Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Anytime I Want by Meredith Logan

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 258 pages
Author: Meredith Logan
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When I was seven, I made a boyfriend list. Now he’s sixteen and using it to win my heart.

Julia
The boy next door is a total dreamboat. Handsome, kind, and funny but he flirts with everyone- and did I mention he’s my brother’s best friend? And his parents are best friends with my parents? It’s complicated. When he decides to use my childhood boyfriend list to show me how serious he is about us, I have to decide if he’s worth risking all the complications.

Graham
I’ve been in love with her forever. But I’m kind of a screw up and she doesn’t trust me. I come up with a plan to use her boyfriend list to prove myself. I recruit our families, friends-anyone who can help us finally be together. But will it be enough to finally convince her to trust me?

A swoony YA romance about friendships, families, and first loves.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

DEBUT VIBES.

This felt very much like a debut. I had some plot and writing issues throughout that made me focus on them rather than the story, but maybe I wasn’t totally invested in the story either? I had a hard time remembering that these were 16 year-olds because the writing often read younger than that.

I think a few of the aspects were cute. I do appreciate that it is written for a younger audience. Something you could give to a teen without worrying about content which is getting hard to find nowadays. There’s no language, nothing more than kissing and overall the vibe is light and without heavy themes.

Most often I was frustrated with the FMC. Julia was constantly downplaying and coming off as a *pick me* girl while Graham was trying his best to show [over and over and over] how much he liked her. Dare I say, he worked too hard.

The friendships are good and a positive theme throughout as well as the parents. I think having supportive people in your immediate circle is wonderful and hopeful. I loved all of those interactions.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Beth O’Leary
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: April 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend’s daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them.

WOW THIS WENT DOWNHILL.

I was fully in the 3.5-4 star camp for the first 60% of this book. I loved the idea of this romance. Being stuck out at sea is definitely not a contemporary romance plot I’ve read before and I love unique romance/settings. But after starting off with a one night stand, I was a little bereft. It held strong though with all of the open sea drama (and even though I have MANY questions about the sexual encounters + hygiene, I digress).

Then we got to the back on land drama and good heavens, WHYYYYYYY. The first twist tackled me like a blindside and about sent me over the edge, and then upon finding out a little more about the situation I absolutely fell off the edge. It soured the whole story for me and didn’t do anything for the characters.

This just didn’t feel like Beth O’Leary. I’ll cross my fingers for the next one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: minor blood (cleaning + stitching of wounds), being lost at sea, loss of loved ones (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Start at the End by Emma Grey

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Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Emma Grey
Publisher: Zibby Publishing
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This powerful sliding-doors novel asks the Are our futures already determined? Or are we able to change fate? A searingly emotional novel about love, loss, grief, and hope from the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You.

Thank you Zibby Books for the gifted copy.

WELL THIS WAS A SURPRISE.

I’ve enjoyed Emma Grey’s previous two books so I didn’t even bother with reading the summary before diving into this one and let me tell y’all…don’t read it. Go in blind because it is a journey my friend. Did the whole journey work for me? No, but I had no troubles WANTING to listen to this book needing to know how the stories were going to wrap up.

I did think it was an interesting concept and idea to execute (the author’s note does a great job elaborating on this and helped more of the story make sense for me). The sliding doors moment was confusing but once I got a better handle on what was happening I was shocked. I liked seeing the flawed and realistic nature of going through a terrible thing and the fallout and echoes it leaves on each person.

I’m not sure I *liked* everything that happened or the way certain situations went. And that’s okay, it made me think and ponder a lot and I always like when a book creates that kind of thought process for me. It’s fairly fast paced and the audiobook was wonderfully narrated.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of a partner, self harm, grief, alcoholism

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Book Review: Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Denise Williams
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

Who needs love? Not Sybil Sweet. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is embracing her role as the directionless, floundering member of her family. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.

Kiran Anderson abandoned his dreams of becoming a doctor to take over running his family’s bakery, and after two years of fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted and broke. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.

Lucky for Kiran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to get Sybil’s family off of her back, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.

DID NOT WORK FOR ME.

I think I might be finished reading books from this author. I have loved a few (highly recommend The Fastest Way to Fall) but the last few have been three stars or less and I am frustrated.

Sybil and I had a personality clash. Especially when it came to the third act. It was one quick conversation that would have cleared up so much and actually allowed Kiran to make his own decision and not be backed into a corner.

There was something about the fake dating that didn’t click for me either. I usually really enjoy this trope and I can’t quite put my finger on what the issue was, just that it didn’t have the same charming dynamic I love seeing.

A few moments in the second half were good, and in the closing scenes I saw the growth I had been hoping for much sooner so I don’t know. I’m bummed by this one. Teddy Hamilton was one of the narrators at least????

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door