[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to welcome author Cecilia London to the site today! She’s talking all things political romance. Take it away, Cecilia!]
In Songbird, my new release, heroine Christine Sullivan is… a little messy. Outwardly put-together but inwardly struggling with the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, she’s coming off a short stint as an interim POTUS (long story!) and ready to reclaim her life as a private citizen. She doesn’t, however, count on falling in love with a man sixteen years her junior. Funny how that happens, eh? Alexander Guardiola isn’t exactly a political enemy per se, but he’s much more liberal than she is. And younger. In case you forgot.
Below are a couple of my favorite romances that deal with some of the issues raised in Songbird. I’ll also admit to taking a very, very generous definition of these tropes. To me, every piece of art is political. It may make a statement due to the absence of political discussion or its inclusion. I don’t think of political fiction or romance in strictly American terms or from a Left-Right perspective. For example, a confident woman asserting and embracing her sexuality is still an overtly political act, especially in fiction. A character demanding dignity and respect from their peers and from their love interest is also inherently political. This may be a nontraditional interpretation but one that I believe is consistent with reality. So, without further ado… here are a few of my recommendations!