Everyone should be reading romance. Yes, everyone. Romance novels are smart, sexy, feminist, inclusive, and uplifting. And guess what, mi gente? You can find Latinx representation in them, too. But if you’re a new romance reader, where do you start? There are so many possibilities. Do you enjoy historicals? Well, Lydia San Andres has you covered. She writes historical romances set on a fictional island that shares the customs and traditions of its neighbors in the Spanish Caribbean. Do you crave action? Try Diana Muñoz Stewart, a romantic suspense author who weaves contemporary social justice topics into her fast-paced novels. What about a story that reads like the telenovela of your wildest dreams? Angelina M. Lopez’s Lush Money may be just what you’re looking for. And if you’re overwhelmed by the choices, let me be your romance reading concierge and share my recommendations for the 5 Latinx books to read if you’re a romance newbie.
[Full disclosure: I know and love all of these authors. But even if I didn’t know them, I’d tell you to start with their books.]
American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera
The first book in Herrera’s Dreamers series, American Dreamer recounts the love story between Nesto Vasquez, an Afro-Caribbean food truck owner trying to make his mark in Upstate New York, and Jude Fuller, a sweet and earnest librarian whose quiet world is about to change forever. Herrera doesn’t shy away from weighty topics: the flaws of the so-called American Dream; racial prejudice; and the pain of being rejected by your family because of who you are. Against this backdrop, the romance remains front and center. Herrera’s authorial voice is pitch perfect, and I’m so glad she’s joined the steadily growing list of Latinx authors writing in the genre. One warning, though: Do not read this book on an empty stomach; the food descriptions will make you hungry.
Delicious Complication by Sabrina Sol
Known as the chica who loves love, Sol writes sexy stories that feature Latina heroines. Delicious Complication is the second book in her Delicious Desires series and my favorite of the three. Why? Because it also features one of my favorite tropes: fake dating. Brandon Montoya wants to convince his sick mother to come to Los Angeles for cancer treatment, so his plan is to lure her with the promise of meeting his (fake) fiancée, Daisy Robles. Do Brandon and Daisy catch feelings. Of course they do—it’s a romance. Do readers get to enjoy one of the hottest shower scenes I’ve ever read? Yes, indeed. One other thing: Sol has a short story in Best Women’s Erotica of the Year, Volume 5, and it is not to be missed. It’s a sexy “just one night” story with a twist, and the heroine is the first Latinx President of the United States. Need I say more?
His Perfect Partner by Priscilla Oliveras
If you're looking for a heartwarming novel that will make you smile, laugh, cry, and happy-sigh, this is it. Tomás is a single dad with only two concerns: his career and his daughter. Yasmine has dreams of making it big as professional dancer someday. Would an affair between a single dad and his daughter’s dance teacher make sense, especially given said dance teacher is unlikely to settle down? Absolutely not. But the heart knows what it wants, doesn’t it? Yasmin and Tomás’s love story is a slow-burn that beautifully highlights the importance of family in Latinx culture and the way our dreams can evolve over time. Critics agree it’s a must-read: This sweet contemporary debut received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist!
Stripped by Zoey Castile
Each of the books in Castile’s Happy Endings series, set in the world of adult entertainment, is a little bit sweet and a whole lotta sexy. Plus, the characters feel like real people, ones we know and love, and their troubles resonate because we’ve all experienced them in some form or another: helplessness, guilt, a sense of inadequacy, among others. But in these stories, love truly does conquer all. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but start at the beginning: Sexy, funny, and heartfelt, Robyn and Fallon’s story in Stripped will make you want to glom the rest. Just be prepared for the Thong Song earworm; you won’t be able to avoid it.
Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
Take a broody (read: reluctant) reality-television star, put him on a Dancing With the Stars-type show with a sexy and determined partner, and watch the sparks fly. The first book in Daria’s Dance Off series, Take the Lead was named one of the best romances of 2017 by both Entertainment Weekly and The Washington Post. Stone and Gina’s chemistry leaps off the pages, and Daria’s reality-television world feels, well, real. Add Gina’s concern that she’ll be stereotyped as a “sexy Latina” on the show and you have a story with grit, humor, passion, and heart.
So there you have it: your Latinx romance starter pack. Happy reading, everyone!
* Mia Sosa writes funny, flirty, and moderately dirty contemporary romances that celebrate our multicultural world. Book Riot included her debut, Unbuttoning the CEO, in its list of 100 Must-Read Romantic Comedies, and Booklist recently called her “the new go-to author for fans of sassy and sexy contemporary romances.” Mia’s trade paperback debut, The Worst Best Man (Avon, Feb. 4), is a February 2020 LibraryReads selection and one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month in romance.
