Georgie, All Along by Kate Claiborne

5*


The title would seem to indicate that this is Georgie’s story, but, in my opinion, it’s Levi’s. After losing her job and housing when her celebrity boss decides to retire, Georgie heads home to try and figure out what she wants to do with her life. However, replacing this “blankness” she feels with a man or by completing a bucket list she wrote in 8th grade seems lame. Conversely, Levi’s story is complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately much more redemptive than Georgie’s. Yes, they need each other to find fulfilment, but Georgie’s journey pales in comparison.

I’ve marked this lower because I just can’t get past the fact that Levi is clearly autistic and Clayborn should have acknowledged that. What’s worse is that his autism is used to villainize him, and it takes ten years of his continued suffering and self-recrimination before those who should love him unconditionally make amends. If it weren’t for Georgie’s presence, he might have lived the rest of his life in a small metaphorical cage he created to keep himself and those around him safe.

Despite these flaws, this grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, small town romance ranks higher than most in the genre. Clayborn has a gift for storytelling, with the talent for imbuing her characters with richness and depth and painting a physical landscape that takes on a character of its own. She doesn’t rely on tired, manufactured conflicts due to poor communication to drive the plot, but also doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that human frailty and insecurities can throw up roadblocks that make the path of love anything but smooth. The romance between Georgie and Levi is a beautiful demonstration of how two mature, empathetic, fallible people can successfully navigate a relationship. 

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.

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.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

 

5*

Who would have ever thought that this wonderful writing duo could ever equal or perhaps top Love and Other Words or Roomies, but they’ve done it with The True Love Experiment. This isn’t just a mature, friends-to-lovers romance between feisty, sexy, unapologetic romance author Fizzy Chen and the absolutely perfect book boyfriend, sexy, British, and reluctant dating reality show producer Connor Prince, but also a loving dedication to the romance genre, its writers and fandom as well.

Fizzy, who is the best friend of Jess, the heroine in The Soulmate Equation, is 37 years old and, despite having published several best-selling romance novels, has never experienced love and is facing severe writer’s block. Connor, a documentary filmmaker and single dad, has been told by his boss that he has to pivot and produce a reality dating show or risk losing his job. After admiring Fizzy from a distance in a bar, he serendipitously discovers her books on his ex-wife’s shelves and is inspired to create a show where she is the heroine. Fizzy’s initial reaction to the offer is a solid ‘No’ followed by an agreement to do it if he casts romantic hero archetypes to compete for her affection. As they spend months together, first on ‘joy excursions,’ then on set and in intimate post-episode confessionals, they struggle to fight their feelings and the scorching chemistry between them. However, with Connor’s livelihood on the line if their growing attraction were to be exposed, can they take the chance?

This has all the elements that Christina Lauren does so well: humorous banter, undeniable chemistry, well-developed personalities, strong family dynamics and friendships, and a cast of secondary characters who add depth and color to the story. The archetypal contestants are a hoot, Jess and her husband River feature prominently, and their daughter, precocious Juno, meets her match in Connor’s daughter Stevie. It’s so affirming to read a solid defense for the romance genre as well. If you’re looking for a captivating, feel-good romance with an intensely satisfying, steamy as hell, well-rounded relationship with a low degree of angst, pick up or download this one today. Very highly recommended! 

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

Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

5*

Beautiful friends-to-lovers romance between childhood friends who first fell in love in college, though tragic circumstances kept them in the friend zone for almost 10 years.

At age 21, just as they’re about to admit their feelings for each other, Mia falls ill while Noah is on a mountain climbing trip with his brother. The events of that tragic weekend led to both of them lying to themselves and each other, saying they want to remain just friends. It isn’t until Mia wins a scholarship to return to school at age 30 (which she is ready to turn down because she needs health insurance through her job) that Noah proposes they get married so she can quit and fulfill her dream of becoming a dietician. It’s inevitable that what starts as a marriage of convenience with a side of insurance fraud will lead to more, especially since they’re sharing a home. The question is, will Mia allow Noah to sacrifice his own dreams to take care of her as her kidney disease worsens and will Noah be able to give up his fear of losing her if it means he can start living life fully again?

The love between Mia and Noah is intense and oh so beautiful. There’s definitely sexual tension, but the love scenes are all fade to black. The emotional baggage these two share is totally understandable, but the willing, albeit misguided, sacrifices they both make are frustrating to read, which is a tribute to author Ashley. There’s a true villain who gets his comeuppance, enviable friendships, role models in their parents’ long marriages, and some insight into what it means to live with a chronic disease. There are definitely tear-jerker moments, but this beautiful love story is worth the tissues. Highly recommended.

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

Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer

 

5*

Dara Rabinowitz, age 34, is a third-generation matchmaker who brought the family tradition into the 21st century when she created J-Mate, an online dating platform that uses an algorithm based on her Bubbe Miriam’s methods for successful marriages. She’s struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder since her teens, and, following the death of her mother 10 years prior, has become a near hermit other than her professional obligations and frequent visits with her grandmother. Ironically, as the CEO of the multimillion-dollar business, she’s rarely dated.

This all changes when she and her Bubbe Miriam appear on the Good News show with host Christopher Steadfast (who Dara has secretly crushed on for 2 years) and her grandmother goes off-script, sharing Dara’s list of qualities of the perfect Jewish husband. Despite her extreme embarrassment, the episode goes viral and presents an opportunity for J-Mate to get more business and Good News to survive cancellation due to flagging viewership. Dara just has to agree to date men Chris finds who are candidates for Mr. Perfect on Paper. What can possibly go wrong? When Dara finally meets Mr. Perfect, will she ignore her growing feelings for Chris and settle for a man who checks all the boxes? After all, in Dara’s words, love “doesn’t conquer all.” Will Chris be able to move beyond his grief over the death of his wife, especially if he refuses to process it?

This is a verrrry slow burn romance, but the sexual tension is there in the subtle touches, longing glances and near-kisses. There’s also the fact that Chris’s mere presence calms Dara’s anxiety and their growing, unspoken feelings for each other force them out of hiding. For Gentiles, it’s a lesson in the laws and customs of Judaism with a very liberal sprinkling of Yiddish words and phrases and a peek into the conflict between religious adherence to the prohibition against interfaith marriage and forbidden love. Meltzer deftly manages to strike a balance between the ravages of grief and the humor in everyday situations (and disastrous dates), keeping the story from getting bogged down with emotional baggage. The antics of Bubbe Miriam and her geriatric girl squad, The ChallahBack Girls, are both hilarious and endearing, and Chris’s preteen daughter Lacey brings surprisingly wisdom and insight that aid in the plot development. Highly recommended.

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

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

 

5*

After having sat in on a panel discussion last spring with author Hazelwood, I now understand why she and several more of our best contemporary romance authors (including Diana Gabaldon and Lauren Billings of the writing duo Christina Lauren) went from careers in STEM to writing romance. At the very least, they are finally getting the recognition (and, hopefully, financial rewards) they deserve. 

In Love on the Brain, neuroscientist Dr. Bee Konigswasser has been fighting her entire career against the unfair treatment women in STEM (especially academia) face from a field full of predominantly white men. Using “trademarked” phrases like Cockcluster and Wurstfest, in describing this seemingly impenetrable brick wall, is the least she can do to release some of the tension and anger she feels when she and her fellow women in STEM are confronted with this misogynistic reality. As a way to fight back anonymously, Bee started a Twitter account as an homage to her hero, Marie Curie, called @WhatWouldMarieDo and has been evading potential career-destroying detection for 4 years. However, other than providing support and encouragement to other female scientists, she’s also developed an open online friendship with Shmac, one of the few male scientists who truly champion and support their female colleagues.

After a bad betrayal and break-up, following by a depressive slump two years before, she’s finally been tapped to lead a joint NASA-NIH project. Unfortunately, even before flying to Houston, she finds out the co-lead is her arch nemesis Levi Ward, a man whose utter disdain for her during grad school was the stuff of legend. Will having to work with him lead to another career dead-end, especially if he goes so far as to sabotage her work? Or will she find that her perception of him has been wrong all along?

Hazelwood’s follow-up to The Love Hypothesis is equally as charming and sexy, with subtly-coded neurodivergent characters who struggle to communicate their feelings but who connect on a cerebral and sometimes nerdy level. Whether it’s bonding over Star Wars, comparing Levi’s rescue cat to Bee’s “imaginary” one, competing over hummingbird sightings, or surprisingly supporting and defending each others’ work in the lab, their journey to love is a joy to behold. Highly recommended!

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

Luck and Last Resorts (Love, Lists and Fancy Ships #2) by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

3*

Possible spoilers


Nina Lejeune, former champion gymnast, has been stewardess on the charter yacht Serendipity for 9 years. It’s where she met both Ollie, her long-time love interest (otherwise undefinable, as you’ll see if you read this story) and her best friend Jo (heroine of Book 1) and is the figurative lifeboat that saved her from drowning in debt and despair after the worst sort of betrayal by her parents, the people who should have loved her most. Irishman Ollie, at times surly and other times charming, is the yacht’s chef and has been in love with Nina for years. However, her inability to commit to a future with him has driven him to despair. With both of them carrying some pretty heavy baggage from the past, will Nina be able to give Ollie what he wants before it’s too late?

I was so excited for this sequel after absolutely loving Love, Lists and Fancy Ships. So I can’t help but feel let down by Nina and Ollie’s story for so many reasons. I found it exceedingly difficult to have any sympathy for Nina given how long she treated Ollie with such disregard and flippancy. I’d say that Ollie is a saint for having put up with her, but, by the end of the book, I understand his (for lack of a better word) co-dependency. Nina seemed unwilling to make any changes in her life, still deluding herself that her two rules were in effect: always have fun and don’t rely on anyone. As a result, her near-constant deflections from anything serious and her lies (even to herself) concerning her real feelings had her coming off as exceedingly selfish, immature, and cruel. If I hadn’t cared so much for Ollie, I would have preferred that this not end with a happily-ever-after.

Ultimately, this just dragged on too long, shifting back and forth from present day to chapters showing their relationship’s development and stagnation over the years. I felt like I was reading a version of Groundhog Day, with the same scenario on repeat with no forward progress. It’s very telling, for a fast reader, that I was shocked to see that it was only 335 pages. It’s such a huge disappointment when the sequel to one of my favorite romances is one that stressed me out rather than uplifted me.

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

The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson

 4*

In The Accidental Pinup, author Daniellle Jackson tackles misogyny, toxic masculinity, the patriarchy and systemic racism in both the fashion industry and the business community as a whole. Cass Harris is an educated, talented, successful photographer (and voluptuous, beautiful black woman) who has consistently been passed over for jobs in favor of Reid Montgomery, a white male competitor who is known for his vintage pinup-inspired style. While her Buxom Boudoir business (started with her supermodel, social media influencer, and emerging lingerie designer best friend Dana) is booming, she wants the recognition and prestige that would come with directing and shooting a major national advertising campaign. When Dana collaborates with Luscious Lingerie to produce her body-positive, edgy Dreamland line, it’s with the understanding that Cass, her muse, will be in charge. However, when Dana is forced to go on bed rest early in her pregnancy and the executives at Luscious express their discomfort working with a relatively unknown photographer, she is once again passed over for the job in favor of Reid. The compromise is for Cass to replace Dana as the primary model as well as serve as Art Director, but will the greedy capitalists on the board be able to step outside their comfort zone and back up their performative support for the body-confidence movement by entrusting a major campaign to a plus-size black woman?

 

When Reid and Cass start working together, sparks start to fly almost immediately despite their professional relationship. It’s a pleasure to see how they treat each other with mutual respect and share their love of both photography and their city of Chicago. However, will the pressures of family and finances destroy everything they’ve been building?

 

As someone who has more than a little knowledge of how shamefully the fashion industry treats curvy women and black models in particular, it is frustrating and stressful to read about Cass’s experiences since they accurately reflect the real struggles black women face in the business world. However, it’s a testament to Jackson that she makes readers uncomfortable. I also appreciate that she has a male protagonist who can admit when he’s wrong and who is attracted to a curvy woman without qualifiers. This story will appeal to readers who are looking for strong, successful heroines and have a passing interest in the fashion industry. Highly recommended.

 

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Books 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.

 

Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay #2) by Elle Kennedy

 

3*

This second book in the Avalon Bay series is the love story between Evan, identical twin of Cooper from Good Girl Complex, and his on again-off again girlfriend Genevieve. It is all about second chances…and not just the romantic variety. 

 

The main problem with this story is the dynamic between Evan and Cooper which is really off-putting. Their angry, violent reactions to perceived and actual slights (often rooted in jealousy) are not only unattractive but, in my opinion, raise red flags about how they’ll treat the women and children in their lives if they don’t get their behavior under control. It’s hard to imagine how the immature, reckless Evan can redeem himself by the end of the book, but he manages it because he knows he’ll never win Genevieve if he doesn’t clean up his act. One has to wonder if, once the story ends, this very young couple will have the happily-ever-after romance fans expect. 

 

Overall, it’s a good book in terms of writing and character development, but the male protagonists are not easy to like. Fans of the first book are apt to be disappointed. 

 

Trigger warning: bad cops 

 

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.