There’s already been a lot of romance in the first few episodes of the Bachelorette with Ali Oetjen. Some of our men seem to have come straight from one of our bestselling historical romances, while some of the men leave a lot to be desired. A lot. Any of the men tickle your romantic fancy? Here’s a list in order of arrival paired with romance books to hold you over until the next episode.
Charlie
Brave of them to put literally the best guy first but here we are. Charlie is old-fashioned, sentimental and strong. The builder made a wooden journal for Ali with a very eloquent note written inside and gave her like 15 hugs. If Charlie warmed your heart, read The Governess Game by Tessa Dare. Cute, old-fashioned and sentimental, makes you wanna go “aw.”
Robert
Robert brought Ali a homemade tomato sauce and told her about his Italian heritage. He was incredibly nervous and wore a flanno suit jacket. Love the connection to Italian ancestry and tomatoes? Give The Right Place by Carla Caruso a read. It’s charming, just like Robert, and features a great Australian migration story.
Ivan
Pronounced “ee-von” this guy is VERY tall and does a dance then walks off. He apparently wants to be the next Magic Mike so let’s read Haunted Ever After by Juliet Madison. A little paranormal, a little sexy, this book will give us what Ivan is…uh…trying to give us.
Nathan
“Obviously girls love me.” He says as he hops from foot-to-foot to get into the house and start drinking with the dudes ASAP. Doesn’t seem instead in to that rando chick that he’s there to win over. If you’re bubbling with anger like I am, read Reasons for Revenge by Maureen Child. In this book we are ACTUALLY scorned, seduced and captured and we like it.
Bill
Bill ends up getting the Wild Rose and when he meets Ali he “confesses” that his real name is David, not Bill. Ali gives him the Wild Rose because he “intrigues” her. If you want to be intrigued too, read the Intrigue Duo Hideaway at Hawk’s Landing and Rescued by the Marine by Rita Herron and Julie Miller respectively. Please note that the queer baiting is not intriguing though, thanks.
Segway Jules
Jules is actually pretty cool. He has a tattoo on his bum of his mate’s band so he’s obviously loyal. At first, his moustache, the Segway and the tattoo made a pretty “nope” cocktail for me. It was later in the episode when he looked very unimpressed by how the other men were talking about Ali that we see his old-fashioned military respect. If you liked Jules as much as I did and want to read about off-the-wall military men, read The Lost Pearl by Emily Madden.
Daniel
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The show didn’t really feature Daniel (aw) but according to early notes he has a long list of requirements for his lady. Arrange marriage book it is. Have a read of Hell on Wheels by Rhyll Biest. The opening blurb says it all, “An imperious princess, an arrogant mercenary, a marriage of convenience, and one hell of a roller derby bout.”
Wesley
https://www.instagram.com/p/BooALHrAJ7m/?taken-by=wesleyryanford
AS YOU WISH. Just read Unlocking His Heart by Sarah Mallory if you reacted like me when you saw his name.
Brendan
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bov8R7HlmOT/?taken-by=brendancav
Pretty clean-cut looking guy looking for a second-chance at love. He, too, was glossed over but if you want to read something sentimental but a little fun, read The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller. If nothing else, Brendan seems like a pretty chill guy that’s just doing his best.
Danny
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He mumbled so didn’t get a lot, but from early notes we know he’s a former federal police officer. Police officers do mighty well in the genre of romance and a good book to start would be Cavanaugh Justice by Marie Ferrarella. This book is a bind-up of three police romance stories and will tell you everything Danny isn’t.
Cheyne
He wore a kilt and nothing else really matters. Read The Protector by Allison Butler to get your Scottish on.
Ben
Honey Badger 2.0 gave Ali a kangaroo scrotum pouch and unsurprisingly he was eliminated. But if you’re in the mood for an actual romantic footballer, read A Whole New Ball Game by Lauren K McKellar. A little bit of love, a little bit of footy, and a whole lot of heat, this story will give you what the Honey Badger did not give us. Sorry HB you’re out of print.
Taite
Taite is a bank manager and has been on other reality shows already. He’s dapper and has a nice beard. If Taite is up your alley, have a read of Sydney’s Most Eligible by Joss Wood, Avril Tremayne and Stefanie London, an anthology about some pretty dapper Sydney men just like Taite.
Damien
In his quote he say he wants to “stop playing games” and I’ll call him out now: bro you’re on the Bachelorette. But he’s saucy and picking Ali up bridal style and carrying her to the cocktail party is exactly what I want in a man. There’s no single book that can contain Damien, so instead I suggest you read all of the Dare series.
Paddy
I have no “fit” comments for Paddy, sorry. Paddy is not romance.com.au material.
Knight Todd
Todd is dressed to defend his kingdom from its biggest threat—leather car seats that you must slide across to get to the other side of the seat so that two other men can get in as well, ignoring the option of just walking around the car outside and opening the other door. Todd is trying his best, but the fact that his knight costume is made of plastic disappoints us. Read A Valiant Knight by Margaret Moore if you want a knight in a metal costume. RIP to the monarchy.
Bow-Tie Dan
DAN BROUGHT A LAMB HOW CUTE. A good, cute country boy like Bow-Tie Dan deserves one of our best rural romance books, Rosalee Station by Mandy Magro. A classic love story in the Australian Outback, I can imagine Dan fitting into the role of a fun-loving, yet hard-working farm hand and wooing a city slicker.
Pete
We don’t have a lot of information on Pete either but we do know that a) he’s a cutie patootie and b) he’s a bit of a snitch after starting the fight between Nathan and Paddy in the first episode. A little bit awkward, a little too smart for his own good, read Tinsel in a Tangle by Ainslie Paton. Tingle in a Tangle features an adorably awkward IT hero and is perfect for the holiday season!
It’s been a wild ride with Bachelorette so far but always remember, books are forever.
Looks like this is going to be an…interesting season of The Bachelorette!
*agreed*