So many sculpted male torsos, so little time, am I right?
Are you down with bare chests and taut torsos on your romance novel covers? Not all readers are into the skin, but I’m here today to talk to the ladies who like a little flesh on their covers. The ladies who have a deep love for the male torso, especially that stretch of skin under the navel that leads down to —
Ahem. Enough said. You know who you are.
Now we’ve identified ourselves, I think we can agree we all share a deep appreciation for shirtless gentlemen. They’re part of the fantasy we’re buying into when we choose our next hot read.
But honestly, ladies — when was the last time you saw a romance novel with a less-than-perfect male specimen wrapping a novel? There’s enough beautiful testosterone floating around the romance ether I could wallpaper my bedroom with romance novel covers.
Epiphany: I should wallpaper my bedroom with romance novel covers.
The point I’m making here is we’re jaded. That’s right, I said it. We’ve gorged ourselves on perfect male flesh until nothing impresses us anymore. Six pack abs? Smiley-face navel? Artfully arranged armpit hair? Yawn. It’s like trying to choose a piece of chocolate when all your options are Godiva, except it’s with eye candy.
Too much of a good thing can lead to hours under your covers with the lights off, whimpering and biting your nails as you struggle to choose your next book boyfriend from of all the genetically-gifted gentlemen heating up your Kindle.
Yes, you do too do that. We all do.
Fortunately for us, I’ve done the research (and by “research,” I mean ogling hot romance novel covers) and I’ve come to a shocking conclusion. Brace yourselves…
Covers aren’t all about the abs or the pecs, the V or the glory trail (though I’d like to take this moment to personally thank author Sarina Bowen for the cover of Brooklynaire).
After hours of soul searching, Zen meditation and transcendental yoga, I have a pearl of wisdom or two to share on the subject of hot male torsos. Now, I’m guessing we’re all visual learners when it comes to this subject, so I’ve assembled a little line-up of contemporary romance covers for you. A parade of pecs, if you will.