AAR

[kate_barr]

Hi everyone. I have always been a fan of romantic comedy stories that seem to poke fun at the differences between males and females when it comes to love. Will definitely look out for real-life stories that highlight the pitfalls of falling in love and getting wiser in the process. Any suggestions?

[Linda in sw va]

Hi kate! It might help to get some recs if you can list a few that you romance novels in this genre that really enjoyed ? I could list some funny romance novels for you but I wouldn't go so far as to call them 'real-life'.

Linda
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[Sandlynn]

Yeah, in terms of getting recommendations, the more details about what authors or plots you like the better, especially giving examples of a few books you have already enjoyed.

In terms of real-life stories, we don't get too many recommendations about that type of book here and those bios I've seen mentioned are usually not too funny. That being said, I know that some romantic comedies are more madcap or screwball than others, with very wacky characters and, therefore, less "believable." So, I'm guessing you want recommendations that lean more towards slice of life, everyday occurrences in people's lives such as one might find in a Kristan Higgins book rather than something involving a madcap heiress who becomes the accidental nanny to a lumberjack's kids.... For instance.

Whatever you like, you might want to check this site's section called Special Title Listings where romances are broken down into people's favorites based on various subgenres, like comedies. Here's the link to the comedy one:

http://likesbooks.com/funny.html

[maggie b.]

Welcome! Glad you are here. As the others have said, once we know what you like we can give good recommendations (or at least half way decent ones)

maggie b.
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[kate_barr]

Hi all. I am thrilled that you have taken the time to respond. Honestly, I have been wondering whether there are books written along the lines of romantic comedy movies like Music and Lyrics, Pretty Woman, What Happens in Vegas, The Proposal, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, etc. I am checking out Sandlynn's link, you're great, thank you! I am also hoping that one of my Facebook friends in the US will be able to download a particular e-book for me that, according to a reliable source, goes free on Saturday. I love freebies, but being in my part of the world has hindered me from downloading and taking advantage of free offers (rats!). Thanks so much for all you kind people!

[Ash]

Hi
I love all of the movies you have named so maybe we will have similar taste in books
here is a list of some of my favourite romantic comedies:

Nearly a Lady- Alissa Johnson
A Week To Be Wicked- Tessa Dare
The Viscount Who Loved Me- Julia Quinn
What Happens in London- Julia Quinn
10 Things i Love about you- Julia Quinn
To Love A Thief- Julie Anne Long
How The Marquess Was Won- Julie Anne Long
Playing For keeps- R.L Mathewson
Nine Rules To Break When romancing A rake- Sarah Maclean

Can You keep a secret- Sophie Kinsella
I'v got your Number- Sophie Kinsella

The Sophie Kinsella books are actually chicklit with a romantic element but they are bound to make you smile a few times per page, As for the other books, while I wouldn't call them particularly realistic they are funny and romantic, they also have relatable characters that grow over the course of the book.

[Sandlynn]

I'm sure most of these books are listed in the link I posted, but based upon the movies you cite, I can personally recommend the following:

The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot
Girl From Mars by Julie Cohen
Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie
Five O'Clock Shadow by Genie Davis
Hustle Sweet Love by Maggie Davis
The Misconception - Darlene Gardner
Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson
All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins
To Die For by Linda Howard (This is suspense, but funny too)
Open Season by Linda Howard (This is suspense, but funny too)
Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes
I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace
Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Asking for Trouble by Elizabeth Young
A Promising Man (and About Time, Too) by Elizabeth Young
Ten Things I Love About You – Julia Quinn (This is an historical romance.)
George and the Virgin - Lisa Cach (This is a fantasy)

[LFL]

Julie James' books are very much in the romantic comedy vein. Practice Makes Perfect is an excellent example.
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[Trish B]

I'll second the Julie James recommendation and add Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books to the conversation. My faves are Heaven, Texas, Nobody's Baby But Mine, Kiss An Angel, Natural Born Charmer and Lady Be Good.

I also really enjoyed Susan Donovan's first two books Knock Me Off My Feet and Take a Chance on Me.

My fave Rachel Gibsons are See Jane Score, Truly Madly Yours and Simply Irresistible.
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[mirole]

I generally prefer my romance on the angsty side so that definitely would not qualify as romantic comedy.

The only one I could recommend (and I think it's been mentioned before) is To Die For by Linda Howard - although technically romantic suspence, it's very, very funny.

Julie James's Practice Makes Perfect is not funny enough for me to qualify for any type of comedy.

The two books mentioned here I would like to recommend wholeheartedly as they are in my top 25 Best Romance Ever are SE Phillips's Kiss an Angel and Rachel Gibson's Somply Irresistible. But they are not romantic comedies in my view despite some humourous aspects especially in SEP's book. They both are pretty angsty.

[Lynda X]

Let me third Linda Howard's TO DIE FOR. It is laugh out loud funny with exactly what you are looking for. It has a sequel which is fairly good--worth reading, IMO, if you like the first book.

[Mark]

Below is a list of the romances I've read that I have rated as having the most humor (many are also in the AAR Favorite Funny list):
alexander, victoria: the marriage lesson*****
alexander, victoria: the pursuit of marriage*****
craig, emma: rosamunda's revenge*****
crusie, jennifer: bet me*****
davidson, maryjanice: undead and unwed*****
davis, maggie: hustle, sweet love*****
evanovich, janet: back to the bedroom*****
evanovich, janet: smitten*****
evanovich, janet: the rocky road to romance*****
evanovich, janet: the grand finale*****
evanovich, janet: love overboard[ivan takes a wife]*****
garwood, julie: the lion's lady*****
holbrook, cindy: the missing brides*****
holbrook, cindy: the missing matchmaker*****
holbrook, cindy: the actress & the marquis*****
holbrook, cindy: lord sayer's ghost*****
holbrook, cindy: a rake's reform*****
holbrook, cindy: the reluctant bride*****
jensen, emma: what chloe wants*****
jensen, trish: without a clue*****
joy, dara: high energy*****
krentz, jayne ann: summer in eclipse bay*****
lansdowne, judith a.: lord nightingale's triumph*****
lansdowne, judith a.: mutiny at almack's*****
laurenston, shelly: the mane event*****
leclaire, day: the nine-dollar daddy*****
lynson, jane: the duke's downfall*****
macalister, katie: noble intentions*****
martin, michelle: the mad miss mathley*****
michaels, kasey: the tenacious miss tamerlane*****
nelson, judith: the merry chase*****
nelson, judith: patience is a virtue*****
phillips, susan elizabeth: nobody's baby but mine*****
quick, amanda: ravished*****
quinn, julia: brighter than the sun*****
quinn, julia: to catch an heiress*****
quinn, julia: how to marry a marquis*****
reece, jean: the primrose path*****
sands, lynsay: single white vampire*****
smythe, sheridon: completely yours*****
thompson, vicki lewis: operation gigolo*****
tucker, bonnie: hannah's hunks*****
anthologies: cupid cats (km*****, cb***, vlt**.5)
anthologies: highland fling (as, cm, jb*****, ls)
anthologies: the night before christmas (va''', sh***, dj*****, nm*)
anthologies: a season in the highlands (jd***, jb*****, gd**.5, pb*, pc**.5)
anthologies: these boots were made for stomping (jk**, jl*****, mm**)
anthologies: wish list (lk**.5, lc***, cd**, ls*****)