This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag.
While the vast majority of "best lists" that receive mainstream attention are literary fiction based, it is the genre lists that are my favorites. Why? Because they help our most loyal patrons; genre readers are the ones we see on a regular basis. As genre lists go, I love ones that include the voice of experts-- both authors and readers.
Fated Mates is one such stellar example in the Romance genre. Fated Mates is a Romance Novel podcast with author Sarah MacLean and Romance critic [and English teacher] Jen Prokop. Click here to learn more about them and the podcast, but also from the homepage:
Fated Mates is a romance novel podcast co-hosted by author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop. Weekly episodes include romance novel read-alongs and discussions of the work of the genre, highlighting the romance novel as a powerful tool in fighting patriarchy…with absolutely no kink shaming.
You should be using Fated Mates, the podcast, the website, and their Twitter feed [as well as Jen's personal Twitter] to follow the goings on in the Romance genre at all times. But specifically, the current episode is their Best Romances of 2021 spectacular.
This is my favorite episode of theirs each year. Why? Well first, I am not a Romance fan myself. I listen to this podcast to understand what is going on in the genre, but I don't listen to every episode. However, this one is RA and Collection Development gold. MacLean and Prokop always discuss the genre with respect. They are clearly fans but also have a lot of fun. Hearing their "best" of any year is not only a great way for me to get up to speed on the best title in Romance, but it also gives me a sense of the "why" they are best including a discussion of trends and issues in the genre.
All of you need to be using best lists to make sure you have the copies mentioned in your collections and to make displays for your patrons. But please, with the onslaught of the more literary based lists, don't forget GENRE. Those are just as important. Actually, I would argue that genre based beast lists are even more important. Why? Because genre best lists are not as easily available or apparent to your patrons. Help them to help themselves.
Whether or not you are a romance reader, we all know that Romance is in the top 3 of circulating genres at your library. I know many of you are disparaging of this fact. Get over yourselves. Romance readers are THE BEST at talking about why they love the books they love. They are some of the most passionate readers out there. [all puns intended] End of discussion.
Click here to access the podcast to listen to why these are they Best Romance Novels of 2021 and to see the covers and titles. Or go to this excellent Twitter thread with all of the titles.
Now if you will excuse me, I have a few holds to place thanks to Fated Mates.
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