Contemporary Romance Archives - Page 3 of 13

Book Review:: Where You’re Planted | Melanie Sweeney

Some books just give off warm fuzzy vibes, and Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney is one of those for me.

Where You're Planted by Melanie Sweeney Book Cover

Tansy and Jack get off on a bit of a wrong foot (granted, they do meet in quite a stressful situation), but if they want to save their dream careers they will have to work together. She is a librarian and he runs the Houston Botanic Gardens, and after a recent hurricane, they’re temporarily housing the library until they can raise the funds for a new building.

There is so much I could rave about with this one. The two leads are so well suited to one another! They both have huge hearts and neither are afraid of a little hard work. Tansy has an independence complex (like me) that makes it impossible to ask for help, but with Jack, she realizes that it’s okay to accept some every once in awhile, even if you could figure it out on your own eventually.

It’s about family, and support, and passion, and sticking together in a crisis. It’s about trust and figuring it out as you go. It’s also romantic as heck.

Five shining stars from me!

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:: Where You’re Planted
Author:: Melanie Sweeney
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Length:: 384 pages
Published:: July 8th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

It’s A Love Story | Annabel Monaghan
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie | Courtney Walsh
Songs of Summer | Jane L. Rosen

Book Review:: Only Between Us | Ellie K. Wilde

Fans of a great sports romance, buckle up – book two in Ellie K. Wilde’s Oakwood Bay series is here! Only Between Us is the steamy love story between pro footballer Brooks Attwood and a sassy Siena Pippen who is much more than she appears.

Only Between Us by Ellie K. Wilde Book Cover

I feel like Ellie K. Wilde understands what people want out of a sports romance novel. There is lots of personal conflict, coming of age themes, lots and lots of spice, and a protectiveness that comes with someone conditioned to be on a team. Once the girl is on yours, that’s it.

All of those boxes were ticked in this book, and well. Bad boy Brooks is grappling with the wind down of his career. He’s got his eyes set on his old team and will do anything to score a contract with them. What they want is for him to show he’s settled down in his personal life, because the press he’s gotten from prior escapades is a big distraction. When he literally runs into Siena on the practice field and a photo of them goes viral, he proposes a mutual deal: pretend to be in a serious, stable relationship and he gets what he needs, and she gets the attention she needs to keep her business afloat awhile longer.

Siena’s had a hard life. The parents that raised her are not her real parents, and when her dad leaves her his bait shop, she’ll do anything she can to keep it open. But she’s been burned by a football star before, and she is not interested in getting involved with another one.

They both have trust issues, and healing those together is one of my favorite things to find in a sports romance. It just hits in all the feels.

If sports romance is your thing, hey, you’re going to love this. And if you haven’t really delved into any yet…try it! I was so pleasantly surprised. They’re immersive and indulgent and a great little escape. If you like spice, you’re going to love these!

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:: Only Between Us (Oakwood Bay #2)
Author:: Ellie K. Wilde
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Atria
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 14h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: July 8th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Only In Your Dreams | Ellie K. Wilde
The Graham Effect | Elle Kennedy
Play Along | Liz Tomforde

Book Review:: The Spirit of Love | Lauren Kate

A vacation fling, a workplace rival, two very different love connections. The Spirit of Love is a new novel by Lauren Kate that will have you leaning forward in your seat as the tale unfolds.

The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate Book Cover

After a whirlwind weekend fling before beginning work as director for the first time on the show she loves, Fenny is blindsided when she returns to real life. Turns out the director gig was given to a stranger with a flawless reputation at the last minute instead. As much as she tries to dislike him, they start to connect on a deeper level, but she can’t forget about the man she met in the forest.

This is a perfect example of why I do not read book summaries before I begin. With this one? The entire plot would have been ruined if I had, so if you haven’t done that yet, save yourself the great feeling of discovering a story for yourself and don’t read it. Whyyy do publishers do that?

Beyond that gripe, I really enjoyed the story. I had fun piecing things together for myself, though I had another theory bumping around in my brain for a big chunk of it so (if you didn’t read the back) I wouldn’t say the ending isn’t very predictable.

The romance between Fenny and Sam at the beginning of the book was interesting and refreshing and just enough swoony without being too much. The development of the new relationship with Jude (not dating, but you get what I mean) felt genuine and not forced, which is important for the integrity of a story like this with two love interests.

Magical Realism tends to usually stretch a thread too far for me, and that was honestly the case with this story. It all makes sense and was set up incredibly well, but I wasn’t filled with a feeling of 100% satisfaction by the time it was all said and done. Honestly I think that’s just a me thing though. If you’re a fan of magical realism in general, this is probably an ideal romance for you!

As always I am honored when I am able to read a book early, and The Spirit of Love was a really nice escape with an interesting story.

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 Spirit of Love
Author:: Lauren Kate
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Length:: 336 pages
Published:: July 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Perfect Rom-Com | Melissa Ferguson
Slow Burn Summer | Josie Silver
The Love Haters | Katherine Center

Book Review:: Let’s Make A Scene | Laura Wood

A novel about movie stars fake dating…twice? Color me intrigued. I had high hopes for Laura Wood’s new book Let’s Make A Scene.

Let's Make A Scene by Laura Wood Book Cover

Unfortunately, for me, the constant jumping back and forth from past to present and back again got very confusing. On one hand, Cynthie and Jack are on their first movie set and unintentional sparks are flying. On the other, they’re years in the future, starting work on the sequel of the same project, thrown together again. Maybe the two sides of the coin were just not different enough? In both they are antagonistic toward one another, in both they start catching feelings. I just found myself double checking constantly which timeline we were in.

With a fundamental issue like that, it made it hard to sink into the story. With that being said, however, it is clear that Laura Wood understand romance and how to craft some interesting characters to play against one another. There was plenty of chemistry between Cynthie and Jack, and their night together in the kitchen is quite memorable! The ending also was justified and handled well, but by that point it had already lost the spark for me.

I am absolutely still interested in reading more from Laura Wood, this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

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:: Let’s Make A Scene
Author:: Laura Wood
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Atria
Length:: 352 pages
Published:: July 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Once Upon A Crime | Brynn Kelly (Review Coming Soon)
Double Exposure | Elissa R Sloan
An Italian Wedding Adventure | Leonie Mack

Book Review:: The Summer You Were Mine | Jill Francis

Second chances, autism representation, sports-y, and the idyllic backdrop of an Italian summer? Count me in. Jill Francis’ The Summer You Were Mine just might be the escape you need this summer.

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis Book Cover

Ellie and Cris grew up together over summers with their families in Italy. Now returning for a wedding will be their first time seeing one another in years, and they didn’t part on the best terms. And both of them are in a bind. Ellie is in deep water at work on a sports talk show, and Cris is accused of doping just as he’s wrapping up his career as a water polo Olympian. Maybe if they can set aside the awkwardness, they can help each other.

The setting really shines in this novel. You can almost feel the sea breeze and sunshine through the pages as you read. For that reason alone you should pick this up – especially if you’re having a staycation instead of an international getaway. You’ll get the secondhand atmosphere!

I really enjoyed Ellie and Cris’ story. Their families have been close for generations and they have a lot of history. They both also have very successful careers. It didn’t take much for them to get past the hurdle of their past, this book is more about each of them realizing they have deeper feelings and what that might mean in the ‘real world’ once the Italian getaway ends.

I appreciated the representation of autism in this novel. Ellie was only diagnosed recently with a high-functioning form, and though it doesn’t change anything for her day to day life, it does help her come to terms with the differences she’s always had in social situations. Sharing that piece of herself with Cris was a big deal for her, and his reaction is absolutely perfect.

I really enjoyed this novel. It’s a great choice for a beach read. None of the conflicts are too deep and I never felt stressed reading it. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read 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:: The Summer You Were Mine
Author:: Jill Francis
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Griffin
Length:: 352 pages
Published:: July 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Guest Cottage | Lori Foster
Counting Miracles | Nicholas Sparks
Slow Burn Summer | Josie Silver
The Love Haters | Katherine Center

Book Review:: First-Time Caller | BK Borison

When I heard BK Borison was coming out with a new series based on all of our favorite Nora Ephron Rom-Com movies of the 90s I was ALL IN. And when I say that, I hope you realize that I mean I felt fully take-my-money feral. Book #1 in what she’s calling the Heartstrings series is First-Time Caller, based on the Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan classic: Sleepless in Seattle.

First-Time Caller by BK Borison Book Cover

Lucie’s daughter calls in to a late-night radio show based around love, and hosted by a man who no longer believes in it.

After the impressively accomplished Business Casual, Borison’s previous release, I had the highest of hopes for this book. It was good, but it wasn’t on the same level. More than anything, First-Time Caller felt indulgent.

Aiden had character, but for me it wasn’t nearly strong enough. I’d have vastly preferred more scenes with character development for Aiden than have the two of them locked in storage closets for far too many pages dry humping and ignoring their problems. Were there great scenes in this book? Of course. And I enjoy the prose style. The struggle for me this time was all story. It just felt unbalanced, focusing far too much on the sexual tension, and eventually, the actual sex. It’s something Borison does well, the almost visceral sexual tension, but too much of even a good thing eventually sours, and that’s how I felt about First-Time Caller.

Still, BK Borison remains an auto-buy author for me…for now. We’ll see how I feel about her next few releases, beginning with an October release titled Good Spirits. Personally, I’d rather have one great book release a year instead of two mediocre ones. I hope my fears about that are unfounded and this was a fluke. And hey, many others seriously adore this one. Unfortunately, I can’t call myself one of them.

Details

Title:: First Time Caller (Heartstrings #1)
Author:: BK Borison
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 448 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 54m
Audiobook Narrator:: EJ Bingham & Hathaway Lee
Published:: February 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3.5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Thank You For Listening | Julia Whelan
This Summer Will Be Different | Carley Fortune
Wild Love | Elsie Silver

Book Review:: The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain | Hannah Brown

I admit I was expecting a lot less from The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain. The premise is fairly high concept, and I thought it would be another cheesy ‘throw-away’ summer vacation romance, but this new novel from Hannah Brown is so much more.

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown Book Cover

When you hear someone has been engaged three times but never married, what do you think of them? Commitment-phobe? Too easily swept away by a little bit of romance? Indecisive? Not serious enough? It’s an embarrassing statistic (just ask Ross Gellar about his marital history), but unless you know the whole story, don’t be so quick to judge.

Relationships are complicated. We find people in different ways, and they can complement different sides of who we are. People also change and grow and need different things at different times in their lives. But when your third engagement blows up just days before the alter, even you might start to question what is wrong with you.

Oh Sybil, you beautiful soul. She is doing her best.

I really don’t want to spoil any of this story for you, so I won’t talk about the history of her love life except to say she has run into the latest of her three fiancées at a resort in Hawai’i and it leads to her confronting her past and learning to accept and love herself in a way she’s never been able to before.

This book is about growth and forgiveness. It’s about coming into your own, meeting yourself where you are, and understanding yourself in new ways. It’s an exploration of maturity and relationships and even mental wellness to some degree. It takes quite a bit to push me over the edge into top-tier territory, but Sybil Rain earned every last one of these five stars.

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 Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain
Author:: Hannah Brown
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 12h
Audiobook Narrator:: Cherami Leigh
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

What Happens in Amsterdam | Rachel Lynn Solomon
Hate Mail | Donna Marchetti
The Unhoneymooners | Christna Lauren

Book Review:: Finders Keepers | Sarah Adler

Welcome home to your parent’s house, Nina Hunnicutt! That’s where catching your long-term boyfriend with someone else just as they’re supposed to be moving in together will get you. Rock bottom.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler Book Cover

But wait! Her once-best-friend is in the same boat at the same time. Burned by his ex-fiancé and home from abroad to sell the house next door, Quintin Bell might just be there to secure Nina’s own version of personal hell. Once upon a time, Nina and Quintin were as close as two friends can be, bonded over talking through their open windows, which face one another. In their last summer after high school graduation, they undertook the task of finding real-life treasure from an eccentric rich dude in town. They never found it, instead, it ended up breaking whatever connection they might have had at the time just before he left town. The wounds have calcified since then, but are not forgotten, and when Quintin brings up hunting for the treasure again now, as adults, she wants no part of it. That is, until she finds out there’s money in it no matter what, and that, just now, as an unemployed dweller in her parent’s metaphorical basement, is not something she can say no to.

This is a fun little summer adventure story. It’s not often one has real treasure to hunt for, and Nina and Q have to work together to make progress. This of course is perfect fodder for all sorts of rom-com shenanigans.

There were a lot of cute moments between Nina and Quintin. It was very clear that they had a long-standing friendship as kids that felt very authentic. Personally, I didn’t get as invested as I like in the romance of it. Maybe the treasure hunt took away from it for me, but it is still a fun summer read I would recommend if you’re someone who enjoys rom-coms.

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:: Finders Keepers
Author:: Sarah Adler
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

PS I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner
Perfect Fit | Clare Gilmore

Book Review:: People We Meet on Vacation | Emily Henry

How is everyone sleeping on People We Meet on Vacation?! This is the last book on Emily Henry’s backlist for me to read and you know what? I’m just going to say it. It’s my favorite.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Book Cover

Poppy is living her dream life as a travel writer in New York City but for some reason, she’s not happy. She hasn’t been, actually, since she and her best friend Alex had a falling out a few years back. They used to go on vacation every year, scraping together their pennies in college to go anywhere-but-here. That’s when she fell in love with travel. So she bites the bullet and sends that first awkward hey-haven’t-talked-to-you-in-years-but-what’s-up text and to her delight and surprise, things pick up as if no time at all has passed. Texting soon leads to planning a new trip, and this one will fix everything for good. Hopefully.

My god there is something about a years spanning will they won’t they best friends with a little something more MFEO romance novel. Seriously, send me every rec you can think of that follows this same trajectory because MY HEART IN THESE NOVELS JUST CANNOT. If you’re chasing that same feeling, read this one, but also In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros. That one is darker than this, but it’s the same can’t-put-it-down-gah-get-your-shit-together energy this one has. Both of these…they just have their own electricity.

Poppy and Alex are opposites. She’s talkative and friendly and wants to get the most out of life. Alex is quiet and reserved and is happy with the life he has at home with his brothers. They had a little when-harry-met-sally style meet-cute and a life-changing friendship was born. Poppy and Alex are more fun than Harry and Sally, if it’s not blasphemous to say (H&S is one of my favorite movies too – clearly I have a type), but their problems also run deeper and had my heart in my throat so many times.

I’m telling you, this book had me in a chokehold. The timing of the flashbacks building up all those ‘almost’ moments and the ones that were so close and personal and foundational to their friendship that also make the possibility of ruining what they have too much to risk…I mean, it was just *chef’s kiss*

It is turning into a movie (screenplay by Yulin Kuang who’s debut novel came out last year, How to End A Love Story), but I’m not sure if I can bear to watch it. This book has buried itself into my heart and has become a part of me. That’s what a good book feels like. And I’m going to sit with that awhile before I risk tainting it (ha!).

Seriously though, if you’ve been putting off reading People We Meet on Vacation because you haven’t seen it hyped at all compared to the great Emily Henry’s other works, stop it. Pick it up right now. It’s phenomenal. Get the audiobook, too. Julia Whelan makes everything better.

Details

Title:: People We Meet on Vacation
Author:: Emily Henry
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 46m
Audiobook Narrator:: Julia Whelan
Published:: May 11th, 2021
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: The Love Fix | Jill Shalvis

You can’t escape your past by running away from it. At least, not in fiction!

After the death of her mother, Lexi has to return to a place with less than fond memories to execute the will with her stepsister Ashley. The two of them had very different experiences with their mother, and Lexi isn’t ready to forgive the dark childhood she had. Assisting them on the unusual task assigned to them in the will is Heath, another piece of her past Lexi isn’t eager to face, who is now the lawyer handling the execution of the will. Over a six-week period Lexi is stuck in Sunrise Cove, for better or for worse.

This is my second Jill Shalvis book, and I’m starting to get a good feel for her style. Her characters are deep and complex with pasts full of hurt that have shaped their current motivations. I thought Lexi, Heath, and even Ashley were very well developed and believable. Their problems and understanding of each other make sense and unfold in sensible ways.

The chemistry between Heath and Lexi was sizzling, but rooted deeper than just attraction. They knew each other once upon a time and I really enjoyed every bit of information Heath discovers that he was oblivious to when he knew her before, giving him a fuller picture of her past and gives them an excellent base for an eventual relationship.

This is the eighth installment of the Sunrise Cove series. EIGHTH! You know what that means? I get to go back and read a bunch more books knowing that I’m in good hands with an author like Jill Shalvis. She knows how to build a compelling story!

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 Love Fix (Sunrise Cove #8)
Author:: Jill Shalvis
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Avon
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 15m
Audiobook Narrator:: Andi Arndt
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars