It’s been a busy autumn for books, between reading for fun and reading for work, though it’s more enjoyable to read for fun, you know? Here’s a few of my standout favorites this season, and as always, keep reading!
Experiments in Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie
This had a cute premise and was certainly well-written; however, this grumpy-sunshine travel romance felt a bit slow. I just couldn’t get into the chapters. Each chapter basically chronicled one of FMC Maya’s bad blind dates on her Irish matchmaking experiment across the country, driven by surly sheep farmer Tadhg.
The story arc is painfully obvious, like duh, which enthused me even less to keep reading. It was just so predictable, like come on, I want surprises and plot twists and something new. This book didn’t give me that. The one thing it did provide was lots of open-door scenes and the setup of a potential sequel based on its epilogue. But, would I read it again? Eh, probably not. I just wasn’t intrigued by the character in this novel and, unfortunately, I was not.
This book’s one saving grace? The Irish setting and the attention to detail given to accurately depicting the lush green countryside. That alone is worth five stars, but unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the rest of this book.
Rating: Three Stars
Available: Now
Lucky 22 by Ashley Eckstein and Samantha Chase
Lucky 22 is basically a memoir, except the names have all been changed. Even so, yes, it’s pretty much actress Ashley Eckstein’s love story with her ex-MLB husband, David Eckstein. In Lucky 22, 22-year-old actress Ella Rose meets pro baseball player Christian Lucas in a chance meeting that turns into an instant spark. A relationship occurs quickly.
This clean, sports romance was co-written by well-known romance novelist Samantha Chase and features compelling language that reads quite quickly. It’s very saccharine, meaning so sugary-sweet with no real conflict in the FMC and MMC’s way. It’s fun and indulgent, cute, and a good beach read-type of vibe. That’s about all there is.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars
Available: Now
See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London
In See You Next Tuesday, political staffers Anya and Gabe are polar opposites who meet while working on the same campaign. While they go their separate ways in subsequent elections over the next decades, readers chart how Anya and Gabe go from enemies to friends to lovers to rivals … and more amid their personal and professional lives. (As the author has publicly noted, this is a book between two democrats.)
Author Kate Stayman-London brought her now-signature exemplary writing style to this When Harry Met Sally-style political rom-com. The book summary promised banter and chemistry, and that, wholeheartedly, is delivered. Full-stop. This book reads quickly and felt fun, plus, as a bonus, it was able to cure my summer reading slump, so win-win. Told in dual points of view, I found myself completely engaged by the premise and language. It’s a slow-burn, sure, but the pacing feels relatable and makes sense; it’s timed just right to feel natural, as do transcripts of texts, Slack messages, and more. It’s fun, cute, and I like it a lot for an indulgent, one-time-only read.
Since I have your attention, here’s a friendly reminder to go vote in the actual election!
Rating: Four and a Half Stars
Available: Now
Thank You for Remembering by Emily Harding
In Thank You for Remembering, Marnie wakes up in a Boston hospital with amnesia. The last thing she remembers is packing up to leave L.A. for Boston with her boyfriend, Matt, one year earlier. She and Matt have now broken up. As Marnie wakes up in the hospital, she entrusts her neighbor Ben to piece together clues from her apartment and the city to help discover who she is and what her life is like.
Thank You for Remembering is a cute romance novel, comparable to Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s Overboard, which is referenced on the page itself. It reads quickly, completely told from the FMC’s point of view. However, something about this read failed to completely enthrall me. Don’t get me wrong, this was a fun read, but I prefer the author’s other works. A respectable, three-star read for this one.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars
Available: Now
The Twelve Loves of Christmas by Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, Olivia Dade, Alexis Daria, Sarah Hogle, Zakiya N. Jamal, Rebecca Jenshak, Jessica Joyce, Susan Lee, Joss Richard, M. A. Wardell, Rebekah Weatherspoon
This book is actually a collection of 12 holiday romance novellas, each set during the winter season between Christmas to New Year’s ,with a variety of tropes and diversity. The advent premise of one per day is a cute, unique idea. As far as spice level goes, it varies, but when it’s present, it is very much open door.
As much as I had high hopes for The Twelve Loves of Christmas, as it is written by some of the contemporary greats of this era, something just fell flat into “eh” and “fine” territory. Some stories felt much shorter than others and way less compelling. Some made me desperate to DNF it (sorry, tbh), but they were boring and overwhelmingly expected. If I’m being honest, Sarah Hogle’s story is by far the best offering and the most compelling and intriguing to read; like, I could use a full-length novel of this, please and thank you! Overall, this story collection is fun and cute, but I’ve read better by most of these authors elsewhere.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars
Available: Now
Galinda by Gregory Maguire
Told in the first-person perspective of Galinda from age 8 to approximately 17, pre-Shiz University, there’s a lot going on here. While I found it interesting to find out the backstory of a major Oz/Wicked character we seldom knew before, something felt off. It seemed as if each chapter was poised to be one distinct memory and then abruptly moved on to the next. It’s almost like a scrapbook of separate memories of Galinda’s childhood. I would have preferred one continuous story with a conflict that gets overcome before the end. I don’t feel we got that here. Honestly, it feels a bit too start-and-stop for my taste and liking. It’s cute and well-written, sure, but this book just lacked any oomph or conflict for the majority of the novel. And honestly? Galinda still feels as shallow as when she was a side character in other stories, meaning other roles in this book had more vulnerable, unique, and interesting arcs compared to the iconic bubbly witch we all know and love.
I leave you, dear readers, in a quandary. Is it true that the author doesn’t think Galinda is an interesting character to develop a full, rich, complex backstory for, instead merely catering to movie hype? If that’s the case, this book doesn’t do the incomparable character any justice and should have been left well enough alone rather than create an entire prequel novel to share next to nothing of value.
Rating: Three Stars
Available: Now
It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory
Known for her adult romances, Jasmine Guillory brought her signature exemplary writing style and compelling language to the YA genre in a sweet, slow-burn camp love story.
Compared to Dirty Dancing (and Step Up, if you ask me), It’s Only Dancing follows Katherine the summer before senior year as her family heads to a camp up the coast in Southern California. There, she stumbles upon a staff party where teen hip-hop dance teacher Jordan tries to encourage her to follow along. Kat, however, quickly turns down the offer since she’s a former ballerina whose strict parents disapproved of the street-style dance form. However, something about Jordan and his choreography keeps pulling Kat into the studio all summer long.
It’s Only Dancing is clearly well-written, and I found myself drawn into the story from the get-go and was so eager to find out what would happen. In addition to its compelling language, this book has a unique story I’ve seldom seen in literature. Additionally, the characters are incredibly real, authentic, and vulnerable. By the end, the HEA feels earned and well-timed with the end of the camp session.
I think part of the reason the FMC’s journey feels real is because it is quite literally mine. Her pre-book journey of quitting her beloved ballet over body issues, hello, that was my childhood in a nutshell. Then, I’m such a camp girlie, that setting will always have my heart.
Rating: Four and a Half Stars
Available: Now
An American Girl by Amanda FitzSimons
Called a “love letter” to the beloved American Doll brand, Amanda FitzSimons’ biography researched and chronicled the history of the doll company from Pleasant Rowland’s founding to the Mattel deal to where the brand is in 2026, ahead of the 40th anniversary. Unaffiliated with AG or Rowland, this book is written with relatable and common language that doesn’t feel superfluous. This is a book for the masses, especially those familiar with and who grew up with dolls. The language still remains compelling, yet it’s easy to read. I wanted to keep reading, which is rare for me with a nonfiction book. It’s a full deep dive into the company’s history, and it is exceptionally well-researched, even featuring stories from retired staffers. It’s like a behind-the-scenes look, era by era, by chapter.
An American Girl is an objective history of the brand, with no opinion given. It’s more of a recollection than an examination, which would have looked at the psychology of the phenomenon. This book is good as it is; it’s just not exploring why AG had the success it did. Just, like, “Here’s what happened in chronological order” type of read. That’s it, nothing further.
Rating: Four Stars
Available: Now
Eight Ways to Say I Love You by Amanda Elliot
In Eight Ways to Say I Love You, postgrad Shira returns home to New Jersey for her family’s annual Hanukkah bash. There, she reconnects with childhood best friend Leo, who initially moved away before high school. At the time of this book, Leo recently moved back in with his estranged dad after dropping out of college. Once he sees Shira again, his long-hidden crush comes flooding back. After that fateful reunion, the book follows Leo and Shira for the next seven Hanukkah parties as their respective lives, careers, and love lives ebb and flow. Will their timing ever align to give love a shot?
Told in dual points of view with compelling language from the very start, Eight Ways to Say I Love You delivered a fun, indulgent, and sweet second-chance romance that I hardly wanted to put down. The FMC, followed over the course of eight consecutive Hanukkahs, felt relatable and authentic. The story was also just plain fun and super cute. It was easy to follow, and guess what? I wanted to do just that. Plus, I really liked the authentic Jewish representation that (unfortunately) is rarely seen in the romance genre. Love to see this author embracing the culture respectfully, honestly, and authentically.
Rating: Four Stars
Available: October 27, 2026
Rabbit Rabbit by Jennifer E. Smith
Told over the course of a year, on the first day of every month, this is a Sliding Doors-type story where FMC Billie figures out what she really wants: becoming a mother or falling in love with a man who definitively doesn’t want to have children.
In Rabbit Rabbit, 39-year-old Billie is an American film editor on a Florence getaway when she decides to have a child on her own. Moments later, she meets Arthur, a 44-year-old Scottish conservationist who’s convinced that kids aren’t in the cards. Told over the course of a year, Billie reexamines what she truly wants as she and Arthur meet up for different international trips on the first of the month.
This book reads quickly, with the author’s great writing, per usual. However, I have to give this four stars versus five just because it doesn’t top Fun for the Whole Family novel that I found exceptional. That was more than just a romance, and this feels like it is staying firmly in that romantic lane, especially when the MMC literally compromises his beliefs/changes his mind just to be with her. See? A total romance. Fun in itself, but don’t expect a deeper story, in my opinion.
CW: Fertility, Miscarriage
Rating: Four Stars
Available: December 15, 2026
Kissing Cowboys by Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot is back writing YA, and let me just say, this one does not disappoint. With comps including My Life With the Walter Boys, but set at a rural Montana all-boys boarding school on a cattle ranch, this has all the hallmarks of a classic fish-out-of-water tale for our Manhattanite FMC.
In Kissing Cowboys, 16-year-old Winn Riley is forced to move to Montana for the semester after her single mom accepts a job at the sole all-boys boarding school her brother, Ian, was accepted to after a run-in with the law, if you will. (I’m trying not to give away plot points and spoilers, y’all!) For Winn, her lone entertainment is making friends with the boys at the school, including Zack and Teddy. It’s clearly giving love triangle vibes from the book summary alone.
Kissing Cowboys is written with Cabot’s compelling language and exemplary writing, as per usual. Like, my gosh, I need to keep reading this one! The FMC, Winn, has such a clear voice that’s relatable and engaging, plus there’s so much banter. This novel is so much fun and reads quickly, and could cure my recent reading slump. We love to see it!
In the end, this book was so so so fun and good, like, I literally have no faults other than I want more. I want more pages, more story arcs on the side characters like Teddy, Ian, Cleary, and Ravi, but for now, I’ll just say I loved everything about this book as it stands. Winn is relatably and authentically written (plus, Cabot accurately brings endometriosis and ADHD representation to the page), so I, as a reader, care about her journey. Yes, yes yes, this is worthy of my five stars, and I need a sequel like yesterday already, please and thank you.
Rating: Five Stars
Available: December 8, 2026
What Light Breaks by Falon Ballard
This is a sequel to author Falon Ballard’s romantasy debut, and it is very much necessary to have read that book to understand this story. In What Light Breaks, Princess Lia is on the eve of the Killing Period to potentially succeed her father. The princess, who had been locked away from the public due to her Gift that can plant memories in people’s minds, was proposed as Talia’s candidate for president amid the Uprising. To help her win the election, Lia’s advisor proposes a marriage of convenience with Maro, the country’s notorious rake and the son of her family’s rival. Their strategic alliance, of course, develops into a smoldering and sizzling connection. However, could certain secrets threaten everything?
While the FMC and MMC are new characters to the universe, it takes place after the first book because plot twists from that story are integral to understand this one. If you haven’t read that novel, a lot of the plot details might just go over your head. Readers definitely need the backstory of the first book to make sense of this one. With that being said, outside of plot, this book is mainly open door spicy scenes. Told in dual points of view, What Light Breaks is a Romeo & Juliet- type adaptation. I say type because it’s not a true adaptation, but there are similarities. To me, this book was alright. It reads quickly, yes, but the smut overpowered the plot, which is not my preference.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars
Available: December 29, 2026
Advance reader copies of the books listed were provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
