Reading is political
Always Has Been.
Always Will Be.
“I read to escape politics.”
Cool. Same.
And also—I know damn well that while I’m reading faerie smut, that badass FMC who just killed the king isn’t just moving the plot forward. She’s overthrowing an oppressor. Let’s. Gooooooo.
I read to escape, yes. But I also read to remember who I am, who we’ve been, and who we’re fighting to become.
Stories shape empathy. Empathy shapes values. Values shape the world.
So no—reading has never been neutral. And honestly? Thank God.
Because love stories, especially, are some of the most quietly radical things we pass hand to hand.
Let me show you what I mean.
Love Stories That Are Loudly, Unapologetically Political
Fourth Wing (Empyrean, Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros, narrated by Rebecca Soler with Teddy Hamilton
Militarized systems. Who gets sacrificed. Who gets protected. Dragons, desire, and a woman who kicks ass while in excruciating pain. Romance as rebellion? Absolutely.
Arranged Vacancy (Love & Politics, Book 1) by Irene Bahrd, narrated by CJ Bloom & Brandon Francis
If anyone still wants to argue that romance is apolitical, this book would like a word. Set in high-stakes Washington, D.C., Arranged Vacancy is angsty, morally gray, unapologetically spicy, and laser-focused on power: who wields it, who benefits from it, and what women are expected to sacrifice to survive inside it. Romance doesn’t happen outside politics here—it happens right in the middle of it.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, Book 1) by Sarah J. Maas, narrated by Jennifer Ikeda
If you think this series isn’t political, you weren’t reading closely. Go back and read it again (I’m on Silver Flames for the second time!)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, narrated by Frazer Douglas
Queer love. War. Grief. Legacy. A reminder that queer stories didn’t suddenly appear—they were erased.
The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales from Verania, Book 1) by TJ Klune, narrated by Michael Lesley
Chosen family. Queer joy. Refusing to be palatable. Laughter as resistance at its absolute unicorn-filled best.
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games, Book One) by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Tatiana Maslany
Media manipulation. Class warfare. State violence. Love as survival. Survival as protest. Not subtle. I love it!
Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, Book 1) by Evie Dunmore, narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki
Suffragists. Power. Consent. A reminder that romance is best when it’s filled with women demanding more.
Lust for Tomorrow (The Stronghold, Book 1) by Dana Sweeney, narrated by Dana Sweeney
Speculative fiction has always been political, and Lust for Tomorrow is proof that futurism is just present-day power structures with the volume turned up. Spec fic that is also spicy is simply catnip.
Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport, narrated by Jeanette Illidge & Morris Kellswater
Still on my TBR—but I couldn’t leave it out. I can’t wait to escape into it!
Love Stories That “Aren’t Romance” (But Absolutely Are)
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter
This is a love story—even if it isn’t a romance. If you can fall in love with a dragon shifter, you can fall in love with Ryland Grace and his pal Rocky. Connection, trust, sacrifice, and choosing cooperation over fear? That’s love, full stop.
1984 by George Orwell, narrated by Simon Prebble
Yes. It’s a love story. Winston and Julia, forever. In a world designed to erase intimacy, pleasure, and trust, choosing each other becomes an act of rebellion. And yes, it’s devastating. It’s not a romance, but it is a love story.
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, narrated by Jeff Zinn
We’re calling this a love story because I fucking love this country. I wouldn’t be this pissed off if I loved it any less.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, narrated by Samantha Spiro and a full cast
Elizabeth Bennet refuses to marry simply because she’s supposed to. In a world where marriage is a woman’s only protection, choosing love and respect is a political act. Jane Austen didn’t write polite romances. She wrote social critique. Read any and all of her bibliography, I say!
Now tell me: which book cracked something open for you—or which one should absolutely be on this list?
