Voracious Romance Reader • Honest Reviewer
It's always the quiet ones! A little shy and a lot grumbly, this hero steals the show in a big way. He's this reserved, gentle giant who rarely speaks to anyone (other than our heroine), and he's convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to keep a woman happy in the long run. Watching... Continue Reading →
There's something about Jimenez's writing style that makes it easy for me to devour her words, and this was another great example of that. Also another great example of her very specific formula frustrating me, lol. We're five books in, and by now I am FULLY aware that her romances are rom coms in the... Continue Reading →
A slow-burning treat, this exceedingly low angst romance is easily one of my new favorites from this writing duo. The hero is one of the biggest cinnamon roll sweethearts I've ever had the pleasure to read about, and the forced proximity was a major win. Not that either of these characters really had to be... Continue Reading →
Light and SUPER spicy with plenty of personality, this rom com debut had me hooked from the start. I loved the concept - single dad's new nanny realizes that he used to be her biggest OnlyFan - and I was definitely curious how it would all play out. It only took a few pages for... Continue Reading →
With a fresh spin on a familiar trope, this sexy debut holds a lot of promise. I loved the first half in particular, which saw these strangers becoming instant enemies. Our hero gets the heroine fired, then she is forced to take a job as his maid/cook... and they both pretend not to recognize each... Continue Reading →
Pretty stellar for a debut, that's for sure. With Tis the Season for Revenge, The Hating Game, and You've Got Mail vibes, this lighthearted romance is such an interesting mix of tropes. Our sweetheart of a heroine gets herself in quite the sticky situation, and she's most certainly not always in the right. I'm don't... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a great debut! I was really hoping this was going to live up to the promise of that GORGEOUS cover and the stellar recommendation from Ali Hazelwood, and it definitely came pretty close. Told in a mix of flashbacks and present day, we see the strained relationship of these former lovers as they... Continue Reading →
I've been loving grumpy boss rom coms recently and Kate Canterbary is more popular than ever, so it seemed like the perfect time to re-share my review of Boss in the Bedsheets - which was my first experience with her work, and one of my Top 20 of 2020 selections. It's rare that a book... Continue Reading →
I was SO close to rounding this up to 5 stars; it’s the kind of book that has a rocky start before slowly simmering into something very satisfying. I loved that it had so much personality - these feuding food critics had great chemistry, and all of the food descriptions had my mouth watering. Don’t... Continue Reading →
I'm intrigued! I love Julia Wolf's writing, but I don't read enough of it. I find new adult romance more difficult to relate to these days, so I haven't dived into some of her recent series. And her rock star romances can sometimes veer towards the k!nky, which I'd have to be in just the... Continue Reading →
Soapy and immensely bingeable, I can see why this surged in popularity so quickly. I loved the first interaction between the couple, and I was thinking, "this is ridiculous, I love it." That slowly transitioned into, "well, this is getting ridiculous," until I emotionally detached and was simply curious how it all played out. There's... Continue Reading →
When I told my husband what the topic of this week’s rec list was, he was like, “shouldn’t we be discouraging that type of relationship?” Well, yes, if romance books were the real world. There’s generally an inherent sense of “wrongness” to boss/employee romances, which is one of the staples of the trope. The characters... Continue Reading →
I love it when a great book takes me by surprise, and I unexpectedly find myself immersed in a love story that has my FULL attention. With a new-to-me author and a nearly 400-page book, I went in with low expectations - and this wasted no time in exceeding them. It's such an engaging, smile-inducing... Continue Reading →
I've got Meghan Quinn on my mind, so I thought I'd re-share my review for one of her older rom coms - the grumpy/sunshine, boss/assistant, wedding-related romance, Boss Man Bridegroom. I haven't been able to convince myself to dive into Quinn's newest, A Long Time Coming, yet(!), because friends to lovers drives me crazy 75%... Continue Reading →
The banter and sexual tension in this he falls first/one-sided enemies to lovers romance made it such an engaging read; I loved watching these two bicker, and the attraction that sparked between them was palpable. It's also got a playful feel that makes the pages fly by, paired with an undercurrent of emotion that digs... Continue Reading →
If we’re being honest, I expected a lot more from this. Having read and loved several of Sorensen’s more recent books, I was excited to start the series that has been so influential to her work. And it was just kinda disappointing. There is so much internalization that the reader knows a LOT more about... Continue Reading →
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The third time's the charm! While I have absolutely LOVED both of Hazelwood's previous novels, this one hooked me in INSTANTLY with the banter, electric chemistry, and the tense, forbidden aspect. It feels like her other work, but the vibe is also all its own - it progresses a little differently, the storyline is... Continue Reading →
For a debut? Pretty solid, and I can definitely see this writing duo growing into authors on my one-click list. While I thought that the heroine overreacted to every little thing and the writing felt drawn out at times, I sincerely enjoyed the core of this office rivals romance and the playful feel. It gave... Continue Reading →
Everybody's been loving this one, but... I was disappointed. This series has become very popular, so I took my time waiting for the right tropes before checking out this new-to-me author. It should've been a perfect fit - there's tons of banter, sizzling chemistry, plenty of bickering, a firecracker of a heroine, and a hero... Continue Reading →
Such a great series! After reading and absolutely LOVING the second book in this series (one of my favorites of 2022), I decided to go back and start the series from the beginning. And I'm glad that I did! There's a lot to love about this office romance, from the strong and resilient heroine to... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Love on the Brain certainly makes this list! The Love Hypothesis was one of my favorite books of 2021, so Hazelwood had a lot to live up to with her sophomore effort - and this did not disappoint!... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Terms and Conditions is another book that lived up to the TikTok hype. It's a marriage of convenience/office romance that ended up being right up my alley, and I loved how the hero was in so over his... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It is one of those books that came out of nowhere for me. Typically, I'm either anticipating a release myself or I get a recommendation and put it on my TBR for "sometime." With... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and this debut easily makes the list! I'm such a second chance romance hater that it took about a dozen other readers recommending this to me before I finally dove in. And I'm so glad that I did! It's... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and that includes the banter-filled playboy tamed romance, Mile High. This is one of those books that I heard about months ago and let sit on my kindle for just the right day. It's nearly 500 pages long and... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Thank You For Listening is one of the subtler picks. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook, and it blew me away - I think that I may have been one of the... Continue Reading →
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m celebrating my 20 favorite romance novels of the year, and Flawless is certainly among them. When it comes to these lists, I try my best to honor 20 different authors, but I honestly could not choose between the first two books in Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs series. I... Continue Reading →
Quick and SUPER cute, this has everything you could ask for in a holiday novella. It packs a punch in a small package, diving right into a road trip between co-workers. There's a great grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and a hero whose thoughts are fun to puzzle out. It's just Christmasy enough to feel like a holiday... Continue Reading →
It's mini review week! I'm clearing out my review queue of all the books I can't seem to convince myself to finish, for one reason or another. That doesn't mean these are negative reviews, it simply means that something isn't compelling me to keep reading at the moment. Maybe I'll go back to them another... Continue Reading →
My favorite holiday romance is on sale for just 99 cents right now (as of this post!), so it seemed like the perfect time to share my review again. Kayley Loring has delivered SO MANY 5-star reads for me, but this one remains my absolute favorite. The sexual tension, playfulness, and holiday vibe just took... Continue Reading →
There's just something so absolutely delicious about peeling back the layers of a prickly grump, figuring out what makes him tick and finding that gooey marshmallow center hiding beneath his beautiful but thorny exterior. And that is where this playful grumpy/sunshine romance shines! This one came on my radar out of nowhere, so I went... Continue Reading →
So cute! This hero is more grumbly than grump, falling hard and fast for his girl - and her adorable son. I jumped right into the series and had no trouble keeping up, but the family-oriented farm setting added a special something to the story. It's light and exceedingly low angst, with an easygoing, feel... Continue Reading →
Laidback and easygoing, this small town/single mom romance is soft and a little sweet. I loved the concept of two people finally getting to truly know each other after years of being reluctant acquaintances. There was just enough history between them to keep things interesting without bogging the story down, and that added a richness... Continue Reading →
Unconventional meet cutes, falling before meeting face-to-face, and texting in romances are all like catnip to me, so this had me completely hooked in the first half. After reading and enjoying Curto's debut, An Unexpected Paradise, I had an idea of how this playboy-tamed romance would go. We knew that the hero is relationship-adverse but... Continue Reading →
I'm a big fan of the series, but this particular installment did absolutely nothing for me. One of the best parts about the series is that it's easy to pick up the books in any order and know that you're in for a super lighthearted, playful read with unpredictable moments and plenty of heat. Unfortunately,... Continue Reading →
This was quick and bingeable, but ultimately a little unfulfilling. Bromberg is a one-click author for me, someone who delivers 5-star reads time and time again. So there was a lot of good stuff going on - some great sexual tension, an engaging meet cute, and a romance that mixes light and sexy moments with... Continue Reading →
Whether you call it enemies to lovers or office romance with a little extra sexual tension, workplace rivals romance is a beloved trope for a reason. I love the friction that comes from two people who are fighting - or fighting their feelings - and the forced proximity is always a win. The heroes can... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Whether the heroine is banging the boss or feuding with a co-worker, office romances have tons of potential for extreme levels of sexual tension. Workplace romance novels also feature popular tropes of every type, from enemies to lovers, billionaires, flings, fake relationships, forbidden boss/employee situations, and rivals romances. There's often great bickering that feels like... 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 →
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. 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. 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 →
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. While Love on the Brain doesn't release until August, I've already posted my sneak peek review, and it certainly makes this list! The Love Hypothesis was one of my favorite books of... 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 includes the office rivals romance, Rival Radio. I adored the sexual tension that snapped and crackled between these characters, and Nolan really played up the opposites attract dynamic. It's sexy... Continue Reading →
I love it when a guy finds himself in over his head within minutes of meeting the right girl, and that is definitely the case here! I finally made room at the top of my TBR for this girthy office romance, and it was well worth the wait. It's intensely sexy, banter-filled, and full of... Continue Reading →
It was alright. I'm probably going to forget that I even read this a week from now, which is why I can't rate it any higher. While I'm typically a big fan of Bladon's low angst, sexy romances, this one felt SUPER instalovey and also very surface level. The blurb (and great cover) gives the... Continue Reading →
With sexual tension that crackles and banter that shines, this office rivals romance is another great addition to what has been a stellar series of near-standalones. I loved the electric connection between these two office enemies; they've got the kind of chemistry that sparks off the page, and the volatile nature of their relationship made... Continue Reading →
There's a lot to love about a cinnamon roll sweetheart who falls hard and fast for his girl - this hero was GREAT! As a longtime fan of Score's work, I was excited to dive into this and see how her style changes for a more "traditional" romance audience. This still has the same small... Continue Reading →
Jeeves Reads Romance 