Tag: contemporary romance

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

ARC Book Review: We Are Never Getting Together by Janette Rallison

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Rating: ★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Janette Rallison
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this reverse Parent Trap, two feuding teenagers pretend to be in love to keep their parents apart, but love has other plans. A clean YA rom-com from USA Today best-selling author, Janette Rallison.

Madeline and Cooper have had bad blood since junior year when she beat out his sister for the lead in the school play. Ever since, it’s been one petty escalation after another—plastic-wrapped cars, glitter bombs, and even a derogatory viral video. When their latest prank lands them in the principal’s office with their single parents in tow, Madeline and Cooper are shocked to find that their parents have hit it off and now have plans for a dinner date.

Horrified by the prospect of their parents falling in love, Madeline and Cooper reach a truce. To keep their parents apart, they’ll pretend their feud is over and that they’re in a relationship. They’re positive that by fake dating, their parents will realize their relationship is a terrible idea and stop seeing each other. But the longer their fake relationship continues, the more they discover that there may be things they actually like about each other. How long are Madeline and Cooper willing to keep up the ruse before they have to face the consequences of their actions?

Thank you Shadow Mountain for the gifted copy.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

This made me incredibly cranky. On so many levels y’all. Lets get into it.

I did not like the writing style. Some things seemed out of pocket and haphazardly thrown in. The “banter” was weak and the drama was eye roll worthy x1000. I understand these are high school aged characters but I’ve read many books with the same age that still have them act their age and have the right kind of drama aligned for the novel. I wouldn’t give this to my kids to read because they wouldn’t get anything out of it.

I didn’t like that they were fake dating each other, while dating other people. I didn’t like how the parents relationship was “resolved” or how Madeline and Cooper’s relationship was “resolved.” It was all very gimmicky and like I was watching a bad Disney Channel movie.

Overall audience notes:

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

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Book Review: Out With the Tide (Never Harbor #2) by Julie Olivia

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 353 pages
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This isn’t her idea of home, but she’s quickly becoming mine.

I’m Never Harbor’s neighborhood best friend. Along with being the middle child in a loud family of seven, I’m accustomed to being everything to everyone. But after moving into my new townhouse by the sea, my world has suddenly grown too quiet.

But then she moves back to town.

Marina Starkey is my landlord’s daughter with nowhere to go. She needs a place to stay for the summer, and thankfully I’m just the kind of guy to offer.

Hello there, new roommate.

She’s gorgeous and cheeky with a stubbornness that matches my own. (Don’t get me started on the shared bed situation.) Summer days pass in soft touches and afternoon swims, and my heart sinks deeper with every stroke.

I’m not a temporary fling kind of guy, and Marina has no intention of staying past the summer.

She doesn’t want to fall in love with her hometown, and I’m basically Mr. Never Harbor himself.

But my home is quickly becoming wherever I’m with her.

THIS AIN’T IT.

After really enjoying the first book in this series I have no idea why this one fell completely off the rails??? I wanted to love it and there were definitely some good and charming scenes but the extreme lack of character and plot consistency ruined this for me.

Cassidy is an absolute sweetheart and made me smile throughout the book. I liked his optimistic nature and the way that he took little notes on the people he loves to remember their favorite things. It was kind and heartfelt.

Marina on the other hand couldn’t decide what she wanted to be. She hid unnecessary information, ran away instead of having one conversation and seemed clueless at times when her education would have led me to believe otherwise.

And then the whole relationship was very physically focused. It kind of became the only thing about them. Add in a plot that never made sense and this one lost me.

I’m hoping book three is better???

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4+ open door
  • Violence: low

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