There’s Something About a Dad Bod
There’s definitely something to be said about the fantasy aspect of romance novels. The perfect man factor is one of them. The chiseled abs, rippling pecs, perfect hair, devastating smolder, and don’t even get me started on the arm porn and Adonis V. But there’s also something really beautiful in the fantasy of having what you’re reading resemble some aspect of your life.
A group of 30 authors have teamed up to release a series of novellas throughout the month of January focused on The Dad Bod Hero! Yep, you know him: The man with the broad shoulders and thick thighs, who may just be a little softer around the middle. Maybe that scruff is hiding just a hint of a double chin? And that happy trail isn’t the only hair on his body. He’s all about comfort and warmth, he knows the value of a good meal and a day chilling on the couch. That’s not to say he lacks strength or sex appeal. We’re not talking Endgame Thor here (ok, well maybe just a little). He’s still strong, protective, confident, and successful. He just has a bit more of… everything.
It’s pretty uplifting reading something that reminds me of The Hubster and knowing it’s a trope enjoyed by millions of other readers. Immersing yourself in a story that’s pure fantasy has its place, trust me. But when the life you’re living is represented, it feels pretty damn cool. Snuggling into bed with a good book, knowing there’s nothing quite as comforting as curling into a man who can keep you warm without turning on an electric blanket is pretty awesome. Looking over and seeing that man reading a book or working on a crossword puzzle, knowing he’s fully prepared for (and expecting) you to put your cold feet (or ass) up against him- that’s pretty priceless.
I’m going to read as many of the Dad Bod- Men Built for Comfort series as I can. I may not finish them all in January, but I’ll post monthly review updates for the ones I read. Now, I believe they are all novellas, so I am not expecting the in-depth character development and sophisticated plots of full length novels. If you go into reading these books with that mindset, you may be disappointed. What I am expecting is instalust/instalove, quick progression to some serious steam, time lapses moving the story forward weeks or months at a time, and a definitive HEA built upon a fully established relationship. The other thing I’m really excited about is all the new-to-me authors in the series. Reading a novella is great way to dive into an author’s writing style without committing to a multiday/weeklong read. Let me know if you plan to read any of the books in the series, or have already read them, and what you thought. Who knows, you may find your next favorite author through this series.
You can see the entire series here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LCF7MDP
