Top Ten Witty Snippets of Banter In Books

Posted May 23, 2022 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 14 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! Today’s topic is a book quote freebie, which means you get to share your favorite book quotes that fit a theme of your choosing! These could be quotes about books/reading, or quotes from books. I chose to share some flirty/witty/funny snippets of banter in some of my favorite books! Historical romance is known for having great banter, but I did find a snippet from a contemporary romance to share as well! I can’t wait to see what topic you chose to focus on this week!

“There’s no such thing as an old maid.”
“Wh-what would you call a middle-aged lady who’s never married?”
“A woman with standards?”
― Lisa Kleypas, Chasing Cassandra

“You know,” he said, “this design begins to appeal to me after all. Sea slugs aren’t the least bit arousing, but logarithms . . . I’ve always thought that word sounded splendidly naughty.” He let it roll off his tongue with ribald inflection. “Logarithm.” He gave an exaggerated shiver. “Ooh. Yes and thank you and may I have some more.”

“Lots of mathematical terms sound that way. I think it’s because they were all coined by men. ‘Hypotenuse’ is downright lewd.”

“ ‘Quadrilateral’ brings rather carnal images to mind.”

She was silent for a long time. Then one of her dark eyebrows arched. “Not so many as ‘rhombus.’ ”
― Tessa Dare, A Week to Be Wicked

“What happened?”
“This happened.” He shifted his arms to reveal a bundle of tiny, knobby joints and fluffy patches of black and white.
A newborn goat.
“Oh, my goodness.” She knelt behind him, peering over his shoulder. “Surely not Marigold?”
“I told you so,” he said irritably.
As if she’d be intimidated by gruff words from a man cradling a newborn goat in his arms. She’d always known he had a capacity for gentleness.
I told you so, too.
She reached to stroke the little goat’s fur.
Gabriel’s shoulder muscle flinched in annoyance. “My shirt was ruined, I’ll have you know. Completely unsalvageable. And then this runtish little thing wouldn’t stop shivering.”
“Would it help if I told you that I’ve never found you so wildly attractive as I do in this moment?”
“No.”
― Tessa Dare, The Wallflower Wager

“Did you . . . Did you just kiss me?” He sounded puzzled, and maybe a little out of breath. His lips were full and plump and . . . Kissed. There was simply no way Olive could get away with denying what she had just done.
Still, it was worth a try.
“Nope.”
Surprisingly, it seemed to work.
“Ah. Okay, then.” Carlsen nodded and turned around, looking vaguely disoriented. He took a couple of steps down the hallway, reached the water fountain—maybe where he’d been headed in the first place.
Olive was starting to believe that she might actually be off the hook when he halted and turned back with a skeptical expression.
“Are you sure?”
― Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis

“You really shouldn’t sneak up on people in the dark, sir. It isn’t gentlemanly.”
He responded quickly, the deep tenor of his voice sweeping over her. “My apologies. Of course, one might argue that lurking in the darkness isn’t exactly ladylike.”
― Sarah MacLean, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

“If you wish to go. And I suspect you do, if only to castigate me on other continents. There’s an idea. Come with me to Tahiti and insult me on a white sand beach. Berate me on a South American mountaintop—­so loudly, the echo sets off an avalanche.”

Despite all her intentions to dampen it, a flame of excitement kindled in her heart. And then he threw a log on the fire. “Aside from a thrilling honeymoon, you must admit it would make quite a book.”

Curse the man. He understood exactly how to tempt her.

“Just imagine the memoir. You could call it Lord Ashwood’s Ship Has Sailed. I’m certain the reading public would be fascinated.”
― Tessa Dare, Lord Dashwood Missed Out

“What is your objection to the clothes?” Sebastian asked, glancing at the gowns. “They’re black, aren’t they?”
“Well, yes, but they’re not made of crepe.”
“Do you want to wear crepe?”
“Of course not— no one does. But if people saw me wearing anything else, there would be terrible gossip.”
One of Sebastian’s brows arched. “Evie,” he said dryly, “you eloped against your family’s wishes, you married a notorious rake, and you’re living in a gaming club. How much more damned gossip do you think you could cause?”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter

“I need a penny,” Pauline said. “Quickly, give me a penny.” He fished in his pocket and produced a coin, then dropped it in her outstretched hand. She peered at it. “This isn’t a penny. It’s a sovereign.” “I don’t have anything smaller.” She rolled her eyes. “Dukes and their problems. I’ll be along in a moment.”
― Tessa Dare, Any Duchess Will Do

“She laid a row of cushions down the center of the bed, carefully dividing it into two sides: His, and hers.
“Is that truly supposed to stop me?” He fell back on the bed, on his side-peering over the pillow wall at her with amusement. “I fully intended to have my wicked way with you. But now there’s this cushion, so…”
She burrowed under the coverlet, drawing it up to her neck.
“Now that you mention it,” he went on, “I dinna know how this strategy escaped Napoleon’s notice. If only he’d erected a barricade of feathers and fabric, we Highlanders wouldna have known how to get over it.”
“I don’t expect the pillows to keep you out,” she said. “They’re merely a guard against anything accidental happening.”
“Ah.” He drew out the syllable. “We canna have any accidental happenings.”
“Exactly. I might roll over in the night, and I know how you feel about cuddling. I should hate to take advantage of you.”
“Minx.”
― Tessa Dare, When a Scot Ties the Knot

“You’re not worried about being compromised, are you?” he asked. “Because I’ve already done that.”

Forgetting her resolution to be dignified, Pandora stopped and whirled to face the provoking man. “No, you didn’t. I was compromised by a settee. You just happened to be there.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Spring

Can you think of any books that have really great banter?
I’m always looking for more recommendations!

Share this post:

Leave a Reply

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

14 responses to “Top Ten Witty Snippets of Banter In Books

  1. Hands down the winner is:
    “There’s no such thing as an old maid.”
    “Wh-what would you call a middle-aged lady who’s never married?”
    “A woman with standards?”
    ― Lisa Kleypas, Chasing Cassandra

  2. I love that first quote! My girls are 20 and 22 and neither of them are even looking for a partner right now. Standards, girls.

    Also, that quote from The Love Hypothesis had me cackling. ARE YOU SURE? LOL

  3. OK this is an oldie and it is not even banter, but oh I love it so much! Jane Austen was the queen of irony :)

    “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”