I jumped on American Sweethearts the day it was released. I was a big fan of the previous three books in Adriana Herrera’s Dreamers series, and I knewI jumped on American Sweethearts the day it was released. I was a big fan of the previous three books in Adriana Herrera’s Dreamers series, and I knew reading this one would be like reconnecting with old friends. Juan Pablo and Priscilla have dated on and off for years but can’t make it work long-term. When they’re forced together for mutual friend Milo’s idyllic island wedding, sparks fly once again, but they still don’t quite know how to relate to each other. Juan Pablo has been working on himself for a while and has made a lot of changes for the better, but Priscilla has some issues to work through before she can be ready to entertain the thought of a real relationship.
While I don’t think this book quite measured up to the others in the series, I liked Priscilla’s journey as a character. Her side hustle teaching sex-positive workshops and selling sex toys was a super interesting addition, and her fear of going for what she really wanted career-wise was personally relatable to me. I think the main reason I wasn’t as invested in the romance was there wasn’t one big, juicy reason why JuanPa and Priscilla hadn’t worked out before. For a second chance romance to really hook me, I need a big betrayal or seemingly insurmountable external obstacle. An amorphous “we just never seem to work out” vibe doesn’t quite do it for me. Still, I heartily recommend the entire Dreamers series, and I enjoyed checking in with all my favorite characters from previous books.
Merged review:
I jumped on American Sweethearts the day it was released. I was a big fan of the previous three books in Adriana Herrera’s Dreamers series, and I knew reading this one would be like reconnecting with old friends. Juan Pablo and Priscilla have dated on and off for years but can’t make it work long-term. When they’re forced together for mutual friend Milo’s idyllic island wedding, sparks fly once again, but they still don’t quite know how to relate to each other. Juan Pablo has been working on himself for a while and has made a lot of changes for the better, but Priscilla has some issues to work through before she can be ready to entertain the thought of a real relationship.
While I don’t think this book quite measured up to the others in the series, I liked Priscilla’s journey as a character. Her side hustle teaching sex-positive workshops and selling sex toys was a super interesting addition, and her fear of going for what she really wanted career-wise was personally relatable to me. I think the main reason I wasn’t as invested in the romance was there wasn’t one big, juicy reason why JuanPa and Priscilla hadn’t worked out before. For a second chance romance to really hook me, I need a big betrayal or seemingly insurmountable external obstacle. An amorphous “we just never seem to work out” vibe doesn’t quite do it for me. Still, I heartily recommend the entire Dreamers series, and I enjoyed checking in with all my favorite characters from previous books....more
If you want to read a romance about grown-ass people, I have just the thing. House Rules was a five-star read for me. Simon and Lana got divorced 15 yIf you want to read a romance about grown-ass people, I have just the thing. House Rules was a five-star read for me. Simon and Lana got divorced 15 years ago and haven’t stayed in touch, but NYC rent is so pricey they decide to move in together to save money. They set ground rules to keep everything proper, but the feelings from before might not be totally gone. I loved how grounded in real life this book is—Lana has endometriosis, and the way Simon takes care of her is so sweet and tentative. They’ve been apart a long time and Lana is definitely capable of taking care of herself, but it was so nice that she didn’t have to for once. I also loved how Lang emphasized that even though they have positive memories of each other, they are falling in love like new, as the people they are now, and not just lapsing into past habits. Anyway, I loved this, and would love to read more books about people in their 30s and 40s falling in love.
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If you want to read a romance about grown-ass people, I have just the thing. House Rules was a five-star read for me. Simon and Lana got divorced 15 years ago and haven’t stayed in touch, but NYC rent is so pricey they decide to move in together to save money. They set ground rules to keep everything proper, but the feelings from before might not be totally gone. I loved how grounded in real life this book is—Lana has endometriosis, and the way Simon takes care of her is so sweet and tentative. They’ve been apart a long time and Lana is definitely capable of taking care of herself, but it was so nice that she didn’t have to for once. I also loved how Lang emphasized that even though they have positive memories of each other, they are falling in love like new, as the people they are now, and not just lapsing into past habits. Anyway, I loved this, and would love to read more books about people in their 30s and 40s falling in love....more
I absolutely love this series by Ruby Lang. Her novellas are pitch perfect, so satisfying yet in such a compact package. House Rules is still my favorI absolutely love this series by Ruby Lang. Her novellas are pitch perfect, so satisfying yet in such a compact package. House Rules is still my favorite of the three, but Open House absolutely charmed my socks off. Ty helps run an illegal community garden on a vacant lot in Harlem, and Magda is the real estate agent charged with selling the lot. Not a lot of room there for sparks to fly, but somehow Lang makes the magic happen (and it’s magic indeed (rooftop sex!)).
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I absolutely love this series by Ruby Lang. Her novellas are pitch perfect, so satisfying yet in such a compact package. House Rules is still my favorite of the three, but Open House absolutely charmed my socks off. Ty helps run an illegal community garden on a vacant lot in Harlem, and Magda is the real estate agent charged with selling the lot. Not a lot of room there for sparks to fly, but somehow Lang makes the magic happen (and it’s magic indeed (rooftop sex!))....more
You know what's great stress relief? Reading about two hot hockey players falling in love as they compete for the starting goalie spot on an NHL team.You know what's great stress relief? Reading about two hot hockey players falling in love as they compete for the starting goalie spot on an NHL team. This audio book helped me finish a four-mile walk because I was hooked on the story. Ryu has played for the same team for several years and expects the starting spot to be his this season, but when Emmitt is traded to his team from the minors he finds out he has some serious competition. He also has a serious attraction to the mouthy rookie, which is a problem because he obviously can’t stand the guy. I really enjoyed this book and I don’t know anything about hockey--there’s a low bar for entry here. Ryu and Emmitt’s passion for the game will resonate whether you’re into sportsball or not. I loved how the rivalry fed the romance, and how Ryu and Emmitt’s vastly different personalities complemented each other on the ice and in the bedroom. And finally, if you’re into audio books, narrator Kirt Graves delivers an excellent performance.
Merged review:
You know what's great stress relief? Reading about two hot hockey players falling in love as they compete for the starting goalie spot on an NHL team. This audio book helped me finish a four-mile walk because I was hooked on the story. Ryu has played for the same team for several years and expects the starting spot to be his this season, but when Emmitt is traded to his team from the minors he finds out he has some serious competition. He also has a serious attraction to the mouthy rookie, which is a problem because he obviously can’t stand the guy. I really enjoyed this book and I don’t know anything about hockey--there’s a low bar for entry here. Ryu and Emmitt’s passion for the game will resonate whether you’re into sportsball or not. I loved how the rivalry fed the romance, and how Ryu and Emmitt’s vastly different personalities complemented each other on the ice and in the bedroom. And finally, if you’re into audio books, narrator Kirt Graves delivers an excellent performance....more
I love Sarah and Jen of the Fated Mates podcast, but I truly don't understand why they recommended this book and I don't think there's anything they cI love Sarah and Jen of the Fated Mates podcast, but I truly don't understand why they recommended this book and I don't think there's anything they could say on the upcoming episode to convince me that this is a book worth reading. There's a reason I don't read old school romance. I should have trusted my gut, skipped reading this and just enjoyed listening to them banter about it....more
I love Ruby Lang, but this wasn't my favorite of hers. The conflict felt too real and I could never just relax into the story because I was worried abI love Ruby Lang, but this wasn't my favorite of hers. The conflict felt too real and I could never just relax into the story because I was worried about Petra losing her medical license. ...more
I’m new to cozy mysteries, but I find they can give me some of the same comfort read feels as romance. They have a light touch when it comes to violenI’m new to cozy mysteries, but I find they can give me some of the same comfort read feels as romance. They have a light touch when it comes to violence and gore, and I have the assurance that everything will be worked out by the end. This is a cute mystery taking place in an Asian shopping center. The property manager turns up dead after eating food from Lana’s family’s Chinese restaurant, and she starts her own investigation to prove their innocence. Worth the price of admission for the food descriptions alone....more
I love KJ Charles, but I have GOT to stop listening to her books in audio. I always lose the thread of the mystery/suspense subplot and it affects my I love KJ Charles, but I have GOT to stop listening to her books in audio. I always lose the thread of the mystery/suspense subplot and it affects my enjoyment. This is a me problem--her narrators are always great, I just can't focus for shit. I suspect I would have adored this in print....more
Unpopular opinion, but I didn't love this nearly as much as The Rogue of Fifth Avenue. Florence is undeniably a great character on paper--thoroughly mUnpopular opinion, but I didn't love this nearly as much as The Rogue of Fifth Avenue. Florence is undeniably a great character on paper--thoroughly modern, doesn't give a whit about society, has goals beyond marriage and children--but I never warmed to her the way I did Mamie. And the conflict made me itchy--(view spoiler)[Clay was being objectively awful by continuing to pursue his revenge while boinking Florence, but Florence never reckoned with the damage her father did to Clay and other impoverished families (to my satisfaction, anyway). Clay had to prostrate himself and beg Florence's forgiveness for taking her grandmother's house, but he was just expected to get over the way her father took his house when he was a kid, which seemed completely unfair. I wanted Florence to really confront her privilege and her father for his predatory business practices, and that never happened. (hide spoiler)]
Looking forward to The Devil of Downtown, as Justine seems like an obnoxious do-gooder and frankly that might be right up my alley....more
Sebastian is a widower and single dad with a crush on Via, the new counselor at his son’s school. He tries (really, really hard) to turn off his feeliSebastian is a widower and single dad with a crush on Via, the new counselor at his son’s school. He tries (really, really hard) to turn off his feelings because he doesn’t think there’s any way Via would ever be interested in an old guy like him, but of course she’s super into him because he’s a tall, strapping woodworker who helps out in the lunchroom to spend more time with his kid. This is SUPER slow burn because for a huge chunk of the book, Via is actually dating someone else (groan). The audio book narrator had a touch of Wandering Accent Syndrome, which was humorous at times but also pretty distracting--I’d recommend sticking with print....more
Okay, for the first 80% of this, Adrian is basically the perfect man and I really didn't see what he was getting out of a relationship with Vanessa (oOkay, for the first 80% of this, Adrian is basically the perfect man and I really didn't see what he was getting out of a relationship with Vanessa (other than she apparently looks sort of like Jennifer Lawrence, which, yeah, okay, got me there). I was prepared to 2-star this and go on my merry way. But then he takes a hard left into Assholetown and I was suddenly and unequivocally Team Vanessa. A setup like this, with one of the characters facing down a possible terminal illness, is so tricky to pull off in a satisfying way, but I think Jimenez navigated the tightrope successfully--which was a relief, as I'd read reviews that called out the irresponsible and insensitive way she handled an infertility storyline in a prior book and was afraid she'd resort to similar tactics here.
I'm still not 100% sure I'm bought in on Jimenez's heavy, tragic themes. When I read romance, I want to go on an emotional journey with the characters but don't want to feel blatantly manipulated. However, she's a smart and witty writer (I snort-laughed several times) and I'm definitely going to be thinking about this book for a while. Also, the audio book narrators are absolutely superb....more
In Gilded Age New York, Frank is a sexy lawyer man who hides his impoverished roots behind a polished veneer of professionalism. Mamie, the daughter oIn Gilded Age New York, Frank is a sexy lawyer man who hides his impoverished roots behind a polished veneer of professionalism. Mamie, the daughter of an important client, is a constant thorn in his side, as she insists on frequenting gambling halls where she fleeces the rich so she can distribute her winnings to the poor. She’s supposed to marry some rich douchebag her father picked out for her, but for some reason she can’t keep her mind off Frank, despite the fact that even as the successful lawyer he’s transformed himself into, he’s not good enough for her in the eyes of society. If you enjoy sharp, witty banter between stern men and sassy women, you’ll love this....more
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