Genre: Chick Lit

Mock dates, work-related forced proximity, a second chance romance, and collab between a self-improvement podcast and a B-list celebrity interview show called the Sausage Talk, Mazey Eddings’s Well, Actually is a romcom novel that mixes slapstick hilarity with great character writing. Marketed as a black cat/golden retriever pairing that explores personal growth, success, self-worth, and viral engagement, this is a book that’s flirty, fun, self-aware and hopeful. Its base premise and character dynamics is a contentious sticking point that has led to very polarizing opinions of its FMC, but I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this which was a big surprise! “Hot girl is an armor you put on. An impenetrable fortress of makeup or dyed hair or fake nails or killer clothes or expensive perfume or any other bodily adornment that makes you feel f*cking good. Powerful.” For better or for worse, the most notable and crucial factor when it comes to enjoying Well, Actually comes down to whether one can get behind the bitter, savage, and cold Eva Kitt, an aspiring journalist and host of the freeform interview show Sausage Talk. As the host of B-list celebrity gossip show consuming hot dogs that is obviously not…

Featuring a genius title that fits the story both literally and metaphorically, Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka is a wholesome and cute contemporary romance novel with trace elements of magical realism and speculative fiction elements. While clearly intended to be an opposites-attract romance story haunted by the literal ghosts of their exes, Seeing Other People is also a heartwarming story about grief and unexpected friendships that’s simple, easy to read, and tackles an emotional premise without being depressing or difficult for sensitive readers to get through. Though this book didn’t have the strongest introspective and reflective writing chops I was hoping for, it’s still a cute book that has a lot of mass appeal, perfectly suited for light-hearted romance readers looking for something with a bit more weight than their usual. “Maybe no one ever really leaves. They just…change. From souls to soil, shattered pieces to loving completion, dreams to dust to memory. They live on, the ghosts of past lives made new forever.” As a reader that loves ghost stories, I was intrigued by Seeing Other People’s premise that’s genius on paper. Presented in a dual-perspective presentation, the book follows landscape and gardening enthusiast Morgan…

What if the Ghost of Christmas Past was a rugged Irish sailor whose latest assignment is to haunt a festive antique shop owner who appears far from the typical charge in need of a drastic ghostly intervention. The first book in her new winter-set series, B.K. Borison’s Good Spirits is a fun holiday romance book that has a nice balance of wintery magic, self-reflection and character growth. Embracing the sugary and over the top haphazard holiday trends that are sure to delight, this book is highly accessible like a Hallmark channel movie flavored with added spice. Although I personally found the overall execution and focus of the book to be a bit disappointing compared to Borison’s other works, it’s still a fun time and a generally strong holiday read. While marketed and intended to be a holiday book given its premise surrounding the Ghost of Christmas Past, one of the book’s best aspects is that its story is one that has a lot of substance and character work outside of the typical material of most holiday genre books. The story’s premise involves Nolan Callahan observing and walking Harriet York through past memories, moments where her decisions may have affected the…

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. As a genre, contemporary romance has been crossed with just about every topic and premise under the sun. Romance with musical elements is nothing new, but Erin Connor’s take on the concept is uniquely distinctive thanks to its commitment to the metal band focus. Where most star-crossed romance novels have swoony and smooth vocals, this book features mosh pits, overstuffed tour vans, and adrenaline-fueled passion that can only be found in a hardcore battle of the bands music festival. Centered around a second chance romance storyline and forced proximity through professional work trope, Still Into You is a solid romance novel with a swoony romance and well-written music industry storylines that are far more developed and insightful than expected. I originally picked up this book based on the positive reception around Connor’s debut novel Unromance that I had never gotten around to reading when it was first published. Going into her second book blind, I was immediately impressed by Still Into You’s compelling music and band elements that go much further than typical for the romance genre (spent too long trying to…

While historical Regency romance isn’t usually my thing, Jane Austen inspired time-traveling isekai fanfiction is a hyper-specific concept that I love. The BBC’s miniseries Lost in Austen is one of my favorite hidden gem series and when I saw the premise for The Austen Affair, I had high hopes that this book would be able to work similar magic. Fortunately, Madeline Bell’s debut novel did just that all while doing its own thing despite loose similarities and ideas. Over-the-top and laugh out loud funny, this book is an unapologetic love letter to Regency romance readers and Jane Austen fans. While the romance and character writing isn’t quite as strong as its comedic punches, this is a really fun, light-hearted guilty pleasure kind of read meant to entertain. I will openly admit that I’m not fond of Regency, or really any similar period romance novels despite understanding their popularity and appeal. However, having read Pride and Prejudice as a rare classic literature required read in high school that I didn’t hate, I have a soft spot for Jane Austen-related content. And one of my favorite Austen-related spinoff projects was BBC’s mini-series Lost in Austen that at the time, felt like an…