Hello everyone! How was September for you? Over here, it was bloody cold and I’m already bitterly regretting summer. Fortunately, I spent a lovely weekend away in Paris with my sister. It got me craving for travelling even more. I wanna get back out there pretty please!
Anyway, enough rambling… I’m back on the blog today to talk about chick lit. I can already see the frowns and hear the gasps. How is it that in 2021 we’re still criticizing that particular genre?! How is it that people are so judgemental about contemporary romance?
What are chick lit books?
According to Wikipedia, chick literature (first…look at that name…we’re “chicks”? Seriously??!) is a genre fiction, which “consists of heroine-centred narratives that focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual protagonists”.
Long story short, it’s about women and more often than not about romantic relationships.
I love chick lit and I’m not ashamed of it. I do not like every book in that genre (obviously) but I often like to treat myself with one. Chick lit is not always all fluff and frivolity, it has substance, too. It sometimes tackles heavy topics and can be as deep as any other story out there. You’re not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why you should give chick lit a chance!
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5 Reasons I Love Chick Lit Books
🌪 It’s fun to read
Reading a contemporary romance novel is fun! It’s light and easy and often stays away from heavy topics (not always!). I’m not saying that reading is a chore but sometimes a story can be really draining, a chick lit novel is the perfect escape especially when you have a lot going on in real life.
🌪 There is almost always a happy ending
With chick lit novels, there is a 99% chance of a happy ending. No loose ties, no cliffhangers, I’m pretty much always satisfied and fulfilled when I reach the end of the book. Chick lit offers hope, what’s not to like about that?
🌪 There are always characters I’m rooting for
Twists and turns are not really in the essence of the chick lit genre (drama and treason are more like it). But the characters, oh yes the characters, are pretty much always really well fleshed out and I often find myself rooting for them, willing them to be okay and praying for them to have their well deserved happy ending.
🌪 It’s about love but not only…
Yes, chick lit focuses a lot on romantic relationships but that’s not always the case. It also explores parenthood’s struggles, career changes, health issues, family and friends relationships. It offers us a perspective on our lives using humor most of the time. It’s the perfect mix between realism and escapism!
🌪 These books are cheerleaders for women
In a lot of chick lit books I’ve read, women are in control of their own destinies (even if they don’t realize it at first) and I’m so here for that! Women who crush it at work, at home and/or at relationships. Those women don’t need to be saved or rescued, they’re already badasses!
🌪 5 unmissable chick lit novels
Here are 5 examples of chick lit books I loved and recommend you add to your TBR straight away!
THE FLATSHARE ☂️ Tiffy and Leon share a flat. Tiffy and Leon share a bed. But Tiffy and Leon have never met… Reading the blurb, you would think you’re in for a very cute and fluffy romance (and YES you totally are) but the story is also rooted in some serious topics. It’s realistic, honest and true to real life.
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
LOVE, ROSIE ☂️ Rosie and Alex are destined to be together. Everyone sees it but them. If you have a weak spot for best friends turn to lovers books, this one is for you. This story will take you on a roller coaster filled with a LOT of emotions. You’ll cry, you’ll scream, you’ll smile… But I promise you, it’s all going to be worth it.
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE ☂️ One of my favorite author of all time! This one is about a young woman whose fate hinges on the choice she makes after bumping into an old flame. I’s a raw, honest and beautiful story on how our choices shape and define our lives. Addictive!
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
THE LEARNING CURVE ☂️ The kind of book that warms your heart! It focuses on a teacher struggling to balance her love life and career. This novel is vibrant, has a teensy-tiny feminist touch which I absolutely love and is full of colourful characters.
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Blackwell’s
ALMOST ADULTS ☂️ Enter Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat, four women navigating the joys of adulthood. Emotions: check. British humor: check. Three-dimensional characters: check. It’s uplifting. It’s heart warming. And it’s all about the power of friendship!
Find the book on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Looking for more book recommendations? Check out 10 adult books on my radar.
📌 Pin 5 reasons why I like chick lit on Pinterest!
Do you like chick lit novels? Why? If you don’t like/read them, why not?
Any favorites I should read asap?
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This is why I read romance – sometimes you just need that uplifting story and happy ending (and I do love a good steamy scene)!
Yes! 100% agree!
Thanks for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
I love this genre too. They mostly turns out uplifting and refreshing. Great post!
Yeeees 😊
Thank you so much! 😘😘
I love Chic Lit and I also love all of the reasons you gave. I often feel a bit of shame admitting that I read these types of books, but your post gave me more to think about. Thanks!
Yeah, same here! I hope that in the future it won’t be so taboo!
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
I’m not a huge fan of chick lit but I don’t hate it and I think that the stigma against it is so weird. Books for women can be anything that the author wants it to be, whether that’s light and funny, or heavy and sad.
Totally!! Glad to see I’m not the only one feeling that way!
Thanks for stopping by 😘
I love them even though I don’t read them very often for exactly your reasons! I really enjoyed Lucy Vine’s books, they’re so much fun!
Oooh, haven’t read those! Need to check them out 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘
You and Marie are the reason I picked up Almost Adults and I looooved it! 💞😊
I’m not a huge fan of chick lit but some are really well written and thought out! 😄
Awww, that makes us so so happy 🥰🥰
Yeeees, thank you 😁
😘😘
😄❤️ You’re welcome!
💞💞
I should read more chick lit! I read a ton of romance novels but not as much chick lit, partly because I don’t know where to start. These recs help! And I will say one of my favorite chick lit novels of all time, and a book I return to as a comfort read over and over, is Marisa de los Santos’s Love Walked In. Fantastic book.
I’m so so glad! Happy to help 😁
Ooooh, don’t know that one! Will need to check it out asap!
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘
Awww this post was so fun to read! I had no idea that was what these types of books were called; Chick Lit??? LOL! Anywho, I feel like I always feel connected to these types of books and I can’t wait to continue reading more of them, including your recommendations 🙂
Aww, thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed it 🥰🥰
Yaaaaay! 😁 Happy reading 😁😁
The only bad thing about this genre is the name… But other than that, it’s a fantastic one to read when you need a pick-me-up!
Totally!!
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘
I adore romances, which are similar to chick lit stories in many ways! However, personally I need there to be a focus on the romance for these books to fully capture my attention. There’s something about knowing that the main character will have the support she needs by the end of the story and that you’ll have a guaranteed happily ever after that just gets to me!
It’s interesting, because I love the romance genre for all the reasons you mentioned and could not agree more, but the two books out of five that you mentioned as chick lit recommendations that I’ve read, I disliked in part because I didn’t feel the romance had enough attention! I think it has a lot to do with expectation though, since I went into those stories expecting a romance, and got something else in return. However, when I actually want a chick lit story and the marketing is done well, I have definitely enjoyed the genre at times.
I totally get that ! 😊
Yeah…sometimes the marketing is not well done so you expect a big romance novel and you end up really disappointed because it’s not the main focus of the story!
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! Happy reading 😘😘
Chick lit helped me get back into reading for fun after college!
Yeees! I totally get that! It’s the perfect genre for that!
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘
I don’t read chick lit really, but I don’t have anything against it. I can totally see why it appeals to people for all the reasons you listed.
Thank you! ☺️ And thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading! 😘😘