Release date: February 23, 2021

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

What if you made yourself your number one priority?

Of all the women and men Noni Blake has pleased in her life, there’s one she’s often overlooked–herself. After the end of a decade-long relationship, Noni decides it’s time for that to change. She’s finally going to prioritize her wants and desires and only do things (and people) that feel good in the moment.

As she embarks on a pleasure-seeking quest that takes her halfway around the world, she discovers that maybe she can have everything, and everyone, she’s ever wanted.

Effortlessly hilarious and relatable, Claire Christian spins a fresh, feel-good tale about starting over as a thirtysomething woman who’s been living life for everyone else. A story of self-discovery for the ages, Noni’s journey serves as a sparkling reminder that life is what we make of it–so why not enjoy it?

Review:

Ok I loved this one you guys! I didn’t expect it to be so inspirational and uplifting, but it was really wonderful. How often do we, as adults do things just for the simple pleasure of it? Not often I’m afraid, and following along with Noni as she embarks on a pleasure quest was such a damn delight. It was a unique way for her to start a path of self discovery and I was rooting for her so hard!

Noni was such a complex and well crafted character, she was very honest and vulnerable throughout the book as she faced her own insecurities. There was so much body positivity and sex positivity and I am SO here for that. It was refreshing to read about a strong woman going after what she wanted and to put her own needs and wants first. I adored my time with Noni and was sad to say goodbye. Read this is you want to feel empowered and hopeful, it was sexy, funny and utterly charming.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 16, 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Alice Sullivan feels like she’s finally found her groove in middle age, but it only takes one moment for her perfectly curated life to unravel. On the same day she learns her daughter is struggling in second grade, a call from her son’s school accusing him of bullying throws Alice into a tailspin.

When it comes to light that the incident is part of a new behavior pattern for her son, one complete with fake social media profiles with a lot of questionable content, Alice’s social standing is quickly eroded to one of “those moms” who can’t control her kids. Soon she’s facing the very judgement she was all too happy to dole out when she thought no one was looking (or when she thought her house wasn’t made of glass).

Then her mother unloads a family secret she’s kept for more than thirty years, and Alice’s entire perception of herself is shattered.

As her son’s new reputation polarizes her friendships and her family buzzes with the ramification of her mother’s choices, Alice realizes that she’s been too focused on measuring her success and happiness by everyone else’s standards. Now, with all her shortcomings laid bare, she’ll have to figure out to whom to turn for help and decide who she really wants to be.

Review:

With a twelve year old daughter set to be a seventh grader next year this one read a bit like a cautionary tale to me. I don’t mean that in a bad way, more like it brought all my worst fears to life but in a very relatable, witty and entertaining way. It tackles some very relevant and timely topics and I think many parents will be super engaged with this one.

I love a family drama, and even better for me is when there are multiple points of view and this one has several. You have from Alice and her son Teddy, and her mom Evelyn. Then there’s Meredith and her daughter Sadie and a couple of random chapters from other characters that I don’t want to spoil. It provided a delicious birds eye view of the events that unfolded in an insightful way and I was totally wrapped up in the drama of all of the characters. A really engaging read that surprisingly gave me a lot to think about.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her single status, and most of all, her family inserting themselves into every detail of her life. But when caring for her precious sourdough starters, Reena can drown it all out. At least until her father moves his newest employee across the hall–with hopes that Reena will marry him.

But Nadim’s not like the other Muslim bachelors-du-jour that her parents have dug up. If the Captain America body and the British accent weren’t enough, the man appears to love eating her bread creations as much as she loves making them. She sure as hell would never marry a man who works for her father, but friendship with a neighbor is okay, right? And when Reena’s career takes a nosedive, Nadim happily agrees to fake an engagement so they can enter a couples video cooking contest to win the artisan bread course of her dreams.

As cooking at home together brings them closer, things turn physical, but Reena isn’t worried. She knows Nadim is keeping secrets, but it’s fine— secrets are always on the menu where her family is concerned. And her heart is protected… she’s not marrying the man. But even secrets kept for self preservation have a way of getting out, especially when meddling parents and gossiping families are involved.

Review:

This book should come with a warning label stating you should not read it without plenty of snacks, specifically bread 😋 Seriously I’ve never snacked more while reading and that’s saying something because all I do is snack 🤣 There is much more to this than just food though, this was an adorable, inclusive romance that I couldn’t get enough of!

Reena meets her new neighbor Nadim and there’s an instant mutual attraction and then she finds out he’s her father new employee AND the latest in a line of setups orchestrated by her meddling parents. Then there’s the cooking competition she wants to enter but she needs a fiancé and Nadim quickly agrees to a fake arrangement. Oh and she also decided to keep this all a secret from her nosy family. Did I mention they’re champion meddlers? What could go wrong?!

This focused on family, friendship, a love of food and Muslim culture, what’s not to love? There was humor, a sweet romance and wonderful secondary characters that I adored almost as much as I enjoyed Reena and Nadir. Such a feel good, comfort read that will leave you feeling happy and cozy.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 9, 2021

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it all—a beautiful home, close friends and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. There’s just one problem—it’s not her family, it’s her husband’s. In fact, everything in her life is tied to him—his mother is the closest thing to a mom that she’s ever had, their home is on the family compound, his sister is her best friend. So when she and her husband admit their marriage is over, her pain goes beyond heartbreak. She’s on the brink of losing everything. Her job, her home, her friends and, worst of all, her family.

Staying is an option. She can continue to work at the winery, be friends with her mother-in-law, hug her nieces and nephews—but as an employee, nothing more. Or she can surrender every piece of her heart in order to build a legacy of her own. If she can dare to let go of the life she thought she wanted, she might discover something even more beautiful waiting for her beneath a painted moon.

Review:

Oh this was such a delightful book! SM really knows how to write and engaging, heartfelt and emotionally complex book and this may be my favorite from her yet. I haven’t read all of her books though I’m trying to slowly make my way through her backlist, but this one was really special.

I loved so many things in this one, Mackenzie for starters was the type of lead character that charms the reader immediately. I also enjoyed the ensemble cast comprised of her husband’s family and then the primary setting being a vineyard was just the cherry on top of the cake. There was a lot going here plot wise, Mackenzie’s divorce, her strained relationship with her mother in law and then you get glimpses of her sister in laws struggles too, so definitely many relatable moments and problems and what I appreciated the most was the messiness of all their interactions. These characters felt genuine and true to life and even the way some things ended on a not so happy note made sense as real life is often complicated and not HEA. Overall just a really charming and entertaining read.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 2, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.

But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.

In Trish Doller’s unforgettable Float Plan, starting over doesn’t mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.

Review:

I want to start by saying that despite suicide and grief being a strong aspect of the plot here this actually wasn’t super heavy. Just wanted to get that out of the way because when I started this I was in the mood for something on the lighter side and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t all that sad. Maybe a little at times but overall it was a lighter read for me.

Ok, so I freaking loved this one y’all. It was such a beautiful, emotional, tender and sweet story! It leans more to the side of women’s fiction than a straight up romance but it definitely had romantic elements. It really was more about Anna’s path to healing, the ability to heal herself and give herself permission to move on. I just adored her and loved every single minute of her journey and Keane was a wonderful character in his own right. Their relationship was so gentle and pure, I loved that things developed between them so slowly, it felt very authentic and raw. Add in several vibrant and beautiful settings throughout the book and this had everything I wanted and more. Highly recommended by!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 27, 2020

Publisher: Dial Press

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers’ retreat in coastal Italy. She’s determined to finish writing the novel she’s been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind.

At the retreat, she’s not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch.

But then their real identities–Ava and Matt–must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there’s the prickly situation with Matt’s ex-girlfriend, who isn’t too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can’t love each other’s lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together?

Review:

I really loved the premise of this one, what happens after the fade to black, HEA moment? You know, when the newly loved up couple have to go back to their real lives and see if they’re truly compatible after a holiday romance. Does insta love really have the power to be long lasting? All super interesting to me!

Ava was what I’d call a typical SK character, slightly over the top but highly entertaining and endearing with plenty of charm. Matt was also a typical SK hero, again nothing wrong with that though, her formula is tried and true and the plot was fresh enough I wasn’t bothered. The side characters were also hugely entertaining and likable, if you’re a dog lover Ava’s pup Harold plays a large role. Overall another charming, light and fun read from one of my go to authors.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 2, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Love, romance, second chances, fairy-tale endings…these are the things Annika Dev believes in. Her app, Make Up, has been called the “Google Translate for failing relationships.”

High efficiency break-ups, flashy start-ups, penthouses, fast cars…these are the things Hudson Craft believes in. His app, Break Up, is known as the “Uber for break-ups.” It’s wildly successful—and anathema to Annika’s life philosophy.

Which wouldn’t be a problem if they’d gone their separate ways after that summer fling in Las Vegas, never to see each other again. Unfortunately for Annika, Hudson’s moving not just into her office building, but into the office right next to hers. And he’ll be competing at the prestigious EPIC investment pitch contest: A contest Annika needs to win if she wants to keep Make Up afloat. As if it’s not bad enough seeing his irritatingly perfect face on magazine covers when her own business is failing. As if knowing he stole her idea and twisted it into something vile—and monumentally more successful—didn’t already make her stomach churn.

As the two rival app developers clash again and again—and again—Annika finds herself drawn into Hudson Craft’s fast-paced, high velocity, utterly shallow world. Only, from up close, he doesn’t seem all that shallow. Could it be that everything she thought about Hudson is completely wrong? Could the creator of Break Up teach her what true love’s really about?

Review:

I love this recent surge of romance novels set in a tech world, the modern take on finding love is endlessly fascinating for me, and when it features a badass, strong woman in the tech world, I’m even happier. Annika was all of that and more and I just loved her as a character, in fact she’s what made me like this one so much.

If you like both second chance romances AND enemies to lovers this one has both, so fun! Annika and Hudson had a steamy vacation romance that didn’t work out and then when he seemingly steals her app idea he goes from lover to mortal enemy. I loved the way these two tortured each other, think silly pranks and their chemistry was fantastic. This is a true slow burn, nothing physical happens between the two until late in the book, but for me this was worth the wait. Besides their great dynamic Annika’s best friend, June was a delight and I also enjoyed her relationship with her father. Overall a fun and entertaining romance read for me.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 20, 2021

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Grace never dreamt she’d visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a decaying state psychiatric hospital, charged with the murder of a stranger. There was not much question of her daughter’s guilt. Police had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and the victim’s blood on her body and clothes. But they didn’t have a motive.

Grace blames herself, because that’s what mothers do—they look at their choices and wonder, what if? But hindsight offers little more than the chance for regret.

None of this was conceivable the day Penny came into her life. Then, it seemed like a miracle. Penny was found abandoned, with a mysterious past, and it felt like fate brought Penny to her, and her husband Arthur. But as she grew, Penny’s actions grew more disturbing, and different “personalities” emerged.

Arthur and Grace took Penny to different psychiatrists, many of whom believed she was putting on a show to help manage her trauma. But Grace didn’t buy it. The personas were too real, too consistent. It had to be a severe multiple personality disorder. One determined psychiatrist, Dr. Mitch McHugh, helped discover someone new inside Penny—a young girl named Abigail. Is this the nameless girl who was abandoned in the park years ago? Mitch thinks Abigail is the key to Penny’s past and to the murder. But as Grace and Mitch dig deeper, they uncover dark and shocking secrets that put all their lives in grave danger.

Review:

I likened the authors last book to a Lifetime movie and I still kinda feel the same way about this one, although this one was a little meatier and I did like it a bit more. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a dramatic made for TV movie though and that’s exactly the kind of mood I was in when I started this one.

I thought the mental illness portrayed here was done in a really interesting and mindful way. The whole first half I was super into this aspect and loved learning about the psychological side of this. Care and research must have been used because I found it to be very detailed, so if you’re at all interested in DID then this may be for you. The pacing was pretty solid as well, I was definitely invested enough that I read it quickly and wanted to know how it would all come together. Did it end how I wanted it to? Mostly, it was a tiny bit ridiculous but there were so many strong aspects that I’ll let it slide. An enjoyable read for me and one I predict will be a fan favorite because I think it’s definitely a step up from the authors last book.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.