This Rec League came from our staff reviewer Shana:

Have we done a Rec League on books where the couple’s first time having sex is awkward or bad and they had to learn how to give each other pleasure? I feel like I remember us talking about those romances but I’m not sure what we might have called the Rec League. I love historical married couple romances, and this trope feels somewhat adjacent.

Carrie: Jennifer Crusie does this a lot – a good example is in Trust Me On This ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) where the first sex is meh but as they start to trust each other the sex gets better and better.

Amanda: It’s been awhile since I’ve read it, but I believe the main couple in Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren had some awkwardness.

Sarah: A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant fits this VERY well.

The Bromance Book Club but I’m not sure if specifics count as too much of a spoiler.

And Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Amanda, what about The Bride Test?

Amanda: Hm…I honestly can’t remember? I don’t think so. There’s a lot of awkwardness in general about being around each other, but I don’t remember the sex scenes being awkward. (Commenters please chime in!)

Susan: One of Courtney Milan’s definitely fits this – The Duchess War?

Claudia: You are right, Susan — famously bad first sex.

What romances would you recommend? Drop them in the comments!