Kay (Wild Things) offers a compassionate look at the coming-of-age of a late bloomer who isn’t sure she even wants to flower. Recovering from years of debilitating depression, Issy sticks to things that make her feel safe: her quiet seaside town in England, her mother’s flat, and the love of her life—her chinchilla, Abigail. Whenever Issy needs to create something to push away the dark feelings, Abigail is her muse, which explains the hundreds of sketches and sculptures of the critter that fill her apartment. This singular focus catches the eye of a local artist and hometown success story, who offers Issy a year working in London as one of her production assistants. Suddenly thrust into the vibrant, challenging world of the city, Issy realizes how much she doesn’t know—including how to get closer to her stunning actress roommate Robin, how to win over her brusque colleague Aubrey, how to take care of herself and Abigail, and how to make art that matters in the face of it all. The inevitable romance takes a back seat to Issy’s journey of self-discovery, but Kay’s characters are delightfully human, deeply flawed, and trying to do right by each other anyway. The result is an uplifting hug of a story. (July)

Reviewed on 05/10/2024 | Details & Permalink

An Arizona woman celebrating a milestone birthday takes her daughter and granddaughter on a memorable vacation in the endearing latest from Matthews (Someone Else’s Bucket List). Bonnie Jenkins approaches her 70th birthday in deep mourning for her third husband, but she’s inspired by her neighbor’s photojournalist grandson, Owen, to mark the occasion by hiking Machu Picchu. Bonnie invites her daughter, Sandy, who is going through a tough divorce, and Sandy’s daughter, Heather, who just broke up with her clingy boyfriend, Shawn, to join her on the climb. Twenty-five-year-old Heather arrives in Peru first, where she meets and falls for a man who calls himself Romeo after she says her name is Juliet. When Sandy and Bonnie, with her husband’s urn in tow, get to Peru, Heather learns that Romeo is actually Owen, whom Bonnie invited to encourage Sandy to have a divorce recovery fling. The already tenuous relationship between the three women frays a little more, especially when Shawn arrives, having been invited by Sandy. Matthews authentically captures the intergenerational dynamics, making it all the sweeter as frank discussions and shared understanding heal some of the rifts between them as they trek on. Readers will have no trouble rooting for the Jenkins women to find their fresh starts. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 05/10/2024 | Details & Permalink

Bestseller Bailey brings her signature blend of heat and sweet to her delightful second Big Shots romance (after Fangirl Down). Graduate student Tallulah Aydin is having second thoughts about agreeing to be a live-in nanny for the tween daughter of Boston Bearcats hockey player Burgess Abraham, aka Sir Savage, after seeing some scary YouTube clips of him facing off against opponents on the ice. Tallulah, 11 years Burgess’s junior and traumatized by a past relationship, is trying to hide away from the world and, despite having accepted the job, feels a frisson of fear about living under the same roof as the formidable hockey player. She soon learns, however, that, underneath his intimidating appearance, Burgess is as gentle as a kitten with the people he cares about. Through bonding with him and his daughter, Lissa, she finds the courage to face the world. But when Burgess lashes out after a devastating injury, his outbursts cut Tallulah to the core—and may doom their relationship. Bailey creates flawed but endearing characters that readers will fall head over heels for. Her nimble plotting captivates from the first page, and a strong supporting cast—especially precocious Lissa and Tallulah’s friend Chloe, who seems poised to be the heroine of book three—add dimension to the romance. This is another winner from Bailey. (July)

Reviewed on 05/10/2024 | Details & Permalink

An American in London pairs with a seemingly respectable lady with a licentious secret in the captivating first Belvoir’s Library Regency from Vasti (the Halifax Hellions series). New Orleans native Peter Kent never expected to inherit a British dukedom, but now that he has, he’s determined to use the position to care for his recently discovered young half siblings. Kent faces some hurdles to becoming their guardian, however, due to his foreign status and outspoken views on abolition. Kent turns to his only ally, the esteemed Lady Selina Ravenscroft, to improve his standing in British society and find a suitable wife. Selina quickly realizes that she herself is the best candidate for the marriage of convenience—but she has a secret: she is the purveyor of a clandestine library of pornographic literature to enlighten and titillate her fellow society women. If the truth comes out, it could destroy both her and Kent’s reputations and snuff out their burgeoning mutual attraction. The plot feels fresh and exciting with tension and tenderness stemming from Selina’s dual identity and Kent’s dedication to his tween siblings. As hot as it is heartfelt, this will have historical romance fans hooked. Agent Jessica Alvarez, Bookends Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

La Rosa (Plot Twist) plays a supernatural game of “what-if” in this cute contemporary set off the coast of Georgia. Samantha Leto left Tybee Island after high school, determined to see the world and not wind up trapped in the kind of small-town life her mother lived. Her one regret is never acting on her attraction to her high school best friend, band geek Damon, before she left. After 10 years away, Sam, now a commercial pilot, returns to Tybee to help her grandmother pack up her childhood home—and Damon, now a local brewery owner and more attractive than ever, proves unavoidable. Seeing him again makes Sam wonder: did she make the right choice, pursuing her career dreams over what might have been? Fortunately, she has some otherworldly help in answering this question. While cleaning out her bedroom, she finds an old CD player that “transport[s] her to an alternate version of the past” for the duration of any song she plays, allowing her a glimpse of what a relationship with Damon would have looked like. This magical element is clever, but La Rosa builds enough non-supernatural backstory between Sam and Damon that it almost feels superfluous. Still, there’s no denying the chemistry between these would-be high school sweethearts. This goes down easy. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

Durst (The Lies Among Us) celebrates the power of community in this whimsical cottagecore romantasy. Introverted librarian Kiela Orobidan and her sentient spider plant assistant, Caz, escape a populist revolution–fueled fire in the the Great Library of Alyssium by sailing to Kiela’s abandoned family cottage on the small island of Caltrey with only a few crates of irreplaceable spell books in tow. Imperial law restricts the use of magic to scholars, but when she sees the island’s residents struggling with harsh environmental conditions and poverty without assistance from the empire’s sorcerers, Kiela quietly uses her spell books to help the locals, claiming the charms she sells in her new jam shop are “family remedies”. Meanwhile, her handsome new neighbor Larran Maver helps restore her cottage and becomes a friend—with a spark of something more. Durst packs her cozy and colorful tale full of sweet magical creatures, including unicorns, winged cats, and friendly tree sprits that manifest as bears, and her diverse supporting cast exudes a near-uniform air of kindness. The political plot is largely background noise after serving its purpose of getting Kiela home and on a path to using magic, which may frustrate readers looking for more comprehensive worldbuilding. Those who come for the cheery aesthetic and celebration of everyday successes, however, will find this utterly delightful. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

In this insubstantial contemporary rom-com, Lee (the Hana Trio series) introduces Korean royal court cuisine instructor Emma Yoon, who dreams of opening a culinary school to honor the food that has brought her culture together for centuries. She’s also looking for marriage—but not for romance. She believes the best marriages are practical arrangements, and she uses her matchmaker godmother’s fail-proofed Madame Ddu Method to find a partner. However, when Emma meets her best match in person, she’s distracted throughout their date by her attraction to a kind and handsome stranger. The man introduces himself as Michel Chevalier, a visiting foreign professor, but he’s actually the prince of the fictional European nation Rouleme. He’s in disguise and looking to find his future queen on his terms. Emma decides to give in to her attraction to the visiting professor before settling down. As the pair embark on an affair, Michel falls for Emma, and with his return to royal duties looming, he must find a way to tell her the truth. Lee attempts to liven up well-worn romance tropes with a detailed account of Korean royal court culture, but the predictable plot and flat characters keep things disappointingly surface-level. It’s light and fluffy, but there’s not much else here. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

Love and mental health intertwine in this heartfelt romance from Obuobi (On Rotation). Dr. Josephine Boateng captivates her Instagram followers with approachable medical advice. Offline, she grapples with career uncertainty, exhausted by the medical industry’s bureaucracy and the absence of mental health support. Josephine’s life is complicated further when she confesses her feelings for her celebrity best friend, actor Ezra Adelman, at his 30th birthday party, and he doesn’t reciprocate. Seeking a quiet corner of the party to collect herself, Josephine stumbles upon awkward writer Malcolm Waters, who was invited by Ezra’s mother to discuss Ezra adapting his bestselling debut novel into a movie. Attraction sparks, and Josephine hopes for an easy one-night stand to get her crush on Ezra out of her system. But Malcolm doesn’t do casual and convinces Josephine to try dating. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the growing intimacy between them comes to a screeching halt when Josephine disappears after getting a distressing call from her estranged mother. Obuobi tactfully addresses Josephine’s mental health struggles and conjures the ideal supportive partner in swoony Malcolm. The narrative’s depth enhances rather than overshadows the protagonists’ believable bond. This layered romance is sure to win fans. Agent: Jessica Regel, Helm Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

Married writing duo Kelly and Tana Fireside tantalize in their third Owen Station queer romance (after Whiskey & Wine). Ambitious assistant fire chief Allison “Al” Jones is driven to succeed as a queer woman of color by her desire to inspire a younger generation to become firefighters. She’s job- and location-hopped repeatedly as she worked her way up the ladder, making it easy to avoid long-term romantic commitment. Now in tiny Owen Station, Ariz., where everyone knows everyone else’s business and conspiracy theories about local supernatural phenomena abound, she responds to a sinkhole in a residential area and meets Elena Murphy, a photographer, part-time mortuary worker, and occasional ghost whisperer, at the scene. An Owen Station native returning from a stint in Los Angeles, Elena initially butts heads with Al, who doesn’t buy into the supernatural. But when the women band together to solve a decades-old mystery, sparks fly. Readers will warm to Al, Elena, and the solid supporting cast, especially Elena’s feisty grandmother, who seems to know more about the mystery than she should. This quirky and tolerant small town remains a joy to visit. (May)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink

A woman unexpectedly inherits her father’s restaurant in Dent’s delicious latest (after The Summer Job). London food critic Olive blames her parents’ divorce on her father, who prioritized his business over his family, and hasn’t seen the man in 15 years. So she’s shocked when he suddenly dies, leaving her his restaurant—with the condition that she must collaborate with his annoyingly hot sous chef Leo Ricci to finish the cookbook he was writing when he died. Olive is less than thrilled to spend time with Leo, whom she resents for his close relationship with her father, and Leo’s upset to learn Olive intends to sell the restaurant. It makes for an awkward start to their trip through Sicily, Tuscany, and Liguria collecting recipes for the book. The gorgeous sights and tasty bites enhance the romance as Leo and Olive slowly go from enemies to lovers—until a shocking revelation about her parents’ relationship leaves Olive newly afraid of commitment. In vivid prose, Dent brings the Italian countryside to life while building a simmering attraction between her leads. Hopeless romantics looking for an armchair vacation will want to check this out. Agent: Hattie Grunewald, Blair Partnership. (July)

Reviewed on 05/03/2024 | Details & Permalink