Ben was always the-one-that-got-away, but now that he’s back in town, Mylie isn’t sure how to approach him. All signs point to him leaving again, but who says it has to be something serious? Maybe they can just have a spring fling…
The tone of this novel was very lighthearted and easy, even when some of the subject matter probably warranted a little more depth. Personally, I was craving a little bit more from these characters, but every time I felt that way it seemed to launch into another tropey situation that kept things light and playful.
The characters felt well developed for the purposes of the story. Mylie, in particular, had a lot of ties to the town that drove the subplots well enough. The setting of Clay Creek is small town America with the requisite old-lady bingo group, and rascally wildlife.
For me there wasn’t a lot that really stood out as being particularly original or interesting. That’s the danger of reading so much romance! If you’re looking for something sweet and light, this book fits the bill, but if you’re looking for the next great romance novel, in my opinion this one isn’t essential reading.
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:: Spring Fling Author:: Annie England Noblin Genre:: Romantic Comedy Publisher:: Avon Length::304 pages Audio Length::8h Audiobook Narrator:: Amanda Stribling Audiobook Publisher:: Harper Audio Published:: March 18th, 2025 The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars Spice Rating:: 3 (open door explicit scenes, but brief)
Sometimes you have to go to the other side of the world to figure yourself out.
Dani’s life is in a bit of a shambles – she’s left with no boyfriend and no job and decides to apply to something exciting across the world in Amsterdam, a place she’s dreamed of ever since her family hosted an exchange student from there when she was in high school. She gets it, and she stumbles into him almost immediately after arriving. Did I mention they were more than friends back in the day? And that he broke her heart? This is the story of their second chance.
This book is awesome. From the cover to the characters to the interesting steamy scenes the type of which I’ve never encountered…I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.
Turns out running away from your problems doesn’t actually solve anything, and her first few weeks in Amsterdam are not as idyllic as she’d hoped. She needs a new place to live and a new job if she wants to stay, and lucky for her, Wouter has a whole building he’s caring for and helps her out with the first of those things.
If you don’t love Amsterdam already before reading this book, you’ll probably fall in love with it just as much as the characters. Dani’s journey navigating her new life full of new friends and experiences is the kind of escapism we need in this timeline!
I bought in full stop with the connection between Wouter and Dani. There is big chemistry there, and though their past leads to some uncomfortable awkwardness at the start, when they loosen up, there is a great basis for friendship there that develops right alongside everything else.
This book got really close to five stars for me, but I couldn’t go all the way there. In this case it feels like mentioning some of the tropes is introducing spoilers, so I will just say that there’s one here that is usually really hard to pull off, but in this book, it mostly works. For me there is some level of cheesy about it though that is just never gonna wash off. The only other thing that sticks out as a strike is Wouter’s reasoning for breaking things off the way he did when they were younger. It didn’t cut it for me, but he’s an honest guy, so it doesn’t feel like he’s lying either…it just felt like a weak point in the backstory.
Would I recommend this book to other romance aficionados? Absolutely. This is one of the 2025 spring/summer romance releases I think you won’t want to miss!
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:: What Happens in Amsterdam Author:: Rachel Lynn Solomon Genre:: Contemporary Romance Publisher:: Berkley Length::384 pages Audio Length::11h Audiobook Narrator:: TBA Published:: May 6th, 2025 The Litertarian Rating:: 4.5-Stars
I am happy to report another 5-star romance to blissfully indulge in with a title that isn’t shy about what it is: The Perfect Rom Com.
Bryony Page is a passionate ESL teacher with a dream of becoming an author and using her earnings to bolster the perpetually under-funded school she works at. She’s written a profound literary masterpiece that is twice the length of a typical debut novel and is frantically trying to find a publisher who will give it a chance. Jack Sterling, literary agent to the stars, is her last chance…but when their short meeting begins to tank, she surprises him with her quick wit and sharp analysis skills, and he realizes she might be the answer he’s been searching for for another project. If she agrees to ghostwrite one of the biggest names in the biz, he’ll work with her to get her passion project greenlit.
And thus begins the most romantic of romances.
Bryony’s character is very well developed. She has dreams and passions and history, and as far as her work is concerned, she knows exactly what she wants, and she’s determined to get it. Jack’s character is maybe not as visible in the story, but he doesn’t feel flat. He’s incredibly good at his high stress job, and though that makes it hard to distinguish his true feelings from Bryony’s perspective, since she’s his client and he’ll do anything to appease his clients, I feel like the integrity of his character is plain as day.
The romance is so deliciously crafted. They can’t really indulge in a usual romance because of their unique situation, but the friendship that develops between them is so genuine and endearing it fuels the craving and yearning for more. Everyone seems to see the potential between them before Bryony, and I was SO on board for every succulent sentence of it.
The story’s development didn’t lack either. There are real, serious conflicts that Bryony and Jack are contending with that don’t have easy answers, but in perfect rom com fashion, everything resolves itself in the end, and the characters are done justice in a way that satisfies the built-up tension.
I was seriously so engrossed in this book the way that only great ones can do. I can’t wait to read more from Melissa Ferguson, and I hope you find the time to add this one to your ever-expanding TBR if you’re a romance lover like 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:: The Perfect Rom Com Author:: Melissa Ferguson Genre:: Contemporary Romance Publisher:: Thomas Nelson Length::304 pages Audio Length::9h 10m Audiobook Narrator:: Karissa Vacker Published:: February 11th, 2025 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone, but the feeling a really great love story gives you certainly is! I believe there is a book for every state of heart out there, and today I’m going to try and pair you up with a story that will match whatever your Valentine’s Day philosophy might be this year. This post is full of all my best romance book recommendations! Feel free to scroll to whatever section calls out to you and I’ll see you on the other side!
A few notes…
If I have already reviewed the book on this blog, I will link a review so you can read more of my thoughts if you’re interested!
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Without further ado, here are all my best romance book recommendations!
The Flirt
I like to think of romantic comedies as candy. Books so fun and satisfying that you gobble them up without reservation. Here are some of my favorites::
This book is so special. Zoey is on her dream vacation to Moose Springs, Alaska. Despite a very tight budget, she is determined to have the time of her life. Hilarious and charming as hell, Zoey’s trip and the disgruntled diner owner she meets there are sure to win your heart immediately. If you love a good romantic comedy, you do not want to miss this novel!
Cat and Luca are so perfectly cast in this unforgettable big city romance. She is buttoned up and disciplined and doesn’t think very well of the doorman of her new building who is carefree, airy and dare-she-say reckless? But when she finds herself up a creek (figuratively), he’s the one who steps up to help her. Their story is *magic*
I didn’t love the ending of this book, but the rest of it is so good that I couldn’t keep it off this list. A vacation enemies-to-lovers style whirlwind romance. If you’ve never read a Christina Lauren book, girl, what are you waiting for?!
When in Rome | Sarah Adams
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I read this book a few years back and it is still stuck in my head. Rome, Kentucy is the idyllic small town of your rom-com dreams. Searching for a little respite from her world-famous persona, Amelia Rose disappears into middle-America for a few weeks. What she doesn’t expect is the grumpy pie-shop owner that changes everything…swoon.
The Hopeless Romantic
These romance books dig a little bit deeper, carving their own place out inside your heart. The love inside them is anything but ordinary. These stories feel so personal to me, but I’ll let you in on their magic in case you need a good romance to seep deep into your soul this season.
The Simple Wild | K.A. Tucker
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This is my favorite contemporary romance of all time. I’ve read dozens before and after and nothing hits quite the same as this beautiful story of unexpected connection and grief. Calla and Jonah are unforgettable – and look at that cover! One day I will write a review for this masterpiece to try and explain the depth of emotion I feel about it. For now I will just say, read it!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
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Oh – a beautiful, devastating, and uplifting World War II historical novel that doesn’t really feel like a romance. Don’t worry, it still has a happy ending, but the focus isn’t fully on the love story. Instead, it is told through nothing but correspondence as a journalist from London gets to know a group of readers on the once-occupied channel island of Guernsey. This book has gotten me out of multiple reading slumps. It feels like an old friend. I hope you find as much heart in it as I have.
Divine Rivals reads as a historical romance, but it has a fantastical twist. An unlikely love story set in a time not dissimilar to the World Wars, Iris and her mystery correspondent fall in love through letters, then so much more. This is a powerful duology you don’t want to miss!
The One That Got Away
Second chances sometimes make for the most powerful love stories. The books below all return to my mind often.
The Girl He Used to Know | Tracy Garvis Graves
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I don’t remember how or why I picked up this book, but it changed me. Annika and Jonathan’s relationship in college was something sincere and transformative, but like most things do, it ended. When they meet again years later, he’s divorced, and she finally feels ready to explain herself. This is an immaculate book that blind-sided me in only the best possible ways.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It was my favorite read of 2024, and I read a lot of books last year. It’s a second chance military romance that gave me chills after chills after chills. Don’t sleep on this book!
Another book about letters! I guess I have a type *blushes* I adored this book about childhood pen pals who never had a nice thing to say to one another, and, as such, knew their deepest and darkest selves. After losing touch for years, Naomi gets a new letter and has to know once and for all if there’s something there, or if she needs to say goodbye forever.
Emergency Contact | Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne
Technically this is a holiday romance, so save it for the festive season if you must, but this book got me right in the feels. It’s a book about priorities, and openness, and family. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
The Recently Uncoupled
Sometimes the timing of Valentine’s Day can be a little bit painful. Here are some books where the main characters recently got out of big relationships too.
This book is immaculate. Really. The romance is magnetic, the personal dramas are intense and organic, the characters learn and grow so much. Did I mention there’s a baby goat…in pajamas? This is a perfect Valentine’s Day book!
A young woman goes to the UK to heal her broken heart, but the trip turns out so much differently than she ever imagined. It’s not just romance she finds on the tour, but friendships, too, that will last a lifetime!
Delfina is down on her luck and returns home to NJ with her tail between her legs. She never thought she’d end up back there, but now that she is, it might not mean she’s a failure after all. My favorite thing about this book is that the characters choose to be together, even though it’s never been smooth sailing between the two of them. I adored this book!
The Friend With Benefits
IYKYK
Funny Feelings | Tarah DeWitt
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Farley is a stand-up comedian who has been in love with her single-dad manager, Meyer, as long as she can remember. It would be a big risk to make a move, but can they live this way forever? This was my first and remains my favorite book from Tarah Dewitt. It’s sweet and sexy and funny, too!
Nova is a badass chick opening up her own tattoo shop in her hometown. Charlie is a bigshot businessman from New York who can’t stay away from the idyllic community. She’s looking to burn off some steam, and he agrees to help, but once just isn’t enough and before they know it their simple arrangement is suddenly much messier than they ever anticipated. The ratings speak for themselves!
The Situationship
Sometimes the right person is the one standing right in front of you, amiright? Here are my best recommendations in workplace romance.
This book is so so good and I’m convinced Sarah Chamberlain is going to be a very well-known name very soon! The Slowest Burn is about falling in love while working on a new cookbook. The writing about food here is *chef’s kiss* and so is the romance!
Ah, the book I loved so much I brought my blog back to life just to have a special place to review it. If you’re looking for a book with realistically struggling characters and subtle intimate moments, boy, are you going to love it. Its portrayal of anxiety also read spot-on. Someone find me a strawberry hoodie, stat!
Josie and Will run into each other just in time for him to swoop in and grab up the consulting job Josie’s brand is looking for. In high school he was her best friend’s brother. Now, they have a second chance to make the things that went wrong back then right again. So sweet – so romantic. Josie and Will give me the warmest of warm fuzzies!
Two single parents get off on the wrong foot and have a frenemies thing going for years before running into each other at an out-of-work event that makes them see one another in a new way. This one had me in a grip y’all.
The One Who Thinks ‘V-Day is a Conspiracy Created by Greeting Card Companies’
If you’re just not a Valentine’s Day believer, I even have a few picks for you!
Beach Read | Emily Henry
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My favorite Em Hen novel just can’t be beat! I’m drawn to books that aren’t always the happiest. The characters need to be going through it to really draw me in deep, and this novel fits that bill. August is struggling with his divorce, and January with the death of her father. Both are writers who feel blocked, so they propose a challenge to get things started again. The whole thing just has a vibe of skepticism and dwelling in pain you might just enjoy.
You want someone who rejects holidays? I can’t think of a character who resents them more than Charlotte from Christmas Is All Around. Wrong holiday maybe, but still a great read!
This incredible novel isn’t really a pick-me-up, so if you’re not feeling the love in the air, How to Hide in Plain Sight might be your best medicine right now. It’s down and dirty into mental illness and grief and guilt, but within the journey of this book is a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance that will make you weep with tears of empathy, sorrow, and pride. This book blew me away!
The Outdoorsy-Date Type
Okay, so I couldn’t come up with a better Valentine’s Day equivalent for sports romance, but I refuse to leave them out of a romance book recommendation list! I am not a sports person and I avoided sports romance for a long time because I thought I’d hate it. I was wrong.
Each volume of this series runs a little longer than most romances, but it is 100% worth it. The relationships are so intimate and beautiful and the character growth in each one of them is really immaculate. They are connected through a larger friend group that develops through the series and includes sports players in several Chicago professional sports (hockey, basketball, and baseball). The best part? There is one more book still to come, later this year, and you know your girl has it on preorder!
The Fake Out | Stephanie Archer
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A random KU read turned into one of my favorite sports romances, and one of the better romances I’ve read, period. The relationship between Hazel and Rory is something special. It starts almost as an enemies situation, but quickly turns into a mutually beneficial friendship that blossoms organically into more. They support one another through the hards in their lives and there is no pesky third act breakup!
Six Summers to Fall | C.W. Farnsworth
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This one might not qualify as a sports romance because it is off-season and the characters are spending the time at a very outdoorsy wedding. But not just spending time there…they’re falling in love and ooo, it’s delicious.
The Fairy Tale Romance
Sorry, this category doesn’t mean retellings — these are my picks for things that are a little bit out of this world. Ghosts, okay? These have to do with ghosts, which I didn’t realize I liked so much until I was trying to fit these into a category. The last one doesn’t have ghosts, but it’s my favorite romance series OF ALL TIME (and has magic)! Just read them, you’ll see!
When a girl finds out her New York City apartment is haunted, she hardly bats an eye. She needs this place, and she’s not going anywhere. Unfortunately, neither is he. But when they get to know each other, it turns out he can help her. Oh guys, this one is good. And long! It honestly feels like a two for one deal. If you read it, you’ll understand what I mean…
A haunted Florida town known for its ghosts? Why not buy your first home there! But it’s not so kitchy when she discovers the house she bought was inhabited by the meanest ghost in town. Good thing the hunky coffee shop owner is willing to help…
The Dead Romantics | Ashley Poston
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I was hooked on this book in the first chapter. A daughter in a family who owns a funeral home who can see ghosts? Who works as a….ghostwriter? And what a title! I absolutely love this book, and I hope you will too.
A private investigator with the secret ability to tell when people are lying to her. The most powerful prime magic user in the city of Houston. And a conspiracy beyond anything they could have expected. Working together is dangerous, but not as dangerous as if they work alone.
Trilogy #2 | Catalina
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Catalina’s magical abilities aren’t as direct or well-known as her sister Nevada’s, but it is her incredibly quick-witted brain that is her biggest asset. When an investigation for a friend spirals out of control, she finds an ally in the most unlikely place she might have ever imagined: her teenaged crush, Italian playboy (and dreamboat) Alessandro Segredo.
Galentine’s Day
Maybe this Valentine’s Day isn’t about a love interest, but a celebration of strong female friendships. I’ve got recommendations for those too::
Finlay Donovan gets herself into some serious hijinks in this series. It starts off with a bang with this book where Finlay is mistaken for an assassin and is hired to kill someone’s husband…accidentally. If you’re not in the romance mood, this hilarious contemporary mystery is sure to scratch an itch you didn’t know you had.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise | Colleen Oakley
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A teenager and a vigilante granny go on a road trip. This is the kind of medicine you just might need this time of year. Unexpected friendships are sometimes the sweetest. They’re certainly fun to read about! And hey, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to drive cross-trip across America, too.
If you’re a true V-Day skeptic, this is my #1 pick for you. It’s a contemporary gothic…kind of thriller? There are mysteries to unpack and revenge to exact. I frigging love Rachel Hawkins, and if you’re feeling bitter this month, read this.
This is the coziest book I’ve ever read. There is some romance, but this is more about all of the human connections, female friendships and mother-daughter bonding, too. It’s like a hug in a book and I highly recommend it!
Whew! That was a lot! I hope you found something in there somewhere that looks like a good match for you. Let me know your favorites and I will add them to my TBR for this year!
Listen up people, I’ve found some essential holiday romance reading here for you. Emergency Contact is a hilarious holiday rom-com second chance romance with a planes-trains-and-automobiles style plot you won’t want to miss.
Katherine is thisclose to having everything she’s been working for since her father died on Christmas ten years ago – making partner at her law firm. She’s sacrificed everything for it: friendships, vacations, even her marriage. The call should be coming any minute now…when she gets into a car crash in a cab outside of her office. Unfortunately, she never updated her emergency contact information, so who do they call but Tom, the ex-husband, who happens to be on his way to the airport to spend Christmas with his family in Chicago – and to pop the question on Christmas Eve to his perky new girlfriend. Katie has no one else to help her change her bandages and make sure she’s following concussion protocol (interrupt her sleep, etc.) for the following 48 hours, so despite their ill feelings for one another, he decides to drag her along to family Christmas in Chicago. Their trip is doomed, however, and they have one problem after another on their race to get there before midnight on Christmas Eve. Through every setback, as annoying and just typical as they each are to each other, they start to unpack the issues that drove them apart and leave them both wondering if the new path they’re on is the one they really want.
Oh my gosh, this is the perfect holiday romance. Katherine is a self-described grinch, while Tom enjoys the holidays, usually with his big family in their idyllic house in Chicago every year. They’re largely opposites, but they can’t hide that innate attraction. They split up because Katherine was far too obsessed with work, trying to make partner in order to accomplish the dream her father had for her. Tom felt invisible, even though he understood that she was chasing so hard for the father she lost to cancer before they ever met. He had a life plan. He wanted kids, the house in the suburbs…he had a spreadsheet, and Katie was no longer on it. But when he sees her there in the hospital bed, with no one to call and acting like her usual aggravating self, he can’t just walk away.
These two bicker with the best of them. They’re snarky and rude, and they each give as good as they get. And despite their outward hostilities, there are little moments where they are able to really communicate, and several signs from the universe that maybe the future they’re supposed to have is right in front of them.
Obviously this one got me right in the feels. I loved it. I can’t remember ever enjoying a holiday romance as much as I did this one. It was both a romance and a non-stop adventure (what could possibly happen next?!). The rapport the characters had with one another was loaded from the beginning, and believe me, they didn’t just fall together immediately. Every inch was earned.
The whole story was done well. Were parts of it a little cheesy? Of course, but that’s part of its charm. Also there’s no sex, which makes it inclusive for just about every reader.
If you need a little more holiday spirit in your TBR, add Emergency Contact. It’ll leave a smile on your face others might just mistake for holiday cheer.
Cheers!
Details
Title:: Emergency Contact Author:: Lauren Layne & Anthony LeDonne Genre:: Holiday Romance Publisher:: Blackstone Publishing Length::250 pages Audio Length::7h 27m Audiobook Narrator:: Tim Paige & Brianna Cohen Audiobook Publisher:: Blackstone Publishing Published:: October 24th, 2023 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Moose Springs is a magical place of hearty hometown comfort, constant hilarious (and sometimes nefarious) antics, and the kind of romance that will melt your heart into a puddle and snow-pack it back into working order with a little more tenderness than you had before. Gosh dang Sarah Morgenthaler, you’ve done it again.
Lana Montgomery is trying to fiddle her way out of the huge mess she’s made of Moose Springs. She’s bought up the whole town in hopes to save them from bankruptcy and ruin, but her family’s ultra-international-real-estate-conglomerate thinks it’s nothing but a waste of time and one of them is trying to use it as leverage to steal some of the prodigal light away from Lana for himself. Also, the town hates her for it. She’s catching heat from all sides, but she’s a Montgomery, and Montgomery’s don’t show weakness. Or stress. Or anything at all. And she’s good at hiding it, she really is, but for her hands shaking so badly she can’t apply her own makeup most days.
Rick? Rick is a simple man trying to keep his bar afloat in the locals-only culture of Moose Springs. He’s mostly a shell of a man after his wife left him years ago with her nephew Diego to raise and the bar that’s essentially falling apart at this point. He’s got a grumpy cat, a mean cereal habit, and an adorable hedgehog for company. He’s got so much love to share, and his eye is on Ms. Montgomery, though he’s far too reserved to act on it.
Fortunately, Lana isn’t.
After a misconstrued ‘hey baby’ and an accidental fly-by moose darting, the start of their (official) romance is when Lana finally asks him on an official date. You don’t want to know where they end up, but you do want to know not to try their house sausage.
Okay, the santa moose was a little obnoxious, but that’s part of the beauty of the Moose Springs we know and love. Our ultimate favs from The Tourist Attraction, Graham and Zoey, feature prominently in this book, satisfying an itch I didn’t realize needed scratching. And the dynamic of our two new love birds is everything. Rick has whatever the opposite of Graham’s outgoing personality is. Lana is far more confident and driven than our wandering doe-eyed Zoey. And the town of Moose Springs hangs in the balance.
This book is good, but the series…the series is must-read material. If you haven’t read The Tourist Attraction yet, seriously, you need to. Then you can read this gem of a book. And yes, I recommend reading them in order, though technically you don’t have to.
Get yourself the gift of Moose Springs this holiday season. The worst you’ll get is a giant smile on your face the entire time and the memories of the laugh-out-loud humor and heart-warming moments haunting you for the rest of time. In a good way though 🙂
(Also, the narrator, Elise Arsenault, is a genius. If you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend these!)
Details
Title:: Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs, Alaska #2) Author:: Sarah Morgenthaler Genre:: Romantic Comedy Publisher:: SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca Length::400 pages Audio Length::12h 5m Audiobook Narrator:: Elise Arsenault Audiobook Publisher:: Tantor Audio Published:: October 6th, 2020 The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars Spice Rating:: 2
Holy gee whiz. I requested this from the library because I was honestly not expecting to like it. I mean, serial k*ller romantic comedy? WTF?! How does it have such high ratings? Such a wide audience? What is happening!!
Y’all. Y’ALL. I loved it.
How in the world does this book work? Let me tell you: it’s a magic mix of comedic tone, high stakes, and deliciously slow burn romance.
Sloane and Rowan are straight up serial k*llers. They hunt and destroy the biggest scumbags in the country. They have monikers. And secret identities.
On one hunt, which happens just before the start of the novel, Sloane makes a mistake and gets locked in a cage. Luckily, Rowan was coming to hunt down the same guy and finds her there before she…expires. Yes, folks, he rescues her, the modern morbid damsel in distress. They get to talking shop, and a contest is proposed. Once a year, Rowan’s brother will pick out a sleezebag for them to end and whoever gets there first and does the job wins.
Don’t get me wrong, this shit is bloody and gruesome and horrific. Sloane is known for removing the eyes of her victims, for example, and they may or may not have been served a steaming plate of human by one of their targets. But with an impossibly light and hilarious tone, it fucking works. This is exactly the same genre as any other romantic comedy you can think of, except it’s probably better than a lot of them. It’s like that movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. They’re doing all this badass shit, blowing shit up, as****inating targets, etc., but the movie is actually about their marriage. Same thing. How, Brynne Weaver. How?!
The romance is what shines in this book. Oh, it’s so juicy. Our two characters are in such high stakes situations whenever they see each other, and it makes for fast and strong trust bonding. It’s also spaced out over years, and there’s lots of longing and wondering and daydreaming and yearning and burning. Gah, the author just hits so many good notes. The nicknames, the symbolism, the ‘seeing’ of each other’s damage, the real, deep love. Extraordinary.
Also, the audiobook is the first true duet I think I’ve ever heard (and I listen to a lot of audiobooks). It’s fantastic, and I absolutely think it adds so much to the experience of the book. I don’t always recommend one format over another, but this time I really do. (Also, do you really want this hanging out on your shelves for OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE?! I’m not even trying to scar my children that way).
Literally what are you still doing reading this. Go find this book and give it a listen (check your library, if you’re not ready to commit yet). But the best part? IT’S A SERIES (with a glorious name, see below).
One warning though, while I wouldn’t say this is erotica by a long stretch, the scenes of intimacy there are could be described as…………..wild. intense. torturous? I mean it fits their characters, hey? But they’re certainly skippable if they’re too much for you (they were for me!). However, it is absolutely still worth reading even if you’re not into that!
Details
Title:: Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) Author:: Brynne Weaver Genre:: Dark Romantic Comedy Publisher:: Independently Published Length::360 pages Audio Length::8h 43m Audiobook Narrator:: Joe Arden & Lucy Rivers Audiobook Publisher:: Blue Nose Publishing Published:: August 14, 2023 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars Spice Rating::12?
I looooooooved this book. In Wish I Were Here there is adventure, humor, drama, a heist, heart, community and the smidgiest smidge of magical realism that made it an experience I won’t soon forget.
Catherine has it all. The life she’s dreamed of her entire childhood. A place of her own, every aspect of her life within her control, and she’s about to start the career of her dreams: a tenure track role in the mathematics department of the university. But when she shows up for orientation, she’s told there was a problem with her paperwork. Turns out, none of her forms of ID are valid. She’s not in the system & will lose everything she clings to so desperately for if she can’t get it fixed, and fast. With the help of her disorganized but compassionate doorman with connections all around the city, it’s a race against time to save her job.
Catherine and Luca are a perfect match for a romance novel. She craves organization almost to a point of pathology and that ranks low on Luca’s priority list. His actions shout at her to stay away, but there is something about him that she can’t deny she’s drawn to. He’s an excellent problem solver and Catherine happens to have a lot of problems that need solving at the moment!
Let’s talk about Luca Morelli. Oh my. Dream boat. This guy is Catherine’s nightmare, having so much in common with her literal clown of a father, but folks, he takes the time to dance with old ladies in the lobby, run them on their errands, listen to their stories, shows up every week to family dinners, and goes out of his way to help everyone every time. He’s a tatted-up teddy bear. He’s a keeper.
Kitty Cat (as the real ones call her) has quite the journey to traverse over the course of the novel. She’s got an identity crisis (literally), her father’s lost (another) job, and she learns about her mother for the first time in her 30 years of life, who might just be the answer to unlock everything else.
Not to mention the cast of side characters in this book are all fun, endearing, and incredibly special. The community aspect of this book is truly aspirational.
The romance in this book felt so…pure. It’s completely organic and hopeful and sweet and gah I just loved every bit of it. The personal journey Catherine goes on reminds me of the best Katherine Center books. This one blew me away. I got an arc copy from netgalley and the publisher, but before I was even halfway through I knew I was going to need a copy for myself to keep on my shelves. Absolutely wonderful. What are you waiting for?!
Details
Title:: Wish I Were Here Author:: Melissa Wiesner Genre:: Romance Publisher:: Forever Length::368 pages Audio Length::9h 23m Audiobook Narrator:: Helen Laser Audiobook Publisher:: Forever Published:: October 15th, 2024 The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars
Anna opens the door one evening to find the last person she ever expected: her husband. In college, she married the brother of a friend in order to qualify for student housing. After graduation, they parted ways and she never expected to see him again. Turns out though, he’s been lying to his family this whole time that they’re not only still married, but happily so. It’s complicated, but he’s there to beg Anna a favor – come with him to a private island in Singapore to his sister’s wedding and play into this farce he’s built. Turns out his family is ungodly rich – the exact opposite of Anna, who is a struggling artist with debt up to her eyeballs. When he sweetens the deal with some cash, she can’t say no. Shenanigans ensue!
This is a very fun summer romantic comedy. Christina Lauren novels have a very easy and compelling readability to them, and this one is no exception. The Paradise Problem reminded me a lot of The Unhoneymooners…like, really reminded me of it (maybe too much). But I only recently read it, so I’m probably in the minority there. I mean, both are ‘fake dating’ tropes (essentially, I mean marriage of convenience is the same thing, right?) in an incredible tropical setting.
Anna is basically a stoner artist who has throw away jobs to make ends meet to pay her father’s hospital bills. She doesn’t take life very seriously. Liam has a terrible relationship with everyone in his pretty horrible family, and has an enormous hero complex driven by his traumatic history with them. It was really fun to see them getting to know each other for what is really the first time, with Anna so completely out of her comfort zone.
The chemistry between them was pretty steamy. Anna is very outgoing, and Liam would rather be anywhere else, and that really made for a fun dynamic. Anna, as the outsider, is quite perceptive to the problems within the Weston family, and their backgrounds are crafted in a way that juxtaposes the root of Liam’s issues. Most of the conflicts are very situational, so it’s not heavy to read, staying firmly in the romantic comedy territory, but the overall message is a meaningful one: live an authentic life.
You can’t go wrong picking up a fun summer romantic comedy. Absolutely this is a great choice if you’re in desperate need of a vacation – this might just be the escape you’re looking for!
Oh my gosh, what a feel-good sweet little romance novel we have here! The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler is such a fun story about an unlikely connection between a grumpy local and an exuberant out-of-towner.
Zoey has been saving up forever to travel to Alaska, and finally, she’s there. Her rich friend Lara convinced her to time her trip to coincide with her next visit to the resort in the small town of Moose Springs. Zoey has a long list of budget activities to keep her busy, and she makes fast friends with the handsome diner owner who is dead set against dating tourists.
The little town of Moose Springs Alaska is quirkier than most quirky small towns. Monotone tour guides, locals-only cinnamon rolls as big as your head, a spa that specializes in wildlife shaped designs for the nether regions…and don’t forget Ulysses, the bull moose with a strong attraction to yeasted dough. It’s an idyllic setting, especially within the state of Alaska, which is a whole world of its own.
I loved Graham Barnett. Yes, he was a grouch, but at the same time, he was more laid back and far funnier than most grouchy romance heroes. There was something so special about him. He hates running his diner, The Tourist Trap, and refuses to hire anyone to help him run it, but he also invents The Growly Bear custom cocktail and turns his favorite customers’ reindeer dogs into cute little reindeer. He hates tourists, but he’s also committed to making sure Zoey has a great experience in Alaska. Also, he calls her Zoey bear. Adorable. He’s an enigma in the best way possible.
Zoey is kind of the everywoman, if every woman is grouchy in the mornings, excited to experience as much as she can in the world on her own terms, and isn’t used to eating ground reindeer on the regular. She’s loyal and friendly, and sweetly oblivious – quite easy to love.
There are also plenty of side characters with lots of potential. The twins, Lara and her rich whosits and whatsits – the world Morgenthaler creates is just big enough to get really immersed.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Elise Arsenault, and I really recommend it – she really gives the characters a great voice.
I said it in the intro, but I’ll say it again – this is such a feel-good romantic comedy. I dare you to read it without a smile! If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits and tickle your flirty romance craving, this one is it! The characters are so endearing and they get into plenty of questionable situations. AND, it’s the start of a series, so if you like it, there’s even more where that came from!
