Tag: contemporary romance

Book Review: It Starts With Us (It Ends With Us #2) by Colleen Hoover

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Adult Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: October 18th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off. Revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband, it proves that “no one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author).

EVERYTHING I WANTED.

I had no idea (since I didn’t read the synopsis) of what I was getting into when I binged this BUT I knew that I needed the story Atlas and Lily deserved. AND GOSH DANG IT HAPPENED.

I LOVE that they were the focus. The story was about them. Moving towards the place they’ve always wanted to be, together. My heart melted and I was a giddy mess every dang time Atlas was on page. One of the best heroes I’ve ever come across. The support, care, love, endearing nature, I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

And I love the strength of Lily. Making hard decision after hard decision just trying to get to the best situation she could. These characters come across incredibly real and human and squeezes my heart all the more.

And the supportive friends?! Good heavens. Unsung heroes of this book too. I loved them all and the pivotal roles they played in creating a future worth fighting for.

IT WAS EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple brief open
  • Violence: med
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: child abuse, homelessness, divorce/custody battles, domestic abuse, vandalism

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Book Review: How to Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 288 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 24th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s a hot high school chemistry teacher living in a small town. She’s a globetrotting journalist running from her past. They used to be best friends. Then one kiss changes everything.

*******

Kate Fletcher is my kryptonite.

She’s also my best friend. Former best friend?

I’m not sure what you call it when we grew up attached at the hip and then she left Silver Creek (and me) to travel the world.

The important thing is: Kate is back. (Temporarily.)

And I’m still in love with her. (Permanently.)

But something is different now. The attraction doesn’t seem one-sided. I don’t think I’m imagining the heat in Kate’s eyes or the chemistry crackling between us.

But will that be enough to keep Kate here, when, for as long as I can remember, all she’s wanted to do is leave?

I’m determined to give her a reason to stay. Family. Connection. Roots. And me. I’ll have to start with sparks and fire, but if I take this step, there’s no turning back to simple friendship. And if she doesn’t feel the same way, I might lose her again—this time for good.

How to Kiss Your Best Friend is a full-length sweet romantic comedy, with all the crackling chemistry you want in a closed-door romance and sizzling kisses only.

ADORBS.

Jenny Proctor is an auto-read author y’all. She has cemented this for me and I am HERE FOR IT.

I adored this sweet friends to lovers. It got off to a slow start with not enough page time between Kate and Brody. And I also wasn’t loving the way Kate was treating Brody. It didn’t come off as intentional, but I do wish she was more cognizant of her use of Brody.

BUT ENTER CHARACTER GROWTH. My favorite thing to look for in my reads. Kate gave me just what I needed. I loved that the third act “break-up” was more of a very needed introspection on both parties. Brody’s brother’s were fantastic about talking to him and Kate got the story she truly needed from her Dad to make big decisions in her life. It worked.

Plus the second half was filled with so much more sizzling chemistry between these two that I was swooning plenty. I love that this felt intense but remained very much closed door (both can be done folks!). Love the writing, love the story, I hope to get the other brother’s next!!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: difficult parent relationships, divorce

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Book Review: The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction + Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Lia Louis
Publisher: Atria
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A heartwarming novel about hope after loss as a young widow receives mysterious messages of love from the “must-buy author” (Jodi Picoult) of Eight Perfect Hours.

Sparkly and charming Natalie Fincher has it all—a handsome new husband, a fixer-upper cottage of her dreams, and the opportunity to tour with the musical she’s spent years writing. But when her husband suddenly dies, all her hopes and dreams instantly disappear.

Two and a half years later, Natalie is still lost. She works, sleeps (well, as much as the sexually frustrated village foxes will allow), and sees friends just often enough to allay their worries, but her life is empty. And she can only bring herself to play music at a London train station’s public piano where she can be anonymous. She’s lost motivation, faith in love, in happiness…in everything.

But when someone begins to mysteriously leave the sheet music for her husband’s favorite songs at the station’s piano, Natalie begins to feel a sense of hope and excitement for the first time. As she investigates just who could be doing this, Natalie finds herself on an unexpected journey toward newfound love for herself, for life, and maybe, for a special someone.

Thank you Book Club Favorites and Simon & Schuster for a gifted copy.

MY HEART.

I knew going in this book was going to hurt. Widow plots are some of the hardest for me to read about. I truly enjoyed this one though and all the truth and love and pain it held. Another beautiful book by Lia Louis!

I loved the overall theme of how grief creates its own path. And that it’s OKAY to have a different path than someone else’s. The side characters provided a lot of different angles to how people approach those experiencing grief too. It became multi-faceted and complex and had all of my heart strings pulled.

The romance was so dang sweet. I loved the slow steps into it and how a friendship grew first. There’s a tiny dash of a love triangle (it’s good, I promise!) and I loved how it worked out in the end.

One particular chapter at the end had me tearing up and wanting to hug Natalie. A fantastic and poignant read that I’d easily recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • Women’s Fiction / Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a spouse (theme), loss of loved ones, grief, depression

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Book Review: Just a Heartbeat Away (Forever Yours #1) by Cara Bastone

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Cara Bastone
Publisher: HQN Books
Release Date: June 30th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some people change your life

Others change your heart

Newly widowed dad Sebastian Dorner was unraveling at the edges—until his son’s teacher, Via DeRosa, threw him a lifeline. Now, two years later, they reconnect at Matty’s new school, and an inconvenient but unmistakable jolt of attraction crackles between them. But why does the first person to spark with Sebastian in years have to be a millennial? Is twentysomething Via really too young for him or does fortysomething Sebastian just feel too damn old?

A former foster kid, Via’s finally forged the stable life she’s always dreamed of—new job, steady income, no drama. The last thing she needs are rumors about her and a single dad at school. But why does she keep being drawn into his capable, worn-flannel orbit? And why does being around Sebastian, Matty and even their dog, Crabby, seem to spark so much want?

They’re trying to ignore the tension threatening their friendship. But sometimes what’ll heal you is just a touch—and a heartbeat—away.

DID NOT START OFF WELL.

Okay.

This book made me realize one of my biggest contemporary romance pet peeves.

I HATE when one of the love interests starts off in a relationship. Just super unnecessary for me. It makes all of those good moments between them when that chemistry is starting to build feel tainted by the fact that someone is still attached to someone else. UGH. And in this book it wasn’t until 60%+ where it was confirmed Via was at last single.

Since that brought my rating real low I’ll throw in a few things I did like. I liked the other tropes and conversations surrounding grief, resilience and moving on. There’s some good moments about being in a relationship with a larger age gap and what that can mean for both parties. Solid side characters who were supportive friends to Sebastian and Via.

Also this was oddly Hallmarky and then got dashed with way more heated spice RIGHT at the very end that I was a bit taken back. Easy to skim over since it’s at the end, but if you’re waiting for that slow burn to kick in, it eventually does.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door concentrated at the end
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: widower, mentions of growing up in foster homes, depictions of grief

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