Beth Bordenkircher
Ana is a podcaster and new author of a self-help book. Fond of situationships, she shies away from deeper feelings. Dynamic and a little self-centered and high maintenance, and very sex positive. She's a bit of a steamroller and not warm on the surface, but she cares deeply for those in her inner circle. Ryan is the director of publicity for Ana's publisher and ends up being her tour manager. He's sweet and serious, but his façade of literary snobbery hides a bit more than expected. I liked the story, even if I didn't always like Ana (I respected her energy, though, she's a force of nature). The book is initially very enemies-to-lovers until we get to delve under the surface. They both fight extremely strong and spicy mutual attraction. There's a satisfying amount of tension from the main plot and several sub-plots. The cover makes it seem more lighthearted than it is: while the romance does play a large part in the story, it feel like it's equally a self-journey with some heavier themes of grief and loss. Very relatable themes of personal boundaries, caring for family, and being brave enough to recognize and hang on to happiness. Written in singular 1st-person POV, I would have liked Ryan's POV too, although a singular POV made sense since at times this seemed more about Ana's personal growth and relationship with her Iranian family. One final note, when the spice gets going it's pretty descriptive so be warned if you're listening to an audio book! Publishes March 3, 2026. This review is based on a complimentary DRC, all opinions are my own.
Falling for the Fake Lumberjack is a quick and flirty open-door HFN romance that's enjoyably ridiculous in parts. It's perfect if you're looking for a light and humorous read that definitely doesn't take itself seriously. A bit light on plot and the author lets their physical chemistry do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of relationship development. There's not much that's new here, although I thought the premise had potential. Leans heavily on the intentional misdirection/misunderstanding trope. Harris is kind of a man-child and didn't seem like a great match for the more grounded Lucy, although they certainly had physical attraction as well as a certain amount of sweetness together. There were dual 1st-person POVs, which is my preference. I thought the interactions between the main characters and supporting characters was fun. While this wasn't quite the book for me, it was still a fun read. Looks like the start of a series, I would likely read the next one since I found Lucy's friend Annabelle to be a bit more relatable. 3.5 stars. Publishes January 27, 2026. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Juliette is a book agent for a floundering publishing company. She's set to debut a rich man's tell-all memoir when he suddenly dies during his birthday party and his manuscript is stolen. What ensues is a sometimes-madcap set of events while Juliette seeks to solve the murder, recover the manuscript, and save her publishing company (all while reluctantly starting a romance along the way). This book was fast-paced and entertaining, with some genuine LOL moments and an intriguing murder mystery. Juliette is a delightfully snarky bad-ass with hard edges in need of some softening, and sweetly earnest Charlie was a good foil for her. Things were sometimes a little zanier than I expected, although on second thought that's in line with how the first book unfolded. I loved the Scooby gang vibe of Juliette, Veeta, Kate and (to a lesser extent) Kennedy. This book is part of a set of interconnected books, and the first one introduced us to some of the characters in this book. While you could read this one without reading the first book, having knowledge about the recurring characters and of prior events helped me to better engage with the story and enjoy it more. This one was less romance-oriented than the first book, but the (open door) romance we did get was well-written and satisfying with a nice HFN feel. The mystery was paced well and while it wasn't hard to follow, there was enough to keep me guessing almost to the end. 4 stars! This review was based on a DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
This was a quick read that was a bit predictable in its premise and execution, but had a satisfying buildup and conclusion. Plus, there were kittens and quirky farm animals! There was a nice amount of warmth and humor throughout, and the main and supporting characters were well developed. My biggest issue with the book was the overabundance of clichés (to the point where it was a bit like a novelization of a Hallmark movie), as well as the fact that this is an age-gap romance (which was not in the description). Both of those points are a matter of personal preference, and YMMV as the story was otherwise solidly written. This is an open-door romance and things do get spicy once they get going. There are dual 1st-person POVs, which I prefer. This is a new-to-me author and the book has the feel of the start of a series, and I would likely read this author again if I were in the right mood. Even though there wasn't much about the plot and the characters that was new, there is a certain comfort in the predictability of reading a best friend's older brother/opposites-attract romance. I don't think I was 100% the right audience for this book, but fans of the author should enjoy it as should those looking for a quick and fun weekend read. Publishes January 20, 2026. This review is based on a DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
4.5 stars! I'm always a fan of anything Cassandra Gannon puts out, which is why I picked up this book in the first place. Elizabeth Gannon also offers a similarly themed story in the book, but I didn't enjoy that one quite as much. Still worth a read!
This review is based on Cassandra's story. Suspend disbelief, this romantasy is much better than you'd think! It's cleverly written with a lot of typical romance tropes (single dad falls for nanny, workplace romance, love/lust at first sight) along with satisfying espionage and toppling-the-monarchy sub-plots. Add in spice, snarky humor, a precocious 9-year-old human/dinosaur prince, a meddling aunt, the Queen of the Amazons hiding in plain sight, and a race to save the world, and you've got quite the wild ride!
This was a fast and quick read with a quirky premise that belied its level of emotional depth. I liked it, it was definitely more complex than it seemed like it would be, and there was a subtle emotional sweetness to offset the spice. (And there is a lot of spice here, which shouldn't surprise anyone given the premise.) The way the dual POVs were presented was interesting and a bit unique. While I'm glad we got two POVs, I wish we'd had Josh's POV a bit earlier in the book because once his backstory was presented it felt like the book took a sudden and heavier (but necessary) turn. Neurotic Bridget and seemingly laid-back Josh appeared to be opposites-attract in the beginning, but Josh's backstory showed quite a bit of chaos and brooding of his own. This turned into one of those “do they feel the same way about each other” kinds of stories, which was a little frustrating sometimes even though you knew how it was going to end up. And while Josh was clearly smitten with Bridget (and Bridget reluctantly smitten with Josh), I sometimes found myself unsettled by the transactional nature of their intimacy (even while they're falling for each other). But maybe that's how the reader was supposed to feel, since both Bridget and Josh seemed unsettled by it as well. This is a fast read with a lot of layers which, while ultimately leading to an HEA, took a bit of a winding and difficult road to get there. Be prepared for some deeper emotional issues to surface over the course of the book, and pay attention to content warnings. I was rooting for Bridget and Josh, and was happy to see them get to where they needed to be. 4.5 stars. Publishes January 20, 2026. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
After a high-profile snafu at her elite PR job, anxious and perfectionistic Mia takes a temporary marketing job at her grandmother's retirement home in SW Florida (with many prurient characteristics heavily borrowed from the real-life retirement community The Villages in Florida). Embraced by her grandmother and her tribe of auxiliary “grandmothers,” Mia is encouraged to let go and live her best life (which includes living that life alongside the best man). But will Mia recover from her burnout or will she fall back into her old maladaptive life habits? This was a quick read with a lot of warmth, and had a nice blend of seriousness and fun. It was heavier than expected in some ways, with deeper messaging about aging, body positivity, recovering from relationship trauma, and mental health. (It's clear the author either has experience with anxiety and OCD and therapy strategies, or she's done some pretty thorough research into Mia's struggles. Much of it rang true and lent depth to Mia's character.) Mia's mom is a piece of work, although we grow to understand why a little bit. Grandma Helen is at least loving towards Mia, but there was emotional manipulation that I don't like from her and the other grandmas. (They walked a fine line with Mia between tough love and steamrolling, and while it gave the story some direction there were times I found it to be unpleasant. My heart hurt for Mia, as a parentified child she was emotionally unsupported for a very long time and yet her feelings were still being dismissed even by those who care about her.) Several generations of mother-daughter trauma to unpack added another layer of tension to the story. I definitely related to Mia with her anxiety and over-achiever people-pleasing ways and the interpersonal family dysfunction. While the romance played a large role in the story (including the “love triangle” she finds herself in), it felt like an accessory to what turned into more of a “life lessons” and self-growth type of story. I think people who enjoy their love stories with a large contingency of active (and sassy) senior citizens, some madcap humor, and some deeper themes of generational trauma and loss will really enjoy this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
This was a quick read with a fun premise and a nice amount of humor. I loved the Remington Steele vibes, it turned into a bit of a caper with some slapstick physical humor I wasn't expecting. It's a 50/50 mix of romance and a whodunnit. Sometimes it was hard to know which of those the book wanted to be, and as a result the overall plot felt a little disjointed. There was an abundance of characters to keep track of, and aside from Emersyn (and Theo) most of them felt a bit shallowly developed. There was a nice amount of warmth between Emersyn and Wyatt, even though she kept him at arm's length most of the time (and the back-and-forth while she fought her attraction got to be a little repetitive). The killer wasn't immediately clear to me, which definitely kept me reading to the satisfying conclusion. This feels like the start of a series, and this first book was engaging enough that I'd definitely read the next in the series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Abby is an American temporarily living in Newfoundland and adjusting to a life that's newly far away from her sister and niece. She gets drawn into joining a small local improv group and meets Paul, a charming and handsome teacher with significant emotional baggage. As their attraction grows, potential barriers to getting involved come to life. Will Abby learn to say yes, and... to what she truly wants? This quick read was more contemplative than I thought it would be, but was quietly funny while dealing with multiple heavier issues. I loved the banter within the inprov group (these are quippy people), and there was a gentle found family vibe between them (loved Lisette!). The reader is kept a bit off balance throughout the book because there's a tenuous nature to everything: will Abby stay in Canada or go back to the US? Does Paul want to get back together with his ex-wife or is Abby worth fighting for? Will Abby have the courage to decide what she wants and just go for it? And what will Abby's sister Laura decide to do with her own life? (Speaking of, there's an upcoming companion book with the sister's story, and although I wasn't a huge fan of Laura I definitely enjoyed this new-to-me author enough that I'd gladly read the next book.) This was written in 1st-person POV from Abby's perspective, and while normally I would have liked Paul's POV too this is more of Abby's story and the singular POV choice definitely worked here. I liked both Abby and Paul, individually and together. (Paul is a buttoned up guy with hidden passion, which is one of my personal MMC preferences.) I think readers who enjoy fish-out-of water, fade to black romances with witty banter will love this book. This review was based on a complimentary DRC, all opinions are my own.
The Mirror is Book 2 in Nora Roberts' “Lost Brides” trilogy, and the story continues: Sonya and her friend Cleo battle the “evil” ghost Hettie Dobbs in Sonya's inherited mansion, while being aided by the helpful ghosts (among them Sonya's grandmother, Clover) and handsome locals (and love interests) Trey and Owen. The main storyline of the paranormal mystery and what happened that linked Hettie to the house in the first place is advanced a bit, as is the backstory of the other ghosts, but other than that there wasn't much new here (except in this book they're also planning a party, and they plant a garden). Book 2 is not a standalone since Book 1 ended on a cliffhanger, and the bulk of the relationship development between Sonya and Trey happened in Book 1 (as does the background exposition for some of the lost brides). But she does a good job of summing up events from the previous book so you could jump right into this one if you wanted. The relationship between Cleo and Owen develops more in Book 2, but as with the first book the romance is more of a sub-plot to the ghosts. (At least Owen and Cleo have more personality than Sonya and Trey, who I find to be bland). More information about the ghosts is gained in this book, but I agree with another reviewer who said they had a hard time keeping the ancestors straight. A family tree at the front of the book would have been helpful. Also, pay attention to content warnings because there is definitely triggering content here.
Nora's recent books tend to overly and noticeably focus on minutiae and it really pulls me out of enjoying the story. There's a lot of repetitive writing about certain things (so much detail about their jobs and their work schedule, walking/playing with the dogs, cooking and what they're eating and drinking, and just general day-to-day living) that makes me wonder why they're included since they don't further the story with each re-telling. (The amount of extraneous content like this in both Book 1 and Book 2 makes me genuinely wonder if this trilogy could have been condensed into one book instead of three. I'm going to read the third book because I'm invested in solving the mystery, but I think this trilogy is one meeting that could have been an email.) And I was really distracted in both books by how much wine and Coke they drink, it was mentioned over and over and over again. If I'd had a glass of wine for every scene in which they had wine, I'd have drunk at least 6 bottles of wine myself by the end of the book (and roughly a 24-pack of Coke). I had to wonder why with all of the wine they drink there's never any mention of them buying more or how it gets to the house in the first place. Does it get delivered? Was there a massive wine stash in the house already? Do the friendly ghosts magically replenish it? So many questions!
Overall I liked Book 2 okay but I didn't love it. Unfortunately the repetition and focus on mundane details meant I struggled to stay engaged with the overall plot. But this book (and series) is for you if you're a Nora Roberts fan and you're looking for pure escapist reading about a fantasy life where the only real problems for the main characters are the big, thrilling ones like sinister ghosts and how am I going to keep my inherited mansion clean (which isn't actually a problem because there's a ghost housekeeper as well as a groundskeeper and someone who waters the plants). This review was based on a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
Inheritance is the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy from Nora Roberts, and overall it's pretty engaging! There's a compelling paranormal mystery with a romantic sub-plot. I haven't read a Nora Roberts book in a while and I'd forgotten how “soapy” they can be. Cheating (and vindictive) ex-fiancé! Surprise inheritance from a mysterious uncle! Twins separated at birth! An inherited haunted mansion with a tragic history (and ghosts)! A handsome lawyer love interest who also happens to have a rescue dog! More rescue dogs! Lots of wine! It's a bit predictable in parts, but also enjoyably over-the-top in others. It's relatively fast-paced and Nora knows how to move the plot along, but I felt like it got repetitive after a while and could have been a slightly shorter book. I also would have preferred more from Trey's perspective, his character is superficially developed and their relationship feels bland and anticlimactic. (Trey is the requisite cookie cutter small-town dream guy who happens to be available and single.) I thought getting to know the backstory of the ghosts was interesting, and you could tell Nora enjoyed thinking them up and creating the phantom playlist.
Like I said above, it's been a while since I've read a Nora Roberts book and I picked this up as a nostalgia read because I loved her back in the 90s and early 2000s. (Plus, it's a trilogy and I do love a good multi-book story.) But in reading this book, I'm very aware that Nora Roberts (while still amazing) is not as young as she once was. It's there in the sedate dialogue and interactions: these characters just don't feel like they're currently in their late 20s/early 30s, and there's a formality that makes them feel too settled and overly mature for their age. It's also there in some of the outdated attitudes: a focus on making sure you have makeup on for a man, comments about over-eating (and working off a heavy meal), sex without sexual health discussion or protection (which should be de rigueur in a 21st century contemporary romance). Don't misunderstand me, she's a great writer but I'm not sure the world of con-rom is fully suited to her anymore. I think she's finding her stride with paranormal stories though, and honestly I'd read any hist-rom written by her.
Because this is a trilogy, I'm glad that all 3 of the books are now published so I can read them all together! This first book set the groundwork for an engaging mystery that moves right along into the second book. These are not standalones, and this first book ends on a cliffhanger so you'll need to read the next two to find out what happens. I think this is best suited for readers who are fans of Nora Roberts and who like a good paranormal historical mystery with some romance on the side. This review is based on a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
I have mixed feelings about this one. On the plus side: midlife representation, a snarky GenX heroine who remembers over the course of the book the best parts of who she really is, an HFN ending that puts focus on being happy with yourself and putting yourself and your needs first, an FMC who is finally prioritizing her wants, and the affirming message that the life you lead after 50 can be fresh and new and wonderful. And as great as all of those things were (and there were a lot of good things in this book), a few things threw me off. Starting with the description that she changes her life after a “health scare.” I expected something more drastic than what was presented; at best, it was a “health precaution.” I kept waiting for the actual health scare to happen until I finally realized it had already happened lol. (And let me just say how much her doctor's initial lecture ticked me off. Tough love? Maybe, but it still smacked of a lot of assumptions about her based on her appearance in the office. Not that this kind of treatment is unusual for women of a certain age, and I did actually find that part relatable.) I applaud that Callie took steps to feel better about herself, and to physically feel stronger. But I was not a fan of her over-emphasis on body image in the first half of the book (although that definitely tracks for a GenX woman who was raised by 80s/90s diet culture). I thought for the most part the pacing was good, and it was good enough for most of the book to keep me engaged. But I felt like it took a little too long for some of the key story events to happen. (And by the time they did, it was a bit anticlimactic.) I liked the flashback chapters, since they helped us to better understand the younger Callie and Porter's relationship. I don't feel like we got to know Porter well enough, and I think ultimately that made it harder for me to root for him. Overall, this felt more like women's fiction than a romance. And there's nothing wrong with that, just make sure you go into it this book with realistic expectations. (And also check the content warnings, there was some content that was especially triggering for me as an adult child who cared for aging parents who both had issues similar to Callie's mother.) 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes December 30, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Fun collection of midlife motivational memes with fabulous vintage graphics. A quick and cute read that's very relatable for ladies of a certain age like myself. (Many is the time, even as recently as today, when I've felt exactly like these ladies.) You'll recognize the meme style once you see it, and it's fun to have them gathered in one place for your snarky midlife snickering pleasure. Publishes March 3, 2026. This review is based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Like almost everyone else, I love Dolly Parton! This newest biography was very informative and well researched, and weaves together a lot of information in a way that's easy to read and follow (even if it's a bit dense overall). Presenting her life chronologically made it easier to follow and there's a lot here that I didn't know, especially about her early life. Extensive footnotes help round out the narrative and provide a lot of credence to the author's re-telling of Dolly's life events. I thought it was thoughtfully and respectfully written, and thankfully steered clear of salacious or gossip-y content except to mention how it affected Dolly. I did think it was a bit dry in parts, although I feel like that was hard to avoid given how many facts were packed into this book. I also would have loved to see some pictures to round out Dolly's life and history, but since I'm reading an advanced copy I'm hopeful that there will be some in the final published edition. Whether you love Dolly already or you want to learn more about this dazzling cultural icon, this is a great book! Publishes December 30, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
While there wasn't much new about the premise in this quick and fun read (i.e., workplace romance, dating the boss, a dash of corporate espionage, everything works out in the end with an HEA), the difference here is that the author writes with a sly wit that made the execution of the premise really enjoyable. Snarky and scrappy Faith pitted against brooding “bosshole” Curtis never stood a chance (but then, neither did Curtis). Despite there being some serious themes (including some messed-up parental relationships on both sides), the book was entertaining and breezily written. It doesn't take itself seriously, which works well since it's a rom-com. It was a bit predictable in places, and leans heavily on intentional misdirection (not my favorite trope but it works here). There are dual 1st-person POVs, which helps with story depth (as a reader I always appreciate those dual POVs in terms of understanding relationship development). I didn't have high expectations (do we really need another “falling for the billionaire bosshole” book?) but I ended up enjoying it, the author has a fun voice and I cracked up more than once. (The times when their relationship was in the “purposely adversarial” stage was fun to read and, strictly from a reader entertainment point of view, didn't last nearly long enough.) This is the perfect book for when you're looking for an escapist pick-me-up. Abby London is a new-to-me author, and it seems as if this is her first book under this pen name. It was so much fun, I would absolutely read her again (this is the start of a series and I'm looking forward to the next one). This review was based on a complimentary DRC, all opinions are my own.
I had a harder time with this one than I expected and I probably wasn't the best audience for it. The story was a bit of a slow starter and I felt tossed into the plot (I think some flashbacks would have helped but some of my unanswered questions from the beginning did eventually get answered through the course of the story). The pacing was a bit uneven and it was too slow at times to fully keep my attention. (I started and stopped the book several times between other books, which I don't normally do.) Merritt's relationship with her sister felt unnecessarily combative in the beginning (although again, it's explained later in the story). In fact, I didn't find Merritt or her sister to be hugely likeable. Niko was kind, and I liked him more, but they both seemed a bit immature even though Merritt was older and more worldly. There is a mini age gap between Merritt and Niko, but it's not hugely noticeable because again they both seem on a similar maturity level. I've read this author before and she's been a bit hit-or-miss for me, and I was disappointed that this one didn't grab me like I hoped it would. It was a bit heavier than I expected so check the content warnings. But even with all that, I was invested enough to keep reading to see if they both got a much-needed HEA. I'm glad I stuck with it because it got better (despite my least-favorite trope showing up towards the end). I did appreciate the dual 3rd-person POVs since it helped us to get in both of their heads. This was a bit of a “learning to find yourself “ story, I felt for Merritt as she figured out what a “normal” life and relationship looks like for her (and even Niko, to an extent, floundered as he tried to make more mature choices for his life). I think readers who enjoy new adult (in tone) romances with tension and redemption arcs will enjoy this book. This review was based on a complimentary DRC, all opinions are my own.
This quick read was fine but not quite the book for me. It jumped right into August and Mia's backstory (both 2 years ago and present day), so it felt a little abrupt. I didn't read the previous books and I definitely feel like that put me at a disadvantage since there was little introduction here to August or Mia, and not getting to know the characters made the story feel flat. I also missed out on some world-building, but that part was fairly easy to follow. (This is a contemporary romance but set in a world where Santa is real and there are strict rules about how can live at the North Pole.) For me, missing out on their initial relationship development and backstory made it hard to invest in the characters or their romance (both their initial romance and the second-chance romance). As a story I felt it was a bit contrived and it asked the reader to forgive a lot (it leaned way too heavily on the intentional miscommunication trope, which is not my favorite). I also felt like the forgiveness and reconciliation between August and Mia was a bit rushed and superficial, at least in the timeline of this book. Even though it wasn't for me, I do think fans of the author and those who've read the other other books will like this novella. Publishes December 16, 2025. This review was based on a DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing a DRC of this story! I know it doesn't publish until April 2026 but I was too excited to wait that long to read and review. :) I have enjoyed India Holton's “Love's Academic” series so much, and this book is the best one yet. It definitely has some of my favorite tropes: childhood friends-to-lovers and slow burn romance. Amelia and Caleb together stole my heart, and should be the new gold standard for friends-to-lovers romance done right. There's such a lovely sweetness and yearning to this book, and it was so tender in spots that it made my heart hurt. (I won't give too much away but the “fake hating” was a great twist on the typical friends-to-lovers story, even as it made me frustrated that they were forced to engage in that kind of farce for so long.) There's a nice mix of present-day timeline and flashbacks that give detail and depth to their two-decades-long close relationship. Amelia and Caleb's realization over the years that they could be (and want to be) more than friends to one another was heart-warming and so satisfying to read. The overall level of detail the author presents is impressive and pulls you deeper in to the story, and the dual POVs were a delight as always (some of Amelia's personal reflections and observations made me laugh out loud). I love this author's voice! She has a droll sense of humor and writes a great mix of dialogue and exposition. The cozy magical realism is a lot of fun, and all of the books in the series are a great blend of romantasy and hist-rom. Her world building is easy to follow, since it's based heavily on what we already know about Victorian England (it's really not much of a stretch to add magic into the mix). There was a nice bit of mystery and intrigue which added more tension to the story (not that much more was needed, given the stress of the almost constant fake-hating charade, the acting-up of the magical objects, and the misogyny Amelia dealt with on a daily basis). Before you pick this one up I would definitely recommend reading the two earlier books first. While this book works reasonably well as a standalone, reading the first two books helps with the overall arc (plus they're just good books). If you're in the mood for a cozy slowest-of-slow burn magical workplace romance between two childhood friends, this is definitely the book for you. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars (the physical culmination of their romantic relationship came a bit too late in the book for my personal tastes to give the book a solid 5 stars, but the build-up and the emotional depth of their relationship was stellar). Publishes April 21, 2026. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
The book was okay overall and there were some things I liked but I definitely wasn't the right audience. This was a quick read with straightforward writing, although it was a bit of a slow starter. This is part of a series and although I haven't read the other books I didn't feel lost. The question of what happened with Roland in the past looms extremely heavily over the majority of the book. The plot structure is built on the tension of that event (along with some other events that happen along the way), which makes the story feel off-kilter most of the time. It's pretty obvious how things are going to unfold. All of the characters come off as varying degrees of immature, and I didn't find any of them to be particularly likeable. Very heavy use of the misunderstanding/miscommunication trope, with a notable lack of curiosity beyond “I've made up my mind what happened and that's the end of things.” There are lots of messy relationships here, which is not something I typically enjoy but I can see why it might appeal to other readers. I got a little frustrated with Anzi after a while, just how many of Austin's red flags slapping her in the face is she willing to ignore? I liked the characters at the restaurant and their dynamic. And although I found the overall plot to be lacking in sweetness and light, there were some funny moments. I absolutely loved her TV show, and the '90s pop culture references were fun.
I did not like the amount of cheating and the way it was presented as a plot device to be a means to an end. And although Anzi does beat herself up about it (a little), it's presented as a bit cavalier and as a way for Anzi to realize her feelings for Roland. The book description hints at possible cheating but it turned out to be a bigger plot point than I usually like in my romance books. Also, I get that it was the 90s but unprotected sex with both her boyfriend (who is a cheater but she doesn't know it) and an ex-boyfriend you haven't seen in 3 years? Was no one worried about sexual histories or STDs?
Ultimately this wasn't the book for me. I'm rating this a generous 3 stars, mostly because Anzi's TV show and her restaurant family were enough to keep me reading to the end. This review is based on a complimentary DRC, all opinions are my own.
Mixed feelings on this one but overall I enjoyed it. The sexual content is still not quite my cup of tea, but the story was well developed and a great read. Boo for ending on a cliffhanger and the next book not being published until mid-2026! I had reservations going into this book since for me the Ruinous Love trilogy was hugely hit or miss. But I have high hopes that this trilogy will be different! And I really want to see how Harper and Nolan's story ends. One final note, kudos to the author for her thorough content warnings at the beginning of the book, they were extremely helpful!
This was a gentle and tender book about love, grief, and loss, as well as learning to find happiness again (and be okay with being happy). I liked the premise, and I strongly related to Lizzie's fixation on the rituals of mourning in an attempt to make sense of her grief. (I can definitely identify with craving clear rules or a guide to cope with loss.) The mystery and tension with her mother-in-law, as well as a slight love triangle, keep the book moving as Lizzie learns how to keep going when you lose the one you love. There are touches of humor that provide some needed lightness in what could have been a much heavier book. The story moves fast and has nice pacing, and the sub-plots help keep things going. I liked the flashbacks, they were useful for exposition and helped us get to know her husband and better understand the depth of her loss. Ultimately the story was sweet in its simplicity, given the fraught subject and events. It's very comforting to read a book that says you can be happy again, even if that happiness doesn't look like you think it will. Publishes December 9, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.