I tried reading Romance for a week, here's what actually happened

spice levels, warnings, and a non-Romance Reader’s honest thoughts

I am not a romance reader.

This is important context.

I am usually standing ten toes down in literary fiction, speculative mess, a little historical trauma/drama for a little razzle & dazzle. Romance, historically, has lived in the “I respect it from afar” section of my brain. And yet—this week—I read four books. Three of them were definitely romance. One of them was a thriller that might be a romance if your love language is crazy.

I filmed a YouTube video about this reading week while attending Morgan (prettylittlebookshelf)’s event, and honestly, I want to start by saying how proud I am of myself for showing up. Like, actually showing up. Camera in hand. Outside. Around people. In bookish community. Shit — like I was really out here in real life being awkward for everyone to see.

I went for the vibes, and got to spend time with two members of my book club who came out, which felt grounding in a way I didn’t know I needed. There’s something really special about realizing the internet is made up of real people who want to sit next to you and talk about books and spice levels in public spaces.

Anyway. Let’s get into what I read.

If you want the full breakdown, reactions, and side-eye in real time, watch the YouTube video here 👇🏾

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A Holiday Reboot by T.M. Munyori

Spice level: 🌶️ (tepid at best)

This book felt like a deep breath.

A Holiday Reboot is soft, seasonal, and emotionally restorative in that “rom-com but make it self-reflective” way. It’s about slowing down, reassessing life choices, and allowing yourself to want something different—even if that means admitting the version of your life you carefully built is no longer serving you.

Light spoilers: this is very much a second-chance / fresh-start romance, where the emotional arc matters just as much as the romantic one. I appreciated how grounded it felt. It was a story about people being honest about where they are and where they want to go…at least they eventually got there. There’s also a much appreciated discussion about going to therapy.

As a non-romance reader, this one made sense to me. It felt like a bridge book. If you’re romance-curious but afraid of being launched into the deep end, this is a safe entry point.

Dear Vicky by Octavia Grant

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️.5 (but also includes non-consent)

This one said: Oh, you thought you were growing your edges back?

Dear Vicky is bold, fast-past, and significantly more unhinged than what I was prepared to deal with. It plays with desire, delusions, and why you can’t be nice to these crusty ass men outside!

Light spoilers: if stalking is a dealbreaker for you (fictionally speaking of course), then skip this one. Also, people are being MURDERED over some kitty cat and a heavy dose of delusion. There are hella trigger warnings so please be sure to check those. Even those this read is less than 100pgs, Octavia will take you there by your edges.

Use your discernment, but also… this is the kind of book where you sit back afterward and go, “Okay. I see why people like this shit.”

Enigma by C.M. Barnes

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (with warning labels)

Now listen.

This is the book that made me stop and ask: Is this romance… or a situation?

Enigma is not for the faint of heart. This is a different kind of second chance romance that explores finding love after loss. You definitely should not skip the authors note on this one.

Light spoilers: there’s sex on damn near every page. The book is like 300 pages. Do with that information what you will.

This is not a cozy read—at least it wasn’t for me. At a certain point, I felt like I was being held hostage and I was overstimulated.

The Cruel Heir by Selena Michaels

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (there’s not enough peppers)

This book said: power, desire, and consequences.

There’s murder, sex, forbidden (or at the very least questionable) romance. There is obsession. There is intensity. There are moments where you, as a reader, are required to decide what you’re willing to excuse in the name of attraction.

Light spoilers: this is not a gentle romance. This is dominance, entitlement, and attraction colliding in ways that feel intentionally provocative. It’s not trying to be subtle, and honestly? I can respect that even it’s not for me.

This one felt like a genre education moment for me. Like, “Oh. This is what Dark Romance is.”

notes from a Romance skeptic

This reading week didn’t convert me into a full-time romance reader—but it did crack the door open.

I get it now. Not all of it. But enough of it.

Romance, at its best, is about desire, fear, safety, power, and vulnerability—all things I already like reading about. I think my issue has always been presentation, not substance.

If you want the full breakdown (or just want to support my channel and let the video play while you wash dishes) watch the video here

And if you want to read along with me join me on Fable. I created a virtual book club where we can read Black authored books together.

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What’s a romance book I should read next?