Category: Romance

alarm?

Posted on by Greig

Keep This Off The Record

Arden Joy

In this fun queer romance novel the story is told from the perspective of Abby and Freya.
Abby and Freya went to high school together and hated each other’s guts.
At a school reunion Abby’s best friend and Freya’s work colleague hit it off.
This puts this bickering pair back in each other’s lives.
The author takes some bits from Much Ado About Nothing to power a couple of the plots in the story and it’s not subtly done. I kind of wish that it was less obvious.
My favourite thing though was that the leads are people who make mistakes and act in actually human ways. I’ve read a few too many romance novels with unrealistic leads in the past few years.
Certainly worth a read and it won’t take you very long to get through.

Rating: B

cakemix?

Posted on by Greig

How To End A Love Story

Yulin Kuang

This is the debut novel of writer/director Yulin Kuang whose work I have been following since “Kissing In The Rain” was released onto YouTube.
I was very lucky to gain access to an advance readers copy through NetGalley.
This is a very enjoyable romance with lead characters who are simultaneously both likeable and a little messed up.
The plot has Helen – a successful YA author – turning up in LA to take part in the writer’s room on the adaptation of her hit book series.
She discovers that one of the lead writers in the room is Grant. He was behind the wheel when Helen’s sister threw herself in front of car, leading to her death.
That tragic event informs every part of their interactions as they eventually move from being frosty colleagues to besotted lovers.
When the book ended I had that rare feeling of wanting to spend more time with the characters and I don’t think there’s a higher recommendation than that.

Rating: A-

gondola?

Posted on by Greig

The Family You Make

Jill Shalvis

Levi and Jane have a near death incident during a crazy snowstorm at a ski resort. Thinking that they’re going to die Levi tells his mother that he’s found the one an that he’s with her.
A pretty enjoyable fake dating romance with likeable lead characters.
Jill Shalvis is always reliable for a romance you can get a little lost in.

Rating: B

aircon?

Posted on by Greig

You And Me On Vacation

Emily Henry

Poppy and Alex are on vacation. They used to do this every summer but something nearly ended their friendship two years ago and Poppy is determined to fix things with this trip.
A sweet romance as we see the history of a chalk and cheese couple as they try to find a happy ending.
Really good fun to read.

Rating: B+

gallery?

Posted on by Greig

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

Ashley Herring Blake

Delilah is a cool tattooed art photographer struggling to make ends meet. So when her estranged stepsister Astrid offers her a lot of money to photograph her wedding she finds herself back in her hometown for two weeks. While there she will fall for someone unexpected.
A fun queer romance between a lesbian and a bisexual woman with some nice family stuff in the background. Really quite enjoyable

Rating: B

duffy?

Posted on by Greig

Gimme Some Sugar

Molly Harper

Lucy returns to her hometown to open a bakery after the early death of her husband, Wayne. Wayne’s family and new feelings for her best friend threaten to spoil her plans.
A generic but still enjoyable romance.

Rating: B-