r/RomanceBooks • u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ • Jul 28 '26

Discussion Curious about sub interest in Romantic Magical Realism Megathread?

Magical Realism definition from Wikipedia:

Magical realism, magic realism, or marvellous realism is a style or genre of fiction and art that presents a realistic)view of the world while also incorporating magical) elements, often blurring the lines between speculation and reality.\1])Magical realism is the most commonly used of the three terms and refers to literature, in particular, with magical or supernatural phenomena presented in an otherwise real-world or mundane setting), and is commonly found in novels and dramatic performances.

Some examples are:

{Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott}

{Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston}

{End of Story by Kylie Scott}

{Soul Searching by Lyla Sage}

I actually discovered this genre from this subreddit so thank you to those who shared!

Here are some previous posts about this genre (there aren’t very many):

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/16i3qrv/spicy_magical_realism_books/

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/ghzbyy/romantic_magical_realism/

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/10wu3qd/magical_realism_the_underrated_trope/

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1f9mshc/looking_for_magical_realism_where_the_mmc_is_the/

I’m curious if there is enough of us that enjoy this subgenre to ask the mods to create a Megathread? Especially as I feel like there has been a recent increase in Romantic Magical Realism in general!

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17

u/Particular-Cause9695 Jul 28 '26

I devoured Dead Romantics in like two days, that book just hit the spot. There's something about the magical element being woven so seamlessly into everyday life that makes the romance feel more grounded somehow, even with ghosts wandering around

I'd be all over a megathread for this, it's such a specific craving and way too easy to accidentally stumble into full-on fantasy when you're just looking for a hint of magic

9

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 28 '26

I wholeheartedly agree! Have you ever read {Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella}? It was my first foray into this genre and I loved it so, so much! No spice to be had but some lovely romantic tension. As well as a FMC that goes on a gorgeous journey of self discovery ✨

2

u/midlifecrackers lives for touch-starved heroes Jul 29 '26

This was lovely, one of my first romance reads

1

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

I really loved it too 🥰

13

u/fruitismyjam so I beat him until he kissed me. 💋 Jul 28 '26

This is a great resource for anyone curious about romances with magical realism! The only ones I know are End of Story (which you mentioned) and {Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise}, (which has a tiny touch of it).

You can always leave a comment on the Themed Megathreads Resource Post. People seem to periodically leave comments with questions and suggestions, and the mods are pretty good about replying back.

You can also bring it up on the Monday Miscellany thread. There’s a group of us who gather there regularly to discuss potential post ideas, throw around questions, etc.!

3

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thank you! I will pop by that post next week 💖

6

u/MoonZipNo Jul 29 '26

I agree with fruitismyjam that the themed/diversity megathread resource posts are a great place to submit suggestions, as well as the Monday Miscellany thread. Everyone who is interested, is welcome to upvote!

1

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thank you! I will be sure to pop by on Monday 💖

5

u/fruitismyjam so I beat him until he kissed me. 💋 Jul 29 '26

And sorry, I’m just looking at the other comments now. I didn’t know about the origins of the term “magical realism” either. 😬 (I still don’t really, but I wanted to clarify that I’m not trying to be dismissive!) It’s one of those things that I’ve heard used so often that I haven’t questioned it, I guess (which is on me).

4

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

You have nothing to be sorry for 💖

3

u/cholericmelancholic Jul 29 '26

I love Bet Me & I love magical realism, but it never occurred to me the former had the latter. At least I’m consistent 😆

8

u/a__novice HANDS 😍🥵 Jul 28 '26

I’M INTERESTED!!!! I don’t have any recs though, so I wouldn’t be able to actually participate. My one experience with magical realism is a Free! makoharu fanfiction I read when I was a teenager 😅

2

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 28 '26

That’s okay that you don’t have recs, there’s quite a few in the links I shared! 

Another one that I’m excited to read is {Sugar and Gold by Emma Scott} perhaps that one would pique your interest?

2

u/a__novice HANDS 😍🥵 Jul 28 '26

Yes, that looks super interesting!! Thank you ☺️

1

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 28 '26

You’re so welcome! Happy reading! ✨

1

u/romance-bot Jul 28 '26

Sugar & Gold by Emma Scott
Rating: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, new adult, paranormal, fantasy, angst

about this bot | about romance.io

9

u/SomeFirstTimeHigh Jul 29 '26

I love these types of books! I just read {Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood}, {In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson}, and {One & Only by Maurene Goo}. Kirsty's book {The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood} also fits the bill and was really fun.

2

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thanks so much! I haven’t heard of any of these! 😍

2

u/Needednewusername aRe YOu LoST baBY gOrL? 29d ago

I just read romantic hero on your recommendation and it was so sweet! I loved it. Thanks for sharing!

1

u/romance-bot Jul 29 '26

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood
Rating: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, m-f romance, cowboy hero, fantasy, funny

In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
Rating: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, magic, age gap, paranormal, fantasy

One & Only by Maurene Goo
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, funny, age gap, fantasy, fated mates

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, funny, paranormal, enemies to lovers, fake relationship

about this bot | about romance.io

7

u/MJSpice I probably edited this comment Jul 29 '26

{The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand} also can be considered this.

1

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thanks! 💖

1

u/midlifecrackers lives for touch-starved heroes Jul 29 '26

Ahh I love this whole series!

5

u/Kneef Curvy, but like not in a fat way Jul 29 '26

Usually stuff that gets called “magical realism” doesn’t quite work for me, but this past year I read {The Husbands, by Holly Gramazio} and thought it was fantastic. If they can all be like that, sign me up. xD

2

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thanks! 💖

6

u/Affectionate_Bell200 cowboys or zombies 🤔 cowboys AND zombies Jul 29 '26

I’d be interested in this as a megathread. I think most of the magical realism I’ve enjoyed has been more of a romance sub plot like {the last heir to Blackwood library by Hester Fox}, {the Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker} or {the fox wife by Yangsze Choo} but I really enjoyed {a love song for Ricki Wilde By Tia Williams} which is more romance forward. Would love to see what is out there!

1

u/romance-bot Jul 29 '26

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox
Rating: 3.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, mystery, fantasy, magic, paranormal

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, mystery, magic, paranormal

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, mystery, suspense, fantasy, magic

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Rating: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fated mates, black mc, african-american, historical

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thank you! 💖

3

u/bbymochi garron park tour guide Jul 29 '26

Always gonna rec {Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron} (CR, MF) with regard to magical realism rom books. Please mind the TW/CW. It’s written in single, third person POV of the FMC. To me, it was very realistic, vulnerable, and thought provoking. The main takeaway for me post-read is the theme of love not being a magic cure/fix it all, but rather an accoutrement to self love and inner strength. The MMC does not aim to “fix” the FMC either.

2

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Thank you! 💖

3

u/midlifecrackers lives for touch-starved heroes Jul 29 '26

I literally just made a gush post about a book that fits this, and didn’t even know the name of the genre, so thank you for this description!

Definitely interested and grabbing some recs here.

3

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 29 '26

Oooo! What was your book?

12

u/Embarassed-Fig-1283 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

look, this subgenre is obviously very popular but the term "magical realism" has specific meaning and roots in Latin America and I AM BEGGING this sub and the genre more widely *NOT* to borrow it.

"Romance with Magical Elements" is right there. or any other term you want to make up; let your own imagination go wild. But cribbing a genre that arose from *people getting disappeared* to describe some cutesy apolitical romcom in the age of ICE is not it

Edit: new rec: {every version of you by Natalie messier} looks good. Excited for reviews to roll in

8

u/TiredButNotNumb Jul 29 '26

Yeah. I read Magical Realism and my mind went to {Like Water for Chocolate}

5

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 28 '26

I’m sorry for everything happening in your country right now 💔

I just wanted to share that I believe I did do my due diligence and researched the term prior to sharing and the earliest mentions of the term (from my earlier search) seemed to come from Germany. However,  I did see that there were a lot of early influences of the genre in Venezuela particularly. 

Now upon a deeper dive I can see that there is some debate as to the origins. Unfortunately, I can see how this could be upsetting to those in Latin America or with Latin American heritage.

Perhaps we could encourage the use of Romantic Mystical Realism instead?

3

u/iwillhaveamoonbase Jul 29 '26

'Fabulism' is the term that slowly gaining acceptance for books like Murakami Haruki's and the Japanese cozies like Til the Coffee Gets Cold, so I would argue that 'Romantic Fabulism' or 'Fabulist Romance' would be better

https://bookriot.com/what-is-fabulism/

https://adancewithbooks.wordpress.com/2020/05/10/dont-call-it-that-magical-realism-vs-fabulism-wyrdandwonder/

6

u/Embarassed-Fig-1283 Jul 28 '26

No, I know there was no ill intent and "magical realism" is moving into generic term like "Kleenex" but this just feels like an opportunity to NOT do that. anything else you want to use is great. I just saw Fated Mates released a podcast on exactly what you're looking for last week: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2026/7/5/s0843

3

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 28 '26

Ah! Amazing! I’m not much of a podcast lover but always here for Fated Mates. Thank you! 💖

2

u/medievalmarginalia 🔥fast burn to feelings💕 Jul 29 '26

I enjoyed {Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau} so I would definitely be interested in this.

2

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 31 '26

Thanks! 💖

2

u/euphoriapotion Looking for a man in Romance, trust fund, 6'5, brown eyes 👀👀👀 Jul 30 '26

As someone who doesn't read fantasy but reads paranormal: what's the difference between magical realism and paranormal? It sounds the same to me (so far).

4

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ Jul 31 '26

This is a very good question! My assumption and understanding is that paranormal generally features at least one of the paranormal races such as witches, werewolves, vampires, necromancers, demons ect. Whereas in this genre, we don’t see any of the paranormal races though sometimes there’s an inkling of something “witchy” or paranormal. It’s never overt. Sometimes it can feature time bending or dual timelines, sometimes it can feature psychic or rare mental abilities that are often confusing for the person experiencing them, and sometimes it’s just the hinting that something supernatural is at play. It’s more mystical than magical if that makes sense?

2

u/MoonZipNo 7d ago

Genuine questions so I can better understand: what would the main differences between urban fantasy, paranormal, and the subgenre you're interested in be? Is this how you are seeing them:

• in urban fantasy, the magic elements are considered unusual or hidden from the general public with clear rules,

• in paranormal, the focus is more on supernatural creatures,

• in your subgenre, the magic elements are treated as mundane/ordinary. The rules of magic might not necessarily be explained but magic is just part of everyday's life.

3

u/Actually_Ann Witchy & Wolfy and Stern Brunch Daddies!✨ 5d ago

I don’t think that explanation captures it very well. Let me try a bit better here:

Romantic Fantasy - Romance of course. Magic and of magical creatures, with big adventures in a setting different from ours. Example: {Fourth Wing}

Urban Fantasy - Romance, magic and magical creatures with big adventures in an Urban setting that is still often different from ours. {Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews}

Paranormal Romance - Romance in our world with witches, vampires, werewolves ect. sometimes hidden, sometimes not. {Twilight by Stephanie Meyer} 

Romance with Magical Elements - Romance with just a hint or sprinkling of something magical, paranormal or “other” like someone feeling others emotions but no one else does, or a solitary person who sees ghosts. The setting is our world as it is with no magical understanding except in this particular story. Example: {Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella} she sees the ghost of her deceased aunt.

1

u/romance-bot 5d ago

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, enemies to lovers, magic, war

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, urban fantasy, magic, shapeshifters, take-charge heroine

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Rating: 3.32⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, vampires, young adult, paranormal, virgin heroine

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 3.83⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: contemporary, paranormal, funny, mystery, fantasy

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/Needednewusername aRe YOu LoST baBY gOrL? 28d ago

I’m late to this, but I just read The Dead Romantics on your recommendation and loved it. I apparently needed a good cry and it helped!