REVIEW: The Dove and the Rogue by Harper St. George

OUR REVIEW: 

This final book in The Doves of New York series, The Dove and the Rogue, is probably my favorite. Jenny and her Duke enter into a marriage of convenience, but as they get to know each other, their initial assumptions of what will be change. Jenny and David find that they have a genuine affection for each other--one that they both try to deny and fight since it doesn't fit the narrative they've told themselves. Jenny considers their marriage a necessary evil, one that is finite, and one that she will not engage with, other than the one night she's agreed to. David, on the other hand, seems a little more open to a more long term future. He's been intrigued with her from the moment he met her and while he agrees to her terms, it seems like he's more open to a real future with her. As a matter of fact, he's the one who pursues it-a real future with this intriguing woman. He's met with resistance, mainly in the form of her refusal to see that a real future is possible (she's been burned before), but he eventually shows her that real love can exist.

I enjoyed that David was the pursuer. I loved that Jenny insisted on living her dream. And I loved that David respected her and her wishes and never considered any other option than what she wanted. A perfect ending to this series--one that has me wondering what and where Harper St. George will take us next.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3RZgBYD

SYNOPSIS:

American heiress Jenny Dove thought a marriage of convenience would solve all her problems, until her heart decided to rewrite the terms…

Jenny Dove has spent her life training to become an opera singer, determined not to repeat her mother’s mistake of sacrificing her career for love. But when her younger sister needs her help, Jenny strikes a daring bargain. To save her sister’s future, she’ll marry a titled gentleman long enough to unlock both their inheritances, then return to Paris to live out her dream.

Lord David Felding, heir to a dukedom and unapologetic rake, has no interest in finding a wife, until Jenny walks into his life with an audacious marriage proposal. She’ll give him one night in her bed in exchange for the protection of his name. It’s supposed to be a simple transaction—no emotions, no complications. But when their wedding night reveals unexpected passion and a startling connection, walking away is anything but easy.

Instead of continuing his roguish life in London, David follows Jenny to Paris—and begins to court his own wife. As their sham marriage deepens into something real, Jenny glimpses the wounded man behind his charm and feels her carefully guarded heart begin to yield. But falling in love means a slow, irresistible unraveling of everything they thought they wanted…and trusting in something neither dared to hope for.
 

REVIEW: The Final Score by Lana Ferguson

 

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a minute since I've been in this Lana Ferguson universe, but once I remembered who Jack and Abby were, I settled in and enjoyed the journey. On the surface, Jack and Abby couldn't be more different: Jack is a smiley, happy, jokester while Abby is a serious, snarky, more solemn character; however, as we get to know them, we understand that they're both pretty tender and sweet. Both of them hide their more vulnerable interiors behind their exteriors for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it's what they've been doing for a while. As they get to know each other, they begin to feel safe with each other, sharing things they wouldn't normally which allows them to begin to trust each other and genuinely like each other. 

I enjoyed Abby and Jack and their banter, their chemistry, and the overall development of their romance. This was a quick and fun read. I wonder if we'll get another book in this series? Here's to hoping. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4vGM7ZM

SYNOPSIS:

A hockey player and a grad student are on thin ice until they meet their match in this sexy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.

Jack Baker is on top of the world now that he’s back on the rink where he belongs. But the high comes crashing down when he reinjures his arm immediately following his return to the ice, and this time, he might never be able to play again. After a lifetime as the strong, happy hockey guy whose sister needed him, Jack is left questioning everything he knows about himself.

Abigail Thompson feels like she’s hit rock bottom. It’s only been a few months since the massive scandal that finally severed the cord between her and her narcissistic father. And now, in her last weeks of grad school, she’s been kicked out of her building with very short notice. The last thing she wants to do is ask her half-brother for help after what she’s put him through, but it’s looking like his best friend’s spare room might be her only choice.

Jack is flighty, flirty, and a little full of himself—all the things Abby’s learned to avoid in men. However, spending every day together breaks the ice between them, and she starts to realize that Jack might not be who he seems. It’s possible that maybe, just maybe, he might be struggling as much as she is. Soon, confiding in each other leads to falling into bed, and this fling will either play with their hearts—or score them the ultimate goal of love.

REVIEW: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

OUR REVIEW:

Christina Lauren is a one-click for so many of us because they consistently deliver a good romance. The Romance Revival most definitely delivers romance and also does something I'm not used to in a Christina Lauren read--it had less comedy and more emotion with some suspense vibes. Now I'm not saying they're suddenly thriller writers but it definitely leaned more heavily on the 'what will happen next' plot. And while I definitely predicted the ending, it was a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed the rediscovery of Emery and Luca after the accident--it definitely made me wonder how this would play out for many of us, if we were in a similar situation. I also appreciated the care and love and hope that these two had for each other and thought this was a solid romance. It had a little of everything--swoony, funny, heartfelt moments that ended with that HEA we know will come.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3NRk0q2

SYNOPSIS:

Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

 

REVIEW: The Woman from Nowhere by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

I think this may be my favorite novel in the Misted Pines series, so far. I found myself immediately engaged in the story of Mabel and her mountain man. Both of their backstories were interesting as was the co-mingling of their lives. It doesn't hurt that KA books are my catnip and as soon as I pick one up, I want to immediately reread every single series she's written. The Woman from Nowhere definitely provoked that reaction--luckily for me, she has a new book coming out in a few weeks.

If you love Kristen Ashley, you'll love this one too. A little mystery, a little thriller, a ton of romance, banter, and fun characters. Love!

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4uESpZ9

SYNOPSIS:

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Mabel Adams reinvents herself for the fourth time. Regardless of the alarming reputation of the deceptively sleepy town of Misted Pines, she decides to move all the way across the country to start yet again.

Mabel has a one-night stand with a mountain man who rocks her world in bed but doesn't tell her his name.

The next day, after receiving a threatening note from her neighbors, she discovers she's living next to an extremist cult where the women go in and are never seen again.

After serving, former Navy SEAL Hutch Hutchison is living a peaceful life on his patch in the mountains outside Misted Pines. He's been burned so many times by women, he's happy to train his guard dogs, play his guitar, live remote, and most of all, quiet.

Until he hooks up with a beautiful woman who lives just down the way. And then he discovers she's been threatened by the cult next door.

Hutch's protective instinct sparks, and he decides his next mission is to keep Mabel safe at all costs.

But there's something even hinkier about that cult than Hutch or local law enforcement expect.

As Hutch executes the riskiest mission of his life—keeping Mabel safe at the same time keeping both of their hearts intact—Hutch and the Sheriff's Department try to unravel the mystery of The Lion and The Lamb before it's too late.

Because Mabel is in their crosshairs.

And Hutch is not about to allow her to disappear.

REVIEW: Kin by Tayari Jones

OUR REVIEW:

OhmygodIlovethisbook. I read it for my book club and am still thinking about it a month later. I am seriously considering it for one of the independent reading choices for my students next year. It's so good. It's rich and layered and thoughtful and thought-provoking. There are so many things I think anyone reading it could explore and consider and I loved having my book friends discuss with me. I hope everyone who reads it has someone to discuss it with. 

Vernice and Annie are such special characters. The way they grapple with the impacts of being motherless are so very different and yet you can see the overlapping of the pain and hurt and curiosity that guides them both down their very different paths. And even though their paths into adulthood are so very different, the love and respect they always hold for each other are deep and abiding.

I love the so much about this novel-the beautifully crafted characters, the settings and scenes that are truly unforgettable, and the ideas about sisterhood, chosen families, and love. I cannot recommend this novel enough. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4v9ZMc3

SYNOPSIS:

Vernice and Annie, two motherless daughters raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, have been best friends and neighbors since earliest childhood, but are fated to live starkly different lives. Raised by a fierce aunt determined to give her a stable home in the wake of her mother’s death, Vernice leaves Atlanta at eighteen for Spelman College, where she joins a sisterhood of powerfully connected Black women and marries into an affluent family. Annie, abandoned by her dissolute mother as a child, and fixated on the idea of finding her and filling the bottomless hole left by her absence, sets off on a journey that will take her into a world of peril and adversity, as well as love and adventure, and culminate in a battle for her life.

A novel about mothers and daughters, about friendship and sisterhood, and the complexities of being a woman in the American South, Kin is an exuberant, emotionally rich, unforgettable work from one of the brightest and most irresistible voices in contemporary fiction.

 

REVIEW: Hart's Landing by Melanie Harlow

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a minutes since I've read anything by Melanie Harlow, so I was looking forward to trying this new series because her novels are usually a delight. Harts Landing managed to address some heavier issues dealing with narcissism and the harm it can do while feeling like a lighter read. Mila and Everett are cute and undeniably going to end up together, despite Mila's hesitancy. 

This novel read like the first one in a series: it introduces us to the town, many of the characters, and some of the conflicts we'll run into in future books.

I'm looking forward to what comes next. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4vNR7Mn

SYNOPSIS:

Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last.

That night changed everything.

Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson left behind a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her hometown of Hart’s Landing. But when a crisis brings her back, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush, Everett McKean.

Only … Everett is everywhere. The town’s attractive, beloved mayor has resisted settling down, but he’s never stopped wondering about Mila. Having her back in Hart’s Landing is the second chance he didn’t know he was waiting for—and he’s not about to waste it.

As Mila slowly opens her heart to Everett and begins to rebuild her fractured friendships, she wonders if coming home was exactly what she needed. But old wounds threaten to open again when questions emerge about what really happened the night Mila left. Who’s really responsible for the fire that destroyed the bakery? And will knowing the truth free Mila from the past, or ignite a blaze that burns down the future she’s trying to build?

People say you can never truly come home again, but sometimes coming home isn’t about where you’ve been. It’s about who you’re brave enough to become.

Sexy, heartfelt, and steeped in small-town charm, Hart’s Landing is a story of forgiveness, friendship, and finding the family who loves you no matter how far you wander.

 

REVIEW: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

 

OUR REVIEW:

As per usual, whenever I see a new Carley Fortune at the library, I immediately put myself on the list to check it out. And as usual, I find that her latest novel, Our Perfect Storm, was a pleasure to read. It had all of the things I've come to associate with her novels: two friends who have a long history together, who care deeply about each other, but have not acted upon it (at least in this novel). In this particular novel, there was a chance for this love story to start sooner, but as it happens in many romance novels, there was an epic miscommunication or misunderstanding that led to Frankie and George to keep each other firmly in the friendzone. This, of course, creates a situation where feelings go unrequited and tensions eventually begin to form, which all come to a head after Frankie's fiancée dumps her hours before the wedding. After weeks of depression and moping, Frankie invites George to go on her honeymoon and it's during this time that feelings emerge and these two discover that they were meant to be together all along.

In addition to the back and forth of the present and past, and the intense emotions they delve into, I also enjoyed this novel for the way the setting and food were described. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself wondering if I could one day visit this beautiful place. 

Very sold summer read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3Qod3yp

SYNOPSIS:

Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.

REVIEW: Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score

OUR REVIEW:

If you're looking for a light romcom, Mistakes Were Made is a good choice. Zoey is absolutely ridiculous, as are many of the situations she finds herself in. Gage and his family also provide some laugh out loud moments, as do many of the secondary characters in this novel. Be prepared, it's a long one, but many laughable moments and one that you don't have to follow too closely to enjoy. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4eOaq2Q

SYNOPSIS:

Literary agent Zoey Moody doesn't like small town life, but here she is: exiled from Manhattan's publishing scene and trapped in a tiny Pennsylvania town with her BFF and only remaining client, Hazel. The problem? She's totally broke.

All she needs is for Hazel's next romance novel to become a gigantic hit, and Zoey will be back in New York. Nothing will stand in her way. Nothing except her six-foot-two-inch landlord, Gage Bishop. He's smart, serious, and sexy. Worst of all, he's ready to settle down.

Zoey might be the most beautiful woman Gage has ever met, but it's clear they're all wrong for each other. She's allergic to commitment and can't work a calendar app; he's looking for a wife and has the next five years all planned out. She's afraid of animals. He lives in a literal barn. But when Gage's world is rocked by a devastating family secret, he turns to Zoey for one night to forget everything. That one night just might change everything…or ruin it.
 

REVIEW: Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

OUR REVIEW:

As with everything I read by Sierra Simone, I did not want Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl to end. It was so good. I loved everything about Bram and Maddie, even when they made me a little nuts. Both characters were smart and funny and thoughtful and even when they weren't wonderful, I adored them. The secondary characters and setting were equally delightful and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next books in this series. From the cleverly drawn characters, the chemistry between them, and the connections to a previous series, this is a solid 5 start read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4dfW9Ld

SYNOPSIS:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone comes a brand-new college town raunch-com about a sexy single dad professor and a feisty law school grad turned nanny in this steamy tale of Academic Affairs…

She wants to be a good girl. He’s dying to teach her.

New to town and freshly single, rookie lecturer Maddie isn’t looking for trouble … until she ends up in bed with Bram – a sexy, grumpy single dad – on her first night.

The catch? He’s her new boss at home (he needs a nanny), and her colleague at work (he's a professor, too). So to make it work, they set some ground

- No more sex

- They can never be alone in the house together

But Maddie’s great at breaking these rules, and Bram’s even better at dishing out consequences…
 

REVIEW: The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

OUR REVIEW:

I read this ahead of assigning it as part of a dystopian book club unit; I wanted to make sure it would work as an option with the other options selected. It did and the students who read it had THOUGHTS. The things we all liked were: the integration of the texts and emails and the overlapping narratives/flashbacks and we loved to hate the premise because who really likes the idea of being in a world like the one Lalami created? Uhhhhh no one. That being said, she definitely made it feel realistic and uncomfortable. We also loved to hate the characters; at varying points I think we wanted to throttle each of them. The things we didn't love: the ending. We all wanted more and we all felt like there were some loose ends that could've been more tied up at the end. Despite all of that, it was a solid 3.5 read--a good fit for the dystopian unit I created and one that my students enjoyed.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4wBFjOe

SYNOPSIS:

A novel about one woman’s fight for freedom, set in a near future where even dreams are under surveillance.

Sara has just landed at LAX, returning home from a conference abroad, when agents from the Risk Assessment Administration pull her aside and inform her that she will soon commit a crime. Using data from her dreams, the RAA’s algorithm has determined that she is at imminent risk of harming the person she loves most: her husband. For his safety, she must be kept under observation for twenty-one days.

The agents transfer Sara to a retention center, where she is held with other dreamers, all of them women trying to prove their innocence from different crimes. With every deviation from the strict and ever-shifting rules of the facility, their stay is extended. Months pass and Sara seems no closer to release. Then one day, a new resident arrives, disrupting the order of the facility and leading Sara on a collision course with the very companies that have deprived her of her freedom.

Eerie, urgent, and ceaselessly clear-eyed, The Dream Hotel artfully explores the seductive nature of technology, which puts us in shackles even as it makes our lives easier. Lalami asks how much of ourselves must remain private if we are to remain free, and whether even the most invasive forms of surveillance can ever capture who we really are.
 

REVIEW: The Shippers by Katherine Center

 

OUR REVIEW:

Katherine Center is still a new to me author; I believe I've read one of her other novels, but I recall enjoying it, so when The Shippers was available on NetGalley, I decided to give it a try. The Shippers is most definitely a romcom-JoJo reminds me of a Lucille Ball type character--physical comedy, that comes off as kind of a ditz, even though she's really not. She's just trying to figure out how and why she's so bad at relationships. About half of this novel is about JoJo working on trying to snag the guy she thinks all other relationshis failed because of. When she finally wakes up to the truth, it's almost too late...but luckily for us, this is romance...so it's never too late. Cooper. Cooper is an interesting dude. On the one hand, such a good guy. Seriously such a good guy. On the other hand, I wanted to shake him for letting things go on for as long as it did. Because COME ONNNNNNN, we knew it was him all along. Gah. 

Anyway, this novel is a great vacation read--light, funny, cute, and easy to read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3LodjLD

SYNOPSIS:

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

REVIEW: The Last Page by Katie Holt

OUR REVIEW:

I really enjoyed Katie Holt's previous release, Not in My Book, so when I saw this one was available on NetGalley, I quickly requested it. The Last Page is an enemies to friends to lovers trope that is a little bit of a slow burn. Ella and Henry are basically pitted against each other because the now deceased owner (and Henry's grandfather) promised both of them the bookstore and much to Ella's chagrin, when Henry shows up to take over, she feels betrayed and led astray. She just KNEW she was going to have the store; she KNEW she'd be able to keep its legacy alive. Well, good thing that didn't come true because it turns out the store was in so much debt that had she been left to manage it, she most likely would've failed. So once she gets over her hurt feelings, she works with Henry (who specializes in saving companies in similar situations) to do everything in her power to save the store.

The rest of the novel is really Henry and Ella working together to try to save the store and as they're doing that, Ella introduces Henry to the New York she knows and loves. They get to know each other, get to liking each other, and they fall in love. 

Their love story is delightful. It's cute and sweet and funny and emotional and I enjoyed getting lost in their story for a few days...it sure beats the shitshow that's happening in our world today. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3Oe01lE

SYNOPSIS:

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated.

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them.

Fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood will adore this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers bookish romance!

 

REVIEW: Love Song by Elle Kennedy

OUR REVIEW:

Fans of the Off Campus series will love the next gen books, I'm certain. Having read some, but not all of the first gen characters, I found that I didn't have to have read them all, or remember much of them, to follow along and enjoy Love Song. 

I'll be honest and say that Wyatt was frustrating AF at first. I didn't have much sympathy for his plight because he seemed to assume a lot and then use those assumptions as a basis for action or inaction. Blake also gave me fits at times. She didn't do what I wanted her to do, when I wanted her to do it, dang it. I think what got me past all of this was when they capitulated to their feelings ...and when their family came in for the summer. The extra characters added a layer of tension and fun and conflict and the pages were flying. It was also amusing to have the dads all interact and be ridiculous.

Speaking of ridiculous, the group chats. Those were the best. Loved those.

All in all Love Song was an angsty, funny, sexy, and quick read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4eJ6kJc

SYNOPSIS:

New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy returns with her signature heat and humor for a Briar universe standalone romance featuring the next generation Off-Campus characters―where one unforgettable summer changes everything.

After a brutal breakup, college junior Blake Logan escapes to her family’s lake house in Tahoe, determined to shut out the world. Her plan is simple: no men, no drama. Until Wyatt Graham shows up. Four years older and far too good at getting under her skin, Wyatt is the living embodiment of a “bad idea,” and the guy who shattered her pride when she confessed her crush at sixteen.

With his music career stalled, Wyatt has come to Tahoe for inspiration. The last thing he expects is to find it with Blake. He’s spent years keeping his distance, convinced he’s all wrong for her, but she’s no longer the innocent girl he once knew. She’s confident, captivating, and impossible to ignore. And the slow-burning tension between them? It’s catching fire fast.

They both know this can’t last, but one reckless kiss turns into another, and soon they’re tangled in something that feels dangerously like more. Just as they finally give in to the pull, tragedy tears them apart, leaving their hearts in pieces.

But forgetting that one, nearly perfect summer? Not a chance. And when fate brings them together again, Blake and Wyatt must decide if this is a second chance…or the final verse.
 

REVIEW: The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

 OUR REVIEW:

I suspect that Larissa and Chris will probably live rent free in my brain for a while; I think I'm not quite ready for their story to end, even though it has to be over because there are no more pages to read. Though, maybe when Mike gets his HEA, we'll see them more (I'm assuming he will...he has to, right?!). The angst Jimenez put them through (put us through) required a lot of patience on my part and while it was definitely worth the wait, I definitely was impatient for their love story to have its chance. 

I know this one had to be tough to write and the headspace she had to be in to write it was probably pretty awful too. There was a lot of pain and suffering so many of the characters had to go through and with the added burden of Larissa being Chris's best friend's girl friend at some point?! That must've felt like walking a tightrope to make sure it didn't get weird. Thankfully, it didn't get weird, if anything, it was frustrating because she was so very careful with how long they waited to succumb to their feelings. 

All of that to say, that I'm glad Chris and Larissa had each other (and their killer dog); they were perfect for each other and it was clear that they both needed the other one. 

Part friend love story, part romance, The Night We Met added up to a thoughtful and surprisingly quick read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3Oay1jn

SYNOPSIS:A beautiful, compelling novel that revels in laughter, friendship, and the messy choices life can throw our way.

In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything...

For Larissa, it came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.

But Chris isn't the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago—Chris is her boyfriend's best friend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy.

REVIEW: Every Version of You by Natalie Messier

 

OUR REVIEW:

Well, this was a pleasant surprise--if I'm being honest I can't remember what drew me to requesting this on NetGalley but I'm glad I did. And I wish I could tell you a lot more than I can (it would be so easy to spoil this one!), but since I can't I'll just tell you that this is one of those books that really stuck with me. The question that it starts with is one that I am still pondering the answer to. Luckily, this book isn't about me and my conundrum, it's about Joey and hers. She is way more definitive in her decision/answer and while she does struggle with the aftermath of it, she also makes the most of it. I enjoyed being a fly on the wall as she worked through each consequence from each decision and reveled in the good things that came her way. 

I definitely haven't read something like this and I really appreciated reading something that had me really pondering how I'd handle the situation posed. It's a definite must read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3Y9iQbz

SYNOPSIS:

Joey Vasquez’s life is the definition of good on paper. At thirty-two, she’s a Los Angeles lawyer on the cusp of making partner, but while she’s a professional success, she’s a personal disaster. Her social life mostly consists of nights spent watching TV with her elderly cat. Life isn’t quite what she dreamed when she was younger, but really, whose life is?

But a dinner party with the best friend she’s secretly pined after for years and its aftermath changes everything.

When Joey is given a second chance at life, she finds herself in college again. Armed with memories from her first life, Joey is certain she’s come back to finally convince the one man she ever loved to love her back—so why does she find herself strangely drawn to the man she thought she hated?

REVIEW: A Song Only We Can Hear by Elliot Wake

 

OUR REVIEW:

Has it really been a decade since we've had a new Elliot Wake novel? Yes. Yes it has. What a great surprise to have him return and give us a thoughtful take on falling in love while battling cancer. 

The story of Cam and Brynne begins with a fender bender, continues as chemo partners, and ends in love. Not a simple premise and not one that just anyone could take on and do well, but Wake does. He blends the harsh reality of what it's like to experience cancer treatment with the soft edges of the love story of these two. Add to that some drama with their exes, and you have the making of an unconventional, dark, romcom. Their story is a blur of the effects of the toxic poison that's flooding their veins --days turn into weeks of discomfort and exhaustion-- and then before you know it, they've reached the end of chemo. Interspersed with that, they have nights with these moments that feel straight out of an 80s John Hughes movie--romantic and filled with good music and big feelings. And of course, it wouldn't be romance...or a John Hughes movie...without evil exes. 

I think I'm rambling because I'm trying not to spoil things? So let me end with this: this novel won't be for everyone, I know. Not because it isn't well done (it is), but because there are so many of us who are living with or living through or coping with or struggling with the impact that cancer can have, so for some this may hit a little too close to home. I know that when I read it, I had to take breaks because there were many instances when it mirrored some of my experiences with cancer and chemo. I'm glad I took the breaks I needed, and I'm glad that I stop reading; the ending felt so hopeful and promising and cinematic. 

One more thing: Ro and her family? *chef's kiss* I enjoyed them so much. 

If you've been missing the lush prose of Elliot Wake and are looking for a romance unlike most you'll read,  A Song Only We Can Hear should be your next read.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4syTWyX

SYNOPSIS:CAN A LOVE STORY THAT STARTS IN CHEMO REALLY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING?

GETTING DUMPED the same day he’s diagnosed with cancer is pretty on-brand for Cam LeClerc. He was the darling of the Chicago indie music scene until his ex aired their dirty laundry online. Now he’s the fallen star everyone loves to hate, shivering in a hospital gown, coming to grips with losing his girlfriend, his reputation, and the family jewels.

Of course, things won’t be that easy.

On the way to chemo, Cam collides (literally) with a fellow cancer patient: Brynne Bogdan, a popular podcaster who’s exactly the sort of music nerd he writes songs for… and who’s just rear-ended his car. But what starts as the worst day of both of their lives becomes one of the best. They’re kind of messily perfect together. Because of Brynne, Cam actually looks forward to chemo. He’s falling fast. He’s making music again. He’s finding the will not just to survive, but live.

Which is probably too good to be true.

When ugly realities resurface, Cam begins to question his bond with Brynne. And the past isn’t the only their futures aren’t guaranteed, either. They’re both fighting the battle of their lives.

Can a love story that starts in chemo really have a happy ending?

VIBES:

dark romcom
witty banter
cancer humor
music nerds
beautiful, lyrical prose
emotional rollercoaster
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets High Fidelity

REVIEW: Catch Her if You Can by Tessa Bailey

OUR REVIEW:

If I've said it once, I've said it every time a new book in this series comes out....this series has a hold on me and as soon as I see it on my Libby app, I'm reserving it like it's my job. 

After reading so many emotionally heavy books, Catch Her If You Can was such a pleasant break from it all, which is interesting because there were some ugly aspects to this book. Madden and Eve have been circling around each other (and my imagination) for a while and we finally go to the bottom of their story. It's a tale as old as time. Not really, I just felt like typing that. It's a story of secrets and love and desire and friendship and how all of those things feel impossible and big...and yet. And yet, Madden and Eve manage to build years and years of friendship while suppressing and denying all of the real and intense feelings that zap between them until Madden learns the truth and refuses to let Eve hide from it. What happens next is the natural push and pull of these two trying to figure out if it can work, the fear of wanting it too much, and the love and care they have for each other-so much so that they almost lose it all, as per all romance novels. 

I don't care what anyone else says, I will continue to jump on the newest release in this series until there isn't one to jump on.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4mmqFGh

SYNOPSIS:

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?