Currently awaiting the arrival of my second little champ in late May, and glowing, thanks to my unwavering bond with Hatch during my initial maternity journey. My devotion to their belly oil could fill pages! It’s an honor to grace this month’s newsletter, where I’ve been invited to unveil my top 9 BRADs — a tribute for each month of this beautiful journey. For those in the loop, BRAD is my playful spin on a genre that dances in the twilight of literature, sidestepping labels like “smut,” “erotica,” or “bodice rippers” for something a tad more enigmatic. BRAD, or Beach Read After Dark, celebrates romance novels that aren’t shy about turning up the heat. While plots might weave in, the real allure lies in the sultry passages that transport us from one fiery encounter to the next. These reads aren’t just my guilty pleasure; they’re a secret ingredient to keeping the spark alive, especially during the whirlwind of new parenthood. Ready to dive in? Below, I’ve shared my curated list. For those craving more, feel free to frolic over to my website or catch a glimpse of my world on Instagram.
Tessa Bailey is the queen of the B.R.A.D. If this genre is new to you, I’d recommend starting here. Imagine if Alexis Rose from Schitt’s Creek had to move to a quaint fishing community in Washington, where she runs into the sexy town grump who wants nothing to do with her. Sparks fly!
Small-town romance that includes a grumpy male lead who intimidates everyone but is putty in our heroine’s hands, an evil twin, a makeover scene, an adorable cottage, and lots of delicious tension.
This B.R.A.D. is about Georgia Ross, an investigative journalist, who bumps into Alec Kim, an old family friend she hasn’t seen for over a decade. After a *memorable* night, Georgia assumes she will never see Alec again. Little does she know Alec is a mega-famous T.V. star whose life makes it virtually impossible for Alec to pursue anything resembling a normal relationship.
I had to put a B.R.A.D. where the leading lady is pregnant! This is book 4 in the Devil Series, and every book is excellent! It is about total opposites who have a one-night stand and end up pregnant.
Two words: cowboy romance. This is for you if you were a fan of The Longest Ride. A bull-riding bad boy is stuck with his boss’s daughter as his “full-time supervision” to keep him on the straight and narrow. It’s too bad all he wants is his boss’s daughter.
The hottest band in the country needs a leading lady for their newest music video. When a struggling barista, Katie Bloom, nabs the gig, she’s just interested in the paycheck. That is until she hits it off with the band’s frontman, who presents her with an offer she can’t refuse: pretend to be his girlfriend for six weeks while he promotes his new album. Katie isn’t worried about catching feelings for the infamous heartbreaker, but she can’t deny the heat that is always present between them.
I honestly don’t even consider this a B.R.A.D. because the plot is so good, but it’s the gold standard when it comes to escapism + steamy scenes. This is a love story between a single mom and the lead member of the world’s hottest boy band.
If you need a vacation but are too far along to get your pregnant butt on a plane, this is for you. Josie’s world implodes when she loses her job, so she impulsively takes a job nannying on a yacht in the South of France. When Josie meets the dad she’s working for, she can’t help but start to catch feelings for the grumpy, imposing, tall drink of water. No passport is required for this trip!
The final month of your pregnancy is a whirlwind, so I know you might not have time to settle in with a book. This collection of novellas is a quick, butterfly-inducing read. Perfect to pick up when you need a distraction from all the exciting changes coming your way!
Katie is the creator of Beach Reads & Bubbly, an Instagram account and blog dedicated to sharing her favorite reads. The account flourished after Katie began sharing fun and engaging reviews with friends, and it has grown into a wonderful community of smart and vivacious readers. She loves getting lost in a beach read, from sweet romances to twisty thrillers, and pairs each book with a tasty book-related cocktail. Beach Reads & Bubbly is about getting lost in the captivating world of books with beauty & fashion sprinkled in.
