Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
This will be a weird review, because I enjoyed it so much that a 5-star rating was the obvious choice, but I can also identify several things that bugged me - and I understand why it's been such a polarizing read. The important thing: this was an EXCELLENT debut, and I'm excited to read more... Continue Reading →
From the Embers is enjoying a sudden surge in popularity, and I'm very happy about that... because it was one of my Top 20 of 2021 picks! In case you missed my review at the time, I'm sharing it again now. I still think back on the book very fondly, and hope many new readers... Continue Reading →
It's always a little terrifying to read the sophomore effort from an author whose debut you loved, hoping that it will live up to the weight of expectation. And, honestly, this didn't at first. The beginning is MUCH weaker than the second half, and it takes awhile to find its footing - but it definitely... Continue Reading →
I've been putting off writing this review because I really had to mull over how I wanted to rate it. The book is not bad, but it was not at all a successful reading experience for me. For some reason, McFarlane's books continue to be marketed as rom coms, with cute covers and blurbs that... Continue Reading →
Loved it, loved it, LOVED it! You know things are going VERY well when the 20-hour runtime on an audiobook doesn't faze me, and I spend time doing math to determine whether it's physically possible for me to stay up late enough to finish before going to bed (sadly, no). I really wasn't sure what... Continue Reading →
A blend of women's fiction and romance, this heroine-centric story features its own unique combination of ingredients. I wasn't sure what to expect from this new-to-me author, but I quickly discovered that her writing style and voice worked well for me. I loved the offbeat quality of the story, as well as the fresh and... Continue Reading →
Lighthearted fun, this was just as bingeable as the first book in the series, with plenty of sparring that felt like sparks of attraction. It's low angst and easygoing, featuring a theme park princess and her best friend's brother - the one who infuriates her by existing. These two had great chemistry, and it was... Continue Reading →
This is the kind of debut that gets me excited about what's next from an author, because there was so much good stuff going on with the story. It's ideal for fans of Elena Armas and Chloe Liese, sort of the perfect combo of both of their vibes - featuring a deliciously smitten hero, bickering... Continue Reading →
You know what? I liked it, but I also think it should've (and could've) been about 200 pages shorter. Zapata is known as the queen of slow burn romance, and I love the way she writes the subtle shifts in relationship dynamics, these tiny moments that build up the intimacy. That's all still here in... Continue Reading →
You can't go wrong with a secretly sweet, grumpy hero who owns a bakery and gets his defined forearms from making sweet treats all day. Throw in plenty of small town charm, a fish out of water romance, and several troublemaking community members, and there's a lot to love about this easygoing romance. It's closed... Continue Reading →
Did I read this because of that adorable cover? 100%, but I don’t regret it. Absolutely FILLED with playful banter, this low angst rom com gets the chemistry right. I loved how much texting and conversation there was between the characters, which made it easy to see all of the reasons they’re perfect together. There's... Continue Reading →
Once these two cross the line, they practically combust into flames - this is a smokin' hot installment to the series, one that is full of electric chemistry from start to finish. I jumped back into the series just in time for the conclusion, which was both easy to read as a standalone and also... Continue Reading →
Heavier and steamier than the cover implies, this was another solid addition to the series. I loved the hero, who is a genuinely good guy secretly yearning for love that he doesn't believe he'll ever have. And I also kinda loved the fact that both characters were older, with a successful, confident, 45-year-old heroine and... Continue Reading →
This series just keeps getting better and better, swoonier and swoonier. Maybe steamier and steamier too. Zero complaints about any of that - I loved this! It’s easiest to appreciate this series to its fullest when you read it in order, so I was already so excited to dig into Caleb and Layla’s story before... Continue Reading →
A new charity anthology just released, and it contains stories by over 150 romance authors - all in the name of reproductive rights. I'm a fan of anthologies because they're perfect for trying out authors I've heard of but never read before, or getting bonus content from authors I already enjoy. This particular anthology is... Continue Reading →
This didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but I can see why fans of friends to lovers romances would eat it up. One of my favorite tropes is marriage of convenience, so I was cautiously optimistic that this would be the rare friends to lovers scenario that would resonate with me. And... Continue Reading →
“You’re absurd.” It comes out sounding like You’re adorable.“You’d love it.” He grins. “Don’t lie.” When you're fake dating the, ah, literal Holiday Spirit, things are bound to get complicated. This chaotic, charming, one-of-a-kind story is filled with holiday fun that put a smile on my face. I've been a huge fan of Hogle's work... Continue Reading →
I’ll be generous with my rating, because this wasn’t a good fit for me, but it’ll be just the kind of soft, magical romance that some readers are looking for. This is the first adult romance by the author, and that could explain why it had such YA vibes. Yes, these are adult characters (31/36),... Continue Reading →
Sometimes it takes a second chance to get things right, and the result is even sweeter because of the struggle. I'm talking about the couple in this book (which I LOVED!), but I'm also referring to my own reading experience. Back when this first released, I tried jumping into the series without reading the first... Continue Reading →
With great chemistry and a memorable meet cute, this absolutely started off on the right note. I love a good strangers to lovers romance, and these two are FIRE together right away. The closed-off, cynical hero complements the upbeat, optimistic heroine in a way that makes him a better man - and I loved how... Continue Reading →
It's easy to see why this friends to lovers romance is so popular - it is completely swoony and CHARMING, with a great found family feel and an intriguing cast of characters. I also adored the hero, who is so obviously head over heels for his girl from the moment he meets her. There are... Continue Reading →
Entertaining (but also a little ridiculous), this office rivals romance felt like it was strongly influenced by two of my favorite books - The Hating Game and The Spanish Love Deception. Which is good, because I loved those books... but there were also perhaps too many familiar components. That being said, this spins the office... Continue Reading →
Started as a 5, shifted into a 4, then fizzled to a 3 - I liked a lot of this, but the push/pull overshadowed the actual romance after awhile. The good news? It's the kind of book that makes me want to read more from this new-to-me author, because I enjoyed the writing style and... Continue Reading →
I loved it from start to finish - this was a sweet and swoony treat, featuring an adorable grump of a hero and playful, lighthearted vibes. I've been meaning to check out both of these authors individually, so I jumped at the chance to read their first team-up, and it was more than I could've... Continue Reading →
No sophomore slump here! Love on the Brain is as deliciously swoony and addictive as The Love Hypothesis, with characters who are equally compelling. I devoured it in one sitting and LOVED it the whole way through. It's quirky and science-filled, with a relationship that's layered and nuanced. I loved trying to figure out our... Continue Reading →
Leading with one of the most memorable meet cutes I've read was the PERFECT introduction to this new-to-me author's work. I'm jumping into the series with the final book, and I am just fine with that - this was easy to read as a standalone, and such steamy, tension-filled fun that it kept me turning... Continue Reading →
Not my favorite of the series, but it did have a lot of good stuff going for it. There's a small town feel that ties the series together, with a fun cast of characters. I also love a swoony single dad with a precocious daughter, and pairing him with the woman who makes him feel... Continue Reading →
Just like the first book in the series, this has a completely unexpected storyline that keeps you on your toes while reading - making the reading experience that much more immersive and unique. I was a little skeptical of a plot that revolves around a fashion-obsessed, Harry Styles-like hero who pretends that he's gay in... Continue Reading →
The spiciest book in the series yet, this is sexy but not particularly satisfying in the romance department. Told in flashbacks and present day, the story follows two people who had one steamy and memorable two-night stand a few years ago, before they realized that sleeping together would jeopardize both of their jobs. I could... Continue Reading →
There's a large part of me that wants to rate this as 5 stars because both the story and the writing are beautiful, but the wordiness of the text holds me back from doing so. Still - this is a phenomenal debut, and I'm excited to read more from Devon in the future. It's a... Continue Reading →
It started off strong, but my interest had fizzled by the end. This is something a little different from Quinn, though it still feels like one of her steamy rom coms. I really enjoyed the first 30ish%, with its crackling chemistry and TONS of sexual tension. Our hero is intense and loyal to a fault,... Continue Reading →
Getting kneed in the balls is perhaps not the meet cute this good guy hero was hoping for, but it was an effective one! When a case of mistaken identity leads our heroine to take her frustration out on her evil boss's identical twin, neither one could've predicted where they'd end up later on. I... Continue Reading →
Quick and steamy, this makes a great series starter, and a very solid introduction to this new-to-me author's work. I've been meaning to check out Whiskey for awhile now, so I jumped at the chance to start a new series - and the vibe sounded right up my alley. Which it was! This opposites attract... Continue Reading →
Intelligent, lighthearted, and full of romance, this was exactly what I was hoping for... though I wouldn't have minded some steam, lol! It's my first from the author, so I wasn't sure if the vibe would be more women's fiction or romance, but it ended up being a great combination of the two. The romance... Continue Reading →
Sister swap romances are not a favorite of mine by any means, but I can be won over by the right book. This wasn't it. Since I loved the first book in this series of interconnected standalones, I decided to take a chance on this installment. Unfortunately, the first 40ish percent is all about the... Continue Reading →
As a general rule, I HATE second chance romances... but I LOVED this. I was hesitant to pick this up because of the couple's complicated past, but that all faded into the background as I became immersed in this truly unique love story. Told in flashbacks, present day, and snippets of articles that fill in... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can't go wrong with a secretly sweet, grumpy hero who owns a bakery and gets his defined forearms from making sweet treats all day. Throw in plenty of small town charm, a fish out of water romance, and several troublemaking community members, and there's a lot to love about this easygoing romance. It's... Continue Reading →
Really, really good - I loved it! Thought-provoking and romantic, this straddles the line between women's fiction and romance, with a heroine-centric storyline that effortlessly weaves in a rich and dynamic love story. It also balances light and playful moments with heavier, sometimes somber, scenes for maximum impact. I'm so glad that I went in... Continue Reading →
Charming and poignant, this ghost story is a little bit romance and a little bit women's fiction. Our hero is a ghost, so that causes plenty of tension, naturally. But as someone who exclusively reads romance novels, I wasn't making an exception for this. There's a sweet and swoony love story wrapped up in the... Continue Reading →
Conceptually, this is a win... but the execution isn't quite there. That interesting, fun cover caught my eye, and the upbeat blurb had me excited to read a rom com with a little bit of bite. And it started off well; our hero makes a terrible first impression, and it was clear that bickering with... Continue Reading →
An EASY 5-star rating for me - I loved it! When I stumbled upon this debut romance, I had zero expectations, so I couldn't have predicted the level of SWOONS or the plethora of heartfelt moments. I've never read a storyline quite like this one, and the near-constant forced proximity made for a book that... Continue Reading →
We all need a sexy nerd like this one in our lives - this hero is adorable... and also kind of a caveman. I loved him, and I loved this refreshingly low angst rom com from start to finish. While the whole Summersweet series has been great, this is easily one of my favorite installments.... Continue Reading →
Flawless is right - I absolutely LOVED this from start to finish. I'll admit that I'm a cover hoe and that's the primary reason I checked out this new-to-me author's work, so I had no idea what was in store for me when I started reading. But this gripped me from the first few pages,... Continue Reading →
While the blurb is mysteriously intriguing, it also leaves out the MAJOR element of the storyline that's sure to be polarizing (SPOILER) - that this involves a love triangle between two brothers. It's a trope that readers typically feel strongly about, one way or another... and I probably would've skipped this book entirely had I... Continue Reading →
I haven't devoured a book this quickly in a long time, so that deserves a full 5-star rating... even if there were a few things I would've changed. It's the CHEMISTRY between these characters that seals the deal; from the moment they met, I could feel that ZAP of connection, and I was reminded why... Continue Reading →
I went in expecting Life As We Know It in book form, and that's what I got - so I can't really complain. Though this was shorter and more surface-level than I was hoping, I did like the overall story and it was easy to binge in one sitting. If you've watched the classic rom... Continue Reading →
With fan-worthy steam, a playful feel, and tons of sexual tension, this grumpy/sunshine romance absolutely flies by. It's an office romance with a side of fake relationship, pairing up two total opposites who have never really gotten to know each other. Once this boss and his assistant interact outside of the office, their entire dynamic... Continue Reading →
It’s never a good sign when I struggle to remember the plot of a book one or two days later, and unfortunately that's where I'm at with this. Unlike Williams' full-length novels, this novella was utterly forgettable and kinda boring. I didn't have a bad time reading it, but it's as if the entire plot... Continue Reading →
Instead of laughing like I usually do while reading a Pippa Grant rom com, I found this to be kinda tedious. It never felt "romantic" to me in any way, and the relationship felt incredibly surface level - especially for a book that's NOT short. This series starter is Grant's first traditionally published work, and... Continue Reading →
This was really cute. As someone who has LOVED both The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain, I was excited to check out Hazelwood's series of novellas. This has been the most successful one for me; I loved the forced proximity of this couple being stuck in an elevator together. Told in both flashbacks... Continue Reading →
It’s lust over love for this couple, but that makes for a fast-paced, sexy read. While I think there were a few missed opportunities (especially in enhancing the emotional connection), I enjoyed this overall and had no trouble bingeing it in one sitting. The hero is a sweetheart of a guy who gives off bad... Continue Reading →
It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a college romance this much, but Marie did such a great job of making these characters relatable... even if the storyline is a little unusual! I've been loving Marie's lighthearted romances recently, so I decided to check out the one that always puzzled me: IOU. Yeah, the storyline is... Continue Reading →
For a debut? Pretty great. The cover caught my eye, but it was the significant buzz surrounding this Hollywood romance that had me excited to read it. Luckily, I had already heard that this has a heavier, messier storyline than the cover and blurb imply, so I was not caught off-guard by just how dark... Continue Reading →
I adored Managed so much that I was almost hesitant to continue the series after reading what remains one of my all-time favorite books, but it was FINALLY the right time for me to sit down with Fall. And it lived up to all of my expectations! Once again, Callihan does an excellent job of... Continue Reading →
Super cute! I'm someone who will read all heat levels when it comes to romance, but I've gotta admit that there was something so soft and wholesome about the vibe of this strangers to lovers rom com. With a very slow burn and only some sexy kisses, the story focuses on the feels and the... Continue Reading →
While I connected to What If You & Me from the start (it was one of my favorite books of 2021), there was something missing for me with For You & No One Else, and the back half just made me feel completely disconnected from the characters. I liked both characters individually; they had great... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. The final entry to this list is Thank You For Listening, the upcoming release from Julia Whelan. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook, and it blew... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. Kayley Loring knows how to write funny, one-of-a-kind romances that I can devour in one sitting - and Good Vibrations gave me the exact vibes I wanted from a book with that... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. A debut that surprised me in the best of ways, I loved Lease on Love from start to finish. It's a great romance with a side of women's fiction, and the storyline... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. The final book on this list is probably the most universally anticipated romance of the year - Book Lovers. It's actually my first time reading something from Henry, and I can see... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. That list wouldn't be complete without Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend, one of the more unique and memorable books I've read this year. It's beefy and a little brilliant, with a... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. If you'd asked me six months ago, this probably wouldn't have been the Meghan Quinn book that I expected to make this list! She is an excellent writer who usually has a... Continue Reading →
We're already halfway through 2022, so I'm taking the time to reflect back on my 15 favorite books of the year so far. Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype, and I'm eager to check out more from Lauren Asher. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 