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.

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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 Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

 

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a while since I've read a Christina Lauren novel and this one just struck me as a little different than what I've read from them in the past so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. Anna and West (aka Liam) were interesting characters to read. They were the epitome of opposites attract: she was a starving artist, he came from money. She was had a loving relationship with her father, he was avoiding his family at all costs. Despite all of that, when he needed her to fulfill an obligation as his "wife"...an agreement they entered into years ago as college students who needed to be married in order to get into cheaper housing...she agreed, for a price. He'd pay her for playing his wife and he'd get his family off of his back. 

From the moment they boarded the plane, I knew they'd be fun. He was so anxious and she was so free-spirited that the mixture of two was fun to read. As they got to know each other on the plane, and then on the days following, you could see that there was no way they weren't going to end up together because while she may have needed his monetary donation, he needed her far more than either of them could know. I loved that she supported him and took his back, and suffered the uncomfortable situations that she was thrown in so that he could get through a tough ten days. I loved that he was not an elitist jerk, that he recognized his role in the drama of his family, and that he also had her back. And when all hell broke loose and the truth of everything was revealed, I loved the resolution of it all, especially the very end. 

Easy, cute read that will leave you feeling good. A definite great summer read. 

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SYNOPSIS:
Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

REVIEW: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

 

OUR REVIEW:

Ughhhh. I'm so mad at myself. Today is December 29 and I *thought* I'd already written and posted a review about Christina Lauren's In A Holidaze many many weeks ago and it turns out...I didn't. I chalk this up to being in the crazy times of COVID teaching. GAHHHH.  Anyway, please don't let this less than specific review deter you from grabbing this novel. This novel is a stand out in their most recent publications because it's just so different. It has all the warmth and humor that is typical of their novels but it's also got this Groundhog's Day vibe that made it so very different than anything I've read of theirs, or anyone, in a while. It was interesting to see the adjustments Mae made each time her week/day restarted and how she ended it. I enjoyed the premise--a multifamily gathering, the magic of the holidays, the magic of her plight, and her long suffering love story. 

In a Holidaze is a delightful holiday escape.

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SYNOPSIS:

One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

REVIEW: The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Surely Christina Lauren wanted us to conjure up Chip and Joanna Gaines when we were reading about Melissa and Rusty, right? I mean sure the fictional versions were terrible to each other behind the cameras and only nice when they were in public, but isn't that what so many people suspect about the Gaines? That there is no way that they're as fun and sweet and loving as they appear to be?! The fictional version definitely opens up the fantastical possibilities of just how horrible reality tv stars can be. And while Melissa and Rusty weren't the main focus of this novel, they sure were an interesting side show to read about...and they definitely made me feel for their assistants, Carey and James. Court: These types of stories do make you wonder, especially when some reality stars whose last name starts with K always ends up being true of the rumors, it is somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine to read this trope due to that exact reason. And then...the author's ability to really make a manipulative bunch and whoa...I saw this train wreck going off the rails and what a ride it was.

Shel: This enemies to lovers, work place romance had the romantic comedy feel that we've come to associate with Christina Lauren. The mishaps and inner monologues of these characters provided many smiles but the thing that really stood out to me was Carey's storyline. Her history with Melissa and Rusty and why she stayed with them, despite their obvious willingness to take advantage of her was not what I expected at all. Court: Nope. Not me either. I really liked her story, and her character because she is still true to herself and really using all of the tools that we sometimes forget we have to be able to grow as a person. She got herself where she needed to be with therapy, and self affirmation, and just trying to grow up and take control and be assertive and I really like how that was all written. 

Shel: The Honey-Don't List will make you smile while making you wonder what really does happen behind the scenes of those famous HGTV stars. Court: We really flew through this one and definitely don't miss any of Christina Lauren's releases these days so check this one out too! 

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SYNOPSIS:Carey Duncan has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

From the “hilariously zany and heartfelt” (Booklist) Christina Lauren comes a romantic comedy that proves if it’s broke, you might as well fix it.

REVIEW: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

OUR REVIEW:

We've read several Christina Lauren novels but I.WAS.NOT.PREPARED. for how I'd just completely sink into the story of Macy + Elliot. I deliberately drew out my reading experience because I was a) really enjoying their friends to lovers story and also because b) I was a complete wuss when it came to getting to THE PART where all the bad stuff is revealed. It's not like I didn't know it the shit was going to hit the fan...that's just a part of romance...but daaaaang, I didn't want it to happen. I wanted to skip right to the HEA. But, to be honest, the heartache part was what made all of the other things that much better. Truly. The build up to the OMSHIT moment was so deliciously slow and interesting--the past and the present woven together really worked for the story of Macy and Elliot--so by the time I got to THE PART I was ready for it and yet still so sad. And then so happy.

If this were an issue driven book, I might want to see more explored about what happened with Elliot at THE PART of the book that was gah!gah!Gahhhhh! because I feel like there were some things there that went unexplored. This was more Macy's story than his, though, and I understand why going in that direction would've taken this novel in a completely different place. So, while I wish we could've gotten to the bottom of that a little more (that shizz just did not feel right!), I was ultimately satisfied with how everything was resolved. Scratch that. I was elated to see how their story ended and normally this is were I bemoan the fact that the story has ended, but I like to believe these two have the best HEA ever and I'm happy to leave it at that. 

I love this writing team hella much and am eager to read whatever the write next.

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SYNOPSIS:

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother...only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.