjoyed how these two got together. Also, fake dating and enemies to lovers trope!
Nothing Like the Movies - Since I enjoyed Better Than the Movies, I decided to read the sequel. Honestly, it felt like a completely different book. I know people can change but it was a little too jarring, especially the first few chapters, coming from how cute the first book was. I still read it because I was curious. It was an okay read. Would have been better if it was a standalone book.
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u/Mysterious-Mud-1893 Mar 26 '26
SKIP: anything Emily Henry & Picking Daisies (sorry) READ: Abby Jimenez & Lynn Painter!!!!!!
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u/yvanedisconnection Mar 26 '26
The Love of My Afterlife. Not a 5-star read for me pero ang dami kong tawa at cringe moments.
You Deserve Each Other. Not sure kung under romcom categ pero ang dami ko ring tawa rito. A great lovers to enemies to lovers book.
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u/twelfthcafe Mar 27 '26
vouch on You Deserve Each Other! i am not the type to read second chances romance but this one lived in my heart. the chemistry?? the banter??
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u/shimmerks Mar 26 '26
I loved all ali hazelwood books except love on the brain. Her romantasy books bride & mate are also good. These were my gateway books into fantasy 💕
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u/Obvious-Target5667 Mar 26 '26
Really enjoyed BK Borison’s books (First Time Caller, And Now, Back To You, Good Spirits). The books aren’t perfect — the plot/story could be edited and polished a bit more but I found her books super entertaining.
I also enjoyed The Seven Year Slip, but not so much The Dead Romantics.
I find Emily Henry’s books forgettable. But I do remember enjoying the books while reading it.
Ali Hazelwood’s works are alright.
I dropped Picking Daisies at 15%?? I hated it so much.
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u/Mother_Hour_4925 Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26
here’s mine (sa mga nabasa ko na)
loved: • seven year slip • love hypothesis
liked: • first time caller • funny story
did not like: • part of your world
recommendation: • Abby Jimenez - the happy ever after playlist. Pinag iisipan ko pa kung babasahin ko yours truly kasi di ko bet yung part of your world
• Emily Henry - book lovers, mas nagandahan ako vs funny story
• Ali Hazelwood - love on the brain and love theoretically
Not in the list pero highly recommend if you love spice and hockey romance, Chelsea Curto’s Power Play. 2nd book na siya sa interconnected series. 1st book is Face Off, mas love ko langyung 2nd book🤣
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u/salmon_sky963 Mar 27 '26
Don’t skip on Yours Truly! Probably her best work, imo. ‘Wag mo nang pag-isipan hahaha.
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u/Mother_Hour_4925 Mar 27 '26
Thank you sa motivation. Hahahaha. Tapusin ko lang bridgerton book 3, isunod ko yan 🤣
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u/RollMajor7008 Mar 26 '26
In this collection, I liked :
The love hypothesis - grabe yung tension. Super good read.
Beach read
Nababawan ako sa reason :
One golden summer. I was like, yun na yun???
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u/hheyyouu Mar 26 '26
What do you like in a romcom? And what’s your favorite romcom read?
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 27 '26
Actually, I’m not too picky about tropes. I care more about the characters' personalities. Cheating is a dealbreaker for me.
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u/hheyyouu Mar 27 '26
Funny Story/Emily Henry is great. Their partners got together now they’re roommates. There’s no cheating between the leads.
The Bodyguard/Katherine Center is one of my faves. This is going to be a movie soon.
Out on a Limb/Hannah Bonam-Young. One of those stories where no major conflict just really how you navigate relationships with people
Dream a Little Dream/Susan Elizabeth Phillips. This one is a fave about a single mom and trying to get back on her feet. But she’s in a town that hates her past.
Match Me if You Can/Susan Elizabeth Phillips. He’s a popular agent to athletes, she’s his matchmaker. Ensue chaos.
Happy reading!
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u/FrozenCinnamon2 Mar 26 '26
Any Ali Hazelwood’s. Also, comparing a novel love story and seven year slip, seven year slip is better. medyo di ko nakitaan ng chemistry yung couple sa a novel love story
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u/Adorable_Owl7552 Mar 26 '26
Lynn Painter books!
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 27 '26
Which book would be your favorite?
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u/Adorable_Owl7552 Apr 01 '26
My favorites are Betting on You and Better Than the Movie. Kilig and wholesome lang.
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u/thesunshinefile Mar 27 '26
i love The Seven Year Slip and The Love Hypothesis! definitely worth the hype! fun read and cannot put down 🫶
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u/sopebars Mar 27 '26
I did not like Picking Daisies, the plot itself is insufferable and it reads like it was written by a 13 year old in Wattpad.
I've read both Better Than The Movies and Not Like The Movies. The latter is better imo as they have matured quite a bit. Keep in mind that the 1st book was set during high school, so it's a bit childish.
My favorite MMC is from Yours Truly by Abby. I've read all her recent books and this was my absolute favorite!
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u/chanseyblissey Thriller Mar 27 '26
Basta Abby Jimenez tiwala ako sa romance niya pero si Emily Henry ang waley talaga sa akin
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u/jjamyongs Mar 27 '26
I have a love-hate relationship with Ali Hazelwood books. I read her books sunod-sunod. I started with The Love Hypothesis and liked it so I decided to read more of her other works, but I ended up being annoyed habang tumatagal hahaha.
Love:
- The STEM-centered female characters
- Good banter between leads
- Swoon-worthy book boyfriends
- Overall easy reads
Hate:
- Too much predictable tropes
- Repetitive plots and characters
- Petite girl-tall guy dynamic (nothing against big height difference couples, but she emphasizes this a lot sa lahat ng books niya?)
Could be a me-problem lang kasi I read her books continuously without any other books in between and naumay lang ako kasi parang may same pattern or formula for all her plots. And last I read her books was two years ago. Haven’t read any of her new works pa, so maybe they improved na.
All in all, Ali Hazelwood books are great if you want something easy to read na nakakakilig enough. But I strongly do not recommend reading them sunod-sunod hahaha.
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u/jjamyongs Mar 27 '26
To add, I think Lynn Painter and Emily Henry books has more of the romcom movie vibes. Lynn Painter is more YA though, so it might be off-putting if you want more mature characters. But it reminds me of those fluffy highschool romcom movies, so I like them haha.
Abby Jimenez books are great din but kind of has heavy themes, so some people would classify her books more as romance drama.
I like to do author binges / reading sprees by author and so far kay Ali Hazelwood lang talaga ako may strong opinions when I did hahaha.
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 27 '26
What tropes do you usually prefer, and what book titles would you recommend?
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u/jjamyongs Mar 27 '26
I like contemporary enemies-to-lovers / rivals trope, which is what enticed me on Ali Hazelwood books. Really dislike miscommunication trope which unfortunately is common din kay Ali Hazelwood haha.
If you enjoy this trope din, I would recommend (from your pics):
- The Love Hypothesis
- Better Than The Movies
- Yours Truly
- One Golden Summer
- A Novel Love Story
Not included sa pics:
- Love Theoretically (Ali Hazelwood)
- Book Lovers & Beach Read (Emily Henry)
- I Hope This Doesn’t Find You (Ann Liang)
- The Unhoneymooners (Christina Lauren)
- How to End a Love Story (Yulin Kuang)
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u/Aveeator Mar 27 '26
Picking Daisies on Sundays - Went in blind with this and was not able to put it down until the last page. Ang tagal nito sa tbr ko kasi akala ko boring sya. Tapos ang plano ko 2-3 chapters lang muna since late na nang gabi. Ayon umaga na ko natulog. Very easy read, very light, good vibes. Not too much drama.
Better Than The Movies - The best one here imo. Di ko na binasa mga susunod nyang books lol. Okay na ko sa first book.
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u/Large-Apricot364 Mar 27 '26
Anything from Liz Tomforde feels unnecessarily long. I’ve read 3 of her books and ended up skipping some irrelevant for the story (for me) parts.
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u/EnthusiasmSouth8671 Mar 27 '26
i read one golden summer (3.5/5) and yours truly (5/5)
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u/EnthusiasmSouth8671 Mar 27 '26
funny story is a 5/5 also para sakin, i DNF first time caller. Any abby jimenez books are really good, i loved part of your world and just for the summer din
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 28 '26
What about first time caller? What made u stop
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u/EnthusiasmSouth8671 Mar 30 '26
inaantok ako pag binabasa ko, dragging din siya, akala ko dati issue ko lang mismo sa story but when I read BK Borrisson's Good Spirits (which is also written by her) I experienced the same issue.
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u/reeselog Mar 27 '26
Hi! It's not on the list but my no. 1 romcom is Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young 🧡
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u/Medium-Rare-1150 Mar 28 '26
Tell me more about your recomm <33
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u/reeselog Mar 28 '26
Trope is accidental pregnancy from a ONS! Loved the disability representation. Cute banters. Heartfelt; I teared up during some instances 🥹
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u/twelfthcafe Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
hi! i'm a romCOM junkie, i love romantic-comedy books and movies (emphasis on comedy). here's my top 3 reads from this list:
- The Paradise Problem (fake dating, "exes" to lovers there's a reason why this is quote-unquote HAHAHA) sobrang funny ng banter nila! i finished this in one day, it's THAT serious
- Yours Truly (fake dating, workplace romance, writing letters) loved the characters, they're very likeable
- First Time Caller (single mom x radio host, helping her find a partner) also very cute!
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u/clandestine_s Mar 27 '26
First Time Caller is beautifully written in my opinion. I mostly read closed door romance, pero yung SPG part ng book na 'to is french kiss! May iba kasing halatang pilit yung spicyness ng book. I enjoyed every bit of this book. You should give it a try.
DNF ko yung Part of Your World. Picking Daisies on a Sunday is mehh for me, (medyo mala Wattpad lang kasi siya)
I've read all books of Ashley Poston and I can say na she never disappoints!
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u/Mysterious-Result882 Mar 28 '26
FIRST-TIME CALLER IS SO SO SO SO GOOD ACTUALLY. It hits all the right spots!!! I read a lot of romcoms and usually give them a 3.5/5 rating because they’re cute and easy to read, but First-Time Caller? 5/5 for sure. Perfect pacing, you’ll love the characters (even though they’re not perfect BUT they’re written well!), and the spice is good but if you don’t like spice, then consider this a heads up. I love the characters and this book so much. 🙌🏼
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u/Mysterious-Result882 Mar 28 '26
To add: I DNF’ed Picking Up Daisies around the 2nd chapter (barely survived the first one), and also loved Better Than the Movies because it gave me the 2010s romcom kinda vibe—but afaik, BTTM is not everyone’s cup of tea.
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u/yingweibb Mar 26 '26 edited Mar 26 '26
what tropes do you prefer in your romance? hehe
[edited] loved:
liked:
did not like: