ARC Review: Mistletoe All The Way by Lauren Blakely

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, a small-town spicy, holiday romance about a guarded cowboy veterinarian and a Christmas-loving optimist who team up for a town holiday pageant.

Dr. Noah Lennox has three Christmas rules—avoid his hometown, avoid being mistaken for his internet-famous twin, and definitely avoid his smug cousin, Stephen. But when his beloved grandfather announces he’s retiring and leaving the family’s beloved sleigh-ride horse farm to either Noah or Stephen, Noah finds himself snowed in back home in Evergreen Falls and determined to fight for the place that means everything to him. The problem is, the town doesn’t exactly welcome its resident Scrooge with open arms.

Eloise Langston, a sunny Tourism Bureau hopeful, needs a win to land her dream job—and health insurance. Her Hail Mary plan? Turn Noah into Mr. Christmas to help the town’s Mr. Holiday Pageant draw record crowds. Transforming a camera-shy cowboy vet into a small-town sweetheart isn’t exactly in her job description—but neither is falling for him.

As sleigh bells ring and sparks fly, Noah and Eloise find themselves tangled in twinkle lights, fake pageants, and one very real attraction. But with the farm’s future at stake, Stephen's scheming, and Eloise’s own career on the line, there’s a blizzard of reasons to put their growing feelings on ice. Then again, if you can’t fight for love at the most wonderful time of the year, you don’t deserve the kiss waiting under the mistletoe.

Title: Mistletoe All The Way

Author: Lauren Blakely

Publisher: Atria Books

Expected Publication Date: October 6, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is my first full length book by this author. I have seen her books around but haven't had a chance to read any of them so I was excited to see what she was all about. This book was fun. It wasn't anything different or special for me. I would definitely classify it as more fluff than anything else. The story has a good theme, the characters were well done and the pacing was even. 

I liked both the FMC and MMC points of view for this book. I like a romance that is dual POV so I can really get into the characters heads. Their development was good. I did get a little annoyed here and there when they kept repeating the same things about why each of them thought it would be too hard to be together.

I loved the grumpy/sunshine trop here, though. It was fun watching Eloise help turn Noah into someone who lets Christmas into their heart. A little play on The Grinch but he doesn't steal anything!

The side characters were a nice addition. I loved Noah's Grandpa so much. And I liked the secondary theme of Eloise and Noah trying to figure out the mystery of Noah's cousin Stephen and what he had going on up his sleeve. I hated Eloise's parents, which I'm pretty sure was what the author wanted. They just weren't nice people and gave Eloise zero support. I wish she would have stood up for herself more throughout the book, but she was able to do it in the end.

I wondered quite a bit during this story if it is connected to any of the author's other stories. Some of the characters seemed like we should have possibly known them better. I tried to find out if they were linked but I was unable to secure that information. This can definitely be read as a stand alone if it is connected but I can see how you might enjoy it more if you knew some of the characters who are introduced.

Overall, this was a fun read. If you like a nice romance with a bit of spice for Christmas, pick up this small town story and see where it goes!

Author

You can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

Blog Tour Review: If Not You by Ellen O'Clover

 

Five years of history. Four weeks on the road. Two rival copywriters learning love is the hardest sell of all.

Mattie French has always known how to tell a good story. It’s why she stopped at nothing to land her dream career as a copywriter at a scrappy independent advertising agency. In fact, if it weren’t for one person, Mattie would probably be the most-talked-about rising star in town.

Campbell Porter is a senior copywriter at Chicago’s slickest agency. Absurdly talented, incredibly aware of it, and the bane of Mattie’s existence since they were interns together, Campbell is always just…there, with his golden-boy smirk and the familiar gaze that never fails to taunt her across a crowded room.

Mattie would love nothing more than to avoid Campbell forever. But when their agencies are pitted against each other to compete for a luxury resort account, it’s her chance to prove she can beat him—and earn the promotion she covets.

During the month of travel required for the pitch, Mattie and Campbell are thrown together as fierce competitors and, slowly, as unexpected witnesses to each other’s hidden wounds and softest parts. As their trip barrels toward its final pitch, Mattie is forced to confront the increasingly obvious the story she’s crafted for her and Campbell over the years might need a new ending.

Title: If Not You

Author: Ellen O'Clover

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Expected Publication Date: September 15, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely adored O'Clover's Heartbreak Hotel. As soon as I finished it, I knew she would be an auto-read author for me. She has an uncanny way of making me feel every single emotion from her characters. They feel totally genuine and real. When I saw this title available, I had to have it and read it. I absolutely adored this one as much as the other!

I really enjoy when an author builds the relationship between two characters by using flashbacks. O'Clover employed that technique here and it helped cement the emotions and underlying animosity we saw between Mattie and Campbell. From page one, I was invested in these two. I needed to watch them resolve their issues and see how that would help them turn into something more.

Mattie's inability to trust was the biggest issue in this book. She absolutely had difficulty understanding that relationships can grow and change without dissolving. Watching her struggle with this was so hard. I kept wanting to help her understand things could be good and fun and not just work. That she didn't need to constantly feel the need to prove herself (though I didn't understand the worry about being a woman in a male dominated work field). Given her past relationship with her parents, her fears were understandable. I do wish there would have been more showing of this, perhaps in the flashbacks, rather than Mattie telling us about it. But, alas, that did not happen. 

Campbell, while coming off a bit arrogant, really is not. He has his own fears and vulnerabilities. His family situation is addressed more so than Mattie's during the story. I loved his relationship with his family. How they cared for him. My heart hurt for him because of his father's illness and how that affected how he saw himself.  He is such a golden retriever of a character once you get to really start to see what's underneath his skin.

The actual plot was really great. I don't know much about advertising so I cannot say if it's accurate, but it seemed so to me. The idea of having these teams work against and with each other to see the best fit for the company was interesting. I loved where they gathered and now it was all described. It was easy to picture it all.

Above all, Mattie and Campbell have amazing banter and chemistry. It's easy to see how they fit together. 

The side characters in this book were also fantastic. Each with their own development. Dexter was a great friend to Mattie, even if she did keep him a bit at arm's length. And Ava, her best friend for so long, really wanted her to just be happy. All the side characters really and truly leant so much to the story. It's nice to see characters who are important and not just plunked into the story as filler.

I will say this book is filled with angst. If that is not your cup of tea, just beware. There's a lot of it. And quite a bit of miscommunication that did get just a bit frustrating at times. 

Despite the things that may have annoyed me, I absolutely adored this story. And I really loved the snippet of O'Clover's new story that will be out next year. I definitely wet my appetite to want to read it. I will definitely be recommending O'Clover to any of my friends and readers who love some enemies to lovers with pining romance!

Author:

Ellen O’Clover writes stories about love, identity, and belonging for both teens and adults. She grew up in Ohio and studied creative writing at the Johns Hopkins University before moving west to Colorado. Her debut young adult novel, Seven Percent of Ro Devereux, was named a Best Book of the Year by The Bank Street Center for Children’s Education and a finalist for both the Colorado Book Award and the Florida Sunshine Young Readers Award. Her debut adult romance, The Heartbreak Hotel, comes out in September 2025 with Berkley/Penguin Random House. Ellen lives near Boulder with her rocket scientist husband and two perfect bulldogs.

ARC Review: A Study in Sparkling (Love Notes #2) by Jodi McAlister

 

The author of the “brilliant” (Library Journal) An Academic Affair returns with a steamy romance about a recently separated single mom who’s absolutely not looking for another relationship...only to fall for the younger owner of her favorite wine bar.

Fiona Fisher thought she had it a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.

Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, head-over-heels in love with.

On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?

The perfect read for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling proves that Jodi McAlister truly is “a writer to watch” (Booklist).

Title: A Study in Sparkling (Love Notes #2)

Author: Jodi McAlister

Publisher: Atria Books

Expected Publication Date: September 15, 2026

Review:

Than you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I have to say after reading the first book by this author, I jumped at the chance to read the second. I remember it took me a bit to get into An Academic Affair, but eventually I ended up really enjoying it. This one, not so much. I truly felt like this was a different author. I was honestly bored and just pushed through with the hopes things would change. But they didn't.

I'll start by saying as much as the author tried, she just could not make me fall in love with either Fiona or Satoshi. Every chapter one or the other character jumped back to their differences and why things would not work between them (her, he's too young; him, she wants to keep it a secret). I found them both insufferable most of the time. The communication between them sucked. Yes, they talked, but honestly not about the important things. Satoshi was a door mat letting her lead the entire time. Rather than finding his love for her admirable he just came across as pathetic. He let her walk all over him because he wanted her any way he could get her. For me, that's zero self esteem. And Fiona would not let herself have him because of her traumatic past. Which, granted, I get. And she tells us over and over again that she's in therapy. What is she even talking about in therapy? It seemed like nothing to be honest. She was such a drag of a character. And both characters lacked growth and development throughout the book. I didn't see them change in any way that would lead them to understanding one another or finally winding up in a stable and happy relationship.

When the book got to about 85% the drama ramped up, and not in a good. way. Every chapter was filled with so much conflict. And then suddenly it's just resolved at the end, like the curtains opened and shined a light and they suddenly understood totally what the other needed and how to make it work? No, just no.

The spice scenes were ick for me, as well. I just did not feel they matched the characters at all. 

Throw in these long chapters with tons of text messages and emails as the only prose, and that pulled me right out of the story. Every time.

As a bare bones story, this had potential for sure. Unrequited love, age gap, single mom. But the drama took over the story and the miscommunication trop was poorly used. Not to mention all the wine stuff. Yes, it's interesting but it's SO much. I really struggled to keep up with it all and understand what it meant. It left me wanting to just skim parts because I didn't care enough to try and figure out why it was all so important to the love part of the story.

I enjoyed some of the side characters. Especially those I know from book 1. My favorite parts ended up being when the characters from book one were in the scenes/chapters. I didn't like Satoshi's brother at all. Which, I think was maybe the point? I can see the author has set this up to have stories about other characters. And I will absolutely give those installments a try. I absolutely adored Fiona's child, Lex. They were the most intelligent part of this book. Shout out for the LBGTQ+ inclusion. I did feel on the part of Satoshi it could have been explored a bit better, but the author did a great job with Lex.

Overall the plot and pacing became stale after about the first 25% of the book. The topics were repeated ad nauseum: he's too young for me; his ex was so beautiful; he doesn't want a old lady like me (for goodness sakes, she's 36!); I love her and will do whatever I need to do to keep her even if it's a little bit; yes it's ok for you to walk all over me because you are the light of my life; wine, wine, wine, and more wine. 

By day, Jodi McAlister writes romance novels. By other time of day, Dr Jodi McAlister studies them. She's written romantic comedies for adults, romantasy and contemporary romance for young adults, and several academic books.

For adults
If you're a reality TV lover, the Marry Me, Juliet series are the books for you. Even if you're not a reality TV lover, they might be the books for you - several reality TV haters have enjoyed them.

The trilogy all take place at the same time on the same season of a reality dating show called Marry Me, Juliet (which bears a very strong resemblance to The Bachelor). While they all stand alone and can be read in any order, they work best when read in order.

Start with Here For The Right Reasons (he's the series lead, she's the contestant he eliminates on the first night), move on to Can I Steal You For A Second? (she's a contestant, she's... also a contestant), and finish with the book the New York Times called a "full-on villain romance", Not Here To Make Friends (she's the villain, he's the producer who's pining for her).

For young adults
If you're a romantasy reader, you'll like the Valentine series, a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series about smart girls, small towns, and scary fairies. There are three books: Valentine, Ironheart, and Misrule. If Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Holly Black sounds like something you’d be into, these are the books for you.

And if you're a theatre kid, Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending is the book for you. It's my love letter to theatre kids as someone who used to be one.

Academic books
No one really cares much about these on Goodreads, do they? More info on my website if you're interested.

About Jodi
Jodi is originally from Kiama, a seaside holiday town on the south coast of New South Wales, and has lived in a bunch of different cities: Canberra (where she did her undergrad degrees), Wollongong (where she lived while she did her PhD in Sydney), and Hobart (where she held her first academic job) among them. Currently, she lives in Melbourne, where she works as a Senior Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture at Deakin University.

When she’s not writing about romance, Jodi is an academic studying romance. Her research focuses on representations of love in popular culture and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching (and let’s be real, writing huge amounts about) The Bachelor/ette is technically work for her.

**Want to dip your toes into the Valentine universe? Try the free short story Galentine, set a year and a bit before the events of Valentine. http://jodimcalister.com.au/galentine/ **

**Want to read a bonus epilogue to Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending? Check it out here: https://jodimcalister.com.au/libby-la... ** 

Blog Tour: ARC Review In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson

 

One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.

Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.

The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.

Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.

Title: In Every Possible Way

Author: Alicia Thompson

Publisher: Berkely

Expected Publication Date: June 23, 2026

Review:

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I requested this book because and auto-read author of mine was reading it and I needed to see what it was all about. I have not read this author before and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. 

I wasn't expecting the speculative/magical realism part of this book. I love these types of books. I loved the unique premise of this one, as well.

There's quite a bit of build up with this book. I loved how it started out, with Jess (the main character) on a date with a guy who absolutely did not deserve an iota of her time. She handled the date with grace but also was a bit of a push over, which pissed me off.

Fast forward to about 25% in and now the story has totally shifted. Jess meets Eamon (through a little dream magic) and we watch their story unfold and shift. Their connection was fairly palpable on the page. I enjoyed watching their chemistry burn, though I did feel like I really could have gotten to know Eamon just a bit more. The entire story is told through Jess's POV and I almost feel like had I had Eamon's  side, I would have understand everything just a little bit more.

I did enjoy their adventures as they made their way through the touristy site seeing spots. But they also had their own experiences which help them get to know one another.

What dropped the rating for this one for me was all the internal monologue from the FMC. At first, it was enjoyable but then as the book went on it got a bit repetitive and annoying for me. I could have done with less of it.

There's a lot of emotion in this book. There are discussions dealing with grief and loss as well and imprisonment. 

There's also an age gap so if that's not your thing, just keep it in mind.

I enjoyed this one a lot and I am looking forward to reading other works from this author.

3.5/5 stars

Author:

Alicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

Annotations:

Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps

Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.

Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/ 

ARC Review: Big Stick Energy (New York Legends #2) by Sarina Bowen

A hockey team captain and a bubbly staffer mix business with pleasure when they start fake dating through the wedding season in this hot sports romance perfect for fans of Mariana Zapata​ and Elle Kennedy.

Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked admin to a hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right?

But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out.

It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?

Title: Big Stick Energy (New York Legends #2)

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Forever Grand Central Publishing

Expected Publication Date: June 30, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I was really excited to read Eric and Darcey's story. I love how Bowen writes romance. Not only does she make her stories fun, but there's always great banter that causes me to laugh out loud. Not to mention her smoking spicy scenes!

Eric Tremaine caught my eye in the first book of this series. I was happy to see he would get his chance at a happily ever after. He is the most golden retriever of book boyfriends I have ever read. So kind and willing to always go out of his way to make others feel comfortable and seen. Of course he comes with his own baggage in the form of his dead brother's shadow. His mom cannot get over losing her son, even though it's been 12 years. Eric constantly battles with having to keep the peace in this area and he never wants to ruffle feathers. It's like he makes himself smaller in a way. Darcy Kendrick changes this for him. Her own family drama has caused a lot of pain in her life. She's had to grow up fast and learn to be independent and fierce. But she cannot help but want to be seen by her own family, particularly her dad. She cannot get out of the shadow of her step sister. 

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers, close proximity, fake dating story. Eric and Darcy had such fun chemistry. Even though their relationship stems from a silly social media mistake, you can see how they just fit. Yes, they have chemistry but it's so much more than that. They bond over their mutual trauma and form a camaraderie. They truly compliment each other and understand each other's struggles.

Bowen manages a fast paced story with great character development. I didn't want to put it down and was kind of sad when I got close to the end and realized I'd soon be done. But I'm really quite excited to read Deluca's story because that boy needs someone good in his life to love him up!

If you're looking for a mostly light hearted rom-com (there are triggers for death of a loved one, off page, and grief) that will have you wanting to keep turning pages to see how the characters you love will get their HEA, give this one a try. I do recommend reading the first book in the series to get the side character backgrounds and so you do not spoil the relationship Bowen created in Thrown for a Loop.

4.5/5 stars rounded to 5

Author:

Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!

You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.

 

ARC Review: Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee

 

Former valedictorian, current pothead, and perpetual overthinker, Nomi Wyeth is this close to opening her very own Amsterdam-style cannabis dispensary in the historic Strange Drugs Pharmacy building downtown. Former salutatorian, current doctor, and perpetual try-hard, Julian D’Angelo’s chronic failure to listen leads to a mistake that ruins his reputation and forces him to serve in Sparrow Nook’s family clinic, located next door to the Strange Drugs Pharmacy. But how is Julian supposed to be nice when the woman who stole both his valedictorian title and his heart is planning on opening some mangy weed palace for losers next to his clinic? Through zany zoning hearings and “pot luck” fundraisers, free-spirited Nomi and straight-and-narrow Julian battle against each other all over Sparrow Nook, New Jersey, bringing up old rivalries and older flames in the process. It’s tough to say what will change first—their minds or their hearts—but one thing’s for they’re not going down without a fight.

Title: Pot Shot

Author: Laura Piper Lee

Publisher: Union Square & Co.

Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read/listen to and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will be honest, I jumped and took a chance on this book because of the title.  It was a read now and the blurb was so intriguing. I love the idea of a romance book that includes a little weed! I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. I was not expecting a romcom with such heart! I actually highlighted the number of times I laughed out loud or manically while reading this and I came up with 87! 87 times I could not contain myself because the humor was just that on point. 

The audio for this is great. I have definitely listened to books narrated by Elizabeth Lamont before, though I didn't even know it when I dove into the book. CJ Mission is new for me and I did enjoy his voice but not as much as I would have liked. One of my favorite things about this narration was that it is duet. Not dual POV, because it's that, too. But you get both voices in many of the scenes and I just loved how it was done.

Nomi Wyeth wants to open a dispensary. Weed has been the only thing she's found that truly helps her chronic condition. And she wants to bring that to others who are also suffering. But she gets some push back not from her childhood nemesis, Dr. Julien D'Angelo, who is back in town after an incident at the hospital where he was working. He has six months to cool off and change his ways before the hospital will re-evaluate if he can return. When he learns about Nomi's dispensary, he takes it upon himself to put the kybosh on the whole thing. But this only serves to turn many in town against him and he must win them back by working with his nemesis. Little do they know there are other things working against them both that just may cause them both to fail.

I really loved the banter between Nomi and Julien. From the first few pages, the story is totally hilarious and just continues to get funnier throughout. And this banter only served to push Nomi and Julien closer and helped so much with their chemistry. It was so nice to read a story where the characters grow into each other rather than having insta-love. And this story is a bit of a second chance romance as Nomi and Julien have a high school background together. But it's not just the FMC and the MMC that make this story, it's all the fabulous side characters. Nomi and her found family and Julien and his huge family who have their reputations in the small town where he grew up. But my favorite side character hands down was Aunt Edna. She cracked me up so much. I loved her spunk, despite her situation, and how honest she was with Julien. She was supportive but also didn't let him get away with his BS.

The pacing for this one was fabulous. It flew by as I read it because I didn't want to put it down. Lee truly has a great writing style.

I really loved how Lee addressed the chronic illness. It was done really well and truly showed the emotional roller coaster that goes along with it. Lee really made me feel for Nomi and what she would go through when she had a flare up. Lee not only handled it delicately but she also was able to be informative with it. And the plot is unique. I have not read anything with this plot before and it was handled truly well. I live in NJ so I'm very familiar with all the places Lee brings the characters and it brought back some nostalgic things for me.

Add to the humor the book touching on a few sensitive topics that were done really well, and you have a fabulous story.

If you're looking for a feel good story with complex characters who learn and grown and banter that will have you belly laughing, pick this one up and give it a try. I'm now a Lee fan and I cannot wait to read her other stories and things she writes in the future!

Author:

Laura Piper Lee writes lots of things--desperate pleas to her partner for emergency caffeine, to-do lists that never get done, impassioned texts on her favorite supplements (it's Berberine, look it up)--but she only gets paid to write adult romantic comedies featuring characters as hapless as she is.

Add her newest book, Zoe Brennan, First Crush to your want-to-reads shelf if you love steamy, sapphic romcoms with professorial butch love interests, power play, and lots of wine!

Things you'll find in Zoe Brennan:
*A lot of on-page spice,
*a sexy, bossy butch love interest,
*a LOT of jokes, and
*a perpetually single lesbian in a small queer mountain town who's married to her vineyard because relationships are scary.

Add Laura's debut Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair to your to-reads shelf, or hell, if you want to be a hero, buy it even!

Things you'll find in Hannah Tate:
*on-page spice
*a hot Golden Retriever boyfriend (he even lives in a treehouse y'all)
*a LOT of jokes, and
* a single mom who's trying to build her whole life from the ground up with two leaky breasts and an infant strapped to her front.

ARC Review: The Shippers by Katherine Center

 

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Title: The Shippers

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio

Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was definitely one of my most anticipated books this year. I have really enjoyed Center's books and was looking forward to this story to see how it would unfold. Does she go a bit over the top with her stories, sure. That's what makes them fun. Scenarios that are just the far side of being outlandish where they could still possibly happen but you know they would not. This story 100% fit that bill for me. That's being said, this is not my favorite book by this author by far. I'm sad it did not meet my expectations. Warning, if you are not a fan of the miscommunication trope, you will not like this book. It is full on miscommunication throughout.

I got to listen the book as well as read the Kindle version. I love Patti Murin. She really knows how to voice characters so well. Each character becomes unique when she narrates a book. She really brought the characters and story to life for me.

I liked the FMC, Jojo. She is just a bit quirky and kind of clueless to many things. After she leaves her fiancé at the alter, she believes she is cursed and will never have a chance for love. When she and her sister figure out it all stems from her first childhood kiss, she is determined to set the record straight in order to move forward with her life. Jojo had a lot to learn in this book. Does she get there? Yes. Is it in the most round about way one could ever perceive possible? It sure is! She was frustrating sometimes to the point I couldn't believe she could be so clueless.

The MMC, Cooper, was hard to pin down. Since the story is told only from Jojo's POV, we rely on her to present his character to us. For me, this made it hard to really connect with him and truly know who he is. He does give off golden retriever vibes, always coming to Jojo's rescue. But other than that, I didn't find him to have much substance.

In all honesty, the characters didn't seem to fit their age. They truly came across as so much younger than they were. I would have pinned them as college age if it wasn't explained that they had already graduated. The maturity level just wasn't there.

The pacing of the book was nice. There were some scenes that dragged a bit, mostly those with long passages where characters were telling stories. But overall, it was a fast read. The plot was fun enough. I did see she wrote this back around COVID times and there is an author's note about that and how she didn't want to publish it at that time as it may not have gone over well given the circumstances around the world. I can honestly tell this is an earlier work. The writing just wasn't as tight as her most recent books. I felt like it could have done with just a bit more editing. There was so much telling and not enough showing for me to truly connect with the story. I also found most of the twists very predictable.

Overall the story was cute but this one, given my high expectations of it, just did not hit the mark for me. It won't stop me from reading Center's future books. She is a lover of love and her books always give me warm fuzzy feelings. I can always rely on her to get the characters to their happily ever after. She will remain an auto-read author for me. I hope her next book hits better for me.

Author:

BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog. 

ARC Review: The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor #6) by Laurie Gilmore

 

The greatest love is the one you never expected to find

Daisy is fed up with being unlucky in love, and after several weddings she has done the flowers for end in divorce, her beloved flower shop has gained a reputation of being cursed, thanks to Mayor Kelly and his infamous visions.

Dream Harbor newcomer, Elliot, has been adjusting to town life following his own relationship turmoil. And until now he’s avoided the flower shop at all costs. If the mayor is correct, he doesn’t need any more bad luck in his life.

But with his family coming to visit, Elliot finds himself reluctantly in front of Daisy’s store in need of some flowers. As the petals blossom in the sunlight, Daisy and Elliot might find that love comes when you’re least expecting it…

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop is a cozy romantic mystery with a fake relationship dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed.

Title: The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbor #6)

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Publisher: Harper Collins

Expected Publication Date: May 5, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Is this one of my most highly anticipated books for 2026? Yes. Did I squeal a bit when I was approved to read this? Also, yes. Did it meet every expectation I had for Daisy and Elliot's love fest? It sure did!

Daisy is cursed. Or at least that is what it seems like since every wedding her flower shop has provided flowers for recently has ended in the couple breaking up. It doesn't help that she hasn't been able to keep hold of a relationship of her own. She feels doomed to forever carry around the dark cloud the mayor dreamed is over her shop. Enter Elliot. He's more than willing to play the fake boyfriend for Daisy to show she can be lucky in love and hopefully get her business back on track. But when pretend feelings start turning into something more reel, can either put aside their past failed relationships to see they could be happy together?

There is must something about Dream Harbor that makes me so happy. Gimore brings us into this fluffy romantic world with fun characters and back stories, plus a small town feel where everyone knows everything that's going on. It's so much fun to watch all these characters interact. It's fun to see characters from the previous books still so happy and spreading that joy to others. And it's really fun to watch a fake relationship grow and change and become something very real. Gilmore is always ready to give us the happily ever after we need, without the excessive drama you see in other romances. I love that she avoids the third act break up and just has the characters talk things out and be adult about it all. 

As with the previous books in this series, the pacing is fast. The plot is easy to navigate and all the little things that happen along the way really lend to the entire story being told. I really enjoyed the historical back story as Elliot and Daisy found out more and more about their ancestors and the parallels in their relationship with Daisy's Great Aunt D and Elliot's relative, Nathan.

Gilmore continues to bring us a charming town with charming people and stories that are just the right side of fluff to keep you hanging on until the end to see the outcome. I love the eccentric towns people, the small town vibe, the local shops, and just about everything else Gilmore throws at me in these books. This story is cute and cozy and heart warming. I cannot wait to see what else Gilmore might bring us in this world!

Author:

Laurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.

She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.