The Envoy

When Dr. Jayashree Kamblé “ran out of ways to say ‘I love you’ to strangers” after writing greeting cards for Hallmark, she decided to become a professor of romance.

Since earning her Ph.D. in English Literature, the Mumbai-born professor and president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance has been teaching English courses at LaGuardia Community College since 2012, where she includes the scholarly analysis of the romance genre.

Growing up in India, Kamblé was introduced to romance novels via local subscription libraries and recommendations through her her peers and relative. From there, she became immersed with the genre, making mass-market romance novels the subject of her . doctoral dissertation at the University of Minnesota, who advised her to “write about what you read even when you don’t have to read it.”

As a scholar, Kamblé has written extensively about the romance genre. Her 2023 book, “Creating Identity, The Popular Romance Heroine’s Journey to Selfhood and Self-Presentation,” draws on intersectional theories of class, gender, race and sexuality to examine the pivotal role that heroines play in the genre, such as the typical characteristics they possess of being independent and critical of society labels. Later that year, she published an open-access scholarly article analyzing the role of BIPOC academic characters in romance literature trailing back to the 1980s.

Kamblé continues to publish more work regarding romance literature in the present day, collaborating with a fellow scholar to publish an article on romance bookstores in Australia on Feb. 12. This week, Kamblé moderated a panel at The Book Club Bar featuring romance authors and academics to discuss reproductive rights, which included fellow CUNY English professor Karen Weingarten.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Kamblé provided The Envoy with 14 romance novel recommendations. When curating the list, Kamblé considered several factors, such as the reflection of diverse ethnicities and sexualities, in order for the romance to remain “true for the CUNY community and New Yorkers in general.”

“The list represents that variety and richness in the genre,” she said. “I have also done scholarly analyses of some of these and taught them in my classes, so I know how good they are.”

Ultimately for Kamblé, a good romance novel is a story “in which you sense that the author loves their protagonists, flaws and all, and creates a sequence of events that makes you believe that they will be more happy together than apart.”

“It manages to make the romantic connection fundamental to the character’s journey to becoming more interesting versions of themselves,” she said. ”And it takes on public concerns as they impact our private lives and suggests ways to improve both.”

Dr. Kamblés’ 14 Romance Book Recommendations

1. My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Wuxia (Chinese martial arts), historical inter-racial romance

Referred to as one of the “Top 10 Romances of 2014” by Library Journal, this novel details the adventures of the resourceful heroine Catherine Blade in her quest for freedom, which is threatened by her unexpected love for a untrusting captainwho cannot help but be enamored by this complicated and dangerous woman.

2. You Had Me At Hóla by Alexis Daria (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Contemporary, telenovela setting

Soap opera actress Jasmine Lin Rodriguez moves back to New York following a highly publicized breakup, where she swears off romance with future costars and commits to maintaining a strong, independent “Leading Lady” public image. That is, until her next project pairs her with telenovela star Ashton Suárez, whose acting career is on the line. When their on-screen chemistry and potential off-screen relationship earns media attention, Jasmine’s new image and Ashton’s closely kept secret are both threatened.

3. American Love Story by Adriana Herrera (male/male)

Tropes and sub-genre: Contemporary, interracial romance

(Warning: Book contains mentions of racist policing incidents, young queer characters dealing with homophobia)

Winner of the 2019 Ripped Bodice award for “Excellence in Romance,” the love between Haitian-born professor and activist Patrice Denise and Assistant District Attorney Easton Archer defies the path their careers have set for them– a path in which they are enemies. However, when tensions increase between the community and law enforcement, Patrice and Easton have to work together to save their town– and their love.

4. A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Modern Cinderella retelling meets Black Panther

A grad student (and former foster kid) unknowingly crosses paths with a prince disguised as a pauper, who is looking to fulfill his duty to find love and marry, but without the restraints of royal life.

5. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Fake dating

Featured in Oprah Magazine’s 2020 “Set to be Best” Romance Novel List, career driven queer Black British Ph.D. student Danika Brown is looking to start up a friends-with-benefits dynamic with South Asian British security guard Zafir Ansari who rescues her from a workplace drill gone wrong. However, the rescue goes viral online, and they start up a fake relationship in order to promote Zafirs’ childrens’ charity– and for Danika to achieve her goal of seducing Zafir. But lines blur as they both soon realize the deal entails more than what they thought, and their budding feelings come in the way.

6. Jane and Edward by Melodie Edwards (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Community college grad at a Toronto law firm, Jane Eyre rewrite

Jane, a former foster kid hoping to achieve something greater than her waitressing gig, enrolls in college and becomes a legal assistant for the notoriously difficult boss of a distinguished law firm, Edward Rosen. Despite Edward’s ill-temper and messiness, Jane’s sharp wit and determination takes on the challenge, much to his intrigue and developing feelings.

7. The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Dragon shifters, fantasy historical

A daring jewel thief with supernatural abilities sets her sights on a valuable jewel owned by a member of London nobility. But when its owner, a British lord she’s loved from a distance, turns out to be in on her scheme, she is overpowered and kept prisoner– until the jewel disappears, and they must work together to find the true culprit.

8. Office Hours by Katrina Jackson (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Contemporary academia romance, interracial

A young Black sociologist assistant professor sparks up a steamy romance with a Latinx colleague from the history department, but has to learn how to balance helping her students, juggling classes, and overcoming her insecurities to let herself be loved. Kamblé has previously taught this book in one of her classes, even being able to schedule a visit from Katrina Jackson to her class, which her students cited as one of the highlights of the course.

9. The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Slow-burn, mystery, historical, interracial

A female doctor from an Arab British family joins forces with a disgraced nobleman in Regency England even as she resists a romantic attraction.

10. Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Contemporary second chance romance

(Warning: Book contains mentions of miscarriage, PTSD and anxiety)

A recently divorced couple take the noble path of co-parenting their kids and maintaining their business in peaceful, but separate harmony in Atlanta. Then a stolen kiss opens up all their emotional wounds, and they wonder if it’s worth risking everything to try again.

11. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (female/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Contemporary paranormal

The author of Red, White and Royal Blue brings yet another star-crossed LGBTQ+ novel. August Landry, a waitress and pseudo detective, develops a subway crush on Jane Su, who has the style of a punk rocker from the 70s– except due to an anomaly, she actually is from that period. In order to help Jane return to her rightful life, August must use her detective prowess and resurface secrets from her buried past, all while saving the diner she works at from gentrification.

12. Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Space opera

Warning: Book contains mention of murder

A space princess on the run from an arranged marriage allies with a notorious killer and exiled soldier to escape the prison they’re in. 

13. Indigo by Beverly Jenkins (male/female)

Tropes and sub-genre: Pre-American Civil War, Black historical

(Warning: Book contains mentions of racist episodes, threat of sexual violence)

Taught by Kamblé in some of her classes, this novel details the story of a former slave and Underground Railroad member who is in charge of hiding an injured man, who is from one of the wealthiest free Black families in New Orleans. When he heals and romantic potential blossoms between them, it is threatened by the circumstances of their dangerous jobs and the fear of letting each other inside their hearts. 

14. An Unseen Attraction by K.J Charles (male/male)

Tropes and sub-genre: Slow-burn, Victorian era

(Warning: Book contains racism and sexual coercion of off-page character, anxiety related to society that doesn’t understand autism spectrum)

The peaceful life of a lodging-house keeper is thwarted by the arrival of a charming guest– and the murder of another.

Read more about Dr. Jayashree Kamblés’ career on CUNYVerse.