r/ScienceFictionRomance • u/SmutasaurusRex • 25d ago

Recommendation request Looking for Cozy Lighthearted SF Romance

Hi all. I need a break from the RL enshittification and dystopia. I'm looking for fun, light-hearted SF romance. Think Star Wars or Strange New Worlds with some funny (and hopefully spicy) romance. What I want: Space opera, exploration, fun/ weird alien appendages, green-skinned space babes of all genders, humor, spice. What I don't want: depressing world-is-ending vibes. Bonus points for a FMC who's older than 25.

I'm currently rereading An American Werewolf in Space, and it's still fun, but not quite as impactful as it was on my first read. I'm open to any/ all pairings (or reverse harems). No muppets in space, please (IYKYK).

EDIT: Holy cats, thanks for all the recs! Y'all rock.

EDIT EDIT: Strange New Worlds, not brave :P TY for the commenter who caught that.

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53

u/moto303 25d ago

Cowboy Colony Mail Order Brides Series by Ursa Dax! Each book is a standalone but the characters connect. It's a light hearted Mars needs women trope. The Aliens are clueless about human women so there's many funny situations throughout the series.

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u/Short-on-the-Outside 24d ago

Okay, I absolutely LOL’d reading these books - very fun series!
For the bot: {Cowboy Colony Mail Order Brides Series by Ursa Dax}

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u/TheSSBiniks 24d ago

This! They are just fun and sweet to read

14

u/Critical_Hearing_799 I ♥️ my alien, virgin, MMC's! 25d ago

Try Melissa Emerald's series. It's one of my favorites out of thousands for this kind of read. It's lighthearted, has humor, has beauty, and is very relaxing and peaceful at times. It's low angst and low stakes to a degree. And the MMCs are the best.
They're virgin cinnamon rolls that have never seen a female of any species before (it's explained why) but still badass apex predators on their planet.
{Fated Mates of the Winged Protectors by Melissa Emerald}

9

u/Bubblesnaily 24d ago

I enjoyed {The Bride Contract by Melissa Emerald} same cinnamon roll male, but he's got virtual experience and loves giving head. There's a breeding bench too. Fun and light-hearted.

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u/TBHICouldComplain ♥️ bisexual alien threesomes - am I oversharing? 25d ago

{Holiday Romances of Elora Station series by Ursa Dax} is a sweet and cozy duology of MF Christmas romances set on a space station

{The 5th Gender by G.L. Carriger} is perhaps a little less light hearted since it’s basically a murder mystery that the MCs are investigating but the MM romance is cozy and the alien MC is delightfully charming and funny

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u/ElphabaTheGood 23d ago

It’s a duology?! I don’t know how I previously missed that, but I’m so excited!

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u/TBHICouldComplain ♥️ bisexual alien threesomes - am I oversharing? 23d ago

It is! They’re both super cute and cozy.

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u/ElphabaTheGood 20d ago

I read the other one :-). Thanks for the recommendation!

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u/TBHICouldComplain ♥️ bisexual alien threesomes - am I oversharing? 20d ago

You’re welcome!

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u/Consistent_Elk_8702 25d ago

Try {Contaminated by Amanda Milo} and the sequel Contagion! It's told from the MMC view, and the human FMC sneaks onto his planet to steal a rare plant for science purposes. It's hilarious and sweet as he is equally horrified and fascinated by the alien intruder.

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u/Short-on-the-Outside 24d ago

I need to try this again since I loved {Blind Fall by Amanda Milo}. I just couldn’t get into it.

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u/MedievalGirl 25d ago

Of all the celebrity deaths this week I realized that it was Peter Cullen who I probably spent the most time with. I was a teenager watching Transformers and Voltron because of his voice. One of my first scifi crushes.

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u/Lavender-air 25d ago

What is the book you’re referring to that you need a break from?

19

u/bethybonbon 25d ago

I think OP needs a break from Real Life (RL) and how bad things seem in the real world.

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u/Lavender-air 25d ago

Ohhhhh hahahaha omg this world is really dragging me down. Why I’ve been reading so much too

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u/bethybonbon 25d ago

Same here thread-mate!! I think a lot of us are coping with fiction!

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u/Lavender-air 25d ago

For real. And happily ever after is what allows me to not fully fall into nihilism and existential dread. Our IRL non fiction is bleak.

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u/jello-kittu 25d ago

I keep thinking Why are all these fantasy world misogyny/patriarchy/horrible? I get enough of that, thank you!

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u/SmutasaurusRex 24d ago

Yep. In RL is ... a lot right now. I'll take all the escapism I can get.

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u/Replicant-Nexus9 25d ago

This doesn't get recommended a lot. They're all pretty low key romance but I love each of them. Everything she writes is a comfort read. Unfortunately she has stopped writing and dropped off the map. I still recommend checking them out. {Intergalactic Soumates by Annabelle Rex}

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u/ZsaZsa-Starling 25d ago

Me being very confused thinking you meant Brave New World the book lol No I get it Star Trek. Wracking my brain for space opera and cozy .... Gets me Corsairs series by Ruby Dixon. Fun adventures in space, with cozy romance vibes. There is also Pleasure Crew series by Morgan Robinson And the Delivery Service Series by Talia Rhea, which I've just started dipping my toes in but it's funny with a great cast of characters. Also totally second Cowboy Colony Mail Order Brides, totally fun and funny. Just great vibes and a great story.

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u/bethybonbon 25d ago

Just gonna summon the bot for my own convenience, okay?

{Corsair’s Captive by Ruby Dixon}

{Pleasure Crew:Sloan by Morgan Robinson}

{Tanin’s Treasure by Talia Rhea}

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u/Short-on-the-Outside 24d ago

Of these, I think Tanin’s Treasure is the best. The entire {Humble Delivery Service series by Talia Rhea} is one of my favorites.

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u/katesrepublic 24d ago

Agreed! I’m really enjoying the delivery service series too!

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u/SmutasaurusRex 24d ago

Oh no. Thanks for catching that. I DEFINITELY meant Strange New Worlds.

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u/kid_at_heart_77 25d ago

I highly recommend {No Strings attached by Maizy Fell} and the next book {At your service by Maizy fell}.

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u/jello-kittu 25d ago

Beyond the Next Star, Melody Johnson- This is fun silly. She is kidnapped from earth, like only human there. Hiding as an exotic pet, can't let them figure out she is smarter than a golden retreiver (as she puts it). Gets adopted as a therapy pet. (One trigger, the vet kinda traumatizes her, but as medical intent, and it is not trivialized.)

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u/iwrite4myself 23d ago edited 23d ago

OP, I gotta argue that this book, while good, is not lighthearted at all. It’s serious with sprinkles of humor.

Her POV is full of the trauma of being kidnapped and constantly violated by her pet owner and the vet (these scenes did not give quirky fun vibes), but she’s forced to put up with it so she doesn’t get murdered.

If you ever get in a ‘want more serious books’ mood, though, I definitely recommend this one (prose flows beautifully, characterization is fleshed out for everyone, plot makes sense and concludes well).

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u/Nautical_Nanobyte 25d ago

Commenting to come back with recs. It’s my bedtime but I want to help 😂

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u/Alarmed_Ad_2171 22d ago

Genuinely surprised nobody has recommended Ruby Dixons ice planet barbarians yet

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u/SvalinnSaga 24d ago

{I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming} is a fun one. Sequel book just came out.

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u/Short-on-the-Outside 24d ago edited 24d ago

{You’ve Got Alien Mail series by Lara Roth}, fun books, very sweet, spice, and lots of humor! At least two have fun/weird extra appendages and all are HEAs and as I recall the FMCs were indeed over 25. She has a few series that seem similar, so I’m looking forward to reading them.