With a nod to both Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Groundhog Day, Jio has spun a delightful, emotional, illuminating timeslip novel about a woman who, in the process of living a day with each of the choices she could have made with various men from her past, is also given the opportunity to reflect on her dissatisfaction with her current life. The day after her latest relationship ends with Coldplay tickets instead of a proposal, Lena runs to the comfort of her Aunt Rosie’s arms, the woman who raised her after her mentally ill mother died when she was just 12, following a life of instability, lack of plans, and occasional abandonment. Before falling asleep, she comes to the realization that, due to her chaotic childhood, she fears the unknown and clings to her rigid life and career plans as a result.
The following morning, she wakes up in Paris, married to a sophisticated Frenchman she’d met years before at a mutual friend's wedding. Over the next nine days, she finds herself waking to 9 other ghosts from her past (including a farmer, past boyfriends and crushes, near-strangers, etc.). In the process, she is forced to reevaluate her views on motherhood, infidelity, desirable qualities in a romantic partner and more. When she finally breaks free from this time loop, will she have discovered enough about herself to be open to a true love relationship? You’ll have to read it and see. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from William Morrow through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
4*
I enjoyed this fake relationship, slow burn, closed door romance. Set in Seattle in the fall, it has a bit of a Cinderella vibe, but instead of a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, Lexi has a mother who has been mired in profound grief and depression after losing her soulmate three years before. After her father died, Lexi quit college just a few credits shy of graduation and has been working 2 jobs while taking care of her agoraphobic mom and paying off her father’s debts. On the day that two of her high school friends show up at the restaurant where she does a poor job of waitressing, seeming to be celebrating the success that has eluded Lexi, she sits down at Will’s table to hide. Since Will’s been flirting with her his entire meal, he welcomes the intrusion and plays along when she says that she’s there with “her boyfriend.” When they’re both invited to a party by one of the friends, they’re introduced as being engaged and the lie gets picked up on social media, thanks to Will’s status as one of Seattle’s most eligible business leaders. Of course, as so often happens with this trope, he wants his status-conscious mother to stop her matchmaking, and Lexi doesn’t want to admit what she perceives as her failure to thrive.
So, although there’s no new ground broken here, it’s just a lovely book with a perfect book boyfriend - handsome, kind, successful, and a man who sees the best in Lexi, propping her up when she doesn’t believe in herself. Other than Will’s classist parents, everyone else is delightful, from Lexi’s best friend Maisie to Will’s supportive and friendly sisters and best friend, Ethan. If you’re looking for a sweet romance low on the angst, check this one out. Recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St, Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Alexandria Bellefleur’s queer romances are always a pleasure to read. Truly, Madly, Deeply (not to be confused with the fabulous Alan Rickman movie) is a very sweet enemies-to-lovers romance between queer historical romance author Truly and family (divorce) lawyer Colin, whose meet-cute takes place when they spar about relationship advice on his sister’s top-rated podcast. The chemistry between them, masked by flirty bickering and sexual innuendo, is really hot and the sex is steamy and raw. However, it’s Colin’s kindness, devotion, and protectiveness towards Truly and the way she both challenges and defends him that make this such a special love story.
This is a slow burn, somewhat enemies-to-lovers romance featuring two bisexual characters (although there is a discussion between them where Truly questions whether she can legitimately call herself that if she’s never acted on it with any woman). Honestly, the only things that keep it from a 5* rating are the overabundant scenes where Truly and her musical theater-loving parents talk about serious stuff using song titles and lyrics. It was cute at first, but then became absurd. I also started getting annoyed by how many times (six) Bellefleur mentions Colin’s moles. Otherwise, I definitely recommend reading it.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
4*
Brendon Lowell wins the prize for 2021 Book Boyfriend of the year. If only unicorns like him existed in real life. Every great romance novel includes main characters who reject love because of some trauma from their past or parents who modeled the worst in married partners. Yet Brendon does just the opposite. Blindsided by his parents’ divorce when he was twelve, he makes it his mission to help people find love. He has a hero complex so deeply-ingrained that he created a hugely-successful dating app (OTP = One True Partner) that focuses on real love connections rather than casual hook-ups. He watches rom-coms with the belief that the HEAs in them can be replicated in real life.
So when his sister Darcy’s best friend Annie comes to visit her in Seattle and he realizes his childhood crush pales in comparison to the attraction he feels for her now, he makes it his mission to woo her by re-enacting scenes from the movies. Annie, who has decided to give up on finding love since she’s always the one who puts in the effort only to be rejected, does everything in her power to deny the chemistry and affection she almost instantly shares with the very grown-up Brendon. She’s convinced that, as soon as she agrees to pursue the relationship, he’ll grow tired of it and move on. No way does she trust that the feelings she has for Brendon, after just the two weeks in Seattle (before starting her new job in London), will be worth walking away from a lucrative career...even if her heart isn’t in it and is, in fact, already left behind when she leaves. The question is whether she’ll be able to work through her fear to seize the life she craves with Brendon, her best friend Darcy, and the other true friends she’s made.
In Bellefleur’s previous book, Written in the Stars, she told the story of Darcy and Elle who were set up on a blind date by Brendon. So it’s such a treat that she has now shared the love story between Darcy’s brother and her best friend. It’s refreshing to have a gender-swapping best friend’s little brother romance in which the older sibling doesn’t go all alpha when her friend violates the “bro code.” She’s turned the trope on its head, and it’s so refreshing to have an older sibling who encourages and supports the budding relationship instead of throwing up roadblocks. There’s so much to love about this story. So, if you’re looking for a swoon-worthy romantic hero, pick this book up. You won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
