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stephsnextread's Reviews (390)
I absolutely adored everything about this book! I just wanted to binge the whole thing. It is perfect for romance readers, bookstore lovers, and booksellers.
Josie and Ryan own competing bookstores on the same block. Due to their landlord’s stipulations, the bookstores will be combined and only one bookseller will keep their job. As the competition rages on, they each depend on an anonymous friendship on an online book forum. It turns out that they’ve been unknowingly forming a friendship with each other!
I loved that Ryan was the romance lover, with his wonderfully chaotic, community-building romance bookstore. His story about how he found romance was hilarious, and he was just the sweetest person. Josie is a serious literary fiction reader and is pretty icy in person. But with anonymity online, she is able to open up and let her true self show. I really felt for her and loved watching her become less and less prickly toward Ryan. Ryan and Josie start out as true rivals but they start to bring out the best in each other, and I really enjoyed each of their individual growth journeys throughout the story. The romance between them was perfectly built from rivals to friends to lovers, and I loved every minute of it!
An added highlight throughout the book was the plentiful references to romance books and authors. I highly recommend this book to any romance lover!
Thank you to Ali Brady, Berkley, and NetGalley for the e-ARC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Rivals to lovers
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Dual POV
💕 Indie bookstores
💕 You’ve Got Mail
Josie and Ryan own competing bookstores on the same block. Due to their landlord’s stipulations, the bookstores will be combined and only one bookseller will keep their job. As the competition rages on, they each depend on an anonymous friendship on an online book forum. It turns out that they’ve been unknowingly forming a friendship with each other!
I loved that Ryan was the romance lover, with his wonderfully chaotic, community-building romance bookstore. His story about how he found romance was hilarious, and he was just the sweetest person. Josie is a serious literary fiction reader and is pretty icy in person. But with anonymity online, she is able to open up and let her true self show. I really felt for her and loved watching her become less and less prickly toward Ryan. Ryan and Josie start out as true rivals but they start to bring out the best in each other, and I really enjoyed each of their individual growth journeys throughout the story. The romance between them was perfectly built from rivals to friends to lovers, and I loved every minute of it!
An added highlight throughout the book was the plentiful references to romance books and authors. I highly recommend this book to any romance lover!
Thank you to Ali Brady, Berkley, and NetGalley for the e-ARC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Rivals to lovers
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Dual POV
💕 Indie bookstores
💕 You’ve Got Mail
I loved this book! I think I benefited from seeing early reviews explaining that this book is different from other Emily Henry books. I went in prepared and was able to enjoy it for what it is instead of what it isn’t.
Great Big Beautiful Life is a clever mix of historical fiction and romance. There are two stories running simultaneously. The first is the competition between writers Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson for the chance to write the biography of Margaret Ives, of the infamous Ives family. Alice and Hayden have a rivalry that turns into friendship and possibly more as they live on Little Crescent Island for a month interviewing Margaret. The second story is that of the Ives family, starting with the birth of Margaret’s great-grandfather in the 1830s.
I was captivated by the Ives family story and found myself trying to solve the small mystery while I wasn’t reading. The romance was a smaller plot line, but it was sweet. I had a hard time telling if Alice and Hayden actually liked each other or if it was just the proximity forcing them together, but by the end of the book I was fully rooting for them. I really enjoyed how the two stories were intertwined, and I highly recommend this book!
Read if you like:
💕 Historical fiction and romance genres
💕 Scandalous celebrity families
💕 Forced proximity romance
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Books about writers
💕 Small town settings
Great Big Beautiful Life is a clever mix of historical fiction and romance. There are two stories running simultaneously. The first is the competition between writers Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson for the chance to write the biography of Margaret Ives, of the infamous Ives family. Alice and Hayden have a rivalry that turns into friendship and possibly more as they live on Little Crescent Island for a month interviewing Margaret. The second story is that of the Ives family, starting with the birth of Margaret’s great-grandfather in the 1830s.
I was captivated by the Ives family story and found myself trying to solve the small mystery while I wasn’t reading. The romance was a smaller plot line, but it was sweet. I had a hard time telling if Alice and Hayden actually liked each other or if it was just the proximity forcing them together, but by the end of the book I was fully rooting for them. I really enjoyed how the two stories were intertwined, and I highly recommend this book!
Read if you like:
💕 Historical fiction and romance genres
💕 Scandalous celebrity families
💕 Forced proximity romance
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Books about writers
💕 Small town settings
In Annabel Monaghan’s author note, she explains that the FMC of this book was inspired by Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died (which I loved!). I can totally see the connections. Jane (FMC) was the punchline character on a sitcom as a teenager. Because of that experience, she hid her natural personality (including her humor) from men and tried to shape herself into the “ideal” woman. I really sympathized with her and wanted better for her than the jerks she was dating. Dan turned out to be just that.
Dan was such a sweet character, never really fitting in with his large, loud family. I loved the section of the book where Jane and Dan were staying with his family because it really showed how Jane and Dan were slowly bringing out the best in each other. His quiet nature allowed her to say things she had never said out loud before, while her understanding of him allowed him to be confident as his true self. I was missing a little of the romantic connection between them and would’ve liked more, but I loved seeing their friendship slowly develop. Overall, it was a heartwarming story with summer vibes and I definitely recommend!
Thank you to Annabel Monaghan, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for this e-ARC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Rivals to lovers
💕 Workplace romance
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Opposites attract
This book is connected to Jasmine Guillory’s Drunk on Love but can be read as a standalone. I loved seeing the characters from that book again! Avery Jensen just went through a breakup and wants to date around, but she doesn’t actually know how to do that. Taylor Cameron has a reputation for being a flirt, so she agrees to teach Avery what she knows. Of course, this leads to real feelings from both sides!
I thought this book was really cute! I loved the creativity of the events Taylor takes Avery to so that she can get comfortable with flirting. Their first outing (not a date) was to an author event at a bookstore, which was such a fun thing to give to romance readers. I loved that Avery and Taylor developed a friendship through the lessons, which allowed their romantic feelings to develop so naturally.
The one thing I had a hard time with was Taylor’s best friend, Erica. Jasmine Guillory usually writes supportive female friendships but Erica is pretty mean, making a bet against Taylor and Avery’s relationship. She does explain in the end, but it was hard for me to sympathize with. Luckily, Erica didn’t overshadow the sweetness of Taylor and Avery for me as a reader. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, flirty book!
Read if you like:
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Dating lessons
💕 Sapphic romance
💕 Salsa dancing
I thought this book was really cute! I loved the creativity of the events Taylor takes Avery to so that she can get comfortable with flirting. Their first outing (not a date) was to an author event at a bookstore, which was such a fun thing to give to romance readers. I loved that Avery and Taylor developed a friendship through the lessons, which allowed their romantic feelings to develop so naturally.
The one thing I had a hard time with was Taylor’s best friend, Erica. Jasmine Guillory usually writes supportive female friendships but Erica is pretty mean, making a bet against Taylor and Avery’s relationship. She does explain in the end, but it was hard for me to sympathize with. Luckily, Erica didn’t overshadow the sweetness of Taylor and Avery for me as a reader. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, flirty book!
Read if you like:
💕 Opposites attract
💕 Dating lessons
💕 Sapphic romance
💕 Salsa dancing
One of my favorite things about Chloe Liese is that she includes representation of neurodiversity and chronic diseases. I was so excited to find out that this book has a main character with celiac disease! I was diagnosed with celiac about a year ago and it was so affirming to see it in a main character! The celiac disease is a very small part of the story (because it is so well controlled with a gluten free diet), but I loved that Jules’ loved ones did things to make her feel special. Two things especially stood out to me: her family friend added a dedicated gluten free fryer to her restaurant (because people with celiac can’t eat anything that has been fried with gluten-containing foods) and Will takes Jules to a restaurant where everything can be made gluten free! It sounds so small, but it goes a long way in making someone with celiac feel normal. I loved this representation, and I know there is another character with celiac disease in the Bergman Brothers series that I am so excited to read!
Okay, now that I have raved about celiac representation…I really enjoyed this book as a whole! Will was so endearing. He is shy, genuinely kind, and thoughtful. I loved being in his neurodivergent head as he grappled with what should be “thinking thoughts” and “talking thoughts”. Jules is a bit cynical about love but is still a devoted romance reader. Jules and Will were just undeniably made for each other. There was an electric connection and they complemented each other perfectly. The book was low angst and very enjoyable to read.
The audiobook is narrated by Charlotte North, and she was a perfect fit for this book! I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, easy-to-read romance!
Read if you like:
💕 Dating practice
💕 Dual POV
💕 Neurodivergence rep
💕 Disability rep (celiac disease, mixed connective tissue disease)
Okay, now that I have raved about celiac representation…I really enjoyed this book as a whole! Will was so endearing. He is shy, genuinely kind, and thoughtful. I loved being in his neurodivergent head as he grappled with what should be “thinking thoughts” and “talking thoughts”. Jules is a bit cynical about love but is still a devoted romance reader. Jules and Will were just undeniably made for each other. There was an electric connection and they complemented each other perfectly. The book was low angst and very enjoyable to read.
The audiobook is narrated by Charlotte North, and she was a perfect fit for this book! I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, easy-to-read romance!
Read if you like:
💕 Dating practice
💕 Dual POV
💕 Neurodivergence rep
💕 Disability rep (celiac disease, mixed connective tissue disease)
Content Warning: Although there is no mention of it in the synopsis, there is A LOT of body image discussion in this book. Disordered eating, discussion of weight, food journals/calorie counting, etc. There was too much for me, and I did not think it added to the plot. Please consider skipping this book if these things are triggering for you.
There were many things that I enjoyed about this book. The book is written in 1st person from Katie’s POV. I loved being in Katie’s head (especially during Coast Guard rescues—it seemed so adventurous!) It was all written in such a fun way and was easy to read. The book was very funny and I laughed out loud many times. I also loved the set-up and premise of the romance. As soon as I read that Hutch has “no inner life” and doesn’t talk much, I was so ready for Katie to break down his walls and find out who he really is. I also loved all of the side characters and George Bailey, Hutch’s Great Dane.
But then…Cole (Hutch’s brother) re-entered the story. I was really frustrated with Katie’s actions at this point in the story, and I felt so bad for Hutch. With the backstory, I do understand why Katie made the choices that she did, but it was still disappointing. AND THEN THE END!! It was a wild conclusion to a fun book. I do recommend this book for anyone looking for a summer romance, as long as the body image discussions won’t be triggering for you.
Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Lovable pets
💕 Tropical settings
💕 Kissing only spice level
There were many things that I enjoyed about this book. The book is written in 1st person from Katie’s POV. I loved being in Katie’s head (especially during Coast Guard rescues—it seemed so adventurous!) It was all written in such a fun way and was easy to read. The book was very funny and I laughed out loud many times. I also loved the set-up and premise of the romance. As soon as I read that Hutch has “no inner life” and doesn’t talk much, I was so ready for Katie to break down his walls and find out who he really is. I also loved all of the side characters and George Bailey, Hutch’s Great Dane.
But then…Cole (Hutch’s brother) re-entered the story. I was really frustrated with Katie’s actions at this point in the story, and I felt so bad for Hutch. With the backstory, I do understand why Katie made the choices that she did, but it was still disappointing. AND THEN THE END!! It was a wild conclusion to a fun book. I do recommend this book for anyone looking for a summer romance, as long as the body image discussions won’t be triggering for you.
Thank you to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Lovable pets
💕 Tropical settings
💕 Kissing only spice level
Note: This book is connected to Savor It. While you could read this one as a standalone, Savor It gives so much background about the characters in this book.
Let me start by saying that so many people are loving this book, and I know that I’m in the minority! I urge you to try it for yourself if it sounds like something you would love. For me, it had so many sweet moments, but too much miscommunication.
I loved how much history Wren and Ellis have together and how it feels so obvious to everyone else that they belong together. However, I was missing seeing why that was actually true. I wish it would’ve been dual timeline. I wanted more about who they were when it worked and to be in their heads as it went wrong in order to understand how they could work together again.
The communication (or lack thereof) was the most frustrating thing for me. So many times, they would get close to discussing something important to their relationship, but one of them would deflect with physical affection. There was so much spice so fast after reconciliation, it made me wonder if that’s all they missed about the other. But then the inner monologues would start and they were so introspective in their own heads. I absolutely loved the journal entries that were filled with honesty and reflection. I wanted more of that in conversations! While they did finally talk about why their relationship didn’t work the first time, it took so long to get there. It felt like if they had just had that conversation FIVE years ago, everything would’ve been fine and they likely would’ve stayed married.
I read this book with a combination of e-book and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. These two did an amazing job and their voices were great matches for the characters.
Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the e-ARC and e-ALC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Second chance romance
💕 Marriage in crisis
💕 Road trip romance
💕 Small town
Let me start by saying that so many people are loving this book, and I know that I’m in the minority! I urge you to try it for yourself if it sounds like something you would love. For me, it had so many sweet moments, but too much miscommunication.
I loved how much history Wren and Ellis have together and how it feels so obvious to everyone else that they belong together. However, I was missing seeing why that was actually true. I wish it would’ve been dual timeline. I wanted more about who they were when it worked and to be in their heads as it went wrong in order to understand how they could work together again.
The communication (or lack thereof) was the most frustrating thing for me. So many times, they would get close to discussing something important to their relationship, but one of them would deflect with physical affection. There was so much spice so fast after reconciliation, it made me wonder if that’s all they missed about the other. But then the inner monologues would start and they were so introspective in their own heads. I absolutely loved the journal entries that were filled with honesty and reflection. I wanted more of that in conversations! While they did finally talk about why their relationship didn’t work the first time, it took so long to get there. It felt like if they had just had that conversation FIVE years ago, everything would’ve been fine and they likely would’ve stayed married.
I read this book with a combination of e-book and audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. These two did an amazing job and their voices were great matches for the characters.
Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the e-ARC and e-ALC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Second chance romance
💕 Marriage in crisis
💕 Road trip romance
💕 Small town
This book was the ultimate beach read and so bingeable! It has the perfect summery setting in a vacation town (hence the title). I also didn’t realize before reading that the Claire (FMC) is Nate’s sister from Never Been Worse in the Evergreen Park series! You can definitely read this one without reading the series, but it was so fun to see the characters from other books!
This book really had everything I want in a light-hearted summer romance. Claire comes back to Seaside Point for a summer job as a lifeguard before she figures out what to do with her life. She is surprised when grumpy Miles, her ex’s older brother who she used to have the biggest crush on, owns the house she is supposed to live in for the summer. Claire is naturally flirty and wears her emotions on her sleeve, which Miles cannot resist. There is a summer bucket list, found family, a locals vs. tourists summer games competition, and Morgan Elizabeth’s signature spice. It was such a fun and swoony book that had me smiling the whole time.
The audiobook is narrated by CJ Bloom and Sebastian York. I think these are the best matched voices for book characters that I’ve ever listened to! CJ Bloom had the perfect flirty and bubbly voice, while Sebastian York’s was just the right amount of growly and grumpy. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it would be a perfect vacation read this summer!
Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth for an e-ALC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Grumpy x sunshine
💕 Ex’s older brother
💕 Summer romance
💕 Small town
💕 Age gap
This book really had everything I want in a light-hearted summer romance. Claire comes back to Seaside Point for a summer job as a lifeguard before she figures out what to do with her life. She is surprised when grumpy Miles, her ex’s older brother who she used to have the biggest crush on, owns the house she is supposed to live in for the summer. Claire is naturally flirty and wears her emotions on her sleeve, which Miles cannot resist. There is a summer bucket list, found family, a locals vs. tourists summer games competition, and Morgan Elizabeth’s signature spice. It was such a fun and swoony book that had me smiling the whole time.
The audiobook is narrated by CJ Bloom and Sebastian York. I think these are the best matched voices for book characters that I’ve ever listened to! CJ Bloom had the perfect flirty and bubbly voice, while Sebastian York’s was just the right amount of growly and grumpy. I highly recommend the audiobook, and it would be a perfect vacation read this summer!
Thank you to Morgan Elizabeth for an e-ALC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Grumpy x sunshine
💕 Ex’s older brother
💕 Summer romance
💕 Small town
💕 Age gap
This book was so beautiful and the perfect way to end the series! This is book #3 in Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland series of interconnected standalones. You could read this one without reading the others, but the other two books have been 5⭐️ reads for me and I highly recommend them!
I love romance books that feature characters facing the challenges of life, so that the romance adds to their story but is not their whole story. This book is exactly that! Parts of the book are heavy (specifically Hendrix’s caregiving of her mother with Alzheimer’s, as well as the discrimination against Black entrepreneurs), but it is written in such a thoughtful way. Then you add the swoony romance, and the book becomes perfection.
Hendrix is not your typical FMC. She’s a powerful businesswoman, confident and successful. All the things society tells women they shouldn’t be, and yet all things the people in her life love her for. When she meets Maverick, there’s an undeniable force bringing them together. Mav is continually so generous, thoughtful and sweet. Hendrix hasn’t had experience with men treating her like this, and Maverick seems too good to be true. But he continues to show Hendrix that he is serious about her, and that he adds to her already amazing life rather than competing for attention with other things that mean so much to her. I absolutely adored Hendrix and Maverick individually and as a couple. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series!
Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, Forever, and NetGalley for this e-ARC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Billionaire romance
💕 Forbidden romance
💕 Platonic soulmates (best friends)
💕 Dual POV
I love romance books that feature characters facing the challenges of life, so that the romance adds to their story but is not their whole story. This book is exactly that! Parts of the book are heavy (specifically Hendrix’s caregiving of her mother with Alzheimer’s, as well as the discrimination against Black entrepreneurs), but it is written in such a thoughtful way. Then you add the swoony romance, and the book becomes perfection.
Hendrix is not your typical FMC. She’s a powerful businesswoman, confident and successful. All the things society tells women they shouldn’t be, and yet all things the people in her life love her for. When she meets Maverick, there’s an undeniable force bringing them together. Mav is continually so generous, thoughtful and sweet. Hendrix hasn’t had experience with men treating her like this, and Maverick seems too good to be true. But he continues to show Hendrix that he is serious about her, and that he adds to her already amazing life rather than competing for attention with other things that mean so much to her. I absolutely adored Hendrix and Maverick individually and as a couple. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series!
Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, Forever, and NetGalley for this e-ARC; all opinions are my own.
Read if you like:
💕 Billionaire romance
💕 Forbidden romance
💕 Platonic soulmates (best friends)
💕 Dual POV
This is the second book in Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters series of interconnected standalones. This one focuses on Dani, an academic with no interest in romantic relationships. She’s more interested in friends-with-benefits situations. When a video of friend and security guard Zafir rescuing Dani from a fire drill mishap goes viral, they decide that pretending to date may just help solve some problems for both of them.
I loved that Dani was the one who was anti-romance and Zaf was the hopeless romantic, even reading romance books! Dani spoke her mind no matter what, and her blunt thoughts had me laughing out loud so many times. Zaf was the sweetest fake boyfriend and so supportive of Dani. I find the fake dating trope so entertaining (because it never happens in real life), and these two were so perfect together.
The audiobook is narrated by Ione Buttler and it is really well done. Her voice was the perfect fit for Dani’s character. I definitely recommend this book, and I’m so excited to read Eve’s book!
Read if you like:
💕 Fake dating
💕 Anxiety rep
💕 He reads romance books
💕 Supportive friendships
I loved that Dani was the one who was anti-romance and Zaf was the hopeless romantic, even reading romance books! Dani spoke her mind no matter what, and her blunt thoughts had me laughing out loud so many times. Zaf was the sweetest fake boyfriend and so supportive of Dani. I find the fake dating trope so entertaining (because it never happens in real life), and these two were so perfect together.
The audiobook is narrated by Ione Buttler and it is really well done. Her voice was the perfect fit for Dani’s character. I definitely recommend this book, and I’m so excited to read Eve’s book!
Read if you like:
💕 Fake dating
💕 Anxiety rep
💕 He reads romance books
💕 Supportive friendships