Genre Study – Relationship Fiction: Crossovers – Romance & Mystery

Our 2024-2025 genre study provides an overview of relationship fiction by looking at key authors, tropes, and themes. The study will also explore crossover appeal with various genres.

The meeting will be Thursday, August 7 from 2-4pm in-person at the Park Ridge Public Library. We will continue our venture into relationship fiction crossovers with other genres. Read two books, one mystery and one romance. Below is a list of suggestions of titles and authors; feel free to choose your own as well.

Mystery

• The After Party by A. C. Arthur
• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce) by Alan Bradley
• One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley
• The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway) by Elly Griffiths
• How to have a killer time in D.C. by Sam Lumley
• The Bangalore Detectives Club (Kaveri and Ramu) by Harini Nagendra

• The Murder of Mr. Ma (Judge Dee and Lao She) by John Shen Yen Nee & SJ Rozen
• The Thursday Murder Club (also series name) by Richard Osman
• Under Lock & Skeleton Key (Secret Staircase) by Gigi Pandian
• A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell) by Deanna Raybourn
• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Romance

• • An Extraordinary Union (Loyal League) by Alyssa Cole 
  • The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
  • Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

• To Have and to Heist (Heist) by Sara Desai

• Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (Rajes) by Sonali Dev
• Book Lovers by Emily Henry
• Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez 
• Cold-Hearted Rake (Ravenels) by Lisa Kleypas
• Lady Derring Takes a Lover (Palace of Rogues) by Julie Anne Long 

• One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

• • Between Friends & Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi 

• Hate to Want You (Forbidden Hearts) by Alisha Rai

• Before I Let Go (Skyland) by Kennedy Ryan
• You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian