First and Forever by Lynn Painter

5*

I love that, no matter how bad my mood, reading a Painter romance snaps me out of it. First and Forever is a swoon-worthy, hilarious delight that had me laughing from the first scene and didn’t let up. Duffy DiStefano is snarky, tells it like it is, and isn’t one to back down from a challenge. She’s also been friend-zoned with every guy she’s ever dated because she’s so easy to like and doesn’t play the games like other women do. Lucky for her, Heisman-winning tight end Connor Cunningham likes a challenge. What starts out as an agreement to be her fake boyfriend in order to make her grieving and ailing father happy becomes so much more as they get to know each other, whether it’s scootering to White Castle or coaching a kids’ flag football team. Connor, despite his fame and devastatingly handsome looks, is an absolute sweetheart who goes out of his way to make her and her father’s life more comfortable, but is he too good to be true?

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed more while reading a romance. Whether it’s taking on a hoard of zombies or verbally sparring with Duff’s dad, Tony (an absolute hoot!), the humor doesn’t quit. Of course, at its core, this is a romance and Painter delivers incredible chemistry and some spicy scenes, too. This is one of those books that you wish you could read again for the first time, which is the highest compliment I can give. So, pick this one up for the perfect beach read. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Love Wager (Mr. Wrong Number #2) by Lynn Painter

 

4*

I’m not usually an audiobook reader, but I chose that format for this book to fulfill a prompt in a reading challenge. I didn’t love the male narrator Zachary Webber’s voice (and liked it even less when I saw a hateful TikTok video he posted last fall). This is definitely better than Mr. Wrong Number, which featured MMC Jack Marshall’s younger sister Olivia and best friend Colin. I found Olivia very immature and whiney, and she was just as bad in this book. FMC Hallie and Jack meet at Olivia and Colin’s wedding in a meet (not so) cute when Jack’s girlfriend gets jealous thinking Jack is flirting with bartender Hallie and tosses a glass of chardonnay at her. Jack goes from almost proposing to dumping her, then ends up sleeping with Hallie. They don’t exchange contact information, but then discover each other on a dating app and decide they’ll be each other’s wingman while navigating the minefield that is online dating. To make it more interesting, they make a wager over who will find love first. However, when Hallie’s fledgling boyfriend breaks up with her just before her sister’s wedding, Jack offers to be her date and fake a relationship. Given the close friendship they’ve formed and the intense chemistry they have, it’s no surprise that things get complicated with just one bed.

There’s nothing unique about this romance, but it’s a fun read with witty banter and both friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. Recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

 

4*

I love a romance that elicits a range of emotions. PS: I Hate You is a perfect example. I laughed (a lot), I cried, I got angry and frustrated, I swooned, and I felt relief. This beautiful, steamy, multi-trope romance includes enemies to lovers, second chance, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and road trip. It’s definitely a wild ride and one you’ll probably want to read all in one sitting.

At its core, it’s a hard-fought romance, an exploration of grief, and a range of loving relationships (mf, sibling, and friendship). It begins at the funeral of Maddie’s brother Josh who died of cancer just shy of 30. She hasn’t been home for seven years, since her youthful crush and brother’s best friend Dom broke her heart. So, the last thing that she wants is for him to discover her in a coat closet where’s she’s fallen into a box half-full of toilet paper rolls. Unfortunately, he’s as handsome as ever and her heart clearly hasn’t gotten the message that she hates him. When Dom, as executor, passes out letters from Josh to those closest to him, Maddie is devastated to find that Josh has not only written one letter jointly to Dom and her, but that his dying wish is that they visit eight states together that he, as a world-traveling photographer, never got the chance to see. His instructions are to find the geographical coordinates in a certain order, read a new letter at each location, fulfill location-specific tasks, scatter some of his ashes, and take a joint selfie. It’s pretty obvious that he has ulterior motives, but it’ll take nearly two years, a lot of snarky comments from Maddie, requests from Josh that pull both of them out of their comfort zones, and some forced proximity before the walls Maddie has built start to crumble and they finally begin to discuss the past.

This would have been a 5* read for me, but Maddie’s immaturity and rude behavior were really off-putting. Yes, she has scars from her neglectful, cruel and abusive parents and grandmother and deep-seated abandonment issues, but Dom is so thoughtful and protective, that you can’t help rooting for him (even if you don’t know his reasons for breaking her heart years before). Author Connolly puts some trigger warnings at the beginning, and it’s important to read them because there are some heavy issues. Overall, however, there’s so much to love about this book that I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

 

4*

After more than half a year, Callie is still devastated by the breakup with her childhood sweetheart. With the best of intentions, her meddling sister Anita reintroduces a family tradition of an advent calendar comprised of 24 wrapped presents. On odd days, the boxes contain treats and, on the even days, tasks that correspond to the treats. Anita’s hope is that this will encourage Callie to embrace spontaneity and write a new chapter that includes opening herself up to meeting new people. When Anita is sent out of town on a business trip for 3 weeks, she suggests that Callie ask Marco, the handsome pastry chef she had an adorable meet-cute with at the Christmas tree lot, to be her wingman in her place. As the days to Christmas count down and she and Marco spend time together swapping puns and dad jokes, attending community events in their picturesque upstate New York town, and discovering how much they have in common, Callie begins to realize that the greatest gift her sister has given her can’t be found under a tree.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance. Although there’s no spice (fade to black and kissing only), the chemistry between cautious and steady Callie and charming and kind Marco is palpable. There’s some workplace drama, a number of really funny escapades, lots of descriptions of mouth-watering foods, and very little angst. Even though both leads are still in their 20s, there’s a level of maturity that I really appreciate. This is a delightful addition to anyone’s Christmas romance collection.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P.Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

5*

Possible spoilers

In this mature romance set in the fictional coastal town of Beechwood, NY, Monaghan has crafted a beautiful story about a 38-year-old, soon-to-be divorced mother’s reawakening and the surprising man from her past who is the impetus for it. I couldn’t help but recognize the use of the changing tides as a metaphor for washing away the detritus of life. leaving a clean slate on which to forge a new path and rediscover parts of herself that were carried away by grief and loss.

On the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death, Ali Morris’s husband Pete asks for a divorce. On the two-year anniversary, she wakes up drowning in grief and decides to take her dog, Ferris, to the dog park to help clear her head. In a unique “meet-cute,” he pees on a charming, handsome stranger’s foot, and despite Ali’s embarrassment, Ethan doesn’t seem bothered by it at all. In fact, he looks at Ali as if he’s seeing the vibrant, attractive version of herself that she thought she’d lost years ago, before grief, a failed marriage, and three kids left her a shell of her former self. Even before she realizes that Ethan is her best friend Frannie’s younger brother Scooter, he’s already awakened feelings that she thought were long gone.

Since Ethan lives four hours away and is just visiting his parents, she knows the best they can expect is a summer romance with sex off the table (since, in her opinion, it can lead to complications and possible heartbreak). Having had a crush on her since high school, Ethan is happy to spend whatever time he can with Ali. So, when his parents announce that they’re retiring to Florida and leaving their home to him, he and Ali negotiate a deal that will benefit them both and allow them to have some alone time. As a part-time professional organizer (who can’t seem to keep her own house in order), Ali will help him clear the house out prior to listing it and Ethan, a lawyer who can’t seem to shake the reputation he earned as a trouble-making teen, will help Ali get the best deal in her divorce settlement. Is it any surprise that these two kind, supportive, and protective people, who feel truly seen and accepted by each other, find themselves falling?

There is so much to love about this slow burn, closed-door romance that really evokes emotional responses ranging from laughter to sadness. Ali’s “conversations” with her enthusiastic and eccentric mom provide guidance beyond the grave and her care for and friendship with her elderly neighbor Phyllis is poignant. Witnessing Ali’s casting off the cloak of grief (or, in her case, stained sweatpants and t-shirts) and reclaiming her self-reliance after a loveless marriage to a selfish man (especially while realizing that her feelings for Ethan are what she deserved all along) is really life-affirming. Her relationships with her three children are touching, especially with her pre-teen Greer who is navigating the horrors of middle school mean girl machinations. Ethan’s devotion to the skateboarding kids in his hometown and his selfless acts of kindness with his neighbors are endearing and provide a window into the wonderful man that he’s become, despite his family’s inability to see how he’s changed. It’s also worth noting that, despite there being no graphic sex scenes, Monaghan has managed to establish such tension and intimacy between Ali and Ethan that the fade-to-black scenes are not a disappointment (for those who crave them). If you’re looking for the perfect beach read, you’ll find it here. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from G.P. Putnam's Sons through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken

 

4*

A gender-swapping nod to the movie Life As We Know It, The Godparent Trap is all about seeing and seizing the opportunity for love that’s right in front of you if you’re willing to let go of your fears and the need to control everything around you. Like the movie, two frenemies and polar opposites, Rip and Colby, are forced to co-parent after their best friends (and, in this case, Rip’s younger sister) are killed in a car accident. 

Initially, Rip, a Type A accountant, is a real misogynistic jerk, being unintentionally cruel to Colby, a travel blogger, by pointing out her insecurities and threatening her with full custody if she doesn’t start acting responsibly. He demands that she be realistic (e.g., by not telling the kids that their parents are angels looking over them) and keep the house and herself neat and clean. In his mind, following rules keeps people safe. Conversely, Colby wears her heart on her sleeve, openly grieving and caring less about keeping everything in order and more about being present and tuned into the emotional needs of the children.  It’s only with the help of an interfering friend/co-worker and some divine intervention that Rip finally begins to acknowledge that his anger is masking his fear, that life and love are inherently messy, and that, by ceding control, he’ll find comfort and joy.

Although the story is endearing (especially the interactions with 3-year-old Viera and 5-year-old Ben), the character development is lacking and the pacing is a bit scattered. The book begins with a prologue (or glimpse of the future) that is repeated word-for-word where it fits chronologically in the narrative and the transitions between scenes are choppy. Despite this, it’s a worthwhile read for those who like enemies-to-lovers romance and some emotional heaviness as well.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.