If you’re a fan of any Christina Lauren book, but especially The Unhoneymooners, then this book is most definitely for you. Trust me. The Paradise Problem has two POVs, compelling language, a quippy and witty writing style and so many indulgent tropes that had me desperate to keep reading and find out what would happen next. Tropes include fake dating, marriage of convenience, opposites attract, second chance romance, forced proximity, and the classic only-one-bed.

In The Paradise Problem, Anna marries Liam “West” Weston to secure family housing at UCLA. Liam agrees to the marriage on-paper-only for similar reasons. Two years later, Liam moves out and has her sign “divorce” papers. Turns out, they’re not divorce papers, and by three years later, they are still technically married because Liam’s grandfather’s will stipulates that he can only get his inheritance after five years of a happy marriage. Liam, now a professor at Stanford, calls up onetime wife Anna, who is now a struggling artist, to accompany him to his sister’s wedding in Singapore … and he’ll pay her handsomely for her time. As Anna pretends to fit in with Liam’s obscenely rich family, he’s concerned that their wealth will corrupt her innocence. Consider The Paradise Problem like The Unhoneymooners meets Crazy Rich Asians.

It’s so fun and frothy that I could just savor page by page. And that epilogue, woo, I swear I felt my heart grew, like, two sizes from that HEA. And that ending felt earned and not rushed through, which I think is partly the reason for said swoony feelings.

CW: Parental estrangement

I’ve been obsessed with the “Meant to Be” series since the very beginning and Christina Lauren’s attachment just grew that exponentially. Yes, Tangled Up in You is based on Rapunzel (and a fairly accurate adaptation albeit a modern-day setting) but it is also such a delightful, fun and original romance with tropes including opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity.

Here, Ren (aka the Rapunzel character) has been raised on a homestead in Idaho without access to the internet or anything. By 22, she enrolls at Corona College in California and experiences a whole new world. Fitz, meanwhile, is a senior who has his life all planned: Graduate from Corona, Get his criminal record wiped and Be the rich playboy everyone already thinks he is. Fitz only has a few months left when he crashes into Ren. After being paired on a class assignment, Ren asks Fitz to tag along on his cross-country spring break road trip. They might be an unlikely pair, but there is something that just clicks.

It’s told from dual points of view and has such witty banter. Like, OMG, I couldn’t help but literally laugh out loud in parts. Super cute and fits right in with the rest of “Meant to Be.”

CW: Child Abduction

I absolutely, unexpectedly, loved Elle Everhart’s Wanderlust and was honestly just waiting for her sophomore novel. And when I found out this one was like Love Island but more diverse/inclusive, boy, I was sold.

Cas, a big fan of Love Island-esque Hot Summer, is tasked by her dating app employers to join the show to help their new professional partnership. Cas is promised her long-dreamt promotion if she makes it to the finale. Cas heads to Cyprus to film the show for eight weeks, not thinking of love by just being logical and strategic. All that goes out the door when Ada, another bi contestant, walks through the villa doors. What starts as a friendship turns into an undeniable chemistry and connection. And yes, if you look close enough there is a teeny Wanderlust nod to Dylan, IYKYK.

I dug this book so darn much and just wanted to keep reading and reading and reading. Like, I was just dying to figure out what would happen next. Everhart brings her now-signature witty language and banter-filled style to Hot Summer. And, my gosh, it was so cute yet realistic. It is mostly a slow-burn, friends-to -overs novel, but there are a few spicy AF scenes. Plus, that HEA! Yes, it was cute and all but I liked it more than other books because it was a realistic time frame that’s not, like, skipping 12 steps ahead just to be at the endgame. It was just right and the right time given the book’s space in time.

I went into The Love of My Afterlife with zero expectations, and so, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was into this one. It gave, like, The Good Place (which I loved) vibes meets a second-chance romance with a dash of a love triangle.

Here, Delphie meets The One, a mysterious heartthrob named Jonah T., in the afterlife waiting room after she dies. However, he’s only there by mistake and thus sent back to Earth with a poof. After noticing the instant sparks, Delphie gets one more chance in the land of the living: Find Jonah amidst the bustling London scene and get him to kiss her within 10 days or it’s back to the afterlife for good. Twenty-seven-year-old Delphie enlists her broody neighbor Cooper to help track down Jonah, and it also seems that Cooper might not be as broody as imagined?

Author Kirsty Greenwood writes with such compelling language from the beginning to the end, which makes The Love of My Afterlife pretty darn unputdownable. Greenwood’s language was just, like, beyond witty that I devoured like candy, I swear. It was very cute, very fun and very unique for a romance — even though I totally called the love triangle results wayyyy in advance, but I’m just saying. Still a good read regardless.

I had no preconceived notions about this book, which is probably why I was drawn to this book and liked it as much as I did.

Not You Again follows wedding dress designer Andie, who follows her BFF’s advice to sign up for a reality TV matchmaking experiment … not for love, but for the financial compensation they give you if it doesn’t work out. She gets matched with architect Kit, who signs up to appease his dying mother’s wish to see him settle down, and they meet on their wedding day. Yes, this book is like a twist on Lifetime’s Married at First Sight. Once Andie and Kit meet, *gasp* it’s not for the first time because they dated in college, and, oh yeah, Kit brutally left Andie without any explanation. As Andie and Kit go on this reality TV journey or marriage, they slowly let their walls back down and start to fall for each other again. But, is love worth letting go of the monetary result of a divorce?

Author Ingrid Pierce writes with such fun, witty language that had me hooked from the very first page. I was quite literally desperate to keep reading and learn what would happen next, and as I discovered, Not You Again was anything by predictable. Told from dual points of view, this book seamlessly blends enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance with a Married at First Sight-inspired fanfic. And it, surprisingly, worked. Completely. Totally. Wholeheartedly. Not You Again was so fun and cute, and it was so easy to get sucked into the story. I really dug this one.

This book is apparently a sequel, which I didn’t realize until the epilogue, oh well, but I enjoyed it as a standalone, too. It’s, like, an apocalyptic contemporary YA/New Adult royalty romance, which seems like an odd pairing but just works.

In Heir, Apparently, Wren Wheeler is a college freshman at Northwestern, who accidentally married the newly crowned king of England, Theo, the previous summer after they got stranded on an island together. Theo left Wren alone in Greece, even taking her dog, Comet. Before school starts, she schemes to rescue her pup, which forces a reunion with Theo. Soon enough, their wedding news causes scandal and they need to hightail to London pronto. However, their plane (also carrying their respective siblings, Wren’s best friend, Theo’s security guard, and the pilot) crashes on a remote island. As they try to survive the elements and a literal volcano (not a spoiler, it’s on the book cover, lovelies), Theo’s coronation inches closer.

The concept is just so unique, fun, and unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s a cute read, full of witty language. My only thing is that I just would have loved for these characters to be 20- or 30-somethings because I think it would still be a fun concept in an adult romance, but that’s just me. Anyways, it fully works here and I really did enjoy this one.

I’ve read all of Elise Bryant’s YA novels, and this book is nothing like any of them because it’s adult fiction and a mystery. But, it’s written with such masterful and compelling language just the same. It’s Elementary is full of dramatic twists and turns until the very end, like, Oh my God, where did all that come from?

It’s Elementary follows single mom Mavis, who is balancing raising 7-year-old daughter Pearl, her job at a nonprofit, and being enlisted to helm the school PTA’s diversity committee. Her new role goes off the role when she sees PTA president Trisha looking suspicious one night and new Principal Smith suddenly goes missing. They must be related, right? Mavis turns to school psychologist Jack to be the Mulder to her Scully (the X Files reference is intentional, yes, without giving a further spoiler) to figure out what really happened.

Wowza, I was hooked, to say the least. Plus, it’s always interesting to have a mystery novel MC not be a pro at solving crimes, you know? It’s, like, their amateur status makes it feel so much more authentic and earned when they crack the case. Plus, the language was so completely intriguing that made me so interested to find out what was next. Anyway, yes, I recommend this book. Obviously.

CW: Domestic Abuse

First off, if you are averse to spicy romances, why are you here at a Tessa Bailey book? And second, you really won’t like this one. Just saying. But that being said, The Au Pair Affair brings together Bailey’s usual compelling language, intriguing love story, indulgent tropes (this time it’s age gap, sports romance, celebrity romance, and forced proximity) and toe-curling spice.

In The Au Pair Affair, Tallulah is pursuing her master’s degree in marine biology and takes a second job as the live-in nanny to Burgess, a pro hockey defenseman and single dad to 12-year-old Lissa. Despite an 11-year age gap and trying to remain professional, Burgess and Tallulah have an undeniable chemistry that makes it difficult to keep their hands off of one another. At the same time, Tallulah breathes new life into the father-daughter family’s post-divorce life by teaching Burgess to live again and introverted Lissa to socialize more.

The Au Pair Affair is told from dual points of view, and yes, brings back the lovable couple of Wells and Josephine from Bailey’s Fangirl Down for a sweet post-HEA check-in. This book, true to Bailey’s style, is well-written and so intriguing that has me curious to keep reading, even though I’ve never really vibed with an age-gap romance. But The Au Pair Affair is a Tessa Bailey romance, so where she leads, I will follow as a reader.

After devouring Jayci Lee’s past (and interconnected) romances, I was automatically intrigued by this one, especially with its royal romance trope. While, yes, the MC’s love interest is a secret prince, it doesn’t feel like countless other versions of the trope I’ve already read. Like, this one sort of put a unique spin on the subject. (And no, this one is not connected to Lee’s past characters, but it doesn’t need to be.)

Told in dual points of view, Lee continues to use her now-signature compelling writing style that pulled me in and wanted to keep reading to discover what would happen next. This story, which was not a closed-door romance IYKYK, was very cute and a perfect summer beach read. For sure. But, do I need to read again? Eh, probably not if I’m being honest.

Ok, gotta move on now because this book has me craving Madeleine cookies.

The Fiance Dilemma is a companion novel to Elena Armas’ The Long Game, and it feels like it. While some companion novels can stand on their own with teeny comparisons/shout-outs to the originals, The Fiance Dilemma is not that. The Long Game protagonists, Adalyn and Cameron, have a very well-known presence in The Fiance Dilemma. I mean, after all, Adalyn is the half-sister of The Fiance Dilemma main character Josie Moore and the best friend of Josie’s love interest, Matthew Flanagan. That being said, The Fiance Dilemma is still very much Josie and Matthew’s story of fake dating with just brief hints of Adalyn and Cam’s HEA in the background.

In The Fiance Dilemma, Josie is dealing with the arrival of her long-absent father in her life (and Green Oak, North Carolina) after he gets caught in a media whirlpool about their estrangement. His PR guru makes a surprise visit to see Josie, especially when the media finds out that she’s called off four weddings at the aisle. Publicist Bobbi Shark mistakenly thinks Matthew, who randomly shows up on Josie’s doorstep when his car breaks down, is fiancé No. 5. Soon enough, Bobbi is planning the perfect wedding for Josie and Matthew on newly reappeared Dad’s dime. Josie and Matthew soon decide that the fake engagement won’t end up with any vows, but what happens when their carefully crafted boundary lines start to blur?

I personally found that I enjoyed The Fiance Dilemma more than I did The Long Game, but that is probably because I just vibed with the content more — not that there is anything wrong with either. Both books showed off Armas’ exemplary writing style. Her prose is so compelling that drew me in completely.

Honestly, this one had me at Pride & Prejudice adaptation. What can I say: It’s my weakness — and Elizabeth of East Hampton delivered. This one is a modern version of P&P, set in modern-day Long Island. It’s told in dual points of view of both Lizzy and Darcy, which is a welcome change from the original.

In Elizabeth of East Hampton, Lizzy is a grad school-bound aspiring journalist and amateur surfer primarily spending time running her family’s struggling bakery in the Hamptons. Lizzy’s big sister, Jane, suddenly strikes up a summer fling with summertime resident Charlie Pierce (yes, he’s Bingley) and the pair try to set up Lizzy with Charlie’s business partner, Will Darcy. Obviously, the meeting left little to be desired, as expected.

As an adaptation, it is pretty accurate while still modernizing the story A LOT. Plus, there are a few plot differences that changed, like, in regards to Mary and Wickham’s respective storylines. Overall, it was very cute and sweet, and a wholesome adaptation of Jane Austen’s prose. And if you read Bellezza and Harding’s Emma of 83rd Street, then you will see a little post-HEA cameo.

I’ve been a fan of Emma Lord’s books since debut Tweet Cute (though You Have a Match is my No. 1 and remains there), but unfortunately, this one couldn’t surpass it.

In The Break-Up Pact, June and Levi were former childhood BFFs and are now both going viral for their respective breakups. Levi, an aspiring novelist, returns to their hometown to lay low given the social media virality. On day one, he reunites with June in her family-run tea shop. When a picture of them sparks rumors that they (plot twist) found love after their high-profile breakups, they decide to go with it, especially when it starts to help June’s struggling business turn a profit and Levi’s ex-girlfriend realize that she wants him back. So, fake-dating pact?

To me, The Break-Up Pact failed to provide new or unique characters and instead offered a pair that seemed dime-a-dozen, who did not develop throughout the novel. The premise, too, had such promise but then its execution just fell flat to me and like a replication of different books with similar tropes. I don’t know, but it kind of felt as if this author phoned it in a bit or didn’t really understand her main characters. Lord, for years, has been a master at writing YA. The Break-Up Pact, however, is one of her first real adult romances, and this one, however, felt like a YA novel but with adults. I guess, I just wanted more maturity from the characters.

I do have to say that Lord’s writing is still as compelling as ever and I am not dissing her craft. I just couldn’t fully vibe with the story and characters. Something just left  little to be desired.

CW: Sibling Grief

Casey McQuiston is easily one of my auto-buy authors ever since Red, White & Royal Blue, and well, this book completely continues that trend. McQuiston’s name and The Pairing‘s plot got me hooked before I even began, and then once I started reading I was completely captivated and enthralled.

Theo and Kit have been best friends since childhood, eventually breaking up before Kit moved across the Atlantic. They never saw each other again, until the pair (both bisexual) separately decided to finally take their dream European foodie tour four years later after learning that their vouchers from initially canceling are about to expire. They both show up, older and more experienced, and reconnect. As they are trapped together for three weeks, Kit (a pastry chef based in Paris) and Theo (a nonbinary aspiring sommelier) make a bet to see who can hook up with more strangers during the trip. But, not all their bet rules are meant to be followed…

It’s a travel romance meets the-one-that-got-away and second chance tropes with several spicy spice scenes (like that yacht one, ahem). Told in dual points of view, McQuiston writes with their signature compelling language that is fun, indulgent, and romantic but also authentic, honest, and vulnerable. I found myself absolutely drawn into the story and so, so, so curious to keep reading.

This book is so fun and so cute with the travel romance and the hookup competition around the world, yes, but The Pairing also has emotional depths and vulnerability. It is such a meaningful, relatable, and authentic story of identity as well — outside of a sweeping love story. It just has lots of heart.

All in all, I would highly recommend this read, for sure. McQuiston, once again, delivers a compelling story, an indulgent romance, some steamy spice, and plenty of heart. I loved this one. It is so cute to follow Kit and Theo traipse around Europe, falling back in love but also seriously discovering themselves and what they want.

This one is like a YA version of Emily in Paris for theatre kids, and you know what? Here for it.

In Love Requires Chocolate, theatre nerd Whitney Curry arrives in Paris for her semester abroad at an arts high school. While navigating a fish-out-of-water syndrome, homesickness, and trying to master the French language, Whitney struggles all around. Not to mention that she’s trying to mount a one-woman play about Josephine Baker. Enter her grumpy tutor Thierry, who is determined to get Whitney to deviate from her carefully crafted schedule to see the real Paris.

It’s a fun and cute YA, OwnVoices, and travel romance. I found myself completely drawn into the story thanks to the author’s compelling language and word choice. It’s not too slow, which thank goodness, that’s a major plus. It’s very cute, sweet and innocent.

I went into this book not knowing that it was a sequel, whoops that’s on me, but I still enjoyed it. I think it can still stand alone because the story feels new and there were plenty of character introductions. Meaning, I didn’t feel lost or as I was missing something when I jumped into the story.

In ‘Til Heist Do Us Part, Simi Chopra and her ragtag crew are summoned to pull off another jewelry heist thanks to her now-ex, the rogueish Jack Danger. While trying to work together, Simi is still bitter at the way Jack ended things, while he is desperate for a second chance. It’s a heist team-up book comprised of a quirky amateur crew with a romance subplot.

Told in somewhat dual points of view, this book was written with very compelling language that kept me intrigued to keep reading. It was very cute, and ended with a HEA, but the epilogue hints at potentially another sequel. If that’s the case, I’ll definitely be back.

This book is for literally anyone who’s said or thought anything about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story being straight out of a rom-com … just with baseball instead football. Like, it’s giving Baseball Tayvis. This book was a rare novel that I started and finished in one day, OK fine a few hours, because I literally could not put it down. I had to discover what would happen next.

In Heavy Hitter, Lacey Logan is *the* music industry and curates everything in her life from songs, dating status and social media Easter eggs. Sound familiar? In between her record-breaking U.S. tour, she is dumped by her SNL comedian boyfriend Toby amid his drug addiction and the news that his mistress is pregnant. She goes to lick her wounds at NYC’s Via Carota (another Swiftie ref IYKYK) when she runs into Baltimore Orioles catcher Jimmy Hodges. After a one-night stand, they start a secret, long-distance situationship that gets serious fast. (Also, yes there is spice, but it’s not too too steamy, in my honest opinion.)

The language is fun, quippy, and snappy, which had me so intrigued to keep reading. The book, told in dual first-person points of view, has banter for, like DAYS. And I mean that. I even chucked a few times, like, honestly. Overall, this book reads super quickly but in the best way. It is absolutely adorable and can definitely, without a doubt cure a reading slump. My only criticism? It ends kind of abruptly where I just wanted more. Like what happens at the World Series? Does she go? Does the team win? Does he follow her on her Europen tour during his off-season and what would that be like? Come on, Katie Cotugno, can you please give the people a sequel or an epilogue? It’s, like, a need-to-know basis right now, just saying.

Literally, this book is the rom-com that Tayvis fans have been clamoring for ever since September 2023 when Swift showed up at that first Chiefs game. Trust me on that one.

While Hannah Grace’s latest couldn’t beat Wildfire for me (hey, I’m a camp girlie through and through!), I did enjoy it and find it particularly cute for a slow burn, fake dating, bookish and sports romance. Also, I truly love the diversity and watching a plus-size main character fall in love with a person of color. Love when romances aren’t so white-washed, it’s just, like, “been-there-done-that.”

Daydream reads quite quickly thanks to intriguing language and plenty (and I mean, plenty) of banter. However, some of the included text messages can be difficult to know who is speaking without proper headers or font changes. It was a little bit confusing at each turn. Overall, Daydream is very cute, I give it that but it’s just not my all-time favorite. Can still swoon over Halle and Henry’s romance, no question.

P.S. The book dedication as a tribute to eldest daughters is, literally, EVERYTHING.