11 Books to Kick Off the Year: Quite Simply Miranda’s 2024 Novel Reviews

Hey, y’all … she’s back (finally) after a hefty book slump took over the month of March, which naturally seriously delayed the publication of this blog post. Whoopsie! Anyways, true to form Miranda’s Book Nook is back to review a whooping 11 new 2024 books that came into my life … way before the aforementioned slump. Without further ado, check out my recommendations below. And, as always, happy reading.

The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra

I absolutely adored Virginia Kantra’s two Little Women adaptations, and so I was very curious about her next novel based on The Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy “Dee” Gale is a graduate school student, frantically searching for a place to belong after her mother’s death when she and her sister, Toni, are sent to live with their Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas. (Oz adaptation, haha I told you so.) Her seemingly normal life gets thrown into a tailspin when her relationship with an accomplished novelist/adjunct professor ends before he pens a bestselling novel about her, and no, the story isn’t too pleasing. To escape her life, Dee transfers to Trinity College Dublin to recommit to her degree and her writing passions. Throughout her year in Ireland, Dee meets a new crew (including a “brainless” college dropout, a “heartless” boy-next-door and a loyal AF bestie) as she navigates change, opportunity, love and loss. It’s a story of confidence and found family to put it simply.

Told from multiple points of view, Kantra writes with such compelling language that truly allows the reader to dive into the story from the very first chapter. It’s so fun yet mystical, and I ended up surprising myself with exactly how much I liked this one. Like, I truly did not want to put this book down, which I particularly attribute to the vulnerable characters and snappy word choice. Oh, and just like Kantra wanted, The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale does make you feel head-over-heels in love with Ireland. Or, even more head-over-heels if you’ve already fallen for the Emerald Isle.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

I’ve read every book of Emma Lord’s, but unfortunately, not all of them are made equally. Don’t get me wrong, they all have merit and show off her skills, but I just can’t vibe with each and every one of them. To my dismay, The Getaway List falls into this category.

Here, Riley has just graduated from high school sans college plans, so she runs away to NYC for the summer where her long-distance BFF Tom happens to live. While there, they decide to finally complete their bucket list of random activities. Soon enough, they corral a group of new friends to join their quests all while attempting to work through their will-they-won’t-they vibe.

True to Lord’s style, The Getaway List is a fun, indulgent and sweet New Adult novel complete with slow-burn friends to lovers and found family tropes. While, personally, I found this book didn’t live up to the author’s other novels, I cannot discount what a treat this is to read. The writing, well-written of course, is comprised of compelling language that just completely draws me into the story.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: Now

The Royal Game by Linda Keir

I love a good royal romance, and The Royal Game takes that and flips the trope on its head into more of a women’s fiction/mystery novel.

The Royal Game follows American singer-songwriter Jennie Jensen, who expectedly meets (and falls in love with, naturally) the Prince of Wales, Prince Hugh, while on her European concert tour. After a whirlwind courtship, Hugh proposes and Jennie trades her musician lifestyle (with relative anonymity) for the royal family and all its unexpected protocol (lol, not the pantyhose police!). As Jennie learns what it takes to be a princess, she’s met with an onslaught of negative reactions … and threats that definitely seem reminiscent of ones that Hugh’s mother, Princess Penelope, received before she was killed in a tragic plane crash. Jennie races to figure out what really happened, and how to stop it from coming after her … all before her royal wedding day.

Comps include The Royal We (and its sequel) as well as the real-life romances of King Charles and the late Princess Diana, Prince William and Princess Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That being said, I did feel like The Royal Game can stand on its own. The writing is so well-written and compelling that I found myself plunged deep into the story, yearning to discover what will happen next. The dialogue has such witty banter from the jump, and, like, it is so much fun that I’m desperate to keep reading and could hardly put the book down.

As a romance, it is a mostly “closed-door” one, but there is a HEA (which, thank god) that feels completely earned and justified. It comes in right at the nick of time to save the day (and the characters’ dreams).

Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Available: Now

Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn

Erin Hahn’s YA vs. adult romances, obviously, vary quite a bit but are equally full of compelling language, stories with a heart and downright adorable love stories. And Even if It Breaks Your Heart fits right into that so perfectly.

Even if It Breaks Your Heart follows Case, a 19-year-old bull rider who is barely holding it together after the death of his best friend Walker, and fellow 19-year-old Winnie. Winnie, who works for Case’s family ranch, is tirelessly working to support her dad and two young siblings, so obviously she has no patience for lackadaisical Case. Case, meanwhile, is trying to follow Walker’s list of things to do in his absence, where he’s stunned to see that “befriend Winnie” made the list.

This opposites-attract romance, told from dual points of view, just drew me in and ended up reading quite quickly. However, something about this was just sort of, kind of, hard to get into for me. I don’t know why but it did. Plus, Case and Winnie are like sickeningly sweet in love, I will admit. Succinctly put, this book is for the horse girlies IYKYK.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: Now

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

With now three books under her belt, I’m here to tell you that Falon Ballard does not miss — PERIOD.

Right on Cue is told from the perspective of Hollywood nepo baby Emmy Harper, who’s become an Oscar-winning screenwriter in her own right. After her latest rom-com script has a casting snafu, she steps in to act as the leading lady despite having not been on camera in a decade. Then, all hell breaks loose when her leading man suddenly bows out and the only choice left is Grayson West, the action star who was the reason that Emmy gave up on acting. The pair has a lot of friction on set … or is it just *tension*? Whatever it is, they do need to seriously get their act together if there’s any hope of saving the movie (and their own acting careers.)

Right on Cue, just like Ballard’s other books is chock full of compelling language, so much banter, the *chef’s kiss* right amount of spice (Right on Cue is probably her spiciest book to date, IMHO) and so many truly delicious tropes (enemies to lovers, secret pine, secret romance, celebrity romance, fake dating) all at once. When I say that I was so curious about the story’s twists and turns, I mean I did not want to (nor could I, in all honesty) put this book down. Like, I just had to keep on reading and find out what would happen next. I HAD to. Oh, and fair warning about the third-act breakup? Yeah, it was really third-act breakupping.

All in all, Right on Cue was completely and irrevocably adorable and every bit fun, frothy and indulgent. It literally delivered every single thing I’d want in a rom-com.

CW: Estranged Parents, Death of a Parent

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan

While this book took a minute to get into, it actually turned out to be a surprise favorite for me. It’s a women’s fiction novel, told in multiple perspectives, about a trio of Shanghai-based friends as they hatch a plan to steal the wedding gifts that one of them would receive on her wedding day. The book charts their heist journey while fending off the men who may stand in their way.

Women of Good Fortune follows Lulu on the lead-up to her wedding day to one of Shanghai’s most eligible bachelors, except she wants her freedom and not to be tied down in marriage. Lulu confides in her two BFFs: Rina (a career-driven singleton who yearns to get a promotion over the less qualified men in her office) and Jane (a stay-at-home wife, who’s unhappily married and either wants a divorce or plastic surgery). The three of them devise a plan to steal Lulu’s cash wedding gifts to trade in for brand-new lives. The book follows them over the course of the 8 months before the big day.

It’s an intriguing glance at the lack of opportunity for women to be more than a man’s trophy spouse. It’s compelling and thrilling, with such rich language that has me so curious to discover if they’ll complete the heist, stay friends, find love and so much more.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

With no preconceived notions of Expiration Dates save for a brief summary, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. And I loved it. Completely.

In Expiration Dates, we follow Daphne Bell throughout her single years in L.A. Whenever she meets a potential love interest, she somehow gets slipped a piece of paper with his name and a number to denote how long their relationship will last. It’s never failed her, despite readers never knowing why it’s occurred. Then, before her blind date with Jake, when she’s in her early 30s, she gets a paper with his name and nothing else. So, does this mean there’s no expiration date limit on their love story? As Daphne and Jake’s relationship unfolds, she starts to wonder if the no-end note man is really her endgame. Expiration Dates also takes us back to her previous notes to give a peek into Daphne’s past romances and their eventual end dates.

From the beginning, I found myself intrigued by the plot premise, and as I flipped through the first pages, I became more and more eager to grow in curiosity. It has just the right amount of mystery that pulled me in. Author Rebecca Serle writes with such compelling, well-written language that further propels me into Daphne’s story, like, I needed to know what was going to happen. Plus, there are twists and turns that are completely unpredictable. The only thing is that this book felt a tad short, but only because I wanted more content and didn’t want to hit that last page.

CW: Chronic illness, Death of a spouse

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties wraps up Jesse Q. Sutanto’s mystery/romance “Four Aunts” series with its signature familial hijinks, a thrilling heist and a swoon-worthy HEA.

Meddy and Nathan are back in book 3 of the “Four Aunts” series after their wedding, and this time they are honeymooners! However, things quickly go awry (naturally) when they arrive at her ancestral home in Indonesia for Chinese New Year. When Second Aunt’s childhood sweetheart arrives to court her once more, he brings presents for everyone … including a misplaced gift for a business rival. It’s up to Meddy to get the gift back in exchange for husband Nathan, who becomes a hostage in the matter. Oh, and then a third-party mafia-type person gets involved for more kidnapping and heist hijinks. So, it’s up to Meddy and the Aunts to save the day so that she and Nathan can have their hard-earned HEA.

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is told with Sutanto’s signature compelling writing style that completely draws me into the story and had me SO CURIOUS to figure out if Meddy and her crew can solve the problem at hand. The heist in itself is fun and quirky and the characters are still so fun and endearing. The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties is a book for fans of the “Four Aunts” series already, and it is definitely recommended to read those books before tucking into this one.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle

By now, I see the name Sarah Hogle on a romance book cover and I instantly want to read it — all stemming from You Deserve Each Other, which become one of my (surprise) instant top, top, top bookish favorites of all-time. Old Flames and New Fortunes, let me tell you, gives that book (her debut novel) a run for its money.

Old Flames and New Fortunes follows Romina, who runs a magical floral shop in the mystical town of Moonville, Ohio. She is known for using flowers to help people manifest their love lives. The shop, once owned by her grandmother, has been bought by investor Trevor. The two coworkers need an additional loan to expand their business, so they turn to Trevor’s dad. His father is in town for his second wedding, so they concoct a scheme to fake date in order to easily get him to make a deal. The catch? Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is Alex King, Romina’s high school sweetheart who broke her heart a decade ago. What starts as an innocent misunderstanding, a fake date, and a chance for revenge on her ex, turns into a whole new ballgame when Alex doesn’t buy what they’re selling. OH, and she still has chemistry with Alex.

This one reads very quickly, thanks to such compelling language that pulls me in. I could hardly put it down to take breaks, like, I just DEVOURED this book. I was hooked from the jump let me tell you. Our MCs of Romina and Alex, a true second-chance pairing, have such, like, an enemies-to-lovers banter and I LOVED IT. Their connection literally made me want to blush, giggle and kick my heels up in the air — like it’s so cute with the secret pining, Alex being a grade-A simpy simp for Romina. (For what it’s worth, I read a chunk of this book on a plane. Fully straight-faced during the spicy scenes, but the cute little romance part had me grinning like a damn fool.) It was adorable. Like, Old Flames and New Fortunes had me feeling something (and not the spice), which was surprising. Books typically don’t affect me like this, but Hogle’s words completely captured my heart and made me believe in Romina and Alex’s love story. Plus, the characters are so vulnerable, it makes Old Flames and New Fortunes more than just a contemporary (and a little witchy, but barely) romance.

When I tell you that Old Flames and New Fortunes is the second-chance romance to end all second-chance romances, I MEAN THAT. Like, the big [spoiler] reveal? My breath literally hitched, I swear. I just want more content, an epilogue, a sequel, bonus chapters, a spinoff; literally anything to bring me back into Romina and Alex’s world for the first time. You Deserve Each Other cemented Hogle’s status as a great romance writer, and Old Flames and New Fortunes 1000 percent solidified that tenfold. Like, seriously, this book bewitched and captivated my soul. I went through literally every emotion (laughing, crying, swooning, everything) while reading, I kid you not.

CW: Loss of a child (not pregnancy loss or death)

Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Available: April 2, 2024

Wedding Issues by Elle Evans

I didn’t know what to expect with this one, and I ended up pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one and was captivated by the story.

Wedding Issues follows Liv, who in the middle of her final year of law school and has ambitions to work for a big law firm in NYC, is set as maid of honor in both her best friend Leighton and cousin Kali’s respective May weddings. Part of the gig? Convincing Southern Charm magazine to cover each wedding in the singular June bridal issue. Obviously, Liv wants her BFF to win … but her aunt is lording over a prestigious legal job offer on the condition that Kali gets a victory. Plus, there’s the teeniest romance subplot (a best friend’s brother trope to boot) thrown in there.

It’s an intriguing premise, told with such compelling language from, literally, page one. It reads quite quickly and made me so curious to find out what would happen next. It’s a fun, cute women’s fiction novel, showcasing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the lead-up to a wedding (or two) and the lengths that main character Liv will go to in order to get a “dream” life. The only complaint about this book: Something is missing at the end — because I need an epilogue/sequel to know what happens after the ending!

Rating: Four Stars

Available: April 2, 2024

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

To put it simply, Sarah Adams’ The Rule Book is The Cheat Sheet companion novel that I didn’t know I needed, but NEEDED, you know? The Rule Book follows L.A. Sharks tight end Derek Pender (the famed winker from The Cheat Sheet in all his glory) in a second chance, enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience romance.

Before I even began reading The Rule Book, I was honestly so hyped because I truly loved The Cheat Sheet and think that one reinvented the football romance genre for me. And yes, all of these lovable buffoon of football players are back with HEA updates in spades. That’s not to say that Derek and Nora Mackenzie, his college sweetheart, don’t shine in their main story because they do. Absolutely. For sure.

Nora is a budding sports agent, who lands Derek as her first client after he nurses a killer injury at the end of last season. While it seems like a great catch for her career, Nora hasn’t seen Derek since she, um, sort of brutally dumped him during their senior year of college. And when Derek sees Nora for the first time in decades, he’s less than pleased and definitely holding a grudge. Derek decides that he wants revenge, so he plans to give her absurd tasks that get her to quit. The problem? In the middle of a work trip to Las Vegas, they may have, accidentally, drunkenly eloped. Could their “marriage” help or hurt their careers? Or even bring them back together?

The Rule Book is told from dual points of view with such compelling language that had me so intrigued to keep reading chapter by chapter. Derek and Nora have banter galore, which is what I love in a romance novel typically, and this story was just so fun and indulgent, primarily set in the NFL offseason. It’s the perfect companion to The Cheat Sheet, yes, but Derek and Nora can fully hold their own as MCs and I stand by that.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Available: April 2, 2024

Advance reader copies of the books listed were provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

31Dec2023

The 23 Best Romance Books I’ve Read in 2023: Year in Review

Posted in Miranda's Book Nook by msiwak

And another year has nearly come to an end! So, my loyal blog readers, you know what that means: I’ve completed another hefty TBR list and surpassed my annual reading goal. With a whopping 115 books read, I’m here to recap the 23 best ones (specifically focusing on romance reads this year) that I polished off in 2023.

**1. The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter**

Considering Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series was my favorite franchise growing up (and my signed copy is still one of my prized possessions), her adult romance debut was always going to top this list.

The Blonde Identity starts with an unnamed heroine after she wakes up in Paris with amnesia to find a strange yet very attractive man standing over her and instructing her to run from dangerous villains after her identical twin sister, a rogue spy. The twosome team up on a road trip of sorts to stay safe and clear her sister’s name. Mr. Hot Spy (whose name is eventually revealed, as is hers) reluctantly agrees to help her find safety. They even need to pretend to be newlyweds on a European honeymoon to stay undetected.

The Blonde Identity is so witty and funny yet authentic, making it a compelling read. That language makes this read totally unputdownable and an absolute must-read for any fellow Gallagher Girls fangirls. And that HEA! Oh my, it is EVERYTHING, like, I literally got butterflies, which means it must be a swoon-worthy romance.

Review: Five Stars

**2. Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto**

Didn’t See That Coming was without a doubt the most adorable teen rom-com that I’ve read in the longest time. Set in the same universe as author Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Well, That Was Unexpected, we get to follow Sharlot’s BFF Kiki and her love story.

Kiki is a gamer girl with oodles of self-confidence … except online, where she assumes a fake identity as a boy to avoid harassment from the majority of male players. Her online BFF, Sourdawg, doesn’t even know the truth. After Kiki transfers to an elite high school in Indonesia for her senior year, her carefully crafted e-persona is at risk when she realizes that Sourdawg is there.

Didn’t See That Coming is a fun, quirky, and indulgent YA rom-com that reads so quickly that reminds me of She Loves Me/ You’ve Got Mail. This book was so flipping adorable and satisfying yet plenty unique and original that I couldn’t help but completely get lost in this world.

Review: Five Stars

**3. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld**

Curtis Sittenfeld’s novels can do no wrong in my eyes and Romantic Comedy further proves that tenfold. It is set in a Saturday Night Live environment when longtime writer Sally gets fed up with her male coworkers constantly dating A-List show guests. However, things take a turn when Sally sparks her own connection with musician Noah.

Here, sketch writer Sally is fed up that her Night Owls cowriters keep dating megastars, but it’s never been the reverse with women on the show. After penning an original script about the practice, Sally notices that episode host Noah seems flirty towards her during his hosting debut. But there’s no way the spark can be real, right??

This contemporary novel, told like a day-in-the-life vignette, follows Sally’s week ahead of Noah’s late-night debut before a three-year time jump. Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy reads very quickly thanks to quippy language and an authentic main character. All in all, it is fun, cute and exactly how you’d expect a Sittenfeld novel to be.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**4. Wanderlust by Elle Everhart**

Without any preconceived notion of this book’s story or author’s style, I found this to be one of my surprise favorites of the year. And one, I’ve re-read multiple times already.

Here, Dylan Coughlan is a magazine writer based in London who, on a whim, dials into a radio contest and wins a trip around the world. The catch? Her travel companion is a contact in her phone selected at random. Dylan is stunned that the contact roulette game selects “Jack the Posho,” aka the cute guy she met on a night out months ago and never texted back. Jack throws caution to the wind and agrees to travel with her, potentially setting off a sweet second-chance romance if only he wasn’t so short and gruff every time they interacted.

Wanderlust features so much compelling language and banter in spades, plus Elle Everhart’s characters are so dynamic and authentic. I truly did not want to put this one down. Wanderlust, all in all, was very, very, very cute and fun, and like, Jack is such a melt but in the best way that was just super sweet and endearing. I just wish I could start from scratch and read for the first time all over again.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**5. Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle**

The official review for this book is coming later, but for now, all you need to know is that Sarah Hogle is an auto-buy author for me and Old Flames and New Fortunes can actually give her debut book, You Deserve Each Other a run for its money.

Old Flames and New Fortunes follows Romina, who runs a magical floral shop in the mystical town of Moonville, Ohio. She is known for using flowers to help people manifest their love lives. The shop, once owned by her grandmother, has been bought by investor Trevor and they need an additional loan to expand their business. Turning to Trevor’s dad for help, Romina and Trevor concoct a scheme to fake-date during the dad’s upcoming wedding to close a deal. The catch? Trevor’s soon-to-be stepbrother is Alex King, Romina’s high school sweetheart, who broke her heart a decade ago. What starts as an innocent misunderstanding, fake date and a chance for revenge on her ex, turns into a whole new ballgame when Alex doesn’t buy what they’re selling. OH, and she still has chemistry with Alex.

When I tell you that Old Flames and New Fortunes is the second-chance romance to end all second-chance romances, I MEAN THAT. Sure, You Deserve Each Other cemented Hogle’s status as a great romance writer, and Old Flames and New Fortunes 1000 percent solidified that tenfold. Like, seriously, this book captivated my soul. I went through literally every emotion (laughing, crying, swooning, everything) while reading, I kid you not.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**6. Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot**

No one writes quite like Meg Cabot and Enchanted to Meet You further proves that.

In Enchanted to Meet You, Jessica once cast a lovestruck spell on her crush and, after it went awry, she was banned from the World Council of Witches. So, Jessica packed up her spellbooks and decided to focus on the real world, which included opening her own fashion boutique in town. Imagine her surprise 15 years later when witch Derrick shows up and proclaims that she is the Chosen One to save West Harbor. Jessica soon finds that Derrick is watching her very closely, so they start to bond — but he’s hiding a very crucial piece of the puzzle.

The writing is so compelling, which is everything, and keeps me very interested in the story. All of the characters (side ones, too) have such a quippy banter with each other that has me literally screaming. The story combines a supernatural mystery with a truly delicious fake dating trope.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**7. Reign: American Royals IV by Katharine McGee**

The American Royals series has been EVERYTHING to me for years, and so, to say I was thrilled to learn how it all ends is an understatement. Reign features as compelling of language as ever, and it’s truly perfect for fans of the existing series yearning for more of the same ladies’ (Beatrice, Sam, Nina and Daphne, respectively) alternating perspectives.

Beatrice, for her part, remains in a coma after her Rivals car accident, which means that Jeff will be acting monarch since Sam ran off to Hawaii with boyfriend Marshall. For Daphne, it’s a dream come true since she is one step closer to being a princess since she just got Jeff to take her back. Will Beatrice recover and will she remember everything? Will Samantha return and will duty threaten her HEA? Is Jefferson still in love with Nina despite his rekindled romance with Daphne? Is Daphne really getting everything she wants? Can love save the throne or will everyone’s secrets destroy the monarchy for good?

Reign is so much fun and literally the perfect way to wrap up the series as we get even more insight into the protagonists’ inner psyches as they grow up. It’s such a sweeping conclusion to a beloved series and I truly loved watching the foursome’s growth as individuals. For Beatrice, I loved *finally* getting Connor closure and getting to a point of understanding her relationship with Teddy. For Samantha, I really enjoyed watching her find her place outside of the monarchy. Daphne was the toughest for me to like but here, I could understand her more and yassss that epilogue, I loved where she ended up. And then Nina, oh, I seriously loved her princely love triangle, like seriously, GET IT GIRL, but yet her own desires were still the No. 1 priority. Quite simply, I loved this one.

Review: 4.5 Stars

8. The Royal Game by Linda Keir

The official review for this book is coming later, but The Royal Game flips the royal romance genre on its head in more of a women’s fiction/mystery novel.

The Royal Game follows American singer-songwriter Jennie Jensen, who expectedly meets (and falls in love with, naturally) the Prince of Wales, Prince Hugh, while on her European tour. After a whirlwind courtship, Hugh proposes and Jennie trades her musician lifestyle (with relative anonymity) for the royal family and all its unexpected protocol. As Jennie learns what it takes to be a princess, she’s met with an onslaught of negative reactions … and threats that definitely seem reminiscent to ones that Hugh’s mother, Princess Penelope, received before she was killed in a tragic plane crash. Jennie races to figure out what really happened to Penelope, and how to stop it from coming after her … all before her royal wedding day.

Comps include The Royal We (and its sequel) as well as the real-life romances of King Charles and the late Princess Diana, Prince William and Princess Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. That being said, I did feel like The Royal Game can stand on its own. The writing is so well-written and compelling that I find myself plunged deep into the story, yearning to discover what will happen next. The dialogue has such witty banter from the jump, and it is so much fun that I’m desperate to keep reading and can hardly put the book down.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**9. Kiss the Girl (Meant to Be) by Zoraida Córdova**

This book was not an ARC read, but a series that I’ve loved since the start. Inspired by Disney princesses, Cordova was tasked with modernizing The Little Mermaid.

In Kiss The Girl, Ariel del Mar is a singer in the girl group Siren Seven, which is comprised of her and her older sisters. After the group wraps up their latest sold-out tour, Ariel craves to step out of the spotlight instead of starting a solo career. She crosses paths with Eric Reyes (hiiii Prince Eric 2.0!), who is the lead singer of an up-and-coming indie band. He invites her to work as the merch girl on their domestic tour. Without telling her father, the head of her record label, Ariel agrees.

Review: 4.5 Stars

**10. Real Love by Rachel Lindsay**

Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay can write and deliver a well-written, compelling women’s fiction/romance novel. Like, it was so well-written for a Bachelor alum and further proves that Lindsay is way more than a typical reality TV personality.

Here, Maya lives life according to The Plan: became the youngest director at her finance firm, marry her college sweetheart, and live a fabulous Miami life. Her life is going sooo great that she decides to turn down the opportunity to lead the new season of Real Love, a fictional reality TV dating show. Instead, she tells producers that her work bestie Delilah would make a superb lead, while she stays home. As Maya watches her friend’s TV journey begin, her perfectly planned life doesn’t stick to her goals and the arrival of her younger sister, free-spirited Ella, and platonic friend Kai forces Maya to reexamine everything that she thought she wanted.

I did enjoy Real Love over Lindsay’s memoir, Miss Me With That, with a particular fondness for this one’s ability to inspire readers to follow their own hearts like Maya. The character’s journey is beautiful, vulnerable, inspirational and authentic. And, like, I get the point of the open-ended conclusion, but, like I need answers in the form of a sequel STAT.

Review: 4.5 Stars

11. Happy Place by Emily Henry

Am I really a millennial if I didn’t read Emily Henry’s Happy Place and include it in this list? I’m no fool, and so, here it is.

In Happy Place, Harriet and Wyn were the perfect college couple — until they secretly broke up without telling a soul. They end up reuniting at the Maine cottage that has been their mutual friend group’s haven while pretending that they didn’t give up on their love story.

I polished off Happy Place so fast because, like, I couldn’t not find out what happened, you know? It was so much more than just a romance or just a women’s fiction novel. It was so all-encompassing and heartwarming but serious at the same time.

Review: 4 Stars

**12. The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra**

The official review for this book is coming later, but for now, let me tell you a bit about Virginia Kantra’s novel based on The Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy “Dee” Gale is a graduate school student, frantically searching for a place to belong after her mother’s death when she and her sister, Toni, are sent to live with their Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas. Her seemingly normal life gets thrown into a tailspin when her relationship with an accomplished novelist/adjunct professor ends before he pens a bestselling novel about her, and it’s not too pleasing. To escape her life, Dee transfers to Trinity College Dublin to recommit to her degree and her own writing passions. Throughout her year in Ireland, Dee meets a new crew (including a “brainless” college dropout, a “heartless” boy-next-door and a loyal bestie) as she navigates change, opportunity, love and loss. It’s a story of confidence and found family to put it simply.

Kantra writes with such compelling language that truly allows the reader to dive into the story from the very first chapter. It’s so fun yet mystical, and I ended up surprising myself with exactly how much I liked this one. I did not want to put this book down, which I attribute to the vulnerable characters and snappy word choice. Oh, and just like Kantra wanted, The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale does make you fall head-over-heels in love with Ireland.

Review: 4 Stars

**13. Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn**

I love an interconnected standalone romance and Friends Don’t Fall in Love brings back characters from Hahn’s Built to Last and You’d Be Mine to help guide Lorelai and Craig (aka Huck) to fall in love.

Lorelai is a country music star whose career (and engagement to fellow country crooner Drake) hangs in the balance after she plays a protest song live on stage. After Drake unexpectedly breaks up with her via social media, Lorelai seeks comfort in her longtime pal (and Drake’s songwriting partner) Craig, resulting in a one-night stand. Five years later, Lorelai is ready to step back into the spotlight and asks Craig (now an indie record producer, who has long pined for Lorelai) to work with her on a new album.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love literally had me laughing out loud by chapter one. While it does take a little bit to understand the timeline, eventually the pacing settles and readers can appreciate Hahn’s compelling writing and storytelling.

Review: 4 Stars

**14. Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle**

The official review for this book is coming later, but I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised by Expiration Dates. And I loved it. Completely.

In Expiration Dates, we follow Daphne Bell throughout her single years in Los Angeles. Whenever she meets a potential love interest, she somehow gets slipped a piece of paper with his name and a number to denote how long their relationship will last. It’s never failed her. Then years later when she’s in her early 30’s, Daphne gets a paper with the name “Jake” and nothing else before her blind date. So, does this mean there’s no expiration date limit on their love story? As Daphne and Jake’s love story unfolds, she starts to wonder if the no-end date boy is really her endgame.

Expiration Dates has just the right amount of mystery that pulled me in. Author Rebecca Serle writes with such compelling, well-written language that further propels me into the story and I felt myself completely needing to know what was going to happen next. Plus, there are twists and turns that are completely unpredictable.

Review: 4 Stars

**15. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune**

Much like Happy Place, if you are a millennial romance reader, then you’ve likely already read Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After and her newest, Meet Me at the Lake. And honestly, I liked this one better.

Here, Fern Brookbanks only spent 24 hours with artist Will Baxter in the city. One day that’s it — they never got another because he never showed up as planned. Nine years later, Will suddenly shows up at Fern’s mother’s lakeside resort with his own baggage.

Review: 4 Stars

**16. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood**

Ali Hazelwood has pioneered STEMinist romance and she’s still winning the game with Love, Theoretically, which I think is my favorite of her books.

Hazelwood’s romances are just like getting a warm hug. They are so indulgent, comforting, and fun to get lost in for a day or two — or however long you need to read them. That describes Love, Theoretically so perfectly.

Review: 4 Stars

**17. The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead**

Ashley Winstead’s Fool Me Once was such an unexpected, positive reading experience for me and The Boyfriend Candidate stars Lee’s little sister, Alexis, lived up to that same hype.

Here, Alexis Stone is a shy, introverted children’s librarian who prefers life out of the spotlight. After her ex cheats on her, she decides to change her ways by embarking on her first-ever one-night stand. Enter Logan Arthur, the British-American democratic upstart running for governor of Texas. While things seemingly go well, a freak emergency causes Logan to literally flee the scene in a spectacular manner. Once their pictures wind up plastered on social media. This scandal could end his career and gubernatorial campaign, so his team is intent on tracking Alexis down so they can embark on a fake romance to save face and win back votes.

It’s so fun and indulgent, full of compelling language that pulls me in and makes it nearly impossible to put down. It reads pretty quickly, and I could not stop turning the page with this one. It’s very fun and sweet with banter galore.

Review: 4 Stars

**18. Begin Again by Emma Lord**

Emma Lord has fast become one of my favorite Young Adult/New Adult authors, and Begin Again has further solidified that standing.

Here, Andie has transferred from her local community college to the hypercompetitive university where her parents met, and it doesn’t hurt that her boyfriend Connor is already enrolled there. Of course, things don’t go according to plan, because the day she moves in, he reveals that he transferred to her old school to be together. As they navigate long distance, Andie is also dealing with a brand-new environment, helping roommate Shay figure out a major, dealing with grumpy RA Milo, and figuring out what organizations her late mother belonged to during her tenure.

Begin Again is full of rich, compelling language in a fun, quirky coming-of-age novel. True to Lord’s style, the characters are vulnerable and authentic and the story is overall very, very cute.

Review: 4 Stars

**19. Right on Cue by Falon Ballard**

The official review for this book is coming later, but I’m here to tell you that, with three books under her belt, author Falon Ballard does not miss.

Right on Cue, just like Ballard’s other books is chock full of compelling language, so much banter, the *chef’s kiss* right amount of spice and so many truly delicious tropes all at once. Right on Cue was completely and irrevocably adorable and every bit fun, frothy and indulgent. It literally delivered every single thing I’d want in a rom-com.

Review: 4 Stars

**20. Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan**

The official review for this book is coming later, but Women of Good Fortune ended up as a surprise favorite for me. It’s a women’s fiction novel, told in multiple perspectives, about a trio of Shanghai-based friends as they hatch a plan to steal wedding gifts, all while fending off the men who may stand in their way.

Women of Good Fortune follows Lulu on the lead-up to her wedding day to one of Shanghai’s most eligible bachelors, except she doesn’t want to be tied down in marriage. Lulu confides in her two BFFs: Rina (a career-driven singleton who yearns to get a promotion over the less qualified men) and Jane (a stay-at-home wife, who’s unhappily married, and either wants a divorce or plastic surgery). The three of them devise a plan to steal Lulu’s cash wedding gifts to trade in for brand-new lives.

Women of Good Fortune is an intriguing glance at the lack of opportunity for women to be more than a man’s trophy spouse. It’s compelling and thrilling, with such rich language that has me so curious to discover if they’ll complete the heist, stay friends, find love, and so much more.

Review: 4 Stars

**21. Wedding Issues by Elle Evans**

The official review for this book is coming later, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Wedding Issues and was captivated by the story.

Wedding Issues follows Liv, who is in the middle of her final year of law school, as she acts as the maid of honor in both her best friend Leighton and cousin Kali’s respective May weddings. Part of the gig? Convincing Southern Charm magazine to cover each wedding in the singular June bridal issue. Obviously, Liv wants her BFF to win … but her aunt is lording over a prestigious legal job offer on the condition that Kali gets the victory. Plus, there’s the teeniest romance subplot (a best friend’s brother trope to boot) thrown in there.

It’s an intriguing premise, told with compelling language. It reads quite quickly and made me so curious to find out what would happen next. It’s a fun, cute women’s fiction novel, showcasing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the planning of a wedding (or two) and the lengths that main character Liv will go to in order to get her “dream” life.

Review: 4 Stars

**22. Something From Tiffany’s by Melissa Hill**

Yes, I succumbed to peer pressure in January after discovering the movie version on Prime Video. So, what else was there to do but pick up the copy of the novel that inspired the movie? And I actually liked it better! Could it be the writing, the extra detail or the British/Irish main characters? (I’m an Anglophile, remember?)

In Something From Tiffany’s, widower Ethan Greene plans to propose to his girlfriend, Vanessa, while on a Christmas trip to New York City. Ethan picks up the perfect engagement ring from Tiffany’s … but in a twist, the rock lands in the hands of Gary Knowles. Gary, traveling with girlfriend Rachel to the Big Apple, intended to surprise her with a charm bracelet from Tiffany’s. Imagine his surprise when Rachel opens the box to find an engagement ring instead of a bracelet!

Other than the characters’ changing nationalities and accents, the movie really does mirror Something From Tiffany’s. I would say read the book before watching because it’s the better version with more 3D characters on all sides.

Review: 4 Stars

**23. Wildfire by Hannah Grace**

After reading Icebreaker, I was a tad hesitant to pick up Wildfire based on the title, author, and cover. No hate or shade to Icebreaker, but I just didn’t vibe with it. But, as a former camp girlie, I knew I had to give Wildfire a second chance — and I was so glad I did.

Just like Icebreaker, we are back in the land of Maple Hills’ collegiate hockey team. This time it is goalie Russ’ turn in the spotlight. His love interest is Aurora, the girl Russ happened to have a one-night stand on the last day of the spring semester. While Aurora leaves early the next morning, they soon meet again hours later … during camp counselor orientation. Camp, which is Aurora’s true happy place, does have one big rule for staff: No co-mingling between counselors.

Wildfire, told in dual perspectives, is written with such compelling language that just drew me in from chapter one and I could hardly put the book down. Wildfire has such fun, witty banter and actually good writing and is more plot-heavy over spice-heavy. It’s cute, well-written, frothy and indulgent. Wildfire will surely have any camp girlie thinking it’s not too late for one more year on-site.

Review: 4 Stars

3Oct2023

Fall Is Here and These 15 New Books Are Worth Obsessing Over

Posted in Just for Fun, Miranda's Book Nook by msiwak

It’s officially fall and what would the season change be without a new addition of Miranda’s Book Nook? True to fashion, I’ve compiled a (TBH, lengthy) list of the latest books that I haven’t been able to get out of my head. Oh, and yes, there are some very highly-rated reads (hello, five-star alert!) on here. So, settle in and keep reading for a selection of new fall 2023 book releases that I can’t get enough of and should be on your radar this upcoming year. As always, happy reading!

Reign (American Royals IV) by Katharine McGee

I was so beyond excited and grateful for this ARC because this American Royals series has been EVERYTHING to me, and so, to say I was thrilled to learn how it all ends is an understatement. Reign features as compelling of language as ever, and it’s truly perfect for fans of the existing series yearning for more of the same ladies’ (Beatrice, Sam, Nina and Daphne, respectively) alternating perspectives.

Reign is so much fun and literally the perfect way to wrap up the series as we get even more insight into the protagonists’ inner psyches as they grow up. It’s such a sweeping conclusion to a beloved series and I truly loved watching the foursome’s growth as individuals. For Beatrice, I loved *finally* getting Connor closure (because he + Bea were my OTP for the past three books) and getting to a point of understanding her relationship with Teddy. For Samantha, I really enjoyed watching her find her place outside of the monarchy. Daphne was the toughest for me to like but here, I could understand her more and yassss that epilogue, I loved where she ended up. And then Nina, oh, I seriously loved her princely love triangle, like seriously, GET IT GIRL, but yet her own desires were still the No. 1 priority. Quite simply, I loved this one and am already counting down the days before I can re-read it.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Available: Now

The Love Plot by Samantha Young

I swear, every Samantha Young novel just keeps getting better and better to me. No joke. The Love Plot brings together so many good tropes from fake dating, will-they-won’t-they, opposites attract and grumpy/sunshine. What more could a romance reader want?

The Love Plot follows Star Shine (yes, that’s her real name), who was raised to prioritize her freedom and happiness over all else thanks to her hippie parents, oh and to disengage from commitment and monogamy. Star is working as a costumed character for a precocious UWS 8-year-old’s birthday party when she crosses paths with grumpy veterinarian Rafferty “Rafe.” Rafe, for his part, is trying to get through his niece’s birthday party without his overbearing family attempting to set him up, plus something really irks him about the Merida-dressed woman with a terrible faux Scottish accent. After Rafe runs into Star multiple times at the party, he has an idea: hire her — with an offer she can’t refuse — to be his fake girlfriend at all family functions. It’s just business and they are so different, so ertainly there won’t be any complications?

True to Young’s style, The Love Plot is chock full of compelling language that draws me in and makes this read unputdownable. It’s fun and quirky, and I just loved everything about the character progression/journey and story so much.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

No one writes quite like Meg Cabot and Enchanted to Meet You further proves that tenfold. Like, all I needed to know was a new Meg Cabot adult rom-com, a witchy romance and a plus-size main character, and like, I was SOLD. Told in back-and-forth points-of-views, Enchanted to Meet You gives first-person accounts of witches Jessica and Derrick as they team up to save her Connecticut town from supernatural demons.

The writing is so compelling, which is just *chef’s kiss* and keeps me very interested in the story. The characters (not just Derrick and Jess, although, they do) have such a quippy banter with each other, that has me screaming. The story combines the supernatural mystery (that I was dying to uncover, TBH) with a truly delicious fake dating trope. Honestly, I’m not a big spooky book gal but I really enjoyed this one because there’s, like, an element of realism too.

Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Available: Now

The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Told in dual points of view, The Name Drop was a delightful coming-of-age YA read that I could hardly put down.

In Lee’s debut novel, we follow two interns at NYC’s Hanuel Corporation who couldn’t be more opposite. Elijah is the golden boy heir, poised to one day become the CEO like his dad and grandfather, who is expected to work as an “executive trainee” for the summer and stay in a luxurious Upper East Side brownstone. However, he doesn’t want any of it. Then, there’s Jessica who is eager to make the most of her internship. On day one, everyone mistakenly assumes Jessica is the VIP intern and Elijah is an ordinary intern … because they both have the same Korean name and she arrived first. After discovering the truth, Jessica and Elijah agree to keep up with the charade so her resume is in top form and he gets a chill summer away from parental pressure. They must work together to keep their stories straight, but the *sparks* prove difficult to ignore.

It’s like a mix of Freaky Friday and the Olsen twins’ It Takes Two set in the world of modern-day summer internships, and I really dug this one. It’s fun with such a unique story that made it so freaking easy to get sucked into Elijah and Jessica’s tale and eventual romance.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

No one quite does romance novels like Tessa Bailey, plus what could be better than two children of former rockstars scheming to reunite their feuding, diva mothers in time for the holidays? It truly is like a holiday version of The Parent Trap, which makes it so gosh darn fun!

Melody and Beat (yes, their given names) grew up on opposite coasts with opposite personalities, but had one thing in common: Their moms would never ever speak about, let alone reunite with, their former Steel Birds duo. Literally, 15 years later, fate brings Mel and Beat back to together with an offer they can’t refuse: Star in a reality TV show about reuniting the band and actually getting the band back together for an obscenely large payday. Sure, they might have had teeny secret crushes on each other back then, but now the spark is brighter than ever while they set off to parent-trap moms Trina and Octavia. But, could secrets and scandals threaten literally everything?

Told in dual points of view, Wreck the Halls is fun and cute with such snappy language. I mean, I’d expect nothing less from Tessa Bailey but I truly did not want to put this book down.

One thing: Maybe don’t read this book in public if you don’t have a good poker face. It does get spicy, but again, would expect nothing less from Bailey.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

Obviously, if you pick up a Josie Silver romance then you know you are in for a well-written, heartwarming and compelling love story. And A Winter in New York did not disappoint.

A Winter in New York starts with a chef, Iris, relocating to New York City from London in search of a new life after escaping a traumatic relationship. Iris decided on NYC to follow in her mom Vivian’s footsteps after hearing her gush about the city and the NYC-set romantic comedies long before her death. Early on, Iris stumbles upon a local gelateria — which matches one that her mom had a photo of. She returns to the shop and meets owner Gio, who admits that their business is on the brink of closure since his uncle Santo suffered a health scare and no longer remembers the secret recipe. Iris has one of her own, a secret one that was passed down from her mom, and so she offers to help Gio try to replicate Santo’s recipe.

There’s a baking together trope, an intriguing secret (with interconnecting parts across generations) and a found family realization. While the novel is mostly told from Iris’ perspective, we do get a brief peek into her late mom Vivian’s side — and that gave me, like, serious Daisy Jones & the Six (IYKYK) vibes. It’s such a cute and compelling read that I was oh so eager to find out what was happening next.

CW: Abusive relationship (Not the main love interest), Death of a parent

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

Wildfire by Hannah Grace

Honestly, after reading Icebreaker, I was a tad hesitant to pick up this one solely based on the title and cover. No hate or shade to Icebreaker, but I just didn’t vibe with it. But, as a former camp girlie, I knew I had to give Wildfire a second chance — and I was so glad I did!

Just like Icebreaker, we are back in the land of Maple Hills’ collegiate hockey team. This time it is goalie Russ’ turn in the spotlight. His love interest is Aurora, the estranged daughter of a Formula One team owner, with whom he has a one-night stand on the last day of the spring semester. While Aurora dips out early the next morning, they soon meet each other hours later … during camp counselor orientation. Camp, which is Aurora’s true happy place, does have one big rule for staff: No co-mingling between counselors. Of course, who wants to follow that rule after the best hookup you’ve ever had?

Wildfire, told in dual perspectives, is written with such compelling language that just drew me in from chapter one and I could hardly put the book down. That in itself was a bit different for me from how I read Icebreaker, sooooo, sorry. But Wildfire has such fun, witty banter and actually good writing. Also, unlike Icebreaker, Wildfire is more plot-heavy than spice-heavy to me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s still spice, but hello: it is a slow burn. It’s cute, well-written, frothy and indulgent. Wildfire will surely have any camp girlie thinking it’s not too late for one more year on-site — even if it’s been years.

CW: Gambling Addiction, Children of Divorce, Children of Addicts, Estranged Family

Rating: Four Stars

Available: Now

The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird

It is truly like While You Were Sleeping meets The Wedding Date meets The Family Stone –– with more diversity.

Here, Katie is a diner waitress who agrees to pose as the fake girlfriend of her unrequited crush (and frequent patron), Juan, for the holidays at his family’s vineyard. Days before Katie’s debut as Juan’s fake girlfriend, an accident lands him in the hospital and comatose. Suddenly, his parents speculate how she knows him and immediately assume their relationship is way more serious than it actually is. So, Katie sticks to her words and keeps pretending that they are seriously together. Then, there’s Juan’s younger brother, Mateo. Mateo, who doesn’t agree with Juan’s secretive plans to modernize the winery, can’t help but get butterflies when he’s around Katie despite wanting to stay loyal to his brother and respect his relationship. Oh, and that crush? Kinda mutual.

Yes, the diversity is a great way to modernize the story, it is still basically, verbatimm the same plotline as the movie comps. That being said, on its own, it is still full of compelling language. I found the book, told in dual perspectives, could totally draw me in thanks to the writing style, language and storylines.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: October 10, 2023

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella

The Burnout felt like a bit of a departure for Sophie Kinsella — but I liked it that way. This novel feels like less of a romance and more like a women’s fiction read.

MC Sasha Worth is overworked and stressed out, so much so that every aspect of her life feels overbearing. After an ill-timed menty b, she decides to get away with a holiday (hey, she’s British, y’all!) to the seaside resort of Rilston Bay and prioritize her wellness. Rilston, the same town she used to vacation as a kid, is run-down and in its off-season. The only other patron is Finn Birchall, who also is dealing with career burnout and also chose to escape to his childhood haven. While these two grumps (sooo, enemies-to-lovers vibes?) want nothing to do with one another, they soon realize that mysterious “signs” keep appearing — directed at both of them together. Sasha and Finn start talking about these weird vibes, and turns out, they can’t stop.

It’s told with such rich, compelling language that is true to Kinsella’s style and I couldn’t help but get caught up in the story. There’s also a bit of a mystery that adds intrigue, turning it into a total page-turner.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: October 10, 2023

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

After reading all of Julie Murphy’s past books plus her joint Merry Little Meet Cute with Sierra Simone, I instantly knew I wanted to check out A Holly Jolly Ever After.

A Holly Jolly Ever After is ready to help the next INK boy bander find love, and this time it’s none other than Slice, Slice Baby pizza entrepreneur Kallum Lieberman’s turn to find love. In this book, Kallum is finally ready to step back into the spotlight after an unfortunate viral sex tape situation, and signs on for a steamy romance movie about Santa Claus. His leading lady is his former teen crush, Winnie Baker, the wholesome actress who is newly divorced from her childhood sweetheart. Once they get on set, Winnie — who has a tawdry history with Kallum from way back when — realizes she’s out of her element when it comes to filming the sexy scenes. So, she asks Kallum to get into character and figure out exactly how to experience pleasure for the first time.

Once again, this book is a compelling, sex-positive, witty and sweeping romance. Told in dual points of view, you really get a whole picture of their love story from making the newest holiday romance and beyond. While this book does have one of my personal least favorite tropes (blech), I’ll allow it because it takes the story to an unexpected, deeper place that makes A Holly Jolly Ever After way more than just a spicy romance novel. And yes, there are spicy scenes in spades. I personally liked A Holly Jolly Ever After more than Merry Little Meet Cute, but that’s just my taste and in no way diminishes the latter.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: October 10, 2023

Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn

Here, Lorelai is a country music star whose career (and engagement to fellow country crooner Drake) hangs in the balance after she plays a protest song as a way to denounce gun violence. After Drake unexpectedly breaks up with her via social media, Lorelai seeks comfort in her longtime pal (and Drake’s songwriting partner) Craig, resulting in a one-night stand that inspired one of Drake’s biggest hits. Five years later, Lorelai is ready to step back into the spotlight and asks Craig (now an indie record producer, who has long pined for Lorelai) to work with her on a new album.

Told in dual perspectives, Friends Don’t Fall in Love literally had me laughing out loud by, literally I’m not kidding, freaking chapter one. While it does take a little bit to get into and understand the timeline after the introductory flashback, eventually the pacing settles and readers can appreciate Hahn’s compelling writing and storytelling. Honestly, I was so into this read and could barely put it down.

Rating: Four Stars

Available: October 17, 2023

Sleepless in Dubai by Sajni Patel

This hate-to-love teen romcom was beyond adorable, even though its tropes were beyond predictable. It’s told in such a witty, fun first-person point of view that makes this YA novel so freaking cute.

I love a good travel romance, and this book charts two former friends’ family trip from Texas to Dubai in time for Diwali. Here, Nikki is an aspiring photographer who is beyond excited for her family trip — until she learns neighbor Yash (and his parents) will be joining the group. Nikki and Yash were longtime BFFs until a rough patch a few years earlier. Turns out, A LOT can happen on a 15-hour flight to mend fences, but unexpected betrayals and respective ambitions could threaten any progress they made.

It’s a bit of a slow burn too, but plenty adorable. It’s a fluffy, innocent romance with a dash of You’ve Got Mail goodness.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: October 24, 2023

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

If you’re a fan of Rosie Danan’s previous romances, you will certainly enjoy this one — especially if you are a fan of U.K.-set books, British book boyfriends and supernatural entities. OK, well more supernatural-adjacent because this novel is about two mortals trying to break a fae’s curse, though the fae is somewhat of an urban myth to them.

In this romance novel, Riley is a curse-breaker hoping to turn her family’s talent for dealing with the supernatural into a legitimate business. She’s hired to break a lengthy curse at a Scottish castle but doesn’t know that there’s a disgraced archaeologist, Clark, on site hoping to turn around his own career. The pair instantly butt heads and want nothing to do which one another. However, with a forced proximity trope at play, they might discover that the only way to defeat the curse is together.

Do You Worst, told in dual points of view, is full of Danan’s signature witty and compelling language that had me very intrigued to keep reading AND find out if they’d break the curse And yes, true to style, the spicy scenes do get extra steamy and NSFW.

Rating: Three And a Half Stars

Available: November 14, 2023

Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I swear Didn’t See That Coming was without a doubt, 100 percent, the most adorable teen rom-com that I’ve read in the longest time! Set in the same universe as author Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Well, That Was Unexpected, we get to follow Sharlot’s BFF Kiki and her love story. While I have yet to read Well, That Was Unexpected, I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on too much of the story, Didn’t See That Coming does very much feel like an independent novel.

Kiki is a gamer girl with oodles of self-confidence … except online, where she assumes a fake identity as a boy (Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, anyone?) to avoid harassment from the majority male players. Her online BFF, Sourdawg, doesn’t even know the truth! Although, after Kiki transfers to an elite high school in Indonesia for senior year IRL, her carefully crafted e-persona is at risk when she realizes that Sourdawg is there.

Didn’t See That Coming is a fun, quirky, and indulgent YA rom-com that reads so quickly. Like, it seriously had me dying to figure out what would happen next in this modern-day version of She Loves Me/ You’ve Got Mail. This book has secret identity, friends-to-lovers, and love triangle tropes. Although, one of the dudes is a blackmailing, bullying slimeball while the other is a sweetie cinnamon roll who exhibits, like, DREAM BOOK BOYFRIEND BEHAVIOR. So, who’d you rather pic?

Like truly, this book was so flipping adorable and satisfying yet plenty unique and original) that I couldn’t help but completely get lost in this world. I quickly found that my book rating just kept going up and up. So, guilty on that one.

Rating: Five Stars

Available: November 28, 2023

The Stage Kiss by Amelia Jones

If you know me, then you know that I have a weakness for a modern adaptation of Pride & Prejudice — and this book is double that. While it is a modern take on Austen’s classic novel, it is also set behind the scenes of a musical inspired by P&P. The Stage Kiss is a delightful slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of theatre. Oh, plus spice. Lots of spice. Lots. Oodles.

Eden is the standby for Lizzie Bennet on the Liz & Darcy musical tour, finally called up to take over for the D.C. run. As she steps into the spotlight, Tony winner Brennon is also joining the show as her love interest. After their initial meeting where he made a less-than-desirable first impression, Eden dreads having to fall in love with Brennon on stage night after night. But, of course, be careful what you wish for because showmances are a real thing.

The Stage Kiss, told in dual points-of-view, is fun and cute — with a super sweet romance/HEA once the slow burn reaches its boiling point. Author Amelia Jones writes with compelling language that was intriguing to follow along and had me so curious to discover what would happen next in this version.

Rating: Three and a Half Stars

Available: December 12, 2023

Advance reader copies of the books listed were provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4Jun2021

11 Books to Read If You Can’t Stop Listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘SOUR’

Posted in Miranda's Book Nook, Pop Culture by msiwak

Even though I’m a millennial and not a cool Gen Z’er, I’ve still been listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, “SOUR” ever since it dropped earlier this spring. What can I say? Music that slaps, slaps; no reasoning necessary. Just like my posts on here that gave you personalized book recommendations based on Taylor Swift’s “folklore” and “evermore” albums, I’ve decided to do that for Rodrigo’s newly released album, too. Just like those two previous posts, I combed through each song off the album for core messages, lyrics, themes, and stories to see if any reminded me of some of my favorite books. So, keep reading for an assortment of book recommendations based on each “SOUR” track.

Writer’s Note: In case you were wondering how I put this post together, know that I was meticulous in my choices. Much like my “evermore” and “folklore” recommendations, I listened to each track while simultaneously studying the lyrics. From there, I went to both my digital and physical bookshelves, my Storygraph already-read list, where I aimed to search for at least one book I’ve read that at least somewhat fits the song’s lyrics or stories. Now, of course, not all are perfect matches, since they are both original works. But, I tried to pull books with a similar plotline, character, love story, or something quite similar to one another.

If You Like: “brutal”

Try: Tiny Pretty Things by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

This song has such an angsty feel, plus lines about insecurities, exploitation, and even “I’m so sick of 17. Where’s my f*cking teenage dream?” From the moment I first listened to it, I felt my eyes drift over to my Tiny Pretty Things copy. This book follows a gaggle of girls at their prestigious ballet school in New York, who would do anything to be the star, no matter how dark. These girls are willing to play dirty to tear their competition down, which reminds me of the grit and angst in the song. Plus, much of the song is Olivia being insecure which I can see bits of Bette, June, and Gigi coming out.

Here, I’ll show you:

I feel like no one wants me (Gigi being the new girl at school)
And I hate the way I’m perceived (June, totally June)
I only have two real friends (Gigi, but also June)
And lately, I’m a nervous wreck (June!)
‘Cause I love people I don’t like (Bette)
And I hate every song I write (All three with all their insecurities)
And I’m not cool and I’m not smart (Again, all three with all their insecurities)

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If You Like: “traitor”

Try: Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl

The twist, oh, the twist! When I listened to this track, I thought of that giant twist about halfway through. In this enemies-to-lovers story full of witty banter, twentysomething Brinkley works at “Heartbreak for Hire,” a Chicago-based company that helps women take back their power and get revenge on the men that jilted them. This undercover gig helps her earn enough money to eventually open her own gallery, while still getting her frustrations out on her ex and helping to empower other women. When her boss reveals her plans to hire male employees, she questions whether or not she’s in the right field. She learns her former target Mark, with who she had a brief flirtation, is hired to work on her team. As she trains him, they get closer and she falls for the nerdy professor. Yet, the big twist comes when she realizes he’s ********** [potential spoiler has been redacted]. And because of that, he’s sort of a traitor to her and the company alike. Sure, he didn’t cheat, but this book was full of their “twisted games” and betrayal that hurt her.

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If You Like: “drivers license”

Try: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

From the first stanza, I kept going back to Bea and her ex slash old crush, Ray. From the lines, “I got my driver’s license last week just like we always talked about ’cause you were so excited for me to finally drive up to your house,” I felt a similar tone to where Bea was at trying to move forward after all the things Ray always said to her about them. But then, “today I drove through the suburbs, crying ’cause you weren’t around” because he was with ~~that blonde girl~~ his fiancee. The whole book is built around the premise of Bea coping with her broken heart that Ray smashed into a million tiny pieces, which is pure Olivia to me. Plus, the line about insecurity and “how could I ever love someone else” is totally where Bea’s head is at. 100 percent.

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If You Like: “1 step forward, 3 steps back”

Try: Hot Mess by Emily Belden

While Allie was dealing with an addict ex-boyfriend that leads her in different directions, that push-and-pull gave me a similar vibe to this track. With the lines, “And maybe in some masochistic way, I couldn’t find it all exciting like which lover will I get today? Will you walk me to the door or send me home crying” that really reminded me of the beginning of this book, where some days Benji is this talented genius who’s head-over-heels in love with her or the tortured addict who walked out on her. Benji definitely “got [her] f*cked up in the head” this entire book. The back-and-forth of this read does show how she ends up doubting if she can run a restaurant after he bails and their “one step forward and three steps back” relationship that has her so confused. Allie meet Olivia and Olivia meet Allie, you girls have a lot in common.

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If You Like: “deja vu”

Try: Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally

The whole premise of this book gives off serious déjà vu, truly. The whole concept is that it follows the same couple on the same day (and end-of-school-year trip) each year for the four years they are in high school. Whether Lulu and Alex are together or apart, the book mimics the same day. Then, there’s the line, “So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too? She thinks it’s special, but it’s all reused. That was our place, I found it first,” which to me goes back to Lulu spotting her ex Alex at Six Flags with his new girl giving her a Jolly Rancher candy, just like he used to gave to Lulu between classes. So much tracks. So much.

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If You Like: “good 4 u”

Try: Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon

Just focused on the very beginning of the book, it does somewhat resemble this angsty AF song. The whole premise is that the one who broke your heart has completely moved on when you are still a mess. That reminds me of the post-Vegas hookup between Annika and Hudson when they disappear from each other’s life. Then, he reappears in her office building and is a total work success while she’s struggling. The lines “Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy … Good for you, you’re doin’ great out there without me” seems to fit that for me. Especially as Olivia continues on, “Well, good for you, I guess you’re gettin’ everything you want. You bought a new car and your career’s really takin’ off. It’s like we never even happened.” Then, from the flip side, once we learn about the purpose of Hudson’s app: This song applies to that too.

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If You Like: “enough for you”

Try: Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella

This song reminded me of Matt and Ava once they returned from their whirlwind vacation/writer’s retreat. After they returned home to London, they discovered they were quite different and she “tried so hard to be everything that you liked” even if it wasn’t true to herself. She stayed in his modern apartment with his slobby roommates, slept on his uncomfortable bed, rarely went to her own house, let his parents drone on and on about his ex who’s so much better than her. The line about “I wore makeup when we dated ’cause I thought you’d like me more if I looked like the other prom queens I know that you loved before” and “maybe I’m just not as interesting as the girls you had before” really stood out to me about that part involving her insecurity about his ex-girlfriend. She tried to change herself so much just to be enough for this man she loved, which was just like what Olivia sang about.

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If You Like: “happier”

Try: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

While this wasn’t an exact match, something about this book stuck out to me while I listened to “happier” and read through the lyrics. The whole concept of the book is that Naomi and Nick are unhappily engaged and searching for a way out, without getting stuck with the massive wedding bill. As they try to get the other to back out first and start in on their childish pranks back-and-forth, I felt the chorus sort of captured Naomi’s mindset as she realized one day he will marry the societally accepted woman that his mom would love and she’d be alone or with some fling. So, the lyrics of “Oh, I hope you’re happy, but not like how you were with me. I’m selfish, I know, I can’t let you go” kind of reminded me of that, where she knows they aren’t right for one another at this point yet can’t seem to walk away first. Plus, their whole cat-and-mouse games reminded me of the part of the song that goes, “So find someone great but don’t find no one better. I hope you’re happy, but don’t be happier.” Just as heartbreaking!

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If You Like: “jealousy, jealousy”

Try: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

This was another song I just couldn’t quite find the right book recommendation that matched. Before I landed on Dumplin, I was stuck on the lyrics about confidence versus insecurity especially in terms of looks and relating to the whole body positivity movement. I saw the lines “I kinda wanna throw my phone across the room ’cause all I see are girls too good to be true with paper-white teeth and perfect bodies. Wish I didn’t care,” “But it feels like that weight is on my back and I can’t let it go,” and “Comparison is killin’ me slowly. I think, I think too much” and thought about Will’s struggles with her body images, not believing a boy like Bo could want her as she was or that she could enter or win the beauty pageant.

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If You Like: “favorite crime”

Try: Lore by Alexandra Bracken

While I definitely clocked the song relating to a romantic couple, I thought Lore related to the same story just not in a romantic way. I compared this track’s message to the twist after Lore decided to bind her fate to her so-called mentor in an attempt to save the world. If you listen to the lines “Know that I loved you so bad, I let you treat me like that. I was your willing accomplice, honey” or “And I watched as you fled the scene, doe-eyed as you buried me,” I saw a similarity to how she blindly decided to follow her mentor of sorts, Athena. Then, there’s the part about “you used me as an alibi” and how “I crossed my heart as you crossed the line,” which definitely could be the soundtrack to that big twist/reveal scene.

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If You Like: “hope ur ok”

Try: This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

As I listened to these lyrics, I heard Olivia sing about how she once knew this boy and sort of watched him from afar, wishing he’d just be okay even if they never saw one another again. That sort of reminded me of this book I read as an ARC last year when Quinn and Minnie kept randomly meeting once a year. From the lines “I knew a boy once when I was small. A tow-head blond with eyes of salt,” that reminded me of this read. Plus, even though they “fell out of touch” and didn’t “know if I’ll see you again someday,” they still wanted everything to work out with them each time met and tried to make their day/night better each time they re-met.

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21Dec2020

17 Books to Read Based on Your Favorite Songs From Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’

Posted in Miranda's Book Nook, Pop Culture by msiwak

As I previously mentioned, I’ve basically been listening to Taylor Swift’s “folklore” and “evermore” on repeat all lockdown long. There’s something so special about these albums from its pretty melodies, lyrics that really tell a story, and the catchiness of literally every single song. And since each song tells such specific stories, I couldn’t help but think that many of the “folklore” songs remind me of some of my favorite books, just as “evermore” did. So, just like Mamma Mia, here we go again! Keep reading for all sorts of my personal book recommendations based on each track off of “folklore.”

Writer’s Note: In case you were wondering how on earth I put this, and its sister post together, I was meticulous in my choices. I listened to each track while simultaneously studying the lyrics. From there, I went to my digital and physical bookshelves, plus my Goodreads read list, and aimed to search for at least one book I’ve read that at least somewhat fits the song’s lyrics or stories. Now, not all are perfect matches, of course, since they are both original works. But, I tried to pull books with a similar plotline, character, love story. Something quite similar to one another. And that’s what we have here.

If You Like: “the 1”

Try: The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor

If this song was set in high school, it would perfectly describe how I envisioned this YA read. Where, in the song, the main character is pining for their crush who doesn’t notice them, hell, that’s basically George about Emma. Then, Emma’s coding club project is a matchmaking app that goes awry because none of the couples last, which reminded me of the part of the song about wishing for love and their crush to fall for them despite the real couples not having a chance. Also, Emma just wants to do “cool shit” AKA make a rockstar app and find her niche in life and at school. The parallels just fit so well.

Read the Book | Listen To the Song

If You Like: “cardigan”

Try: Hot Mess by Emily Belden

Now, this one took a bit of imagination to put together. The song is all about looking back on an old, messy relationship. So, as I looked back at my bookshelf to find a comparative option, my eyes flitted over Emily Belden’s debut novel. I imagine this song would be representative of main character Allie some five-ten years in the future looking back at that messy AF relationship with reckless Benji and the hell she put herself through to open his restaurant she invested in, while he ran off in a drunken haze with another woman.

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If You Like: “the last great american dynasty”

Try: Heiress Apparently by Diana Ma

OK, this was an easy one considering it’s all about an outrageous, fabulously wealthy family’s life and their crazy shit. I went with this first book in the “Daughters of the Dynasty” series, because, technically this family is something like that. Plus, the song starts with Rebecca arriving into town on the train and the book picks up with Gemma arriving in Beijing via plane to film a movie despite getting mistaken for massive influencer and her newly found cousin Alyssa. There are so many family secrets and drama, and it just fits this song so very well.

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If You Like: “exile”

Try: Once And For All by Sarah Dessen

The whole “I think I’ve seen this film before and I didn’t like the ending” part was my main inspiration. With that line, I think of someone looking at someone and knowing what’s going to happen, understanding fully it won’t be good. That reminded me of Louna at her part-time job at her mom’s wedding planning business in the latest Sarah Dessen book. She’s so cynical about romance that it affects her perspective in front of clients after watching years of poorly behaved weddings. Then, the “I can see you starin’, honey” line reminds me of how new hire Ambrose would always show up at her side at each event, like he’s always there and around, and she “didn’t even see the signs.”

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If You Like: “my tears ricochet”

Try: The Night We Met by Zoë Folbigg

For one of the most emotional songs, I knew I needed one of the books that left me reeling. For a song that speaks about ashes, how the lover will love ’em till their dying day, and how the day they leave is the worst day of their life, yea that reminded me of this ARC I recently finished. Here, this vulnerable women’s fiction novel follows young mum Olivia on hospice, dying of cancer, as her husband (who’s been so scared to give up) writes the story of their romance to tell their young daughters. Even though it predictably ends tragically for her, the epilogue aims to put a meaningful, optimistic spin on this unexplainably sad moment and show how they’ll always love Olivia as they move forward because she accomplished so much she loved in her short life. And that reminds me of this song.

Read the Book starting February 11 | Listen To the Song

If You Like: “mirrorball”

Try: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

The chorus of this song says “When no one is around, my dear, you’ll find me on my tallest tiptoes. Spinning in my highest heels, love, shining just for you.” And, I swear, if that doesn’t directly relate to HRH Prince Henry and Alex then I give up!! It tracks so well since most of their relationship is in secret and in private. But, also it fits since Henry really helps Alex learn who he is because they see each other like they are looking through a crystal ball.

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If You Like: “seven”

Try: Eyes On Me by Rachel Harris

To me, this song focused on being scared to try something new, and that’s Lily Bailey to a tee. Here, valedictorian Lily gets so stressed out that her dad forces her to take salsa dance classes for fun. Of course, she needs a partner. So, enter popular jock Stone Torres who steps in to help at his mom’s dance studio. When her dad offers him extra cash to be Lily’s permanent dance partner, he can hardly refuse. They spend more and more time together and create a beautiful love story, err, dance together.

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If You Like: “august”

Try: Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe by Sarah Mlynowski

This song completes the teenage love triangle story off the album, with Sam becoming the “august” girl in her story, and it just fits so well. So, the “august” girl is the summer fling, who will be nothing more than a good time, hidden from anyone even when real feelings develop on her end. Here, in this book, Sam spends her summer (already perfect timing!) as a camp counselor missing her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Gavin is also missing his girlfriend for the summer. So, the strike up an inevitable friendship bond commiserating, however, that quickly turns into a bona fide summer fling “twisting up in bedsheets” through the duration of camp. Then, when their S.O.’s show up at the camp’s visiting day, she realizes her boyfriend isn’t her future and maybe Gavin is, however, he’s still stuck on his girlfriend because he was never Sam’s. Just like “august.”

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If You Like: “this is me trying”

Try: Pretending by Holly Bourne

This song definitely fits April very well. In the song, our narrator is tired of her current life and just trying to move forward, feeling regretful about her past and wasting her potential. This reminds me of April in this novel, as she was tired of heartbreak and ghosting, so she wanted to try something new and be someone that people and guys would like because obviously, her real potential isn’t doing her any favors. So, she’s just trying to see if this brings her vengeance or confidence. And the chorus where the narrator reveals her intentions rings familiar to the moment Joshua finds out the truth about “Gretal.”

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If You Like: “illicit affairs”

Try: Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

It’s a song about a clandestine romance, so that reminded me of the newest Jasmine Guillory book. Here, lawyer Olivia strikes up a relationship with popular senator, and eligible bachelor, Max. But, since his career is in the public eye, they hide things. It’s quite similar to the song, except he uses a baseball cap and not a hoodie to shield his face! Their chance meeting soon sparks a whirlwind affair and relationship with plenty of heat, passion, and emotions. After concealing everything, like “they don’t even exist,” she realizes this hiding a part of her life isn’t what she wants.

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If You Like: “invisible string”

Try: The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman

This beautiful track is all about the invisible little things that tie people together, much like these recipes that literally connect Sam’s family ties. Here, we follow Sam, a busy sous chef for a hot New York bakery, Her life isn’t going as she planned, so she returns home to her small Michigan town to take inventory of her family’s orchard and pie shop. There, she discovers secrets and memories of her family, one recipe at a time in the heirloom recipe box. Through this family heirloom, she realizes hidden truths about her family and feels so much closer to her mom, grandmother, and so on.

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If You Like: “mad woman”

Try: The Boys’ Club by Erica Katz

This song is all about a woman’s twisted life, all about “striking to kill” and “getting more crazy when you call me crazy,” “mouthing f*ck you forever instead of smiling,” and how “no one likes a mad woman, you made her like that.” Much like that haunting tone, I thought of this upcoming, thrilling novel and main character Alex, a woman trying to rise through the male-dominated field of Mergers and Acquisitions and all the misogynistic crap she deals with on the daily, plus how that shapes her career and life. The book is less about romance or friendship but more about a woman’s drive to succeed on her own terms yet play by the “boys club” rules of the legal profession to get there. You aren’t rooting for Alex and a partner but rather her succeeding at shattering the glass ceiling for future female attorneys to come. It’s inspiring and empowering to see that as the primary theme of the story, and that reminds me of this track.

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If You Like: “epiphany”

Try: Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

This was a trickier prompt to fill, but instead, I focused on a certain stanza. The lyrics are: “But you dream of some epiphany. Just one single glimpse of relief to make some sense of what you’ve seen.” This seemed especially fitting considering Pru’s new superpower “she can’t speak about.” Don’t you think? Here, Quint and Prudence are biology lab partners sophomore year, and she’s been so annoyed with him over his lateness and unwillingness to contribute to their final project. Plus, after a nasty bump on her head at karaoke night, Prudence now has some magical, mystical power to enact karma on random people, both good and bad. She can magically give off “instant karma” when people do something as an immediate reaction, like if someone litters, talks rudely about her twin brother, or helps take care of wounded sea animals. All this karmic justice gives her such a power trip, juxtaposed with spending more time with Quint at the center to teach her about his world and other perspectives in this book.

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If You Like: “betty”

Try: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

The third part of Swift’s “folklore” teen love triangle follows James’ perspective who tries to do everything to win Betty back after breaking her heart and his summer fling in “august.” This seriously reminded me of Samson Lima from Alisha Rai’s first “Modern Love” book, and especially how this book was all about Samson attempting to win back Rhi and give in to her feelings when he always wanted to know more about it because dude was falling deep. Here, we follow empowering and fierce Rhiannon Hunter. She owns and runs a successful Bumble-like dating app, and career is her main, and well only, priority. Occasionally, she engages in brief hookups, like when she matched with the one-photo-only Samson for a night of good fun on the beach. While their dalliance went well and she actually was willing to give him another chance, he ghosted her and she shut off any feelings. The book starts up, months later, when the cynical app founder heads to a tech conference and unexpectedly spots Samson there, on stage, discussing her competitor that he’s now an ambassador for. Turns out, Samson still has eyes for Rhi. A temporary work truce and friendship soon reveals an intimate bond that is too precious to miss. Like seriously, Samson = James and you cannot convince me of anything else.

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If You Like: “peace”

Try: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The following lyrics from this track reminded me so much of Lucy Gray Baird and Coriolanus Snow and their relationship: “Our coming-of-age has come and gone. Suddenly the summer, it’s clear I never had the courage of my convictions as long as danger is near. And it’s just around the corner, darling ’cause it lives in me. No, I could never give you peace.” This section, from Snow’s perspective much like the book, really resonated with me about these two Hunger Games characters and how he couldn’t give her the peace and freedom again once she was chosen as a tribute.

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If You Like: “hoax”

Try: A Spy in the Struggle by Aya de León

This one was one I really struggled to find a recommendation for, pun not intended. I finally went with the concept of a hoax, a mystery, and her leaving “a part of me back in New York” because, hey, that was Yolanda. Here, Yolanda Vance is a junior attorney in Manhattan for a big, fancy corporate law firm, which was under investigation for security fraud, according to the FBI. Instead of shredding papers as her boss asks, she keeps them and becomes a whistleblower for justice. She then joins the FBI as a backup plan because she needs a job after she’s blackballed from corporate law for not shredding the papers. The FBI sends her on an undercover mission with a black extremist activist group in California. As she spends more time with the organization and new friend and college professor Jimmy during the height of the BLM movement, she soon begins to question her values and career, her legality here and ethics, when she realizes she’s on the wrong side of what she wants to be. There’s a bunch of similar aspects to this song, not an exact match, but similar characters and big pictures.

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If You Like: “the lakes”

Try: Beach Read by Emily Henry

This song is all about going to a lake, a romantic and poetic setting, for inspiration. And that’s exactly what lead Augustus and January to their neighboring beach houses. Here, she’s a romance writer who no longer believes in love and he’s an acclaimed novelist who’s stick in a rut. They agree in a summer-long challenge to write what the other does so well to help combat their writer’s block. She takes him on inspirational field trips worthy of a rom-com, and he takes her to investigate some backwoods death cult that’s eerily close to “the lakes where all the poets went to die,” just saying. While embarking on these field trips, sending inspirational ‘beat that writer’s block’ notes from their respective windows, it’s obvious that the only place they want to be is “right here” with one another.

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