Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: Back to You (San Diego Marines #1) by Jess Mastorakos

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Rating: ★★☆
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 362 pages
Author: Jess Mastorakos
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Biggest mistake I’ve ever made? Kissing my best friend.

I’ve never been a relationship guy. Sure, I have Ellie—my best friend since middle school who’s been by my side through the good and the very bad—but with girls who aren’t Ellie? One date is enough.

Then when I get back from boot camp, one kiss changes everything. But also, nothing’s changed. Ellie still wants to settle down with a picket fence and kids, and she knows I don’t.

And now there’s heat when she looks at me in my new uniform. It makes me wonder if I didn’t want that kind of life, or if I didn’t want it with anyone but her.

But I’ve made one mistake after another with Ellie, so now I have to convince her that it’s okay to want me too.

Back to You is a sweet romance told from alternating POVs, set in the world of The San Diego Marines. Each book can be read as a standalone but are fun to read in order.

BOO.

I just didn’t love this one at all. I went in with hope and came out wondering if I’d give this author another go.

Most of the story just involved drama. Drama over here, drama over there. Not actually building the plot or developing the characters just DRAMA. It was kind of like a formulaic hallmark movie, but not the kind you enjoy reading.

Things got off to a fine start. I liked the friends to lovers idea and the kiss scenes were great too.

I wanted to love this and wish it had worked out better for me. I don’t want to sit here and bash though so I’ll leave this as strike in the miss column and move on to the next.

Overall audience notes:

  • New Adult Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent recounted

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ARC Book Review: A Cross-Country Wedding (Road Trip Romance #2) by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 323 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Sweethaven Press
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A fun-loving free spirit.
Her buttoned-up best friend.
And a cross-country wedding that could drive their platonic relationship toward something else entirely.

Simon Collier is my friend. Heck, he’s been my friend for most of my adult life—and we couldn’t be more different. I love late-night karaoke. He’s a homebody with a piano I’ve never heard him play. I relish being the center of attention while Simon prefers to fade into the background. My dresser is a disaster. He alphabetizes his fridge. I suppose we’re a little like sunshine and rain. It’s why our friendship works. Even though we’re total opposites, we get along like peas and carrots. He’s constantly saving me after failed romances, and I push him to live a little. . .even if that means dragging him out of his comfort zone.

If I can make him laugh, it’s a win. He’s my safe person. Secure, reliable, fun to poke fun at. Simon Collier is my friend. But now, all that might change.

After another predictable break-up, I find myself in need of a plus-one for my best friend Lauren’s cross-country wedding. A wedding that reenacts the road trip where she and her fiance, Will, first fell in love. And despite his fussiness, Simon is the safest person to bring along because I’m not in the market for any more messy feelings.

Our friendship has been intact for over ten years, surely we can handle a week crammed in a car, sharing meals and playlists and nighttime secrets and single beds.

Right?

A Cross-Country Wedding is a sizzling but sweet, friends-to-more road trip romance. It is the second in the Road Trip Romance series & while it reads as a stand-alone, it may be best enjoyed after reading A Cross-Country Wedding.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

PERFECT FOR SUMMER.

This was a fun take on the road trip trope and I appreciate that I never felt like it was dragging over the miles and miles traveled. There were a lot of humorous stops and kitschy things to see and the pages really did fly by.

I struggled a bit with the FMC, Maddie. I will say that I did see growth from her as the book went on. But those initial chapters + the flashbacks had me seeing a very uneven relationship dynamic that I didn’t love. I’m grateful she acknowledged those things in the end and was able to, at last, communicate and help Simon.

Simon was an absolute gem. I adored his personality, nature and everything in between. He was sweet, supportive and kind. The one bed was used immaculately here and that first kiss? YES SIR.

An enjoyable read that has such a great summertime vibe to it. I loved seeing Lauren and Will too.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: strained parent relationships

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Book Review: The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project #3) by Farrah Rochon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Farrah Rochon
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 2nd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Strong female friendships and a snappy enemies-to-lovers theme take center stage in this highly anticipated romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dating Playbook.

Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis.

Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.

ENDED SWEET.

This trope (one night stand) is one I normally don’t pick up, but I have enjoyed Rochon’s previous two books in this series and wanted to give it a chance. While I still didn’t love it initially and had to let it grow on me, it DID by the end. I really loved the progression of this relationship. The rivalish banter dynamics between London and Drew were fantastic. I loved that Drew has been smitten for a long time and took the time to show London just how loved she could be.

I also liked the setting. A pediatric surgeon was such an amazing career to read throughout. There was a nice balance of career and personal decisions alongside the clear fact that this was a romance read first. I loved the quiet moments London and Drew started having together, eating food, hanging out, and reconnecting while figuring out how they came to be where they are.

Just a solid read that I ate up in a day. I have loved all of the friendships between these three women and look forward to more books by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; med-high explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse mentioned, alcoholism mentioned, death of a parent from cancer

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ARC Book Review: Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Mazey Eddings
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: August 15th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.

Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.

Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.

As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an eARC.

SUNSHINE.

Oh my gosh, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It is everything I love about reading upper YA and I am a puddle of goo over Tilly and Oliver. THEY ARE PRECIOUS. The whole book is swoony and absolutely one of the sweetest books ever. I loved the descriptions of how Tilly and Oliver were both feeling towards each other. That burst of first love that overtakes your soul is next level and it was brought to life by Eddings.

I loved both of the main characters separate and together. I loved Tilly for her continual resilience and perseverance while maintaining this breath of optimism. She’s been put under so much pressure to succeed a “certain” way that watching that unravel broke my heart. Those conversations with her Mom and sister, Mona, in the second half of the book pulled at all of my heartstrings. And Oliver?? The cutest grumpy boy EVER. I loved his journey too and learning about how he saw the world as well. The undeniable chemistry between Tilly and Oliver will make you giddy.

The setting and general plot was fantastic. I loved all of the color aspects, the nail polish business, traveling around Europe, sight seeing and all of the falling in love scenes. It’s a perfect balance of the romance with the sub-plots that brought this whole book together. I had a hard time putting this down because it brought a smile to my face every time I picked it up. It’s full of meaning and impact and gosh dang everyone should pick this one up.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH PLEASE READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: one very brief & super vague scene
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism towards ADHD and autism, alcohol consumption

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