We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey

 

5*

Last year, I read a beautiful Christmas romance called Five Gold Rings and wondered if Bailey’s newest book, We Three Kings, could ever begin to rival it. I’m happy to say it does. It’s also set in London, which I still maintain is the most beautiful city in which to celebrate the holiday. It’s also a workplace romance but features Maggie and her three male employees in the IT department of a London firm who have become friends in their four years together. So, it’s no surprise how torn she is when she’s told, at the start of Christmas break, that she’ll have to lay off (make redundant) one of these lovely men who are like family. The painful decision is complicated by the plans these three proposed when they learned she’d be spending Christmas alone, and she doesn’t have the heart to ruin them by revealing the sad news. Her new and budding feelings for Leo also compound her decision with the worry about crossing ethical lines as boss and employee. From attending awkward (probably autistic) Frank’s sister’s wedding as a fake girlfriend and then joining eccentric Jasper’s posh but dysfunctional family for a Christmas party and foiling a fox hunt (cue the adorable baby foxes) to visiting Leo’s warm and welcoming family for a raucous Christmas Eve and Day and participating in an annual donkey abduction, Maggie comes to love this trio of wonderful, quirky men as she learns more about their lives and the influences that have formed them into the true “kings” of men they are.

If you’re looking for a truly heartwarming and humorous Christmas story that is full of kindness, love, laughter, loyalty, fade-to-black romance, and a high degree of silliness, I highly encourage you to check this one out. I guarantee you will be absolutely charmed.

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

The House Like an Accordion by Audrey Burges

 

4*

Not being a fan of science fiction or fantasy, it was difficult to read this story because it’s not in my nature to suspend disbelief. However, the premise is so intriguing and the characters so charming and flawed that I felt compelled to see it through to the end. I’m so glad I did, because this metaphorical tale full of magical realism about a family of artists whose drawings influence life is unique, thought-provoking, and ultimately redemptive. I had so many questions along the way, and I’m still not sure I found satisfactory answers to some of them. There were also a couple of decisions that the main character Keryth made that I wished had been different, but that’s the prerogative of the author.

It’s not possible to give a clear synopsis of this book given the twists and turns it takes, but the appendix of book discussion questions helped me make more sense of what I read and can share without spoilers. Ultimately, this book is about “the act of creating, and the role of a creator in defining—both successfully and not—what they’re trying to bring into the world.” In this case, it makes the reader think about the choices creators make, whether it be fine artists or tech gurus, the ethical considerations behind their ideas, and the impacts (both positive and negative) their work has on the people around them and, sometimes, all of humanity. It makes us think about the choices we’d make if we had the opportunity to revive someone we’ve lost, rekindle an old love, or hold tight to something that wants or needs to be set free. It also makes us reflect on the lessons we’ve been taught by our parents and the ways we interpret them, sometimes wrongly. This impactful story will stick with me for awhile, thinking about the life choices I’ve made, the people I’ve loved and lost, and the way I might reimagine my future. Kudos to author Audrey Burges!

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

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline

 

5*

Legal thrillers aren’t my usual genre. In fact, I don’t think I’ve read more than a few. However, after reading The Truth About the Devlins and enjoying it immensely, I’m eager to read more of Scottoline’s books. She’s a former lawyer herself who, in her own words, hews “as close to the law when there are legal situations in the novels.”

In this story about a family of lawyers and TJ (the narrator, the youngest sibling, the college dropout, and the recovering alcoholic), the plot revolves around the mysterious death of a corporate accountant and how TJ and his older brother John are caught up in the mystery, to the point that they’ve put themselves and their entire family in the criminals’ crosshairs. However, it’s also about addiction and the lengths those afflicted will go to chase the high, the selfish actions they take that put people at risk, and the toll it takes on their loved ones.

Daughter Gabby Devlin, who is dedicated to her pro bono work, elicits TJ’s help as the family firm’s investigator on an actual civil case involving men incarcerated in Holmesburg Prison between 1951 and 1974. Without informed consent, they were subjected to legal, but unethical medical experimentation led by Dr. Albert Kligman, a dermatology professor at UPenn, that left them with horrendous scarring and often fatal illnesses as well as PTSD. Although the men in the book are fictional, the horrors the actual former inmates faced and the lengths the complicit corporations (who benefitted from the experiments), doctors, and our military and CIA went to avoid any civil or criminal liability are as appalling as what the Nazis did to concentration camp prisoners. You can read more about this in the novel Acres of Skin by eyewitness Dr. Allen Hornblum who believes these experiments violated the Nuremberg Code.

The pacing of this story is perfect, keeping you on the edge of your seat while trying to figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together. TJ’s narration is charming, vulnerable, and honest, and you can’t help but hurt for him while also cheering him on. Whether or not you’re a legal thriller fan, I highly recommend you read this story.

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.
 

Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson

4*

One of my favorite old Hollywood musicals is Brigadoon, so it’s no surprise that I really enjoyed this adaptation set at Christmas. Unlike the film, in which the quaint Scottish village appears out of the mist once every hundred years, this book’s Highglen appears during a week-long snowstorm at infrequent intervals in response to an unsuspecting visitor in need of some Christmas spirit. Four hundred years in the real world is a mere 7 years in Highglen, where it’s still 1647.

Maren and her friend Penny have left America in search of her uncle who disappeared about 30 years prior while on a research trip. She reluctantly leaves behind her mother, who has cancer, to fulfill her dying wish of finding her long lost brother. So imagine Maren’s surprise when, after her rental car breaks down, she’s rescued by a handsome Scottish laird, Duncan Campbell. It’s love at first sight, with a vague sense that they’ve met before, but can they ever have a future if she has to return to be with her mom and he has to remain with his large family and the villagers who depend on him? Is there a chance for a Christmas miracle?

Unlike most time travel books, this one doesn’t worry about changing the future by incorporating modern conveniences into 17th-century Scotland because the Campbells are able to benefit from the knowledge and resources shared by their visitors, whether it’s the culinary skills of a chef who appeared in the 1800s or Maren’s veterinary skills. Duncan has six sisters, and there’s definitely something in the air when it comes to them finding love with hapless visitors, including Maren’s Uncle Bobby. 

If you’re looking for a quick read full of Christmas spirit and a hunky, poetic, Scottish book boyfriend, this one fits the bill. It’s a love at first sight, sweet, clean romance with unchallenging dialogue, low angst, and the perfect chosen family.

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

Only and Forever (Bergman Brothers #7) by Chloe Liese

 

5*

In this 7th and final installment of the Bergman Brothers series by Chloe Liese, we finally get Viggo’s story and it doesn’t disappoint. As dedicated readers know, Viggo is the romantic of the family who wears his heart on his sleeve and is often the one who calls the Bergman Brothers Summits where they help and encourage each other (or their siblings’ love interests) to work through the problems they’re having on the path toward love. It’s the absolute opposite of toxic masculinity and such a refreshing change to see men embracing their emotions and each other. 

 

It turns out that all the time Viggo was spending in Escondido in previous books was to learn the bookselling business with the ultimate goal of opening a (mostly) romance bookstore. (Shout out to the real one in Culver City, The Ripped Bodice!) However, despite his dedication to the romance genre, he had never been in love and seeing his siblings pair up one by one has been difficult. In his first week of college, he noticed Tallulah Clarke in one of his classes. His crush was instantaneous, which made her outright rejection of him devastating. So when he met her again several years later and she still did her best to ignore him, the last thing either of them expected was that they’d soon be helping each other meet their professional goals and making themselves vulnerable to each other by sharing their baggage and their disabilities (his ADHD and fear of failure and rejection and her Type 1 diabetes, dysfunctional family, and belief that love is nothing more than a social construct that has the ability to destroy you if you let yourself forget that). Yet, when he invites her to be his temporary roommate so that he can help her with the romantic relationship in her next book and she can help him get his store up and running, what’s the chance that a hopeless romantic and a jaded cynic can find common ground and a happily-ever-after?

 

Liese, who is neurodivergent and deals with chronic illness herself, began self-publishing this series and, with the help of TikTok, eventually found a publisher and an audience of avid readers that appreciates her honest portrayal of people with disabilities who deserve to be loved without having to compromise who they are. In all her books, she explores the vulnerability her characters face in light of childhood trauma, physical and mental challenges, and more. At the center of this series is the big (both in number and physical size) Bergman family who adopt their children’s and siblings’ romantic partners, providing all the love and support that these misfits have been missing. In Only and Forever, readers get plenty of time with all of the couples from previous books and, as bittersweet as it is to know this beloved series is at an end, it’s heartwarming that penultimate book boyfriend Viggo (who bakes, adopts rescue dogs and kittens, coaches kids’ soccer, names his plants after real romance novelists and his car for one of Tessa Dare’s fictional dukes, has a way with babies, makes pottery, and is the human equivalent of serotonin according to his brother) finally has his shot at a forever love. My only slight criticism of this enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn but steamy romance is that it gets REALLY sappy at the end. I highly recommend the entire series and hope that Liese someday gives us a bonus epilogue, a parents’ prequel or, better yet, a next-generation series.

 

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

Publication date: April 2, 2024

Five Gold Rings by Kristen Bailey

 

5*

If you’re looking for a perfect Christmas pick-me-up, this book is for you. It’s chock full of romantic proposals, fanciful weddings, family and community gatherings, British wit, and love, so much love!

 

Eve, who embodies kindness and caring, is shocked to walk in on her boyfriend of three years being serviced by a co-worker in their apartment. In a rage, Eve begins throwing things out the window - Christmas gifts for his family she purchased and wrapped, his cellphone, and a cheap engagement ring she finds under the tree. Then she runs to the jewelry store where she works part time to be comforted by the elderly owners who treat their employees like family. In the meantime, her colleague Joe is working a raucous hen party in a risqué elf costume when he gets a call from Mrs. Casper asking him to come comfort Eve. Given that he’s crushed on her for almost two years, he doesn’t hesitate. 

 

In a fortuitous series of events, it turns out they gave a courier five gold rings by accident and the Caspers task Eve and Joe with retrieving them and delivering them to the correct customers by Christmas. Deliveries that should take no more than a few hours stretch into two days as the two get roped into attending weddings, taking a river cruise, witnessing a flash mob proposal, and playing Joseph in a nativity play, all while observing examples of true, enduring love and commitment. Along the way, people ask if or assume they are a couple, and as the clock winds down on Christmas and Eve gets satisfying closure with her cheating ex, she begins to wonder if all these people are seeing something that has been right in front of her all along.

 

Joe is the absolutely perfect book boyfriend. Not only is he handsome and protective in a non-alpha way, but he also listens, puts Eve’s needs and happiness first, shows empathy, has ovaries exploding as he cradles a baby, and puts his medical school training on hold to take care of his ailing father.  When he looks at Eve, he sees a heartbroken woman who still champions love and, because of the goodness in both of them, they are able to be their authentic selves (including seasickness, snoring, and snotty tears) without fear of rejection. This London-based story is a sweet, clean holiday romance that tackles some heavy subjects without becoming maudlin, and Bailey does a wonderful job of bringing both main and secondary characters to life and painting vivid backdrops of all the places they visit along their journey. Highly recommended.

 

I received an ARC from Storm Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. Opinions are strictly my own.

Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey

 

4*

Fake relationship, forced proximity gay romance that goes well beyond the typical tropes to highlight the process of coming out on your own terms. 

James is a Chicago-area cop who has spent the last 13 years of his life living as an out and proud gay man, except to his ultra-conservative, Christian family back in Montana. When his older sister announces her impending marriage, he is desperate to find a female beard rather than show up solo, having to fend off his mother’s matchmaking efforts. No one is more surprised than he when he enlists the help of drag queen Lala Traviata (aka Daniel) to play his fake girlfriend Daniella. During the week of pre-wedding events, Daniella saves the day more than once, all while the two of them are struggling to remain platonic while sharing a bed, investigating the creepy pastor who’s officiating the ceremony, fending off the scummy best man, and trying to avoid exposing James’s sexuality. The question is, is anyone being honest?

Although there’s plenty of lightheartedness and humor as well as kindness and caring between James, Daniel, and his sisters, there is also an exploration of the stages a gay man works through to fully come out, especially facing the fear and pain of rejection by those who are supposed to love him unconditionally. James’s overbearing mother, with her cross-stitched 10 commandments for how her children should behave hanging prominently on the wall, goes to extremes to force her concepts about what her grown kids need, going so far as to almost sabotage her daughter’s wedding. At times, it’s difficult to witness how misguided and blinded supposed good Christians can be, but author Grey does a great job of balancing the highs and lows of family expectations.

As a straight, older, agnostic white woman, I can’t speak on the authenticity of the portrayal, although I believe Andrew Grey is gay and knows what he writes. However, I can say that he has written a unique story that evokes a range of emotions and had me reading it in one sitting. Highly recommended.

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

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

5*

On his first day of work in the ER, Jacob Maddox is dubbed “Doctor Death” by the nursing staff after he loses 7 patients. If that isn’t bad enough, his severe social anxiety leads to some faux pas that give everyone, especially Dr. Briana Ortiz, the impression that he’s rude as well. In Briana’s eyes, his bad reputation is cemented when she’s told by her superior that her presumed promotion to Head of Emergency Medicine isn’t a guarantee since the new guy is now in the running. So, imagine her confusion when more than one friend tells her she’s misjudged him and that he’s one of the good ones. Who would have thought Jacob’s letter of apology would be the start of a beautiful friendship?

In less talented and superficial hands, this might have been just another simple enemies-to-lovers workplace romance. However, Jimenez gives us LAYERS. Although Jacob struggles to be understood and to navigate social situations, he is one of the most empathetic and altruistic characters ever written, and it’s this care and concern for others that leads him to donate a kidney to Briana’s younger brother. In return, she offers to be his fake girlfriend through the minefield created when his ex-girlfriend and younger brother decide to marry, his family withholding their acceptance of the new relationship until they’re sure Jacob is past his heartbreak. As the weeks pass leading up to the wedding and the transplant surgery, feelings between them begin to grow, but the inevitable misunderstanding gets in the way. Briana doesn’t trust men or her own judgment after being abandoned by her father as a child and her ex-husband in the worst possible way, so is there any chance that they’ll ever have a future together?

In one of the most poignant scenes in this touching romance, Briana says of Jacob, “He let me look into his soul.” Jimenez, with her gift for crafting complex characters navigating some of life’s hardest challenges, has given her readers that same glimpse into the souls of both main characters. In so doing, she has left us with an indelible impression of the power of selfless, harmless, enduring love. Highly recommended!

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.

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

4*

Lovely new adult romance between star-crossed lovers…the townie bad boy and the rich girl. The relationship between Mac and Cooper starts with a lie, an act of revenge that puts Mac in the middle. Her long-time boyfriend, Preston, is the stereotypical rich asshole who uses his daddy’s money to threaten and try to destroy people he feels are trash (which is everyone outside his wealthy circle). Like the real-life rapist Brock Turner, he tries to force himself on a friend of Cooper’s and when Coop defends her, Preston has him fired. The best and only way to get back at him is through the girlfriend. No surprise that what starts out as a revenge plot turns into much more. Of course, as these things go, he’s bound to get caught in his lies. The question is whether or not Mac is the forgiving kind.

Although it’s a familiar trope, the complexities of their lives, including a negligent childhood lacking in love, and their drive to prove themselves despite their parenting elevate this book. Kennedy has written a story that plumbs emotional depths and gets to the heart of what it means for two young people to break from the constraints imposed by falling in line with the expectations society has formed based on their parents’ selfish choices. In the case of Mac and Cooper, they really see each other and, with each other’s support and encouragement, gain the clarity and courage to break from these restraints to pursue their goals and dreams. Highly 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.

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

 

4*

This is a fake dating romance featuring Dean, a lawyer who has his whole life planned, including a strategic marriage of convenience, and Solange, an educator/social worker who crashes Dean’s wedding to keep him and his intended from marrying for all the wrong reasons. When Dean realizes that having a girlfriend would make him more competitive at a shot of becoming partner, he asks Solange to enter into a fake relationship, which she’s on board with since she’s in need of a fake boyfriend as well thanks to her mother’s lie to save face with her annoying cousin. Talk about a relationship of convenience!

Thus ensues a steamy romance with all of the predictable tropes, including having to share a bed, finding their chemistry is off the charts when they have to act like they’re in love by sharing public displays of affection, and more. Of course, they’ve both made it clear from the start that they’re not interested in love and commitment, and it’s baggage from being raised by single moms at the root. Although there’s nothing particularly unique or memorable in this version of the fake dating trope, Solange’s family dynamics, especially between her Brazilian mother and two aunts, make for an amusing journey. It’s also fun to catch up with Max and Lina from The Worst Best Man. (Solange and Lina are cousins and more like sisters.)

If you’re looking for a fun, easy read that’s light on the angst and rife with sexual tension, pick this one up.

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

When We Were Them by Laura Taylor Namey

 

4.5*


After reading Namey’s first book, The Library of Lost Things, and loving the humor, the romance, and the bookstore setting, I wasn’t expecting or prepared for the emotional tsunami of this book. Set in Namey’s hometown of San Diego, it’s a beautiful portrayal of female friendship and the multiple ways love manifests. Although there’s a romantic element, it’s the story behind the relationships and the impact grief and guilt have on families and friendships that are the primary focus.

Willa, Luz, and Britton have been inseparable friends for a decade, but a single act of betrayal by Willa threatens to tear them apart. In order to gain the forgiveness she craves, Luz demands that Willa think about the real reasons for her actions in the week leading up to their high school graduation. As she begins to go through a box full of mementos that dredge up very painful memories, the narrative switches between graduation week and a past she needs to revisit in order to piece together the events that led up to her betrayal. Foremost is a near-tragic event at age 13 that affected them all and led to her mother mentally withdrawing and focusing all of her attention on her backyard garden, leaving Willa to find comfort and support from her friends’ families instead.

The heartbreaking journey Willa takes is difficult to read, as Namey does a masterful job of wringing all sorts of emotions from her readers. At times, especially at the beginning, it’s a bit difficult to understand where the set-up is leading, but it’s only a minor distraction which becomes clear as the story unfolds and ultimately reaches its conclusion. Have tissues handy for this one! Highly recommended.

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

Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

5*


This debut novel is an excellent portrayal of the stages of grief and the incredible hole the death of loved ones leaves, whether it’s a parent, a child, a niece or nephew, or a friend. In this case, Jo has recently lost her nephew Samson to a tragic accident after suddenly losing her father when she was only 12. As a result, she’s closed herself off emotionally to avoid being hurt or abandoned again. Of course, it takes a hot guy (in all his iterations) and the vulnerability of her two grieving nieces (visiting for the summer) to make her realize that being alone is no way to live.

The romance, which starts with a steamy meet-cute kiss in a bar, builds slowly, especially since both Alex and Jo are resistant to opening themselves up. However, the friendship is enviable and the way they tease and laugh together is delightful. Jo is also blessed with a colorful, quirky best friend and boss, Nina, who pushes her out of her comfort zone by encouraging her to live her fullest life leading up to her 30th birthday. In fact, she suggested the 30 by 30 bucket list which starts with a blog and drives much of the action throughout the story. When Samson’s sudden death temporarily halts her progress and the unexpected arrival of her nieces derails her plans for a vacation to Europe to check off two items on the list (sleep in a castle and visit 10 countries), it takes some creative thinking to achieve her goal. However, with the help of her friends and family, completion might be attainable.

The emotions Ruiz draws from readers is a testament to her power as a storyteller. She doesn’t shy away from the hard truths, yet she’s respectful of the pain and guilt the death of a child evokes. Highly 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.

One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

4*

Gayle Mitchell is a successful consultant and bestselling author of self-help books who has inspired and changed the lives of countless readers. However, the confidence she displays hides a world of hurt that impacted the way she parented. As a result, she hasn’t spoken to her two daughters, Samantha and Ella, for 5 years following an emotional blow-up. It takes a serious accident for her to begin questioning the choices she made in raising her daughters as a single mom.

When Gayle suggests that they all spend Christmas together at Kinleven, a lodge in the Scottish Highlands which Samantha is evaluating as a possible destination for her luxury travel company, it sets in motion a confrontation that can either permanently sever their relationship or clear a path to reconciliation. For that to happen, all three women will need to acknowledge their feelings and Gayle will have to share the events that led to her rigid and emotionally bereft child-rearing.

Morgan has deftly woven the Mitchell family saga with that of the McIntyre clan, owners of Kinleven, along with a sizzling romance between Samantha and Brodie. The wintry beauty of the Highlands is the backdrop for an unforgettably magical Christmas that ushers in hope and happiness after a lifetime of secrets and suffering. A satisfying read for the coming holidays!

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

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella

5*

Another treat from Sophie Kinsella! It’s all about how, despite love and the perception of permanence, families and romantic relationships can fall apart. The question is, can they be restored to some semblance of the original or are they irretrievably broken?

Effie, age 26, is the youngest of 3 children who have grown up in a quirky (aka, so ugly, only a mother could love) home with a loving dad and stepmom. So, it’s a shock when her parents announce their divorce. Fast forward 18 months and her dad has a new girlfriend from hell and has become someone nearly unrecognizable. When he announces that the family home is being sold, feelings of loss and anger drive the narrative. Effie, who turns down an anti-invitation to a “house cooling” party, decides to sneak in to retrieve a treasured set of Russian nesting dolls and ends up accidentally crashing the party.

The romantic entanglements include not just her father and Krista, but also her brother Gus with his equally bitchy girlfriend, her sister Bean and her fledgling relationship with her new guy, and Effie and her lost love Joe. Four years earlier, Effie and Joe’s lifelong friends-to-lovers relationship abruptly ended with no explanation. Other than one awkward encounter in the interim, they’ve had no communication and no hope for reconciliation. Yet, over the course of the party weekend, truths come to light leading to decisions that will either strengthen and restore bonds or leave carnage in their wake.

Kinsella is always dependable for giving readers satisfying romances with ample amounts of humor and family drama. The Party Crasher does not disappoint. Highly recommended!

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

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

 

4*

Trigger warnings: rape, grief, child abuse, death, murder

I just don’t know how to feel about this book. On the one hand, it’s beautifully written, full of metaphors and descriptions of the harsh beauty of Cape Cod. On the other hand, there are more tragedies and trigger points than I want to bear, especially given how ugly our real world is at the moment. We are in an unprecedented time where the vileness of humanity is on full display, so it’s especially painful to read about fictional monsters who prey on children and disheartening to witness both the toxic masculinity and the subjugation of women that breed this kind of monster. It’s also very upsetting to read about selfish parents who betray their children by not protecting them or go out of their way to put themselves or their partner’s needs first.

At its heart, this is a love triangle that lay dormant for decades thanks to the shame and guilt generated by one momentary, deadly decision. When absolution finally comes, our female protagonist Elle must choose between two men she loves: Jonas, a man she’s known since childhood who shares her deepest secrets or her steady, kind, funny husband Peter (and 3 children) who deserve her loyalty. Either way, she will have regrets and will cause pain to herself and those she loves. The fact that the author leaves the ending ambiguous after making us suffer along with the main characters seems somewhat cruel.

In addition to a romance, this is also a family saga that is chock full of dysfunction: rape and assault, divorce, child abuse, abandonment, premature death, victim shaming and so much more. The steady stream of disturbingly emotional and graphic vignettes wears on the soul and brings up memories of my own life, some that have striking parallels. Even the simplest things, like the old “important phone numbers” list (heavily edited over the years), the Sunfish sailing classes, the changing social landscape of the beach enclave, and the paper walls of the family cabins (thus “The Paper Palace”), remind me of my childhood summers in Rhode Island and my regrets over losing that special place.

Ultimately, this book is a worthwhile read because it doesn’t allow you to coast through it. It wraps its tentacles around you, squeezing out emotional reactions that want to remain hidden. Given that it’s the newest Reese Witherspoon book club selection, it will have an eager audience, but it’s essential that readers be warned about potential triggers because even the healthiest beings will be wrung out by the end.

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

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

5*

Reena, a middle-child in a traditional Muslim Indian family, is sandwiched between an older brother who has done everything right and a younger sister who is self-absorbed, somewhat passive aggressive and obsessed with healthy eating, to the point that she destroyed her sister’s side business blogging food and chance at a cookbook deal when she posts a diatribe on food bloggers pushing fattening foods. She has very low self-esteem and sees herself as a failure at everything, but especially relationships (12 in 13 years) and jobs (one layoff after another due to downsizing). She’s stuck in finance because she doesn’t want to work for the family development firm, but also doesn’t see a way to turn her passion for artisanal bread baking into a viable career.

Added to all of this are Indian Muslim parents who emigrated to Toronto from Tanzania who are pushing eligible, but totally unappealing men at her in the hopes she’ll marry someone of her kind and pump out some babies. Then Nadim moves in across the hall, a sexy “brown Captain America” with a swoonworthy smirk and British accent. Before she even has a chance to learn more than his name, he reveals that he’s her dad’s new employee and arranged marriage prospect thanks to a business deal between their fathers.

So what’s a girl to do? In her case, she’s pushed into entering a televised cooking contest where she needs a fiancé. Turns out that Nadim is the perfect and willing candidate to fake it. When their drunken audition video lands them a spot, they become fast friends, agreeing to an “unengagement” and fighting an attraction because there’s no way Reena will give her parents the satisfaction of falling for one of their chosen marriage prospects, no matter how appealing.

This story proved to be so much more than a lightweight rom-com. Although there’s humor, chemistry (of both the physical and kitchen variety), and family drama, there are also some heavy topics. When a family that thrives on gossip (while keeping their own secrets) and long-time rivalries starts coming apart at the seams, issues such as eating disorders, depression, and bad decisions threaten to tear them apart. However, the author treats our MCs with compassion and proves that with a little faith, emotional support (from each other and a couple of LGBTQ friends and relatives), and killer sourdough, mistakes of the past can be overcome and the patriarchical nature of their community can be overcome. Highly recommend.

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.

Sunkissed by Kasie West

 

4*

Very cute teen romance with only a mild bit of angst. If you combine Dirty Dancing (without the sex) with A Star is Born (without the tragedy), you get a really good sense of the plot of this book. There’s Brooks, the hot rocker with a heart of gold, who works at a woodsy resort in Northern CA so he can both escape the obligations to his family and raise funds for his father’s medical bills and Avery, the good girl who doesn’t like conflict, which means she trods the path of least resistance. When she realizes that she’s not living a life she’s chosen, she makes a vow to get out of her comfort zone, and Brooks is there to encourage her every step of the way. They break all the rules to help each other fulfill their dreams and, in the process, fall in love. Supporting them is a solid group of friends and Avery’s younger sister, all of whom spur them on to reach for the stars. Fans of Morgan Matson, Huntley Fitzpatrick, and Sarah Dessen will love this great summer read. Highly recommended.

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

Life's Too Short (The Friend Zone #3) by Abby Jimenez

4.5*


Trigger warnings for mental illness, drug addiction, and grief.

It’s extremely challenging to talk about this story without spoilers, so I won’t go beyond the basic set-up. Just know that it’s about two really kind, decent people, travel vlogger Vanessa Price and criminal defense attorney Adrian Copeland, the cousin of Josh from The Friend Zone (Book 1), who we first met in The Happy Ever After Playlist (Book 2) when he went on a double date with female lead Sloan Monroe. (We are given a nice catch-up with the two couples in this book.) Vanessa began her highly-successful YouTube channel after losing her older sister to ALS (a disease that also took her grandmother, mother, and aunt). She has a 50/50 chance of succumbing as well, so she doesn’t want to waste a single moment wallowing, choosing to travel the world instead. In her introductory video, she shares her intention to donate proceeds to ALS research.

She meets her next door neighbor Adrian after he knocks on her door at 4:00 a.m. to see if she can get her baby to stop crying. (It’s actually her niece who she’s fostering.) This leads to a fast friendship that quickly becomes serious, a true meeting of soulmates. However, the past trauma of losing parents, either through abandonment, death, or mental illness (her father is an extreme hoarder), has greatly impacted their way of dealing with life’s challenges. For Vanessa, it’s to push away negative thoughts, even if it means sometimes faking happiness. In Adrian’s case, it’s to maintain total control and bury himself in his work. Will they be able to adapt and change to give each other unconditional love or will they crash and burn? You’ll need to read (and cry a lot of tears) to find out.

I’d give this a 5*, but it put me through the emotional wringer, so I can’t be objective. All 3 books in this series have female protagonists dealing with life-altering (or, in this case, life-threatening) conditions. The romances are genuine, complex, and deeply-emotional and the men they love are supportive and willing to make sacrifices (in this case, eventually). However, Jimenez never lets her readers forget that life is fragile and that we’re all on this planet to make the best of bad situations and find joy amidst the disappointments and tragedies we’ll all face on the journey. As this title so aptly points out, life IS too short and we must live our best lives rather than dwelling on the inevitability of future loss. Although this is a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first two books as well because, despite the heavy subject matter, they are extremely well-written stories of loss, grief, love, and redemption.


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

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

5*


Trigger warning: Child and spousal abuse

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a run-of-the-mill enemies-to-lovers romance. This one throws an emotional punch and then some. Yes, the set-up is that Liam Murphy broke Daisy Patel’s heart when he stood her up for her senior prom and then left town without a word. He was her brother’s best friend and a part of her family, so the devastation was worse because he not only rejected her, but her father and brother as well. When she accidentally runs into him 10 years later, she soundly rejects his friendly overture; that is, until he proposes a fake engagement. For him, it’s a way to save his family’s distillery and, for her, it means getting her well-meaning matchmaking aunties off her back and finding a way to save the start-up organic feminine products company she’s come to care about. However, as so often happens, the emotions become real and someone’s going to get hurt.

Where this diverges from the normal trope is in the story of their childhood traumas. Desai spares nothing in her descriptions of the damage caused by Liam’s abusive father and Daisy’s casually cruel mother who abandoned her at age 7. They’re both suffering under the mistaken belief that they’re not worthy of love, and it’ll take a near-tragedy and some painful confessions before they can have a chance of absolving themselves and each other.

Ultimately, this is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of love and family to right the wrongs of the past. It’s also a steamy romance between a sexy math nerd who doesn’t see how powerful she can be and a broken man who has achieved professional success, in large part to spite the father who made it his life’s mission to pound any self-worth out of him. The juxtaposition of Daisy’s meddling, but loving Indian-American family against Liam’s emotionally-distant, alcohol-abusing Irish one feeds into negative stereotypes, but it’s integral to the story and not gratuitous or ill-intended. Desai does a commendable job of defining her characters and readers can’t help but root for these damaged souls to find love and contentment with each other. Highly recommended.

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

Love at First by Kate Clayborn

5*


When Will first visits the Chicago apartment building he inherited from his uncle, his only thought is to sell it as soon as the year his uncle required he keep it expires. He refuses to live there due to the bad memories associated with it, except for one shining exception: the young girl he saw on a balcony tossing cherry tomatoes at the squirrels who strikes his very heart and soul, a feeling he’ll never forget. Although he never got the chance to speak with her, Nora is the one bright spot in a day when Will lost everything. When he finds her 16 years later, living in her late grandmother’s apartment and looking out for the older tenants who are like family, he realizes that his plans to rent the apartment short-term will make him the enemy. Despite Nora and the others’ attempts to sabotage his efforts, the two are drawn to each other.

Clayborn has such a way with words. Describing their first pseudo-date on a Lake Michigan beach and discovering the comfort and joy they find in each other’s company, she writes, ”Between them, the jacket-tablecloth had wrinkled up, a dozing chaperone.” So much of their relationship is conveyed with looks, limited words, and intense feelings that can’t be hidden. However, the path to happily-ever-after is strewn with the baggage of childhood neglect and abandonment for both of them, and Will is determined to avoid falling into the “rash, reckless, selfish” love he witnessed between his parents (as described by his uncle on that fateful day). Out of fear that he might follow in his parents’ footsteps, he spent his adult life proving that he could be stable, measured, and in control, going on to become an ER doctor. It will take a great deal of persuasion on the part of friends who care for him to get him to accept that there isn’t just one way to love.

There’s so much packed into this beautiful, enemies-to-lovers story: genuine emotion, a subtle romance with mild sex scenes, selfish parenting, and a colorful cast of secondary characters who offer a platonic, at times parental, kind of love. This is a very worthy follow-up to Love Lettering, and you won’t be able to help being charmed by the well-meaning extended family. Highly recommend!

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