Short synopsis: Emma and Justin both have the same problem: every person they date, ends up finding their soulmatWOWW! This is Abby’s best book yet!!
Short synopsis: Emma and Justin both have the same problem: every person they date, ends up finding their soulmate post breakup. After finding each other on a Reddit thread, they make a pact to date for the summer hoping their bad luck cancels each other out.
While there was so much complexity packed into this story with the mental health representation, the friendship between Emma and Maddy and the complex family dynamics with both main characters, the romance was always at the forefront of the story. I totally fell for Emma and Justin right away. They were both such vulnerable and authentic characters that had off the charts best banter and perfect chemistry. From the date surveys, to the forehead kisses, to helping each other when sick and to the times they slowly peeled off their layers, I needed them to have a HEA. And while this is 100% a standalone, the way Abby connected the characters in this book to Yours Truly and Part of Your World was so cleverly done. It is worth reading those books first!
Read if you like: -Online meet-cutes -Dating pacts -Traveling -Stories with complex family dynamics -Forever friendships -Mental health/ past trauma rep -Found family theme -Amazing siblings -Forehead kisses -MN setting
Speechless. This is one of the best rom coms I’ve read in a long time, and it will definitely make the top 2024 list. My heart was bursting with happiSpeechless. This is one of the best rom coms I’ve read in a long time, and it will definitely make the top 2024 list. My heart was bursting with happiness the entire time and I’m not sure if a smile ever left my face… well maybe just during the 3rd act break up
What I loved: ▪️The writing captured me right from the start and was so uplifting ▪️The tropes: celebrity romance, forced proximity, one night stand turned more, cinnamon roll hero ▪️Theo. My new book boyfriend. He has the biggest heart and was always honest about where he stood with his feelings ▪️Clemmie’s character growth as she navigated through her complicated past ▪️The humor was laugh out loud funny without trying to be forced and the banter had me swooning ▪️The sister dynamics. I got Hocus Pocus/ Charmed vibes with the “spell” they casted and while no witches were involved, the story felt magical just ▪️The English countryside setting (especially the beach walks and family birthday bbq) ▪️This story had numerous subplots that were well developed, and Wood tied up all lose ends ▪️The album writing and the way Theo’s work comes full circle in the end
I will probably continue to update this list as I process my thoughts!!
THIS BOOK IS ALL THE STARS!!! I was impressed by Ali Brady’s first book last year but this took their writing to a whole new level.
Synopsis: Sisters THIS BOOK IS ALL THE STARS!!! I was impressed by Ali Brady’s first book last year but this took their writing to a whole new level.
Synopsis: Sisters Libby and Hannah have taken over their late grandmother’s PR company but are in desperate need of more clients. When a successful self-help guru expresses interest, she admits she will only consider their business if they complete her 12 week “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program. To conquer their fears, Libby is tasked with completing an obstacle race course while Hannah has to go on twelve first dates. At first, everything seems to be going as planned… that is until Libby starts to fall for a guy she meant to set up with her sister while Hannah’s first love and the one she never got over comes back to town. With that, secrets between the two sisters are also revealed, making them question their relationship with each other.
What I loved: -Having two sisters of my own, I LOVED and valued the theme of sisterhood. Even when they fought or disagreed, I couldn’t help but think about how I would feel in the same situation. -I felt equally invested in both Libby and Hannah’s stories and wasn’t favoring one perspective over another. I also found myself relating to and routing for both of them. -How each sister had their own love story that was impossible not to swoon over. Seriously both Josh and Adam are rising the ranks as ultimate book boyfriends. -The Jewish representation was top notch. I loved all the cultural and food references, and how these pieces were seamlessly integrated into the story. Also, all the character names were so quintessential Jewish and that warmed my heart. -How participating in the Crush Your Comfort Zone program led to amazing character growth and self-discovery. Every week we got snippets of a sister’s journey entry too, which I loved. -The blend between women’s fiction and romance. I find this style of writing, where we see the perspectives of two women who not only grow as individuals but also find love, so rare and I can’t wait for more. -How at 480, the story FLEW by. I will say I was nervous about the length but now I want more. -All the tropes, banter, and steamy scenes. My favorite of course being the second chance love story between Hannah and Josh.
Have I convinced you to read this book yet?! Huge thank you to Berkley for the ARC! This comes out 5/9/23...more
I was trying to wait to read this book closer to pub date… like in 2023… but I couldn’t contain my excitement and I devoured this!! Paige Toon has thiI was trying to wait to read this book closer to pub date… like in 2023… but I couldn’t contain my excitement and I devoured this!! Paige Toon has this way of writing stories that are both lighthearted and heart breaking at the same time and the book hangover right now is real!
Synopsis: Needing a fresh start and a place to heal her broken heart, Wren decides to visit her dad and stepmom on their farm in Indiana. There, she crosses paths with Anders, the son of the family who lives next door and the two begin a special friendship. As feelings start to emerge, Wren is hesitant to move forward as she’s been left behind one too many times while Anders is harboring a secret and afraid to get too close to dealing with his past.
Thoughts: The more Paige Toon I read, the more credit I give to the research she puts into her love stories. Her books take place all around the world, and even though she is clearly a British author, I felt completely transported to the small-town rural Indiana setting and life on the farm. While this story was a slow-burn full of angst, I never felt bored! There was a great cast of supporting characters that made Wren’s summer on the farm feel not only realistic but also healing. Also, I love how the book explored not only Wren’s romantic relationships, but her fractured relationship with her half-sister, Bailey, her father and new friend/ Andre’s brother, Jonas. I am not one to cry in books and I came really close to shedding tears at the end of this.
Read if you like: -Emotional romances -Farm-life activities (e.g., corn mazes, tractor rides, peach picking, barn renovations) -Event planning -British heroine -Sister relationships -Lots of Indiana references
Thank you Putnam for the ARC! Pub date 4/25/23...more
4.5⭐️ The Lost Ticket is a beautiful and special story about friendship, love, and acceptance. It follows newly single Libby who one day while riding 4.5⭐️ The Lost Ticket is a beautiful and special story about friendship, love, and acceptance. It follows newly single Libby who one day while riding the 88 bus starts chatting with an elderly man named Frank. She learns that Frank has been riding the same bus route everyday hoping to find a girl he met 60 years prior. Needing a little bit of joy and purpose in her life, Libby starts a campaign to help Frank find this girl. Along the way, she meets Frank’s caretaker, Dylan, and a few others and this new crew begins to form an unlikely but special friendship. There was so much love in this story, and I found it to be an overall uplifting and feel good read. The characters were all likable, the author did a great job handling some more serious topics and I loved the disability representation. The audiobook was excellent well!
Read if you like: -Found family and friendship theme -Unexpected friendships -UK setting -Side romance storyline -Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting ...more
A MUST!! I didn’t think it was possible to top Better Than the Movies but The Do-Over definitely did! This story follows Emilie, a HS junior, who findA MUST!! I didn’t think it was possible to top Better Than the Movies but The Do-Over definitely did! This story follows Emilie, a HS junior, who finds herself stuck in a time loop having to relive a Valentines day gone wrong. Waking up each morning with no one else but her remembering the events from the day before, she decides to live one day with zero consequences. Painter did a great job with the Groundhogs Day trope (it is usually a miss for me in YA books). I appreciated how each day Emilie relived was different, how the writing itself did not feel repetitive and how the author provided subtle clues as to why this was happening. I loved Emilie as a protagonist, Nick made a great swoon-worthy love interest, and the little details between her friends, family and typical high school stressors made this story come to life. Just like in Better Than the Movies, the audiobook was AMAZING!! There were many times I felt like I was watching a movie with a full cast of characters.
Read if you like: -YA rom-coms -Taylor Switft references -Groundhogs Day/ Ferris Buller’s Day Off mashups -Great character growth -Beautiful HEAs
What an addictive, bingey series!! The Do-Over is the fourth and final book that follows the youngest Miles brother, Christopher, who decides to leaveWhat an addictive, bingey series!! The Do-Over is the fourth and final book that follows the youngest Miles brother, Christopher, who decides to leave his bachelor life behind for one full year and backpack across Europe. For years he’s had a reputation for being a player/ asshole and doesn’t believe in love or relationships. However, when he meets Hayden, who is staying at the same hostel, and the two become best friends, his mindset and everything he has once believed begins fo change. The only problem is that Hayden thinks he is the poor backpacker he is “pretending” to be on this trip and not the billionaire CEO the world knows him as. Does Christopher have it in him fo tell Hayden the truth, especially when Hayden starts to fall for this other version of him?
TL Swan wrote her best book yet. Seriously, if you are to just read one this is it!!! I laughed so much when reading, felt emotionally connected to all the characters, and cried big, ugly tears at the end, which is a rarity for me. The best part was seeing Christopher’s character growth and watching him learn about the world, learn about love and learn how to be selfless. Also, the scenes where we got the rest of the Mile's brothers and saw how much they loved and supported Christopher during his journey, MELTED my heart.
Read if you like: -backpacking/traveling -found family -supportive, meddling families -opposites attract -open door steamy scenes -cameos from previous books...more
PERFECTION!!! Heartless is book two in the Chesnut Springs world. It follows Willa, Summer’s best friend, and Cade, Rhett’s brother. I loved the humorPERFECTION!!! Heartless is book two in the Chesnut Springs world. It follows Willa, Summer’s best friend, and Cade, Rhett’s brother. I loved the humor/ banter, the smut, the meddling family, and the small town life on the ranch setting. However, the best part, was Cade’s son Luke who brought so much life and love into the story. I really am a sucker for romance books where kids play a large role in the plot. The ending was also perfect and will forever love in my heart.
Read if you like: -Single dad trope -Age gap romance -Forced proximity -Small town country setting -Grumpy hero -Meddling big families -Hilarious banter and lots of dirty talk / steam ...more
The holiday book to add to your reading list this season!!!
For the past nine years, Molly and Andrew took the same flight from Chicago to Ireland forThe holiday book to add to your reading list this season!!!
For the past nine years, Molly and Andrew took the same flight from Chicago to Ireland for the holidays. Through these flights, they have become the best of friends. When their tenth and current flight gets canceled due to a storm, the two decide that they will do anything to get back home for Christmas and what follows is one long and unexpected travel journey.
I read Catherine Walsh's The Rebound earlier this year and loved the Ireland set romance, but her upcoming release totally exceeded my expectations and ticked all the boxes. It's hilarious, lighthearted, uplifting in every way and has only a tiny conflict at the end, which was refreshing. I loved Molly and Andrew's friendship and how open and honest they were with each other throughout the book. Plus, all of their adventures as they traveled led to some great shenanigans, banter and humor.
Read if you like: -Holiday adventures -Best friends to lovers -Irish wit and humor -Low conflict and lighthearted stories -Family bonding moments -Hallmark movies
A Not So Meet Cute was one of my favorite rom-coms of this year, so I was THRILLED when Meghan Quinn announced her sequel So Not Meant to Be. Once I gA Not So Meet Cute was one of my favorite rom-coms of this year, so I was THRILLED when Meghan Quinn announced her sequel So Not Meant to Be. Once I got past that part that Lottie and Huxley's siblings were going to date each other (am I the only one who thinks that's weird?), I LOVED every second.
What I enjoyed: -This was Meghan Quinn in all her glory. The book had me laughing out loud throughout, the romance was super sweet and it had a great amount of spice. -We get to see a lot of Lottie and Huxley, and Quinn did a great job reminding you of what happened in the first book as soon as the story began. -Characters from her previous books and future books come up in passing (The Reunion, Runaway Groomsmen). -All the romance tropes: enemies to lovers, workplace, opposites attract, forced proximity -Kelsey and JP were great MCs and balanced one another out perfectly. Their witty banter, teasing/flirting and support during moments of vulnerability had my heart melting. -How Quinn integrated clips from Kelsey's podcast into the story and how it ended with their "So Meant to Be' story -All the scenes where JP and Kelsey were exploring San Francisco -The Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally references ...more
I LOVED THIS!!! There is nothing I like more than a really well-done second chance romance and MZ, as always, wrote such a special story. This is up tI LOVED THIS!!! There is nothing I like more than a really well-done second chance romance and MZ, as always, wrote such a special story. This is up there as a favorite with Kulti and Wait for It.
Read if you like: -Second chance romance -Slow-burns -Realistic love stories -Mature and patient heros -Judo/ rugby rep -Low conflict -Grandpa's as fatherly figures ...more
I LOVE KA Tucker. This book had so much greatness to it, and I literally want to recommend it to everyone! While it is a YA romance novel, as the mainI LOVE KA Tucker. This book had so much greatness to it, and I literally want to recommend it to everyone! While it is a YA romance novel, as the main character is in high school, I’d compare it more to a Coho YA (Slammed, Heart Bones) where the characters are mature and the is story relatable for any age.
After her parents divorce, Aria and her mother move across Canada to live with her great uncle (an amazing person) and start fresh. Aria immediately connects with her new next door neighbors Emmett and Cassie. Emmett, is the town hockey star and the full package: attractive, trustworthy, kind and smart. Cassie, is Emmet’s younger sister and on the autism spectrum. Her larger than life personality brings a lot of smiles to the story. While Aria quickly adjusts to her new life, you learn from journal entries and glimpses of conversations with her mom that some events happened at her old school that she is tying to bury and put behind.
This story touches on so many important themes: bullying, mother/ daughter dynamics and trust, young love, acceptance for being different and forgiveness. KA Tucker’s inclusion of Cassie brought such a neat perspective to the story. As an SLP, I’m always a huge fan of neurodiverse characters. I think what makes this book a little different was that Cassie was lower functioning and not only struggled with nuanced social situations but also understanding language. It warmed my heart to see Aria let Cassie into her life with open arms and willingly include her because she wanted to not because she had to.
This book was soo much more meaningful than I expected. It will really make you think!! Also, it is super quick. You can easily finish it in one sitting.
I LOVED this book! Right now it may even be my favorite of hers. I had so much fun reading it and despite it being over 600 pages, it FLEW by (trust mI LOVED this book! Right now it may even be my favorite of hers. I had so much fun reading it and despite it being over 600 pages, it FLEW by (trust me).
After the death of her brother, Diana is the primary caregiver for her two nephews, Josh and Louie. Ready to begin a new life, the three of them move into a house of their own in Austin, Texas. All that Diana is missing is a husband (or boyfriend). It doesn't help that her neighbor across the street, Dallas, happens to be attractive, Josh's new baseball coach and soon to be divorced. At first Dallas comes off as standoffish and rude, but as the two continue to cross paths and open up to each other, a beautiful friendship forms.
My favorite part about this story was Josh and Louie's relationship with Daina. It felt so real, and Zapata did a great job accurately depicting how kids that age would act around certain situations. And Dallas. He was the hero I grew to adore! It was the smallest acts of kindness from him that melted my heart the most. Everytime he noticed Diana was not okay, the way he stood up for her in front of his team and family, and how he would act around the kids was everything I needed. Also, if you read any of her earlier books, Aiden/Van, Kulti/Sal, and Iris/Dex all make an appearance. I loved the little connections Diana and Dallas had with these people and seeing where they all ended up.
Read if interested in: -age gap (29/41) -friends to lovers slow burn -next-door neighbor -single-parent -great life lessons -Texas setting ...more
I NEVER cry while reading and this one did it for me. This story is all about finding and losing yourself, not letting fear prevent you from doing whaI NEVER cry while reading and this one did it for me. This story is all about finding and losing yourself, not letting fear prevent you from doing what you want, falling in love, and appreciating life and the people by your side. It’ll make you feel not only every emotion but also think. Go into this one blind! Trust me!
Read if interested in: -second chances -selfless love -living in the moment -self-discovery -family relationships -a very quick read...more
Dream On was amazing!! I didn’t go in with such high expectations as I didn’t LOVE Hockman’s debut Shipped, but this one totally did it for me. While Dream On was amazing!! I didn’t go in with such high expectations as I didn’t LOVE Hockman’s debut Shipped, but this one totally did it for me. While the premise of this book is out there, I was hooked within the first few pages. The writing flowed effortlessly, there was a great crew of supporting characters, and I loved getting to know Cass both personally and professionally. In terms of the romance, this book is about fate bringing people together and the choices we make, especially when our heart starts to long for another choice. It’s essentially a closed-door romance, other than some kissing and one brief sex scene in the epilogue. Usually I crave swoon-worthy moments when two characters have undeniable chemistry, but I don’t think there needed to be any in this book. I was so invested in Cass’ journey in figuring out who she loves, and the self-realizations she discovered during this process that I blew through the pages completely satisfied. There were also several twists throughout the book that I did not see coming, which was a great addition to the predictable story arc we see in romance novels. The epilogue was pretty much everything I would have wanted and the author did a great job tying all the loose ends with the supporting characters as well the mains.
I think this book is perfect for fans of “Lease on Love,” “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” and Christina Lauren books.
Read if you like: -Love triangles -Slow-burn and closed-door romance -Ohio setting -Female attorneys -Flower shops -Food, beer and art festivals -Sketching and painting -Stories about fate and picking a path that brings you happiness
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date 7/5/22...more
I LOVED THIS!! This was my second Mariana Zapata book, and she writes the best slow-burn romance novels I’ve ever read. This one in particular focusesI LOVED THIS!! This was my second Mariana Zapata book, and she writes the best slow-burn romance novels I’ve ever read. This one in particular focuses on a female professional soccer player, and since I played soccer growing up and love the sport, the parts that talked about the training and game immediately connected with me. Still, the absolute best part about this book was the friendship that developed between the two main characters. Everything felt so natural and real, and similar to the way I felt when reading Wall of Winnipeg and Me, I never needed something romantic to happen and appreciated how their relationship went way beyond attraction. Overall, this book was so fun, heart warming and had the perfect amount of humor. Also, if you are an audiobook fan, the narration for this was AMAZING!!
Read if you like: ⚽️Sports romance ⚽️Slow-burns ⚽️Age-gap relationships ⚽️Celebrity crush to best friends to lovers ⚽️Professional soccer ⚽️Men with accents ⚽️Loyal characters...more
4.5⭐️ I loved this book so much and highly recommend it for fans of Jane the Virgin and Ugly Betty. Even though it was a soap opera romance, the story4.5⭐️ I loved this book so much and highly recommend it for fans of Jane the Virgin and Ugly Betty. Even though it was a soap opera romance, the story and dialogue did not feel cheesy at all. What I loved most was that as the story alternates between Jasmine and Ashton’s POVs, you get a behind scenes look at the making of their TV show. From the intimacy coach, to the cooking scenes and the emphasis on how communication off script leads to chemistry on screen, I was so invested in the workings of the Telenovela. Also, I loved that there were chapters that included direct scenes from the TV show and how, as a reader, we could connect the plot from the TV show to Jasmine and Ashton’s personal lives. The chemistry between Jasmine and Ashton was undeniable, and I enjoyed all the supporting characters (and already requested the next book from the lib). While this book had the miscommunication trope, which typically bothers, I thought it was well done and appropriate for this storyline.
Read if you like: -Soaps / telenovelas -Workplace romance -Latinx identity and culture -Single dad trope -Cousins as best friends/ big families -Spanish in a book -NYC setting ...more
AH! I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I LOVED the Ireland setting and how KA Tucker incorporated so much history into the story. The pAH! I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I LOVED the Ireland setting and how KA Tucker incorporated so much history into the story. The premise of this book really reminded me of Sons of Anarchy season 3 with the IRA/RIRA and the political pieces. She clearly did her research as an author! There was also the perfect balance between suspense and romance. I loved Amber and River as a couple. The good girl/ bad boy vibe worked with the premise of the story and while the attraction was instant, nothing felt too quick. The supporting characters were also great!
This can be read as a standalone but I do recommend reading the books in order, so you can understand the characters better.
If you are a fan of the Simple Wild series, I highly recommend checking this out and the Ten Tiny Breaths series....more
This sequel was perfect and far surpassed the hype!!! Thank you CoHo for giving Lily and Atlas the love story they deserved. I laughed, I cried, I felThis sequel was perfect and far surpassed the hype!!! Thank you CoHo for giving Lily and Atlas the love story they deserved. I laughed, I cried, I felt the pain, I felt the joy and I could not, for the life of me, put this down. ...more
ABSOLUTELY LOVED! One of the best second chance romances I’ve read.
This was an addictive read that had me racing towards the end and honestly, I wish ABSOLUTELY LOVED! One of the best second chance romances I’ve read.
This was an addictive read that had me racing towards the end and honestly, I wish it was longer. I totally fell in love with the characters and the unexpected journey totally messed with my emotions, broke my heart and mended it all back together. There were small details within the book that bothered me in the moment but as a whole, it was a five star read for me. I know this story will stick with me for a while!!
Read if you like: -Second chance romance -Best friends to lovers -A book within a book -Confronting the past -Forgivness and acceptance ...more
Jessica Paige (Exercise_Read_Repeat)
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