Contemporary Archives - The Litertarian

Book Review:: The Ex Vows | Jessica Joyce

I get it now, the intense hype for Jessica Joyce. The Ex Vows is an angsty, emotional story about childhood friends who once took a shot at love and missed, coming back together for their best friend’s wedding and finding the embers still burning deep.

Georgia and Eli had a connection ever since they met as kids, which manifested in a tight-knit friend group that never wavered. That is, until they finally recognized deeper feelings one summer at the vineyard, and that changed everything. But they were young, and stupid, and were too good at ignoring their problems until they were too big to handle. Fast forward a few years, and their third wheel best friend Adam has found his person and they’re getting married. It’s not the first time Georgia and Eli will see each other since the breakup, but nine days? It might as well be an eternity. With a wedding that is cursed with the worst possible luck, and Georgia and Eli as the fixers, the two of them are seeing far too much of each other to maintain the careful avoidance they’ve practiced for years. It’s time to finally face the truth.

I should probably only give this book five stars, but this is a case of the prose making it impossible to rate it lower. Jessica Joyce can write, y’all. The way she builds an emotionally wrought scene in the present while pulling backstory and flashbacks in those same moments without losing focus is immaculate. It’s the kind of writing I want to do. So yeah, five stars.

My problem with the story itself I think stems from Georgia’s personality? It’s consistent, at least, but she gives herself so many problems by being a people-pleaser at any cost, especially to herself. She feels like she has to earn her relationships, that if she doesn’t invest in them consistently, smooth out any discomforts that might arise, her friends might realize they don’t need her and she’ll lose them. It’s a deep hurt that stems from her family life, and it’s still a very real part of her daily life.

This book explores a prioritizing friends culture I’ve never experienced. For these folks, friendship is everything. It covers a lot of versions of friendships being tried and tested. It’s something very important to Georgia. Maybe too important? But that’s probably being conflated in my mind with her aptitude as a major pushover.

Aside from that, this story has heaps of swoon-worthy romance. As I mentioned before, she uses just enough of the history between Georgia and Eli to make us burn and yearn for them in the present. I really appreciated that these flawed characters in the end earned their happy ever after.

Read it for the prose, read it for the redemption, read it for learning from clumsy mistakes. Read it for the immersive summer vineyard vibes. Read it because this is the kind of love story that demands a place in your thoughts for a long time after you’re done turning the pages.

Details

Title:: The Ex Vows
Author:: Jessica Joyce
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 390 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 10m
Audiobook Narrator:: Kyla Garcia
Published:: July 16th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Mile High | Liz Tomforde

Welcome to the best sports romance series I’ve read. In the Windy City series, Liz Tomforde has created an irresistable cast of characters you can’t help but love. They’re eclectic, they’re flawed, they’re possessive, quite spicy, and you want to be friends with every last one of them. The first in the series is probably the sassiest and perhaps the most transformational of them all. In my opinion, every book only gets better than the last, and you can’t ask for better than that!

Zanders is the ladiest of ladies men. As in, he’s got numbers for ladies in every city his professional hockey team visits. Multiple ladies. In every town. He’s a player, and he’s not ashamed of it. But when their new flight attendant, Stevie, refuses to take any of his shit, he’s curious, and then obsessed with cracking through her tough shell. Too bad she’s completely unimpressed with professional athletes since her twin brother is one of the biggest NBA stars in the country.

“You following me?”

What do I love about this book? Both of these characters are challenged and go through a lot of big growth. I appreciate that Stevie can be insecure about her body, and I absolutely love that Zanders only has heart eyes for every inch of her. There are bumps and bruises along the way, but they both really get a quick sense of each other and are able to care for one another intuitively from pretty early on. Not only do they grow together, they go through their own personal transformations, too, that pave the way for a healthy relationship.

I love that these books are so long and detailed. Everything feels very connected and weaved together, and not splotchy and clumsily tied together. You really get to spend a lot of time with the characters and their world, so you get a really great payoff in the end when things finally click into place.

Any fan of romance should give this series the good try. I haven’t seen a single person who disliked them yet. There are FIVE books to enjoy (I can’t wait to enjoy the last one after my reread of the rest!), and I cannot wait to see what Liz Tomforde comes up with next! Let’s get it girl!

Details

Title:: Mile High (Windy City #1)
Author:: Liz Tomforde
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Indie
Length:: 603 pages
Audio Length:: 16h 48m
Audiobook Narrator:: Winston James and Mari
Published:: June 4th, 2022
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Play Along | Liz Tomforde
The Graham Effect | Elle Kennedy
Gloves Off | Stephanie Archer

Book Review:: My Husband’s Wife | Alice Feeney

This is my second Alice Feeney novel, and it is just as twisty and confusing and unreliable as the last one! If you’re a fan of high stakes puzzles and layers of mystery and suspense, you’re going to love her new release, My Husband’s Wife.

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney Book Cover

Eden Fox comes home from a run to find a stranger in her house. Her key doesn’t work, and there’s a lookalike there, dressed in her clothes, kissing her husband. It’s impossible, but it’s happening. Even the police don’t believe her, and everything she might have had for proof was left inside the house before her run.

This is the start of one of the most complex webs of confusion, mystery, and deception I’ve ever read. There is twist after twist and no shortage of suspicions, and just when you think you know what happened, everything turns on its head all over again.

This is the kind of book the term ‘page-turner’ was invented for. Though at times it was so shrouded in so many layers that it took awhile for the clarity to sink in, it is very good at what it does, which is satisfy your craving for a compelling story.

I was able to experience the audiobook version of this novel. It is produced to a slightly higher level than a typical book, and overall I really enjoyed all those additions. However, as someone who listens at a faster speed than 1x, the running sound effect was really frantic. For that reason I would recommend reading it on 1x speed.

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:: My Huband’s Wife
Author:: Alice Feeney
Genre:: Mystery Thriller
Publisher:: Flatiron Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 58m
Audiobook Narrator:: Bel Powley, Henry Rowley, and Richard Armitage
Published:: January 20th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Where He Left Me | Nicole Baart
Remain | Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shyamalan
Listen for the Lie | Amy Tintera

Book Review:: Lovelight Farms | BK Borison

I think we can all agree that BK Borison is great at what she does: swoony contemporary romances with heart and spice and all the feels. And it started all the way back with her debut, Lovelight Farms. If you’re a romance reader and haven’t read BK Borison yet, literally what are you doing. STOP, pick this up, and begin your education on what an excellent contemporary romance can be.

Lovelight Farms by BK Borison Book Cover

To be honest, I did not fall for this book the first time I read it. There is a bit of a mystery storyline that distracts from the angsty longing that cracks and sparkles between Luca and Stella which is the real star of the show.

These two ran into each other years ago and became fast friends. He lives in New York though, which is close enough to visit often, but a little unrealistic for a serious intimate relationship. Besides, Stella has abandonment issues that keep her from being outright with her feelings. Now though, she’s in a pinch. She’s told a social media influencer she owns her Christmas tree farm with her true love to pump up their story and win the contest she desperately needs to win to stay afloat. Trouble is, she and Luca have only ever been friends, and now she has to tell him what she did so that he can play along. What could go wrong? It’s just acting, right?

This is the perfect time of year to pick up this book. It’s about a Christmas tree farm. They’re always buying each other coffees. It’s a small town. It’s cozy as hell. But that’s just the ambiance. To me, the romance is everything and the friends to more trajectory is just so achingly sweet. Stella and Luca absolutely won me over, and look at that stinkin’ cute cover!

If you find yourself here in holiday season 2025 and still haven’t read this book, seriously, add it to your reading list. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Details

Title:: Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1)
Author:: BK Borison
Genre:: Holiday Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 15m
Audiobook Narrator:: Pippa Jayne
Published:: June 6th, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Christmas Is All Around | Martha Waters
Mistletoe & Mr Right | Sarah Morgenthaler
First Time Caller | BK Borison
Business Casual | BK Borison

Book Review:: The Book Club Boyfriend | Kendall Ryan

Another Kendall Ryan delight today in The Book Club Boyfriend!

The Book Club Boyfriend by Kendall Ryan book cover

Scarlett is a jaded author stuck in a rut, and when she goes on live TV to chat with Chase Remington, a pro hockey player, fans go wild and demand more. Chase leads a book club for the team for good PR, and now Scarlett is roped into participating.

This author is so good at creating tension between characters, and compared to the other title I read of hers this month (Checking It Twice), this one was far less spicy and far more slow burn, which is also really satisfying, just different.

One thing I found a little odd about this one is how far into their relationship we got. I’m wondering if Ms. Ryan was extra attached to these two characters, because they got about a million epilogues 🙂

You can’t really go wrong with Kendall Ryan. If you’re a fan of hockey romance or you like reading characters in the book industry, this one is a no brainer.

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 Book Club Boyfriend (Must Love Hockey #2)
Author:: Kendall Ryan
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Dream Press
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 7h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ryan West & CJ Bloom
Published:: November 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Checking It Twice | Kendall Ryan (coming soon)
A Beginner’s Guide to Forever | Kendall Ryan
When Alec Met Evie | Jenny Proctor

Book Review:: The Hating Game | Sally Thorne

I have heard The Hating Game referred to out in the bookish ether for years, but never really thought ‘hey, that’s a book I really need to read’. What I haven’t seen is anyone specifically gushing about how phenomenally good this book is. I heard of it, but I didn’t see hype, if you get my meaning. Well, I saw it in an Audible sale at some point and grabbed it just to see, and finally got around to listening. Can I just say…

Let me be the hype.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne Book Cover

Lucy is in the fight of her life every single day against Joshua. After a merger between their two publishing houses years ago, they work at the same level, in the same office, in perfect view of one another. He is the grumbling stick-in-the-mud manager, and she is a pathological yes-man. They’ve gotten under one another’s skin since the beginning and the only way they can be somewhat civil to one another is to turn everything into a game. Games based on their mutual hatred. Mean games. Games that have HR complaints flying back and forth. But…mostly civil. When a change in the company structure means only one of them can be promoted, a new kind of game begins, and this one will end in one of them resigning to end the nemesis olympics once and for all.

Holy crap. This book. This book! I was not prepared.

Lucy truly believes Josh loathes her, and she can’t understand why. She’s the ultimate people pleaser and I think that’s the root of her fixation on his behavior. But we all know why kids tease each other on the playground…

I absolutely got that warm tingly feeling that comes in all great romance novels. The feeling that keeps you flying through the pages wincing a little bit because you don’t really want to finish it. It’s a wild dichotomy. It has everything you could possibly want in a romance and does them so friggin well.

There is so much I could say about all the little moments, but I’m so conflicted! I don’t want to spoil anything for a new reader. Half of the magic is in the discovery! Just trust me when I say this book is required reading for any romance lover out there. I’m convinced this book could cure diseases. Probably.

If you’ve been sleeping on this book like I was, this is your sign to wake up and finally…metaphorically…smell(?) The Hating Game. You won’t regret it.

Details

Title:: The Hating Game
Author:: Sally Thorne
Genre:: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: William Morrow
Length:: 365 pages
Audio Length:: 12h 18m
Audiobook Narrator:: Katie Schorr
Published:: August 9th, 2016
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Let’s Call A Truce | Amy Buchanan
Funny Story | Emily Henry
Part of Your World | Abby Jimenez

Book Review:: Daddy Issues | Kate Goldbeck

I love a book with a dual meaning title, and honey, this one’s got it. Does FMC have some daddy issues? Yes, yes she does. Is MMC a single dad? Yes, yes he is. And you may think ‘Issues’ here is an otherwise throw-away word, but you’d be wrong, because a big part of the story is FMC’s comic book collection, which is printed in issues. It couldn’t be more packed with meaning, and it’s just *chef’s kiss*.

Sam was betrayed by the pandemic. Slated to start a prestigious art history program after her masters, everything was cancelled and she’s been in a holding pattern ever since, slinging fancy cocktails at a tiki bar. Not the life she thought she’d be living at twenty-six. Then, Nick and his daughter move into the next apartment, and the incident is incited. Seeing him interact with his daughter brings up a lot of old hurts for Sam, who wanted so much to be enough to get her own father’s attention. But he moved to Florida years ago and all he left behind was his massive comic book collection for Sam to look after. She used to draw comics, to connect with him, but after getting some feedback that she was an imitationist and not a real artist, she quit. And it’s not implied in the title, but Sam has mommy issues, too.

Nick isn’t complicated. He has a long history of traveling in a rockstar lifestyle, and now his job managing a Chili’s seems like it’s holding him back, but his priorities shifted when he had his daughter Kira.

Anyway, he’s super hot, and they bang. A few times. And that’s hot too.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. Sam’s voice is very strong snappy and made this a pleasure to read. I absolutely recommend you get this added to your spicy romance TBR, like, immediately.

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:: Daddy Issues
Author:: Kate Goldbeck
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Dial Press
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 51m
Audiobook Narrator:: Harley Quinn Smith
Published:: November 18th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon | Matthew Norman

For many, the holidays are a time of profound grief. This one is for you.

As someone who doesn’t read blurbs, I was not expecting the absolute beauty of this book. Grace and Henry are both widowers whose families are pushing them to get back out there and start living again, but neither of them are quite ready. Because when are you, ever?

Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman Book Cover

Grief is a heavy blanket that surrounds this book. It is always there, in the low moments, and the high ones too. Grace had time to say goodbye to her husband, Tim. He died of cancer. But Henry did not. His wife left for a business trip and never came back home. We never know what lies ahead of us, and when our loved ones die, it is not just their lives that are cut short, but the lives we envisioned living with them for the rest of ours that dies, too.

It’s heavy stuff.

However. This book handles all of it with so much tact and realistic gravity with a dash of humor that feels so authentic. Grace is hilarious. She’s a live-wire who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and she has two young kids she has to get through this, too. Henry is more contemplative. His loss is more recent, and more raw because of the manner of her death and the days leading up to it. But through their odd and inevitable friendship, they both learn to heal and that there is still a life for them worth living for.

Ugh, this was a killer. I absolutely loved Matthew Norman’s writing here. The characters were beautiful and the world he crafts here is just immaculate. I can’t wait to dive into his backlist, because someone who can navigate the theme of grief so well is someone who knows how to craft the hell out of a story.

There is romance, too. But it is subtle and sometimes surprising. It is more about friendship and connection and honoring meaningful relationships. Henry’s friendship with Grace’s son Ian, for example, was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Wow, is all I can say. This book is a treasure.

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:: Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon
Author:: Matthew Norman
Genre:: Holiday Contemporary Fiction Romance
Publisher:: Random House Publishing Group
Length:: 337 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 43m
Audiobook Narrator:: Alex Finke & Jay Myers
Published:: October 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Checking It Twice | Kendall Ryan

Friends, I’ve found you a lovely, swoony, holiday romance that will warm you up better than a cup of hot cocoa. It’s Checking It Twice by Kendall Ryan.

Clare works in PR for a hockey team in Dallas, and she’s really good at setting boundaries with those wild boys with her wit and sharp tongue. But as the holidays near, and Clare will be alone, again, it makes her a little reckless.

Checking It Twice by Kendall Ryan Book Cover

Mitchell Drake is heartbroken. Or at least, everyone thinks he is including his immediate family and his entire home town in Minnesota. He can’t seem to make them understand that he’s better off, so he comes up with an unconventional plan, but he can’t do it alone.

Clare would never do something so reckless and deceitful as fake date someone…except when she’s at an emotional rock bottom. But it’s okay, because even though he’s the hottest player on the team, they both understand what this is: temporary. Not real.

If you have ever like the fake dating trope or are a fan of sports romance, this is an automatic win for you. Kendall Ryan has mastered sizzling chemistry, and the character backstory work done here to make these two lovebirds into soulmates is phenomenal.

There was only one thing that kind of nagged at me and that was in the beginning chapters they all kind of ended the exact same way, restating the character’s weakening fortifications. Some of them felt pretty identical, and though it’s a satisfying way to end a chapter, so many in a row that were almost verbatim stood out to me.

Kendall Ryan is a master of her craft, and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

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:: Checking it Twice (Must Love Hockey #3)
Author:: Kendall Ryan
Genre:: Holiday Sports Romance
Publisher:: Dreamscape Media
Length:: 343 pages
Audio Length:: 7h 56m
Audiobook Narrator:: Grayson Owens & Rose Dioro
Published:: November 25th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

My Favorite Holidate | Lauren Blakely
Happy Christmas | Kelsey Humphreys
Yours for the Season | Emily Stone

Book Review:: Secret Nights and Northern Lights | Megan Oliver

Mona is always overlooked. In a busy family with twin boys less than a year older than she is, their parents were always too exhausted for her to get any one-on-one attention. She learned never to stick out, never to rock the boat, to be nice and easy and invisible, the way everyone wanted her to be. She still does, in a way, as a writer at a travel magazine. She’s done her duty for years while being overlooked for the job she wants the most: International travel.

Secret Nights and Northern Lights by Megan Oliver Book Cover

Finally, she gets the opportunity to go to Iceland – all the other international writers are on other trips, and the magazine has the opportunity to work with one of the best photographers around. The problem is, she knows him. She knows him very well. In fact, he’s the boy she grew up with, fell in love with, the only one who ever saw her. So she thought, before he shattered her heart into a million pieces. Now, if she wants the job she’s always dreamed of, she’s got to go on this picturesque trip with him. But can they go the whole week without confronting their past?

Ben walking back into her life brings up a lot of repressed emotions from Mona. Not only from their own relationship, dynamic, and drama, but of the way she was back then. She knew him forever. They lived a few houses down, and they were in the same class starting in kindergarten. He knows her, he knows her family, he’s friends with her parents, and he’s the perfect person to bounce these feelings off of.

She felt a little bit manic almost, at times. She would bring things up with Ben, he would be a great and sympathetic listener-then she would shut down and act like he somehow was the one bringing this stuff up. But it was her. Every single time. Ben wanted to talk about the big stuff, but he never once pushed her. He just said (paraphrased) ‘we need to talk about this before we’re done with this trip’, and she ran away from it every single time. The snip-snap of it all was a little frustrating. However, it wasn’t a deal breaker, it just made me not like Mona so much.

I love second chance romance stories as long as they have a justified break, genuine misunderstandings that AREN’T just a bad miscommunication trope, and I was overall very pleased with this one. The backstory was interesting and had a lot of depth, and these two characters really seemed to love each other, both then and now.

It’s also a destination/travel romance, did I mention? There are lots of scenes of fun and adventurous activities in Iceland.

Another worthwhile romance from Berkley! I will be interested in following Megan Oliver to see what she comes up with next. I smelled a sequel featuring one of Mona’s brothers, but time will tell!

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:: Secret Nights and Northern Lights
Author:: Megan Oliver
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 44m
Audiobook Narrator:: Brittany Pressley
Published:: November 18th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars