u/Feeling-Writing-2631

Hey all! Wanted to share something that made me feel emotional; connected to HRs of course!

So, my grandmother (sadly no more) was the most voracious reader I knew; it was hard to find her NOT sitting with a book in hand. While she re-read every other Agatha Christie available, she read a lot of Harlequin romances as well. Back in those wonderful days of libraries and renting book shops (almost extinct in my country now), she used to exchange a lot of romance novels with her niece (my aunt) and they used to love discussing what they are read.

One of my biggest regrets is that I picked up HRs many years after she passed, but I also tell myself that I was just not meant to read them that time. So this community became my grandmother in that I could discuss this beautiful genre that has become a big part of my life without feeling her absence because trust me, I have felt terrible many a times that I've read this amazing novel but do not have her around to share it with.

However, my aunt was one of the first people I told that I'm reading HRs, and she always told me to suggest good books when I could. This time when I visited, I gifted her close to 10 HRs that I had bought over my hauls. When I spoke to her today she told me she had already read some, and sent a message that made me feel emotional, saying that it helped revive her old reading days.

Already tearing up a bit as I write this, so just wanted to conclude by saying that I feel glad that I could in my way, carry on my grandmother's love for HRs with my aunt :D

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u/Feeling-Writing-2631 — 11 days ago

Context 1: Book takes place in India. I'm Indian so of course first reason to want to read this book.

Context 2: Went through some reviews. One used the term 'exotic setting' which made my eye roll, while another gave a more detailed review saying that the book goes into detail about our religions, culture and even prior horrific practices (Sati or widow burning for example).

So, curious to know if anyone has read this book and has anything to share on it. I do intend to read it anyway because I've never read an HR that almost entirely takes place in India (even Duke of Shadows just has the first half), but still appreciate any opinions!

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u/Feeling-Writing-2631 — 14 days ago