I have a few personal barometers to determine if someone is a good time…
1. People that like Las Vegas.
2. People that like Pitbull.
3. People that like my books.
I joke (mostly), but I really do prioritize having fun in all of my writing, even though I write thrillers so it definitely gets dark and weird, too. But I always make sure there are plenty of scenes where my characters are living it up—like in my latest novel, We Love the Nightlife, which is about disco vampires in London. Yes, they love to dance as much as they love to hunt for men to snack on outside the club.
I believe we need more women letting their hair down in literature of all genres. It may sound trite, but joy and humor balance out the not-so-fun parts of life so why wouldn’t they be a priority in a story as well, even one that goes dark in both themes and subject matter? Having moments of levity, including laugh-out-loud scenes, is one of the things I set out to accomplish within the vampire genre.
I’m obviously a fan of just about anything vampiric (particularly where Anne Rice and Charlaine Harris are concerned), but the stories often revolve around the edgy and brooding male sort—who I do love and appreciate in their own way of course. But I wondered, “Where were the girlypop vampires?” Seeing a really fun gap in the marketplace to fill, I decided to write some myself and thankfully, I know I’m not the only one. I can’t wait to get my hands on Rachel Harrison’s So Thirsty in October!
But aside from vampires, I hold a special place in my heart for any thriller that lets their characters actually have some fun amidst the drama, backstabbing, murder and all that other good stuff we readers and writers love about this genre. Like I always say, if we aren’t laughing, we’re probably crying! So let’s get to some of my favorites:
The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
A modern classic that is soon-to-be a television series on Starz, in case you haven’t been poring over Deadline or Variety lately. May Cobb knocked it out of the park with this one. Wild women with cold hard cash down in Texas throwing back shots with younger men on the outskirts of town. Hello. Need I say more? Fine, I will. They are just as hilarious as they are dangerous. The best combo.
It Had To Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier
I adored this steamy spin on a spy thriller from Eliza Jane Brazier. Let me tell you, she lets her characters have FUN with a capital F and U in her latest. Keep a fan handy by the pool as you bed-hop from country to country with these sexy MCs who toe the line between wanting to kill each other and, well, you know…it’s a hot one!
Kismet by Amina Akhtar
Anything wellness related almost always has me chortling out loud, because so much of it is so ridiculous, and Amina Akhtar lets it rip with her take on Sedona woo-woo culture. MC Ronnie really leans into the finer things of the “clean girl aesthetic” and finds herself taking to the lifestyle with aplomb—before the dead bodies start showing up. Also, I need to shout out the very entertaining ravens in this world who also go on a spree of their very own!
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
There is just something about the Mrs. Parrish universe that screams fun and I think it’s because Constantine lets the characters’ be nefarious and naughty in such splashy fashion. You can just tell they get as much of a kick out of themselves as the readers do. If you have a Desperate Housewives-sized hole in your fun-loving heart, this book will fill it.
Love Letters To A Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
The way I laughed out loud multiple times in this book. The character of Hannah is a total kook, but I know she’s downright enjoying herself as she unabashedly pursues a handsome and charming, uh, alleged serial killer. If you ever wondered what was going through the mind of “those women” we all watch true crime documentaries, you’ll get your answer here. Bonkers!
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz
You know in an Andrea Bartz book that some dark and shady stuff is gonna go down…but this time, she let her characters get a little freaky first and frankly, the MC Kelly deserves to have some spicy fun considering where she starts: no friends, no job, no more fiance. So when this hot couple opens up their marriage for her? Good luck, babe!
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor
I mean, it’s right there in the name! The characters in Deepti Kapoor’s sprawling epic saga about gangsters and lovers in India are often beholden to their vices and damn, if it isn’t fun to read about. From the glittering beaches of Goa to the exclusive parties at outrageous estates in New Delhi, it’s easy to luxuriate in those moments when your heart isn’t racing when the notoriously violent Wadia family does whatever it takes to get what they want.
The Astrology House by Carinn Jade
The characters in this book are messy and drama-filled to the max, but given that they are attending an astrology retreat, there’s definitely fun to be had, too. I loved seeing how each of them interacted with the practice because even “non-believers” are always curious. Astrology never fails to entertain and neither does this fabulous debut! Oh, you’re not into astrology? What a totally Taurus thing to say. Come on, get involved!
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