Tag Archives: Romance

ARC — Thank You for Sharing — Rachel Runya Katz

“House Rules:

1. Meet: Friday nights (…) at Prohibition

2. Anything said here stays here

3. No toxic masculinity

(…) And thus, the Speakeasy Survival Club is born.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions death of a parent, cancer, and discusses sexual assault. Contains sexual content.

“Thank You for Sharing” is comically full of mishaps and screw ups, and I was there for it. Told in the third person, we get to see various points of view, making this novel even more engaging. “Thank You for Sharing” follows Liyah Cohen-Jackson and Daniel Rosenberg, two childhood frenemies that run into each other in their late twenties and are forced to collaborate in a project that is very important for both of them, for different reasons.

Liyah’s and Daniel’s text flirting was the absolute sweetest—I just loved how Liyah teases him, their chemistry was so palpable throughout the whole novel. The different ways they live and celebrate their religious believes, the way they found their chosen family through their friend; I simply wouldn’t change a thing about this novel.

I would highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for a sweet childhood friends to strangers to enemies to lovers romance read.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

ARC — The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam — Valerie Pepper — Guided to Love #2

“She is heaven. My own personal heaven. And she has no clue.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions death of a sibling. Involves a house electrical fire. Contains explicit sexual content.

“The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam” is the second installment in the Guided to Love series, yet it works just as well as a standalone. Set in a small town in Alabama, this novel follows Jodi Bristol, a small coffee shop owner, and Price Joseph, a local firefighter and presumed playboy. Jodi has had a crush on Price since pretty much forever, but they’re just friendly acquaintances, you know?? But that’s until Jodi’s house has a small electrical fire and is forced to move into Price’s new Bed and Breakfast while insurance fixes up her place, and Price and Jodi realize they have more than their love for coffee in common.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. Told through two points of view, I fell for both Jodi and Price and their dynamic and their insecurities. It was amazing to see them both grow into themselves, and recognize their worth, while both supporting and cheering each other on along the way. This wasn’t a slow burn, which I appreciated, and the small town setting was just so endearing in general.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re looking for a small town, forced proximity romance with a ton of spice, then “The Barista’s Guide to the Perfect Steam” is just for you.

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ARC provided by the author, Valerie Pepper, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 8, 2023

ARC — The Long Game — Elena Armas

“I’ll always give you more than what you ask, love. Even when you don’t know what you want.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Describes a stalker, infidelity, and toxic relationships. Contains explicit sexual content.

“The Long Game” follows Adalyn Reyes, an executive reporter for the Miami Flames Football Club, after she is sent to live in a small town and coach a girls soccer team pro bono after causing a scene back in Miami. The only reason she wasn’t fired was because her father is the owner of said soccer club. What she did bot expect was to find Cameron Caldoni, an acclaimed professional goalkeeper that retired out of the blue and escaped the public eye, also coaching this soccer team in this remote town. This was supposed to be her thing, and she isn’t willing to take it on as a team… until they have to.

I have never simped after a fictional man, but I will simp for Cameron Caldoni. Enemies to lovers, when done well, can be some of the funniest and most enjoyable tropes. Watching Adalyn and Cam be as stubborn as they come was downright comical, but also watching them care for one another was literally heartwarming.

I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book. “The Long Game” would work wonders for a romance book club, as some of the actions and stances both main characters take at different points of their story can be great sources for fruitful discussions. I would highly recommend this read, no questions asked.

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ARC provided by Simon & Schuster/Atria Books, through their S&S Book Club Favorites program, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

Happiness for Beginners — Katherine Center

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on sibling death and degenerative diseases. Contains some romantic content.

“Happiness for Beginners” follows Helen Carpenter, a 32-year-old recent divorcee, as she embarks on a long and dangerous hiking trip to find herself again. What she did not plan for was that her brother’s best friend, Jake, would be coming along for the trip.

I think Katherine Center’s books are some of the few, closed-door, clean romances I truly enjoy and look forward to. I re-read this title looking forward to watching the movie based on it, which recently premiered in streaming services, and I must say I even liked it more this second time around.

Helen and her complicated relationship with her ex and her past, Jake and his secrets, and the secret pining? It’s to-die-for. In the end, you can totally understand why both of them were being stubborn about being together. I cannot recommend this book enough if you’re looking for clean romance in the great outdoors.

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ARC — First Impressions of You — Gabriela Graciosa Guedes

“As long as you’re joking, that means you probably don’t hate me that much anymore.”

“I don’t think I could hate you if I wanted to.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 4 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Deals with discrimination against race and weight, and living as an immigrant. Contains explicit sexual content.

“First Impressions of You” follows Luiza Bento, an aspiring actress working in a theme park on a temporary work visa, and Winter Davis, a child star that’ll be working in said theme parks next big theater production. Here’s the thing: Winter doesn’t even want to be there, and least of all with an inexperienced actress that just works in a theme park—and oh, does Luiza overhears that.

I mean, this book had me at “Pride and Prejudice retelling”, but what really made me stay was Luiza’s wit and stubbornness and Winter’s, well, everything.

Told through Luiza’s point of view, we get a glimpse at what it is like to start paving your way through the acting scene in LA, with none other than a well-established child star that doesn’t seem to be too keen on newcomers as a costar.

Sometimes in romance novels I don’t seem to understand where connections and chemistry come from, but oh was this not the case in “First Impressions of You.” Through this debut novel, we feel the tension building and that slow burn giving out slowly as the characters let go of their past frustrations and let themselves feel. I am absolutely in love with this super unique retelling, I will literally never shut up about it.

Are you a sucker for enemies to lovers and hold a little love for “Pride and Prejudice”? Well, this book is literally for you.

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ARC provided by the author, Gabriela Graciosa Guedes, in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 25, 2023

“You’re the sunshine I’ll always want in my winter.”

ARC — In Charm’s Way — Lana Harper — The Witches of Thistle Grove #4

“Asking for help isn’t a weakness, (…) but being too proud to accept it is. Believe me, I know.”

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
Actual Rating: 5+ stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Showcases panic attacks, violence, magical injuries, and toxic relationships. Contains explicit sexual content.

“In Charm’s Way” follows Delilah Harlow as she deals with the aftermath of being hit by a god-tier oblivion spell. Her whole identity revolves around her good memory, so when she sees traditional methods aren’t working on remediating said oblivion spell, she decides to go with some good, ol’ forbidden magic instead. And oh, does it work. It works so well, in fact, that now her power is bringing into town a bunch of supernatural creatures, including a half-fae that’s apparently here to help her. Not knowing who to trust, Delilah has got to weigh her options: either keep wrecking havoc on Thistle Grove or let go of the spell and go back to dealing with her oblivion-ed self.

How do these books keep getting better? The Witches of Thistle Grove series has captivated my heart for the past 3 years and my favorite book in the series is forever changing—as the last book published is usually the one I highly regard as my favorite, and “In Charm’s Way” is no exception to this rule.

In this fourth installment we go back into the Harlow family, this time through Delilah, and I really think this is one of the only Thistle Grove books that wouldn’t work as well as a standalone novel—we’ve seen Delilah through various of the previous installments and you just wouldn’t be able to empathize with her if you haven’t seen her through Emmy Harlow’s and Nina Blackmoore’s lens.

Now, I would highly encourage you to grab a hold of this series. The author, Lana Harper, refers to this book as “Delilah’s Book of Rage” and it gives just that. This book carried the heaviest character to live life through, with deep resentments and huge trust issues; nonetheless, it’s easy to see why Delilah reacts the way she does and it’s even easier to see where her rage comes from.

I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book or this series as a whole. I literally cannot recommend it enough. If I go down as anything, I hope I go down as someone who spread the good word on Thistle Grove and the beautiful, witchy stories Lana Harper has been sharing since 2021.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 22, 2023

ARC — Daisy Haites — Jessa Hastings — Magnolia Parks Universe #2

“You made me fall in love without you.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Dives deep into criminal activity and emotional manipulation. Contains very explicit sexual content.

If “Magnolia Parks” had my attention, then “Daisy Haites” absolutely captivated it. Where “Magnolia Parks” felt like stepping into an overly dramatic CW series drenched in luxury, “Daisy Haites” takes a grittier turn. Daisy, with her quiet strength and vulnerability, offers a fresh perspective. Her life isn’t just about complicated love—it’s laced with crime, family loyalty, and the weight of being tied to the wrong people in the right ways.

Jessa Hastings does it again and again. She has this way of making every scene feel cinematic, and “Daisy Haites” is no exception. The fashion is sharp, the London setting is moody and alive, and the dialogue is equal parts biting and tender. Daisy’s relationship with her brother, Jonah, is particularly moving—a reminder that the bonds of family can be just as complicated as romantic love. And while the book is undeniably dramatic (hello, heartbreak on every other page), it never feels overwrought. Daisy’s grounded, pragmatic voice balances out the wild lives of the people around her.

“Daisy Haites”, in all its emotional glory, is less a sequel and more a companion piece to “Magnolia Parks”—a story about family, sacrifice, and what it means to choose love even when it’s messy. If you loved “Magnolia Parks”, or the TV show Gossip Girl, then “Daisy Haites” and this series in general is a must-read. And if you’re here for more emotionally charged drama with morally complex characters, Jessa Hastings is still delivering.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Dutton in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

ARC — Skip To The End — Molly James

“I’m welcoming a man’s attention one minute and rejecting him in the harshest manner the next. They already think I’m half psycho. When the truth is, I’m half psychic. Well, not even half. And not exactly psychic. It’s complicated.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Describes dementia. Contains some romantic content.

“Skip to the End” follows Amy Daniels as she travels through life having inherited her mother’s gift: being able to see the future when and only when she kisses a person–she sees how their relationship will transpire, and most importantly, how it’ll end. That is until one very drunken night where she kisses someone and a fairytale ending is finally on the table. The one problem? She kissed three people that night and can’t quite remember who it was. Will she be able to find her one, true, happily ever after?

The premise of this book seemed like something I would really enjoy and I was honestly even scared to grab it and have it disappoint me, but I am joyous to report this wasn’t the case. I couldn’t get enough of this book. Was Amy annoying at times? Yes. Was I still rooting for her at all times? Also yes.

But the real question is: Would you still date someone even if you knew how it would end? What a harsh way to walk through life, buy that’s ultimately what “Skip to the End” is all about.

Grab this book if you’re looking for a relatively mild romance, that’ll give you all the giddy feelings of going on a first date.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Forever Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 15, 2023

ARC — Magnolia Parks — Jessa Hastings — Magnolia Parks Universe #1

“How many loves do you get in a lifetime?”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Describes drug use, abuse, and overdose. Touches on child death, emotional abuse, and panic attacks. Contains some sexual content.

“Magnolia Parks” is the first book in the Magnolia Parks Universe series and, well, it follows Magnolia Parks, to no one’s surprise. These books are being re-published with new covers through Dutton, but I bet you’ve heard all about them, I know I had. This book follows Magnolia Parks and her childhood sweetheart, BJ Ballentine, as they continuously shatter their own hearts over and over again. Through rebounds and way too much back and forth, they’ll take you on a wild ride in London’s luxurious scene.

Look, I hate cheating. I hate books about cheating, I hate songs about cheating, it’s my big no no for tropes. So tell me, why did I love Magnolia Parks? But well, I did. This book is for the Gossip Girl girlies that love that toxic Blaire and Chuck romance arc. It wasn’t as explicit as I thought it would be, but that tension really brought me through.

If you’re looking for a book that’ll give you a glimpse on the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s London’s elite, then “Magnolia Parks” is it. As part of a series, I’m glad to find out this isn’t the last we’ll see of Magnolia, as the third installment is back on with her point of view, I legit can’t wait to see where this mess will lead her to.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Dutton in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 8, 2023

ARC — The Witch is Back — Sophie H. Morgan

“A man begging her to marry him. But not because he chose her. Because she was the other name on the contract. And what a contract it had proven to be.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Touches on subjects like child abuse, physical and emotional abuse, and abandonment. Revolves around sickness and death of a parent. Contains sexual content.

“The Witch is Back” follows Emmaline (Emma) Bluewater and Bastian Truenote as they reunite after years of no contact—after Bastian called off their engagement by legit running away and never speaking to her again. That was until Bastian walks back into Emma’s life, asking to be married, preferably as soon as possible, because Bastian’s mother was literally dying because they didn’t fulfill their marriage contract—a contract that not even one of the most powerful magical families, the Truenotes, can out-hex. How romantic.

Told in third person and through two points of view, “The Witch is Back” is an entertaining, witchy book that’ll have you hooked right from the start. The history between the two main characters is palpable and I was honestly dying to know what exactly drove them apart to begin with.

This book is for you if you’re looking for a magical childhood friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance with some marriage of convenience and forced proximity sprinkled in. I would highly recommend this book for any readers that enjoy witchy romance book, “The Witch is Back” does not disappoint.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: August 15, 2023