firewhiskeyreader

Great news! Dani, Aarya, and I are back with #FallIntoLoveBingo! The bad news is that I had to put together the bingo board just using Canva because this sort of slipped my mind until there was not enough time at all to ask my sister to illustrate the board. Oopsies. Anyway, I hope despite my failures, you’ll still enjoy participating if you so choose! Speaking of participating, #FallIntoLoveBingo will take place from September 1 – November 30th, but if you need a little extra time, I certainly won’t be saying anything!

As always we have only one real rule, which is to make sure that any posts about #FallIntoLoveBingo are as accessible as possible. So make sure each first letter of a word is capitalized when using the hashtag and use alt text or an image descriptor in the posts you make if at all possible. Thank you so much for your consideration! The other important note is that Black Love is defined as a romance book written by a Black author where all love interests are Black.

And with that, let’s dive in, shall we?

Row One

Print Media

Print media is for romances featuring writers, journalists, print shop owners, whatever, who are participants in newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, etc. I’m torn between two options, the first being a reread of Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean and the other being finally picking up Erin Langston’s The Finest Print. I’m sure I have many more options, but those are the two that jumped out at me immediately. I am really excited to see what other people pick up, though! Feel free to pop into the comments with what you’ll be reading.

Your Idol

I mean, we all know my idol is Taylor Alison Swift, but who is yours? And also, how are you going to translate the person you admire to a reading prompt? That is not for me to decide. For me, I know that No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel is not based off of Taylor and Travis, it is about a pop star and an athlete so that is both close enough to fit for the prompt, but most importantly, far enough away from Taylor and Travis for me to actually enjoy it. Hopefully. Cross your fingers for me.

Gratitude

This was Aarya’s prompt, but the way that it fits so well with my obsession, fascination, whatever you want to call my admiration with Robin Wall Kimmerer. I literally started The Serviceberry this morning and so this prompt feels so perfect for this moment. I think this is a particularly broad prompt too where you can really make of it what you want. Maybe you’re reading a book where a character is practicing gratitude, maybe you’ve been waiting for ages for a new book in a series (whether actually or dramatically) and so you’re grateful to have it, or maybe it was a gift that you really appreciate having received. However you want to interpret it is fine with me. I, personally, am currently leaning toward the new Kate Canterbary because I just really want it so badly. I haven’t been waiting very long considering she just released a book in… February? But still. Another option would be Brimstone because I desperately want the sequel to Quicksilver and I’m so impatient for it. We shall see!

Audiobook/Graphic Novel

I always say that I’ll do my best to read a graphic novel, but frankly, I really just need to buckle down and finish Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, which I’m about a quarter of the way into at the moment and my loan is way too close to being returned. So here’s hoping I can beat the clock with this one.

California

One of the biggest signs of my age is that when I see California, I immediately start singing in my head “California” while the intro to The O.C. plays. So honestly, if anyone has a book with The O.C. vibes, send them my way. A slightly easier strategy for this prompt would be to find a book set in California or written by an author from California. Or… I’m sure there are others. I mean, pick a song about California and go with those vibes. I’m leaning toward Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory at the moment. We’ll see if that’s what I stick with!

Row Two

Historian

For this, ideally, you’ll read a book with a historian main character or from an author who is a historian. But despite the fact that we acknowledge that real life historians would not appreciate lumping in archeologists in with historians, we support you doing so for this reading prompt. And any other creative solution you can think of. I remembered when writing this paragraph that I wasn’t supposed to have read the new Sangu Mandanna yet because it fits this prompt perfectly, but alas, I did. So I’m leaning toward instead finally reading The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness, which if I remember correctly fits for both a historian main character and definitely for a historian author. Or Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley, which is another Kearsley I haven’t gotten to yet. (I’m really awful at getting to her books if they aren’t about the Jacobites. Please explain.)

Branch Out

Oh, actually, maybe this is where I could squeeze in Bellewether considering what I literally just said about being terrible at getting to her books if they’re not about the Jacobies! In all actuality though, branching out is intended to be a more friendly version of out of your comfort zone. For example, I mostly read contemporary romance, but there are sub-specialties within that, including sports romances. I read a lot of sports romances, but I don’t read baseball romances generally because I hate baseball. (Sorry?) So if I read a baseball romance, that would be me branching out. Whereas out of my comfort zone would require me to read something like a monster romance, which I don’t venture over to… ever really. Baseball was my example, but I think I’ll roll with it and pick up The Prospects by K.T. Hoffman. Please, please, please cross your fingers for me that the baseball talk doesn’t make me want to scream.

Moving/Starting Over

I’ll be moving in September and starting a new job (hopefully), so this prompt feels especially apt. This prompt is for the characters who are starting over somewhere, whether that’s going back home, starting a new job, moving to a new city, whatever the case may be. One of the options I have is Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, which I’ve been meaning to read for literal ages. Maybe this is finally the time. Here’s hoping.

Scotland

Time to go to Scotland! I’ve been meaning to try out An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsey Sands because of… I think Mara and Mel? Historical romance isn’t my favorite as much anymore, but I think Scottish romances shine in historical (but I have so many contemporary recommendations!). Do we think A Kingdom of Dreams is enough set in Scotland? I’m curious to try this one, although, perhaps the better word would be apprehensive. I mean, according to Goodreads, I’ve read this book, but I’m telling you, I have not. At least, I don’t think so. If you know of any contemporary romances you think I’ll like set in Scotland that I’ve not already read, please let me know!

Jane Austen

A retelling of a Jane Austen novel, a Jane Austen novel, or even a book where Jane Austen is mentioned. So many options. I want to read Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa, but I’ve also been meaning to read Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin for absolute ages. And I own and should really read A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King. And honestly, I really am not convinced I’ve ever actually read Persuasion, so I really think I need to make sure that happens. So many options for me, truly.

Row Three

Mint Green

A mint green book cover, a character who loves the color mint, whatever you wish to do with this one. I’m leaning toward Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren because it is arguably mint green.

Reread

Read an old favorite! Or reread a book right after you finish it. Read a book that you read and hated, but want to try again! Whatever you wish, really. What book am I going to reread? Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews, along with Blood Heir, and the two Wilmington novellas. I’m so close to finishing my reread of the entire series and I’m having so much fun with it.

HEA

A free space! So many options, so little time. For the sake of the graphic, I’m going to slot in here… The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton.

Hobbies

Sometimes finding time for hobbies can be a challenge, especially when you wind up falling down a hyper fixation rabbit hole where the only thing that you want to do is play or watch other people play The Sims 4. Erm, that might just be a me thing, actually. But seriously, this prompt is for you to find a book where a main character is exploring a hobby, with bonus points (fake ones, because there’s no such thing) if it’s a hobby you share. Totally fine if the fictional character has monetized your hobby. I’m leaning toward finally trying Close Knit by Kels and Denise Stone, despite the fact that I’m not a knitter, but a crocheter. (And not a good one, at that, but that’s besides the point.)

Inspired by…

This prompt is one that I chose because I wanted something more broad than retelling, but also would still encompass a retelling. My idea of this prompt is that it could be a retelling (Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese), it could be inspired by a real life couple (No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel), or even a song title or lyric (Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows). The parentheticals contain my options for each of those. Inspried by could also be more broad if you can come up with something else. Please share with the class (aka in the comments or in discord) if you come up with another interpretation!

Row Four

Rust

I don’t think this prompt was intended for Taylor Swift, although, to be fair, I didn’t ask Aarya. So you could do rust as a color! But if you’re like me… here’s a link from Tumblr of all the lyrics where Taylor has used rust in one of her songs. There’s only four and mostly, I feel like she uses it for the idea of something being ruined (rusted). Which, to me, pairs really well with my love of the moving/starting over prompt. So will I be reading two books that fit that? Yes, likely. But for now, I’m going to slot in Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck, which doesn’t come out until November, but the synopsis is giving “This is Me Trying.” Also, it would work for historian because the FMC graduated with a degree in art history.

I Spy…

If you’ve not read The Blonde Identity or The Blonde who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter, please let me use this prompt to push them on you. But also, this prompt can be pretty versatile too. Maybe it is actually about spying, but maybe you want to make a reference to the childhood game of I spy and find some random generator to help you along. Here’s one such example. (I spun J, which made me think of Jam, which made me think of In a Jam.) Or to ask one of your friends to do that. And if you want me to name something to help you out… I spy with my little eye something that is red. As for what I’m going to read, I have stalled out on my read through of Troubleshooters and I need to resume that. So I think I’m on Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann.

Black Love

As mentioned up top, Black love is a book written by a Black author and featuring Black love interests. I’m hoping to finally pick up Colliding with Fate by A.E. Valdez.

Cozy Vibes

A book that you want to curl up with and get swept away in. Sometimes I do read the books that are actually labeled cozy, but honestly, I would prefer to just read a contemporary romance while wrapped up with a blanket wearing one of my comfrt sets because that is my cozy vibe right now. Just not a super emotional book for me. But not a rom-com. Something in the middle, vibes wise. Maybe Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt? We shall see.

Author Uses Initials

Whether K.T. Hoffman, who I’ve mentioned earlier, or Christina C. Jones, just pick an author where they utilize an initial somewhere in their name. I’m leaning toward Chaos by E.J. Blaise based on how much I loved Bloom last year.

Row Five

Dead

Maybe you want to read about the undead? Maybe you want to read about ghosts? Maybe you’re like me and really enjoy grief books (despite the fact that you can’t actually handle grief well in your own life, but that might just be me). I’m leaning toward just going ahead and counting Mate by Ali Hazelwood, even though I’m pretty sure that vampires aren’t really going to be as much a part of this one as the werewolves… Oh well! We’ll see what I actually pick up.

Why Love?

This prompt is another one that is very much open to your interpretation. If you’re looking for my guidance, I’m inclined to interpret it as a play on why me, though I’m not sure that’s what Aarya intended. I’m thinking though that this prompt is perfect for those books where our main character is very over love. So Unromance by Erin Connor and Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine would both work for this, which I know because I may have done a little try a chapter type situation trying to figure out what I might need to get.

Flying Away

Wicked Part 2 drops this Fall, which is unbelievably exciting. But flying away is a really malleable prompt as well, which means that I will absolutely be using it for a person who is running away from life. Or alternatively, literally flying on a plane. Or… I don’t know, but I’m sure there are plenty of other interpretations! Please feel free to send your ideas in the comments here, instagram, or in discord!

Honorable

I think this might be one that I really have to stumble into, but technically speaking, any judge is the “honorable” as a title, though I’ll be honest, I don’t know many books with judges as a love interest. (And if I did, I wouldn’t be interested in reading it because that’s too much like my real life, thank you.) But there is also one Courtney Milan with the word honorable in the title: A Right Honorable Gentleman, so that’s an option as well. For me. But actually, a Goodreads search indicates honorable pops up in titles a lot more often than I would have expected. Do we think that Honoria is close enough as a name to count for this? Because I am genuinely always up for a reread of Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn. I love that one. Anyway, all this to say, share your ideas with me!!

Written in the Stars

This prompt is obviously perfect for anything astrological related, but I have a personal theory that all of Kennedy Ryan’s books are actually about soulmates, which to me is the same as if their relationship was written in the stars. So, in my opinion, you can be pretty broad with this one. I’m definitely going to play this one by ear.

Closing Thoughts

I hope y’all have fun with this board! The prompts are pretty broad and open for your interpretation. There are so many more options than what I’ve provided and I really look forward to seeing how you all find ways to fulfill them! Please share any of your creative thoughts about that below.

xx