Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

 

4*

Be careful what you wish for!

When Brynn, a divorcee and uber-fan of the teen drama series Carson’s Cove (think Dawson’s Creek), blows out the candle on her 30th birthday cake, she wishes “to finally get the perfect happily ever after.” So, when she wakes up the next morning in Carson’s Cove, which she described as “comfort food in television form” and the show that helped her through her difficult teenage years and was a balm after her life fell apart post-divorce, she’s cautiously excited. Unfortunately, her roommate Josh, who she’s just recently realized she’s attracted to, has traversed the space-time continuum with her. According to Sheldon, the evil mastermind who caused their teleportation, the only way to get back home is for Brynn to play Sloan, fall in love with Spencer (the teen heart throbs who never got their happy ending when the show was abruptly cancelled), and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, after 15 years, they aren’t the same people and the idealized, made-for-tv version of this charming small town isn’t what it appears to be. What’s a woman to do when she gets everything she wished for, but no longer wants it?

I generally enjoy a romance with a bit of magical realism, and this unique story is no exception. I do wonder how Sheldon was able to make it all happen, but beyond that, it was fun to see how perfection on the screen hides the messy reality that is life. This story has a bit of everything: pseudo-villains, false friends, a love triangle, small town romance, falling for the bad boy, female empowerment, and more. The chemistry between Brynn and Josh is smoking, all characters are well-defined, the dual POV was a plus, and the pacing is on point. If you’re looking for a fun, low stakes romance, check this one out. 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.

Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy

 

3*

Abbey Bly is the daughter of an aging rock star who quit touring when she was 11 to become an overprotective, full-time dad. The last thing he wants is for Abbey to repeat his mistakes. So, when she announces she is going to Pembridge University in London for her sophomore year, he doesn’t take the news well. When she arrives, she discovers that what she thought were three female roommates are actually attractive men (with androgynous names). Lee is the fashionable gay one, Jamie the whorish aristocratic one, and Jack the Australian Chris Hemsworth lookalike who she’s instantly attracted to. However, the number one (and only) house rule is no fraternizing among housemates.

Unlike their American counterparts, these three are not impressed with her dad’s fame which is a huge relief to her. As Jamie says, “Englishmen only make a big deal about pints and footy.” Being the daughter of a rockstar and a groupie, Abbey never understood musician worship until her first night out with the gang…when she’s dumbstruck by the edgy singer/guitarist on stage, Nate. Soon, she’s juggling her feelings for two guys and still keeping the truth of her living arrangement from her dad.

In addition to the romance, there’s also a mystery element to Girl Abroad. Shortly after Abbey is given a year-long assignment to research and report on an interesting topic, she discovers a painting of a mysterious woman from the 1940s-50s at an estate sale at an ancestral home of the Tulley family, aristocrats who have fallen on hard times. She decides to investigate what this woman’s connection is to the Tulleys, one of whom paid to have her portrait painted. The only clue she has is a Dear John letter tucked into the back of the frame from Josephine to the man she’s rejecting. Josephine was in a love triangle, and it’s Abbey’s job to discover who she chose and what became of them all. As a librarian and lover of research, I found this subplot really compelling.

One big frustration I had that almost spoiled the book completely for me is that nearly halfway through the book, Abbey is in a love triangle with two different guys, but she can’t have either of them. It’s a double slow burn, but when it catches fire, it feels almost like cheating although none of them is willing to commit. It’s all a little too messy for my taste, especially when the feelings are strong all around. I didn’t feel Abbey had enough of a personality for two guys to fall for her, and her behavior was really hypocritical. Unfortunately, aside from the mystery element, there isn’t much to recommend this story. It falls far short of Kennedy’s hockey romances.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Bloom Books 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

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

5*

In her delightful and heart-warming debut novel set in London, British author Beth O’Leary transcends the typical contemporary romance by introducing a unique approach to building a relationship through Post-It notes and shared food, delicately handling the topic of PTSD from an emotionally-abusive relationship, and tackling racial profiling. In a dual narrative format, we are privy to the intimate thoughts of two wonderful protagonists. Socially anxious Leon communicates in shorthand and works as a palliative care nurse. He needs money for his incarcerated brother’s legal fees, so decides to advertise a flatshare (or, more accurately, a bedshare). Tiffy, asst. editor for a crafting and DIY publisher, with a colorful attitude and wardrobe to match, responds after being evicted from her ex-boyfriend’s flat. With both of them working opposite shifts, they never expect to meet, but fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans. A strong group of secondary characters including Rachel the best friend, Gerty the barrister, Mo the counselor, Holly the young, but wise-beyond-her-years leukemia patient, Richie the incarcerated brother, and Katherin the demanding knitting and crochet book author provide sound advice, a little match-making help, and emotional support when Justin, the vile and controlling ex-boyfriend, keeps pushing his way into her life. For fans of Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne, Helen Hoang, and Josie Silver.

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