Tag: contemporary romance

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: June 2025

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

How is it already June???

Another month in the 30’s which has been kind of nice. I’ve slowed down a bit this summer and I’m spending time watching shows and being out in the sun.

Happy reading y’all!

  • [ARC] Seas the Dating Coach (Wilks Beach #1) by Laura Langa
  • [ARC/ALC] The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragons #2) by Amber Chen
  • I’ll Paint You a Sunset Someday by Bex Alexander
  • [Graphic Novel] We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer
  • The Glittering Edge (The Idlewood Duology #1) by Alyssa Villaire
  • [ARC/ALC] Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle
  • [ARC] Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters
  • Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
  • [Reread] Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Truly Medley Deeply (Sweet as Sugar Maple #5) by Kate Watson
  • [Reread] Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ALC] A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry
  • I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde
  • Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang
  • [ARC] Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence
  • Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ALC] A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
  • [ARC] Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova
  • My Fault (Culpables #1) by Mercedes Ron)
  • One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5) by Ashley Weaver
  • The Night Prince (Wolf King #2) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham
  • Driving Maisie Crazy (Men of the Isles #2) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • The Robin on the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde
  • [ARC] Roads of Resistance (Falcon Point Historical #2) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC/ALC] Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
  • We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart
  • Salvacion by Sandra Proudman
  • [Reread] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ARC] Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
  • [ALC] Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Author: Rachel Lawrence
Publisher: Quill & Flame
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Alex’s idyllic past starts to slip like sand through her fingers, will one summer be enough to calm the waters of her unsettled heart and bridge the ocean between bygone days and the present?

Alexandria Henry’s childhood was nothing short of a dream—a huge extended family, three best friend cousins, and a yearly beach vacation filled with family Olympics, crab hunts, talent shows, and tiny boxes of cereal. It’s no wonder then, that at twenty-one, she’s struggling to let go of the past.

Desperate to preserve her family’s history and sort through unresolved feelings for a boy she hasn’t seen in years, she packs up for the summer to document the island she and her cousins grew up on together.

But when she runs into Jude Alford—a long lost friend and the quiet younger brother of her teenage crush—and starts recreating her childhood traditions with him, she begins to wonder if what lies ahead could be as beautiful as the memories she holds so close. Will a handful of sunny weeks, a Carolina beach, and a friend with a past he’d rather forget, be what Alex needs to make peace with the future and finally move forward? Or will she remain stuck on an island of her own fear and loneliness?

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

LACKED SUBSTANCE.

I was trying to explain the issue I had with this book to my husband so let me see if I can break it down here. You know how in romance books there’s usually some kind of romantic element that usually needs a bit of realistic suspension? But that makes the book feel swoony and charming? This book didn’t have those elements for me. I’m not even sure there was a true plot. The FMC ran into her childhood friend and they said I love you after one date.

There’s some cute traditions and moments between Alex and Jude. And I liked the reconnection between Alex and her cousins. And it definitely holds all of those summer vibes. The poems were a nice addition too and I liked the author’s note about how she connected to the story. The mental health moments for Jude were easy to connect to and I liked seeing those expressed emotions and conversations.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC/ALC Book Review: Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Katelyn Doyle
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the beloved author of Just Some Stupid Love Story, an irresistible rom-com about what happens when a cruise ship romance goes…overboard

Hope Lanover needs a vacation. Her relationship has imploded, her creative ambitions have flatlined, and she can’t seem to locate the badass girl she used to be. So when her best friend—a lifestyle influencer looking for a rich husband—invites her along a luxury cruise, Hope goes along with it…despite hating cruises, and having no interest in a fling with their elderly clientele.

Felix Segrave can’t imagine anything worse than a cruise. Sober, determinedly single and a workaholic chef, he hates leaving his restaurant and routine. But when his parents surprise him and his sisters with tickets to celebrate their anniversary, he can’t say no—he’s disappointed them too many times in his troubled past.

Hope and Felix are prepared to grin and bear it—until they lock eyes at check in. Suddenly, a ten-day fling in the Caribbean with a sexy stranger doesn’t seem so bad, despite all the ballroom dancing lessons and cheesy karaoke nights. That is, until Hope’s romantic demons catch up to her, Felix learns that the woman he’s falling for has not been entirely honest with him, and they find themselves stranded together—and at each other’s throats—in paradise. Forced to work together, not to mention share a bed, they must either navigate the stormy seas of love, or face romantic shipwreck.

Thank you Flatiron Books for the gifted ARC and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.

KIND OF A MISS.

I did like the audiobook and thought the narrator’s did a good job. The story just didn’t roll out in the best way for me.

Initially interested I enjoyed the idea of a cruise ship romance. There’s some good flirty banter and other moments that I were fine. I think my favorite part was the friendship between Hope and her best friend. There relationship and communication was better than the romantic one.

BECAUSE SO HELP ME THE THIRD ACT. And there was a fourth act too?? I’ll admit the fourth one made a little more sense but the third one had me exclaiming out loud my displeasure. I’m also really tired of ex-boyfriends showing up unannounced?? Repeatedly???? GO AWAY.

I think the chemistry was lacking, the spice came on too soon, and the lack of both of those things made them both immature and inopportune moments.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Content warnings: alcohol addiction (recovery and sobriety discussions)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 5h 45 min audiobook
Author: Cara Bastone
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: May 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Finding true love is only a matter of time in this heartfelt and hilarious romantic comedy, starring Zoë Chao (The Afterparty), Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek), and a full cast!

Romance can be a little complicated when you get sucked into a wormhole. Just ask high school English teacher June Flint. One little solar flare happens and suddenly you find yourself 85 years in the future. Eighty-five years from your dream job. Your ailing mother whose only companion in this world is you. Your favorite stuffed-crust pizza from DeLucia’s on Sunday nights.

But when June’s cell phone inexplicably picks up a signal, she’s able to call back to the present—more specifically, four weeks before she accidentally time traveled. Problem is, the phone can only call one number: her work nemesis, gym teacher Mikey Shannon.

Now future June must help Mikey befriend present-day June to keep her from disappearing. But present-day June doesn’t even want to be in the same room as Mikey, let alone become besties. And Mikey isn’t exactly…talkie. Yet he’s spending hours a day with future June on the phone, and even more time trying to befriend present-day June. Volunteering with June at school, check. Facing his fear of roller coasters to make June smile, check. Adopting a puppy and letting her name it. Check.

But what does succeeding in the present mean for future June, and for the serious feelings she and Mikey are starting to catch for one another? Stopping time travel is one thing—but can they stop themselves from falling in love?

FUN AND QUIRKY.

I’ve come to really enjoy Cara Bastone’s audiobooks. They are fun and light and bring a smile to my face. I thought the concept of this one was unique and brought in a bunch of quirks that worked for the story being told.

I liked the dynamic between Mikey and June. Their phone calls were sweet and I loved the way they go to know each other on different levels and at different times. Things came together exactly as they should and this is a quick read if you’re needing something new to listen to.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph