Category: Romance

Book Review:: Happy Christmas | Kelsey Humphries

Okay, wow! Finding a new indie author with serious chops can be difficult, but if Kelsey Humphreys new release of Happy Christmas is any indication, ladies, fellas, I’ve gone and done it.

Happy Christmas by Kelsey Humphries Book Cover

I listened to the audiobook narrated in duet by Ryan Lee Dunlap and Audrey Obeyn and it was sooo excellent. I wasn’t fully sure about the English accent at first, but it grew on me very quickly.

This is the story of Janie and Benedict, a down-on-her-luck once socialite and a doesn’t-take-himself-seriously billionaire. They have friends in common, and reconnect at the beginning of the novel at a very opportune time. Benedict has received an ultimatum from his father to be married in order to inherit, and Janie happens to be desperate for cash to dig herself out of a hole. Even still, she’s not sold on the idea that she could marry him.

But reader, she does.

Oh this book is good fun! Benedict is a lighthearted and silly guy much of the time, but he’s never really been faced with a situation that warranted depth from him. He dotes on Janie, happily, and it’s the most adorable thing ever to see his feelings develop through the novel.

Janie has her secrets, and she’s keeping them, even though they’ve destroyed her life. She is far more guarded than Benedict, having been burned in the past. But she can’t deny that whatever it is between her and Benedict, it’s easy, and comes organically. They may be faking it for other people, but just between them? It’s all natural.

I’m not ashamed to say I want more of this book. I will probably read it at least once more before Christmas this year, but I’m most excited to dive into the many other romantic comedies in Kelsey’s backlist. What a joy this book is. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Humphreys comes up with next!

Note:: I purchased this book myself and my opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Happy Christmas (Juniper Falls #1)
Author:: Kelsey Humphreys
Genre:: Holiday Romance
Publisher:: Magnamour (Indie)
Length:: 373 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 39m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ryan Lee Dunlap & Audrey Obeyn
Published:: September 30th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Yours for the Season | Emily Stone
Emergency Contact | Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne
Christmas Is All Around | Martha Waters

Book Review:: And Then There Was The One | Martha Waters

W.O.W. I was not expecting this book. I really enjoyed Martha Waters Christmas book last year, so I was excited to find this book in my inbox, but was I expecting it to bowl me over the way this one did? Absolutely not.

And Then There Was The One by Martha Waters Book Cover

This was supposed to be a murder mystery. Maybe a cozy mystery with some romantic subplot. Instead, this was the story of an epic romance with a side of some casual community murder.

Loved. It.

In fact, this is a masterclass in the slow burn romance. Our leading man is strong, confident, and entirely smitten. Our heroine is focused, guarded, and not-to-be-trifled-with. Their banter is top tier. The swoon worthy moments had me actually swooning.

10/10, no notes.

And yeah, they solve a murder too, but that’s just background noise 🙂

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: And Then There Was The One
Author:: Martha Waters
Genre:: Cozy Mystery Romance
Publisher:: Atria
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 20m
Audiobook Narrator:: Billie Fulford-Brown
Published:: October 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year | Ally Carter (Review Coming Soon)
The Blonde Identity | Ally Carter (Review Coming Soon)
Once Upon A Crime | Brynn Kelly
Love at First Sighting | Mallory Marlowe

Book Review:: Overdue | Stephanie Perkins

Look at this gorgeous book. I could not wait to sink into this one, and that’s really what it felt like, an immersive almost coming-of-age story about an almost thirty-year-old woman coming into her own across all aspects of her life. I was expecting it to be heavier on the romance, more about that to come, but as a whole it is a genuine story about a strong woman who is still figuring herself out.

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins Book Cover

Ingrid works in a library. She loves it there, but when she’s offered opportunity to further invest in that career path, something holds her back. I commiserate with this.

She works there with a guy named Macon. They’re friends.

Ingrid has been with the same guy since the very first day of college. It’s a safe relationship, but passionless. When Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement, Ingrid and Corey have a bit of a revelation – they’ve been together eleven years and never even thought about getting married.

So they make the wacky decision to take a ‘break’ and see other people.

This part of the novel was…weird. And pretty uncomfortable. But it was part of Ingrid’s journey.

Did I mention Macon? Things are weird between he and Ingrid after she tries to kiss him after work one night. And as she’s dating through men at an alarming rate. And he’s ten years older than her. But she misses their friendship, and through the humps and bumps, they bandage up what they had the best they can.

This is the slowest of slow burns, and maybe that’s why the author thought it was important to pepper in the other suitors through act one? Perhaps that was part of the lesson Ingrid had to learn in order to find a firm foundation in her new relationship? I think there might have been other ways to accomplish this. But maybe others won’t mind it so much.

Overall it is a very endearing novel and is well worth the time-investment to read. I enjoyed the audio version, Eva Kaminsky did an excellent job bringing voice to Ingrid and her friends. It’s a story about friendship, finding your own path, and authenticity. There are many moments that will make you swoon, and once Ingrid figures out what she wants, there is no stopping her!

Congratulations on your newest release, Stephanie. I really enjoyed it!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Overdue
Author:: Stephanie Perkins
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Saturday Books
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 13h 26m
Audiobook Narrator:: Eva Kaminsky
Published:: October 7th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4.5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

We Met Like This | Kasie West
People Watching | Hannah Bonam-Young
Love Walked In | Sarah Chamberlain

Book Review:: Yours for the Season | Emily Stone

What do you do when your ex-boyfriend invites you to spend the week of Christmas with his family in Scotland? Turns out he told his family you got back together, and you love his family, and he agrees that you can break up with him very loudly and clearly at the end of it, to set things straight once and for all. So Melanie agrees.

Yours for the Season by Emily Stone Book Cover

All the ingredients for a cute holiday romance are there! Fake dating someone you already have a history with makes everything that much more complicated. There are long standing relationships Melanie has with his large family who are there, too, and many of them are going through big life events and are really bonding with her on this trip. The breakup earlier in the year was brutal, but could there still be hope for the two of them?

Maybe my favorite part of this book was how Melanie was accepted by Finn’s family. When a relationship disintegrates, it often has a lot of collateral damage, and in their case, Melanie lost her relationship with his mother and sisters who she always really cared about, being an only child herself.

I have a soft spot for holiday romances. Is this one extra special? Not really. It’s a typical tropey contemporary romance novel with a holiday twist. The romance is satisfying, and the drama is certainly there. The characters each have lessons to learn before they can truly love and trust the other person. And if you’re itching for the holidays, you should definitely add this one to your list!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Yours For the Season
Author:: Emily Stone
Genre:: Holiday Romance
Publisher:: Dell
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 54m
Audiobook Narrator:: Rebecca Norfolk
Published:: October 7th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Christmas is All Around | Martha Waters
Emergency Contact | Lauren Layne & Anthony Ledonne
Work in Progress | Kat Mackenzie

Book Review:: A Lot to Unpack | Portia MacIntosh

Liberty is in need of a fresh start. She just found out her boyfriend, who she works with, has been using dating apps to send pictures of his junk to other ladies. So now she’s job-less and man-less. Her new job allows her to travel the world, affords her plenty of free time for dating, but she can’t seem to catch her stride. That is until she is assigned to spend more time with the company’s founder, who is off limits in more ways than one.

A Lot to Unpack by Portia MacIntosh Book Cover

Parts of this novel were okay, but overall, it was not for me. I was having a hard time following the logic and likelihood of most of the events in this book. I didn’t care at all about these bad dates Liberty ended up on. I was only really interested once Jordan came into the picture, which was later on in the novel.

The main character really makes a fool of herself a few times, and though she’s not really ditzy, she doesn’t really come off well. The decisions she makes aren’t just bad decisions, they’re worse. Like, illegal.

Also, things wrapped up maybe too neatly there at the end. Technically it all tracks, but I just didn’t find it all that believable.

This wasn’t the one for me, unfortunately.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: A Lot to Unpack
Author:: Portia Macintosh
Genre:: Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: Boldwood Books
Length:: 266 pages
Audio Length:: 6h 53m
Audiobook Narrator:: Karen Cass
Published:: October 2nd, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars

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Book Review:: Say it Out Loud | Ashley Schumacher

If you’re looking for a true-blue fun and meaningful romance novel to snuggle up with this fall, Say It Out Loud by Ashley Schumacher is honestly a great choice.

Say It Out Loud by Ashley Schumacher Book Cover

Starting at the beginning, we live through Juniper Green’s big acting break. Or…what should have been, if Romeo hadn’t completely dismissed her performance as his own support helping her shine. She wasn’t supposed to even be on stage. She was doing him a favor. And that’s how he treats her?

Years later, after building up and selling a successful podcast, Juniper’s next opportunity is to narrate one her mother’s favorite book series. Except it’s a dual narration. And the other narrator is…James.

She’s unsure at first if he even remembers her. For her, their chance meeting that night back stage was a formative experience – the night she always wondered about. If it had gone differently, it might have changed her entire life.

James, of course, went on to become a famous actor, and is the real draw for listeners to tune into the audiobook they’re recording. Juniper has to work through a lot of imposter syndrome, and get over her baggage to make this work.

It’s been a minute since I’ve gotten to enjoy a romance novel like this. It’s clear, it’s structured well, both characters have a lot of heart and heartache they’re contending with. It was just a really good time. I really enjoyed it!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Say It Out Loud
Author:: Ashley Schumacher
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Del Rey
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 19m
Audiobook Narrator:: Lauren Ezzo
Published:: September 30th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

We Met Like This | Kasie West
People Watching | Hannah Bonam-Young
Love Walked In | Sarah Chamberlian

Book Review:: Firelight Days | Savannah Price

If you are a fan of small-town vibes and yearning romances, you’re going to love Savannah Pryce’s new release, Firelight Days.

Firelight Days by Savannah Pryce Book Cover

Penny is a baker in town who works herself to the bone for a boss who takes her for granted. When a dangerous fire starts ripping through the forest nearby, one of her regular customers and friends, Jack, offers to put her up at his family’s property to wait out the evacuation orders. Things have been changing between them lately, but Penny isn’t sure she wants to cross any lines with him and ruin the good thing they have going.

Firelight Days is well written and captures that small-town vibe so well. It’s cute and full of tension and the characters have to reckon with themselves before they can open themselves up to another. I was very impressed with this one! It’s got everything you want when picking up a new romance novel – this one isn’t risky…you’ll love it!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Firelight Days
Author:: Savannah Pryce
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Rosmarin Books
Length:: 327 pages
Published:: August 3rd, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Where You’re Planted | Melanie Sweeney
He Falls First | Jill Shalvis
Left of Forever | Tarah Dewitt

Book Review:: The Heartbreak Hotel | Ellen O’Clover

Sometimes you’ve got to roll with the punches. Like when your long-term famous boyfriend breaks up with you in an unbecoming manor, or you fail the test that was supposed to be the start of your dream career…or, both.

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O'Clover Book Cover

Louisa refuses to leave the home she’s kept and cherished for years in Estes Park, Colorado. It’s everything she ever wanted. Except now, without her boyfriend’s income, she can’t afford the rent. With some fancy financial footwork, and pleading with the home-owner slash small town veterinarian and handyman, she arranges to turn it into a bed and breakfast of the most interesting variety: a haven for the broken-hearted to come and heal. She is almost a psychologist, after all.

This is such a layered and charming and lovely story about grief, and gumption, and getting back up again after you’ve been down-on-your-luck. The home-owner, Henry, is a stoic, guarded, handsome hunk of a hero, and Louisa has her heart in the right place, always. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments, and humor, and a big serving of heart. These characters are not bubbly and naive – they’ve had big hurts and are working hard to heal and repair and perhaps even find their happy endings.

I enjoyed not only the romance, which I thought was done very well, but also the storyline about Louisa’s family. Their dynamic is very specific, but also relatable. We tend to fall into certain roles in our families, and it’s hard to break free from them.

I absolutely recommend this novel. I think it’s a great choice for a long weekend!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Heartbreak Hotel
Author:: Ellen O’Clover
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 16m
Audiobook Narrator:: Brittany Pressley
Published:: September 23, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Songs of Summer | Jane L. Rosen
The Battle of the Bookshops | Poppy Alexander
As A Last Resort | Kristin Wollett

Book Review:: We Met Like This | Kasie West

This is the kind of book you have to pause the audio when you have literally anything that takes brain power, because you don’t want to miss a second. Something about this book has you constantly turning pages. The chemistry, the tension, the absolute mess of the FMCs life. So delicious.

We Met Like This by Kasie West Book Cover

Margot and Oliver meet on a dating app. Their first date is a disaster. But then they keep matching…and matching. Eventually three years pass and Margot is still looking for Mr. Right, while making some bad Mr. Right Now choices. Oliver is in the same way, and through the dating app messaging system, they become sort of friends.

Their connection is so sparkly. I mean–sparks everywhere. It’s probably a hazard. But their first date was so bad, it holds them back from pursing more in the present.

Until. They. Do.

This book had me screaming, crying, kicking my feet. Margot made me slightly crazy with some of her over-the-top and highly selective decisions through the middle of the book, and some of the middle was a little but they don’t feel the same way kind of angst which dragged the tiniest bit, but overall, absolute banger of a romance novel.

9/10, Recommend.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: We Met Like This
Author:: Kasie West
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Saturday Books
Length:: 368 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 19m
Audiobook Narrator:: Katie Bloomwood
Published:: September 16th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance | Bethany Turner
The Reluctant Flirt | Jennifer Probst
Hate Mail | Donne Marchetti

Book Review:: Leave Before I Love You | Max Monroe

If you are looking for a bit of a harrowing love story, look no further than author duo Max Monroe’s newest release Leave Before I Love You.

Leave Before I Love You by Max Monroe Book Cover

Avery and Henry get stuck traveling solo on what was supposed to be a big group trip. They’ve known one another forever had have had a few fly-by romantic interactions, but he’s her brother’s best friend, and she’s got every guy she could ever want. Henry, who is an adrenaline junkie who literally founded a company based around it, persuades Avery to go skydiving with him. He promises everything will be fine, but that was before the pilot has a massive heart attack and the plane falls into a dive. Avery and Henry have to jump early and frantically, leaving them far off course, on a deserted island.

I love this kind of incredibly dramatic and tension heavy novel with Big Trauma in act one that leads to a trauma bond that binds the two characters together inexorably. My other two recs in this sub-genre are at the bottom of this post.

However, Henry kind of gets a bad deal, because he is stranded with a carbon copy of Shannon from Lost (if you know, you know). Avery is worse than useless. She’s a plastic barbie Miami girl whose greatest talent is spending daddy’s apparently endless money. There’s a little bit of depth to her eventually, but for me, it was still pretty darn shallow. I wish she wasn’t quite as much of a caricature, but I guess it works for what they were after.

If this book was another hundred or two pages longer, I’d still be happy. There was a lot of backstory with Henry I feel like I could have enjoyed exploring between his two parents and how he got into such a very specific and incredible industry. But the story is complete and pretty wonderful as it is.

This is my second Max Monroe novel, and this was very different than the other title I read (Oops, I’ve Fallen), but it’s clear this writing team is very good at what they do. I’m looking forward to reading more of their stuff!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Leave Before I Love You
Author:: Max Monroe
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Indie
Length:: 300 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 25m
Audiobook Narrator:: Will Damron & M.K. Blackwood
Published:: July 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4.5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Swept Away | Beth O’Leary
Still Beating | Jennifer Hartmann