I have really enjoyed Lana’s previous books and I’m excited to read this spicy enemies to lovers paranormal romance!
SYNOPSIS
A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemyâthe opposite, in factâin this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.
Keyanna âKeyâ MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, itâs only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world heâd always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her fatherâs life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what sheâll find in Scotland. But repeating her fatherâs mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsmanâwho thinks sheâs an idiotâis definitely the last thing she expects.
Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shoreâa lass with captivating eyes and the last name heâs been taught not to trust. Heâs looking for answers as well, and Keyâs presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. Itâs even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldnât care about, and someone he definitely doesnât find wildly attractive.
When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is afterâand that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, theyâll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
She’s the only woman he wants…and the only one he can’t have.
Asher Donovan is a living legendâthe darling of the Premier League, the (arguably) greatest footballer in the world.
But his reckless antics and recent team transfer have caused much controversy, and when his feud with his rival-turned-teammate costs them a championship, theyâre forced to âbondâ during off-season cross-training.
Surviving the summer shouldnât be hardâŚuntil Asher meets their new trainer. Sheâs beautiful, talented, and no matter how hard he tries, he canât take his mind off her.
The only problem? Sheâs his rivalâs sisterâand completely off limits.
***
Scarlett DuBois is a former prima ballerina whose career was cut short by a tragic accident.
Now a teacher at a prestigious dance academy but still haunted by the ghosts of her past, the last thing she wants is to spend the summer cross-training Asher Donovan, of all people .
She swore she would never date a footballer, but when her brother leaves town for an emergency, she finds herself thrown into dangerously close proximity with the gorgeous, charming striker.
Training, she can deal with. But falling in love? Thatâs out of the questionâespecially when heâs the only person with the power to break her heart.
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in The Striker: -soccer romance -brother’s rival -billionaire soccer player x ballerina -forced proximity -slow burn -secret dating -found family -đśđś
Ana Huang’s foray into sports romance – yay! Not gonna lie – I was totally imagining Ted Lasso but with more romance vibes and I loved it! Not just the football aspect of it, but how seamlessly Ana was able to tie in a soccer player x a ballerina and make it work.
One thing about me is – if Ana Huang writes it, I’m gonna read it. The Striker was no exception. I loved loved loved the tension and slow burn between Asher + Scarlett. Forbidden romances have become a recent favorite and I loved the forbidden aspects of their relationship. Ana Huang does such a good job with angst and there were definitely a few angsty moments that had me tearing up.
Yes, the book is thick clocking it at almost 600 pages, but the relationships felt developed. Not just with Asher and Scarlett but with all the secondary characters in the story as well. What I love about Ana’s books is how she weaves friendships throughout her stories. I loved the found family aspect of The Striker – especially in a day and age when it’s not so easy to make friends. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!!
I caught the attention of a monster. I didnât ask for it. Didnât even see it coming. But the moment I do, itâs too late. Killian Carson is a predator wrapped in sophisticated charm. Heâs cold-blooded, manipulative, and savage. The worst part is that no one sees his devil side. I do. And that will cost me everything. I run, but the thing about monsters? They always chase.
This book is not a conventional romance and contains themes that aren’t to everyone’s liking. Please check the author’s note before reading.
REVIEW
I started God of Malice without reading Rina’s backlist. There are a lot of characters and I was a bit lost. This book is super intense & the opening scene alone left me đł. I definitely had to put it down because I wasn’t ready for it. That being said, I went back to the beginning and read God of Malice and fell in love with Killian + Glyndon.
YES, Killian is absolutely unhinged. But also – I found myself laughing out loud a lot. And his gradual fall for Glyndon – gah! I loved how gone he was for her when initially he just wanted her for the sake of having her. And Glyndon – she’s so tough and was going through so many emotions over her relationship with Killian. I adored the way these two tried to fight their feeling for one another and ended up falling so hard.
I have so many scenes throughout this book highlighted! The banter between Killian and Glydon was *chefs kiss* I was constantly laughing or had a huge grin on my face.
No, these books aren’t for everyone. Know going in that there are a lot of content/trigger warnings. That being said – I’m really enjoying Rina Kent and can’t wait to read more of this series!
A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help us start anew.
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but sheâs actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isnât here for the big event. Phoebe is here because sheâs dreamt of coming for yearsâshe hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebeâwhich makes it that much more surprising when the women canât stop confiding in each other.
In turns uproariously, absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is a look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imaginedâand the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.
REVIEW
I have been telling everyone I know to read The Wedding People, and I could have sworn I wrote a review, but I guess not.
This book…it was so heartbreakingly beautiful. I don’t even want to recap the book because I feel like it’s best to go in blind. Be forwarned that there are heavy subjects covered in this book. But the author has a way of making something so sad and horrifying also beautiful.
I listened to the audiobook from start to finish and Helen Laser did an amazing job portraying Phoebe. There was more than one occasion where I had goosebumps and/or there were tears streaming down my face.
The Wedding People isn’t my usual genre (romance books), even so I loved this book and can’t say enough good things about it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friendâs wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance.
Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. Itâs full of the ironclad dos and donâts theyâve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.
With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgiaâs never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messyâand still very presentâfeelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.
Whatâs not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.
As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eliâs heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what theyâre building isnât the something old that ruined themâitâs a chance at something new.
REVIEW
What to expect in The Ex Vows: -childhood friends to lovers -second chance romance -found family -angsty đ -đśđś -single POV
Georgia and Eli have known for a good part of their lives – having met when they were fifteen. Their relationship took its own course from friends to lovers when they both decided to move to NYC from the Bay Area. And then…the one thing that Georgia feared happened – their relationship fell apart and she lost one of her best friends. It’s been five years, but Georgia and Eli are always cordial to each other whenever they interact with their other mutual best friend Adam. With Adam’s wedding looming in the very near distance, Georgia isn’t prepared to be spending so much time with Eli. Except the wedding is literally falling apart and Georgia and Eli vow to work together to make it the most perfect wedding for Adam. Now that they are spending more and more time with each other will their feeling towards one another change with old wounds resurfacing?
Second chance romance is a favorite trope of mine. I want to feel the angst and pain of their past relationship and find out why didn’t it work – what happened to make their relationship fall apart. Eli and Georgia have so much great chemistry and their old hurts were so obviously there. Not gonna lie – I was totally crying into my pillow for a good chunk of this book. But Eli – gah – Eli was so perfect. I loved him for Georgia and the way he just knew her. And Georgia – I felt her pain. The way she always wanted to please everyone and be “on.” Even the fallout between her and Eli had me wanting to give her a big hug.
I loved Jessica’s first book You With a View and was eagerly awaiting The Ex Vows. Her writing is witty, fun and has a lot of big feelings! I look forward to reading whatever she writes next!
Overall, I would give The Ex Vows 4.5 stars, but rounding up!
EXCERPT
This wedding is cursed
“Not again,” I mutter.
To the untrained eye, this text probably looks like a joke, or the beginning of one of those chain emails our elders get duped into forwarding to twenty of their nearest and dearest, lest they inherit multigenerational bad luck.
In actuality, it’s been Adam’s mantra for the past eight months.
Adam is the brother I never had and I’m truly honored to be along for the ride on his wedding journey. But had sixth-grade Georgia anticipated I’d be fielding forty-seven daily texts from my more-unhinged-by-the-minute best friend, I would’ve thought twice about complimenting his Hannah Montana shirt the day we met.
My Spidey senses tingle with this text, though. It hasn’t been delivered in aggressive caps lock, nor is it accompanied by a chaotic menagerie of GIFs (my kingdom for a Michael Scott alternative). Whatever has happened now might actually be an emergency.
Then again, the wedding is ten days away. At this point, anything that isn’t objectively awesome is a disaster.
I pluck my phone off my desk, typing, What’s the damage?
A bubble immediately pops up, disappears, reappears, then stops again.
“Great sign.”
It’s nearly four p.m. on Wednesday, the day before my week-long PTO for the wedding starts, and I still have half a page of unchecked boxes on my to-do list, plus a detailed While I’m Away email to draft for my boss. I can’t leave Adam hanging in his moment of need, though. What kind of best woman would I be?
No better than the largely absent best man? comes the uncharitable punchline. I slam the door on that thought. It’s not like I’ve minded executing most of the best-people activities; it’s been a godsend for multiple reasons. It’s just so typical of him to-
I catch my own eye in the computer’s reflection, delivering a silent message with the downward slash of my dark eyebrows: Shut. Up. I’d rather think about curses than anything tangentially related to the subject of Eli Mora.
Not that I believe in curses at all.
Except . . . deep down, I do worry that Adam’s been hounded by bad vibes since he proposed to his fiancĂŠe, Grace Song, on New Year’s Eve. Their plans have involved a comedy of errors that have escalated from bummer to oh shit: the wrong wedding dress ordered by the bridal salon, names misspelled on their printed wedding invitations twice, and-the one that nearly got me to believe-their wedding planner quit three months ago because his Bernedoodle had amassed such a following on social media that he was making triple his salary as her manager.
For Adam, whose natural temperament hovers somewhere near live wire, it’s been a constant test of his sanity. Even Grace, who’s brutally chill, the perfect emotional foil for Adam, has been fraying.
But then, she would’ve been fine eloping. Every new disaster probably only further solidifies the urge to book it to Vegas.
Adam’s texts tumble over one another:
Georgia
Our fucking DJ
BROKE THEIR HIP
LINE DANCING AT A BACHELORETTE PARTY
IN NASHVILLE
I need to know what I’ve done in my 28 years on this dying earth that is causing this to happen
I start to type, but he beats me to it.
That was rhetorical, Woodward, DON’T
Clearly Adam’s shifting out of his panic fugue, so I shift into fix-it mode. It’s the reason he came to me out of everyone-he knows I’ll step up without hesitation.
Deep breath. Nothing’s burned to the ground, right? I text back. This is problematic but not fatal. We’ll come up with a new list.
The bubbles of doom pop up again and I wait. Again.
I wish I could say my eagerness to jump into this shitstorm is fully altruistic, but since I got back from a six-month work stint in Seattle three months ago, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen Adam, all wedding-related. This has been the only way to reliably stay in his orbit.
For now, anyway.
Excerpted from The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce Copyright Š 2024 by Jessica Joyce. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Two opposites decide to test their chemistry with one steamy night together. But will once be enough?
Nova Porter isnât looking for love, and she certainly has no explanation for her attraction to buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker Charlie Milford. Maybe itâs his charm? Or maybe itâs his determination to help her fledgling business however he can. Either way, sheâs distracted every time heâs around. With her new tattoo studio set to open in her hometown of Inglewild, she doesnât have time for frivolous flirtations.
In an effort to get Charlie out of her system once and for all, Nova offers a proposition. One night. No strings. Theyâll kick their uncomfortable attraction to the curb and return to their respective responsibilities. But their explosive night together scatters their expectations like fallen leaves. And with Charlie in town as the temporary head of Lovelight Farms, Nova canât quite avoid him.
And Charlie? Well, Charlie knows a good investment when he sees one. Heâs hoping he can convince Nova heâs worth some of her time.
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in Business Casual: -golden retriever hero -grumpy heroine -friends to lovers -“let’s get this out of our system” -đśđś -he takes care of her -no third act breakup -he falls first -found family -small town shenanigans
I first read Lovelight Farms last year and immediately became obsessed with the small town charm of Inglewild. As soon as Charlie was introduced I knew that I was going to love his book because I immediately loved his character. A bit goofy and funny but definitely hiding some vulnerabilities.
Business Casual had so many of my favorite tropes – friends to lovers, found family and of course “let’s just get this out of our system” because when does that ever work out đ¤. The chemistry between Nova and Charlie was so good. Their tension made for a delicious slow burn. Charlie and Nova were both so patient with one another – not letting them hide behind their feelings and always facing hard things together. I love that for them so much.
I’ll be honest – I’ve been loving books that are on the angsty side lately and (unpopular opinion) I don’t mind a third act breakup. BUT BK Borison did a wonderful job with this rom-com that didn’t have a third act breakup. There was still some angst, but it was the perfect amount for this book.
Overall, I highly enjoyed Business Casual. Definitely taking second place in the series after Lovelight Farms
I received a complimentary copy from Berkley and audiobook from PRHAudio.
SYNOPSIS
A forbidden, secret affair proves that allâs fair in love and science.
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through – and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business – one that plays for keeps.
REVIEW
What to expect in Not in Love: -dual pov đ -let’s get it out of our system -grumpy/sunshine (she’s grumpy) -STEM setting -forbidden romance -đśđśđś (def Ali’s steamiest)
Rue, a biotech engineer, owes her life work to her mentor and the company she created – Kline. So when a group swoops in to buy Kline and potentially put Rue and her coworkers out of a job – she’s not thrilled. And to make matters worse – the one night stand that Rue was supposed to hook up with just so happens to be…you guessed it – one of the partners wanting to take over Kline đŤŁ
Eli has his own reasons for wanting to take over Kline, but he clearly wanted to spend more time getting to know the elusive Rue Siebert. But Rue doesn’t do strings or repeats. And she especially doesn’t want to get entangled with Eli who she views as the enemy. But the chemistry between Eli and Rue is undeniable. Will they find a way to have a relationship with one another even though they are at a crossroads?
Everytime Ali Hazelwood writes a book I think “this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book” and then she finds a way to write another book that I absolutely love. I know I say I love whatever current male lead Ali has written about but gah Eli đŽâđ¨…he’s so swoony and sweet and sexy. AND AND AND we get his point of view (!!!)- which I love even more!
This isn’t a slow burn romance – Rue and Eli meet on an app to have a fun one night stand with no strings. Rue doesn’t do strings and Eli – while always respecting her wishes – wants more than that. While I do have a hard time with insta-love, I never felt that way with Rue and Eli. They had such an emotional connection and by the end of the books I had tears running down my face đ
Does Not in Love have the classic Ali Hazlewood humor – yes! I was laughing out loud during so many parts of this book. But Ali also touched on heavier subjects that made me love these characters even more.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Not in Love and enjoyed it so much! This was a “duet style” narration performed by Callie Dalton and Jason Clarke. I loved their portrayals of Rue and Eli! I feel like their emotions really came through in their performance. I could always tell when both Eli and Rue were happy, sad or excited. And the fact that this was a duet type of narration definitely made me love this audiobook even more. Yay for more of those!!
Filled with witty dialogue, espionage, steamy tension centered around Mexican culture – this Victorian romance sounds so entertaining!
SYNOPSIS
When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect herâŚ
Isabel Luna ValdĂŠs has long since resigned herself to being the âforgottenâ Luna sister. But thanks to familial connections to the Mexican ambassador in London, wallflower Isabel is poised to unearth any British intelligence hidden by the ton that might aid Mexico during the French Occupation. Though she slips easily from crowded ballrooms into libraries and private studies, Isabelâs search is hampered by trysting couples and prowling roguesâincluding the rakish Captain Sirius Dawson.
As a covert agent for the British Home Office, Sirius makes a game of earning the aristocracyâs confidence. He spends his days befriending foolish politicians and seducing well-born ladies in order to learn their secrets. But after he spies a certain sharp-tongued Luna sister lurking in the shadows where no proper debutante should venture, itâs clear Sirius is outmatched, outwitted, and soon to be outmaneuvered by the one woman he canât resist.
Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but when Isabel discovers private correspondence that could turn the tide of political turmoil in Mexico, sheâs willing to do whatever it takes to protect her countryâeven if this means ignoring her heart and courting danger…
EXCERPT
A quick peek into the hall revealed her escape route was clear, so Isabel rearranged her expression to one she hoped reflected eagerness to rejoin the festivities. Not that anyone would notice her absence. Isabel was as invisible as the wallpaper-
A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist the moment she set foot inside the ballroom. Panic clawed up her spine, and out of instinct, Isabel brought her hand up to ram it into the perpetrator’s nose, when a familiar scent wove about her. A stupidly alluring scent she’d know anywhere, for the man it belonged to was also stupidly alluring.
“Snooping again, I suppose.” Captain Sirius Dawson slid his arm around Isabel’s waist while his left hand grasped her right. “After everything, it seems you’ve yet to learn your lesson.”
Isabel bristled . . . because of his accusation or his proximity she didn’t know, for Captain Dawson had an annoying talent of leaving her decidedly off-kilter.
She almost despised him for it.
As he effortlessly spun her into the swirl of dancers, part of Isabel realized that the captain had never danced with her before, thus she’d never been this close to him. Her skin tingled with awareness at every spot he touched. Isabel hated that she was apathetic to most men but that every part of her body seemed to stand at attention whenever this man-with his golden beauty and perceptive azul eyes-appeared.
Willing her muscles to relax, Isabel allowed him to move them to the strains of a Chopin waltz. Feeling gazes pressing upon her-whether Lady Yardley’s or Gabby’s, or possibly one of the scores of Captain Dawson’s admirers-Isabel raised her chin. She’d danced a waltz with any number of gentlemen in the time she’d been in England, but never with him. For all that he was her brother-in-law’s friend, or that Isabel had spent more than a fortnight at Captain Dawson’s country estate, he had seemed to go out of his way to ignore her presence. Being shunned by such a man should not bother her half as much as it did, but her chest went tight whenever she saw him.
The amused look on Captain Dawson’s face now reminded Isabel that he had said . . . something. She was sure it was a scold, because when he did speak to her, he liked to point out her bad behavior. Isabel replayed his words in her mind.
“I don’t know what you mean. I was merely returning from the retiring room when you waylaid me into this waltz.” She arched a brow. “If you wanted to dance with me, you could have asked politely, like everyone else.”
Isabel managed not to cringe through her bluff. Everyone else? Hardly. While her dance card was never empty, for rumors of her fortune had encouraged many a cash-strapped second son to seek out her hand, her reserved nature was not particularly inviting. She’d learned quickly that if she spoke of a novel she’d read or a new scientific discovery she’d heard about, eyes would glaze over and attentions would wander. More often than not, Isabel held her silence during such dances, answering the gentlemen’s questions politely but volunteering nothing else, for truly, what was the point?
But something about the captain always made her speak without thinking. It was a very vexing thing. The captain was very vexing.
His blue eyes bored into her now, his lips a confusing slash between displeasure and amusement. Surely Isabel was reading him wrong and she fought not to squirm. She had always believed her father possessed the most intimidating stare, but she’d been wrong, for nothing made her want to share all her secrets-or confess all her sins-like Captain Dawson’s steely gaze. It was a fortuitous thing, then, that Isabel’s stubbornness was more than up for the challenge.
“I don’t see why you should care about me or what I do when you and I are not friends,” she said archly.
“We aren’t?” The captain’s brows rose. “Whatever gave you that impression?”
Her own brows dipped low over her narrowed eyes. “You did, sir. In all the months since we departed Dancourt Abbey, you’ve not spoken with me once. Nor my sister or Lady Yardley, that I am aware of.”
“Well, that’s not true,” he murmured. “I chatted with Lady Yardley in the park just the other day.”
“How nice for you.” Isabel pinned her gaze on a perfect blond curl near the nape of his neck. “Yet the fact remains that we have never been friendly, Captain Dawson, even while my sisters and I were at Dancourt Abbey that summer. You have never taken any interest in me-” Isabel clamped down on her tongue so hard she tasted copper. She had no intention of hinting at her hurt feelings over his disregard. She never wanted any man to think he could maim her pride. Especially this man.
His chest rose and fell with a sigh, and Captain Dawson shifted his gaze from her face to a spot over her shoulder. “That’s not true. I assured Fox I would keep an eye on you and Miss Gabriela-“
“And I assure you, CapitĂĄn, that my sister and I do not need anything from you.”
Isabel did not raise her voice, nor did her tone hint at the anger his indifference had sparked within her. But Captain Dawson seemed to know anyway, for the angular planes of his face softened. Just a tad.
She refused to soften in return. The captain may be her brother-in-law’s close friend, and he may have sheltered her and her sisters from Mexico’s enemies after Ana MarĂa and Gideon were wed. But Captain Dawson had shown her time and time again that she was not worth his notice.
Being a wallflower had its benefits, but Isabel was so very tired of being overlooked.
Excerpted from Isabel and The Rogue by Liana De la Rosa Copyright Š 2024 by Liana De la Rosa. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from GetRedPR/publisher.
SYNOPSIS
Diana Dixon has a lot going on this summer. Sheâs rehearsing for a ballroom dance competition, juggling two jobs, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend who canât take the hint itâs over. Yet despite all that, she still has plenty of time and energy to tell Shane Lindley to screw off.
Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, heâs a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but heâs messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, andâmost importantlyâleave her alone.
What Diana doesnât realize is that Shaneâs sick of hookups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealousâŚand who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbor?
Despite Dianaâs reluctance to break her rule, a fake relationship is the perfect solution for her own ex issues, and soon she canât deny something is sizzling between her and Shane. Something hot and completely unexpected.
And it might just be getting a little too real.
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in The Dixon Rule: -cheerleader x hockey player -forced proximity – they’re neighbors -fake dating -slow burn -đśđśđś -no third act breakup -lots of references to the og hockey group (Briar U & Off-Campus)
Diana Dixon is content with her life. She’s busy getting ready for a dance competition while juggling two jobs. BUT she loves where she lives – it’s her safe haven. That is until Shane Lindley moves into the apartment next door. Why did it have to be him? The player that likes to hook up with her cheerleading team. So she sets down some Dixon Rules for him to follow . Diana can make all the rules she wants … Shane is willing to push all her buttons đ
Shane thought he’d be loving the single life after coming out of a long term relationship. But turns out he wants the predictability that comes with being half of a couple. He doesn’t want to do one night stands anymore. Diana is over her relationship with her ex, but he doesn’t seem to get the hint. So when she proposes a fake dating situationship – Shane doesn’t have much to lose. Maybe this will get his ex-girlfriend to notice that he’s settling down. When the fake dating turns to friends with benefits and their line starts to blur will Shane and Diana take a chance on a real relationship?
Okay, I am loving the new Elle Kennedy books! They have the same humor and snark as her other previous hockey series! I loved Diana and Shane together. Their banter and chemistry was off the charts. I loved their slow fall from general acquaintances to friends to lovers. They’ve been in each others orbits for so long, but never really saw each other for their true selves.
While there were a lot of moments in The Dixon Rule that were funny and had me laughing – this book dealt with a lot of serious topics. Domestic abuse is front and center – and Diana’s struggle with it. I do felt like the last quarter of the book had some heavier topics that weighed down the book a bit for me. It definitely put me in my feels and I just wanted to give a big hug to Shane & Diana đĽš
Overall, I really enjoyed The Dixon Rule and couldn’t read this book fast enough! I literally can’t wait to see which couple the next book will be about and I have my guesses đ.
cw: domestic abuse, death of a loved one, cancer, anxiety
I received a complimentary copy from Berkley and audiobook from PRHAudio.
SYNOPSIS
A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.
Daphne always loved the way her fiancĂŠ Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling itâŚright up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.
Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a childrenâs librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petraâs ex, Miles Nowak.
Scruffy and chaoticâwith a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love balladsâMiles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that sheâs either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?
But itâs all just for show, of course, because thereâs no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancĂŠâs new fiancĂŠeâs exâŚright?
REVIEW
What you can expect to find in Funny Story -fake dating + real feelings -forced proximity -roommates -slow burn đĽ -small town -found family
When children’s librarian, Daphne finds herself literally without a place to live because her (ex)fiancĂŠ, Peter, decided to call of their wedding on the night of his bachelor party because he still had feelings for his childhood best friend Petra – Daphne’s not quite sure what to do. She moved her whole life to be where Peter was. In a wild twist of events Daphne finds herself rooming with Miles. Miles, whose ex-fiance is non other than Petra – the same woman that Peter decided to leave Daphne for.
Miles and Daphne are both mourning the loss of their respective relationships. Daphne’s not even sure if she wants to stay in Michigan. Seems like everything she has there is because she was a part of a couple. But soon, Miles and Daphne form an unlikely friendship. He’s there to show her how great Waning Bay, Michigan can be. And if they accidentally/on purpose post pictures where it looks like they’re in a relationship – so what? But when those fake feelings start to feel really real – will both of them be able to move on from their heartache?
I ended up reading like half of Funny Story in one sitting. The writing is so captivating – balancing funny moments with heartbreaking ones is a talent that Emily Henry has in spades. I loved how enigmatic Miles once until he opened up. And the slow burn between Miles and Daphne was soooo good. Fake dating when done right is one of my absolute favorite tropes and it was done so well in Funny Story. You know you love a couple when glances, accidental touches and of course the force proximity gives you butterflies. I loved loved love Miles + Daphne.
BUT, I also love the side characters in Funny Story. Everyone from Daphne’s library co-workers to the people around town made this story that much more special. Yes, there was heartache and character growth. Did I cry? Of course I did – this is an Emily Henry book.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of Funny Story and really enjoyed it! Julie Whelan is such a wonderful narrator and once again I love how she brought Daphne’s character to life. I could feel all the emotions that Daphne was going through – whether that was joy, excitement or frustration. If you’re a fan of audiobooks I highly recommend listening to Funny Story!
Funny Story was more of a rom-com compared to last year’s Happy Place. That’s another thing I love about EH’s books – they’re all slightly different. Some are more angsty while others are more like a rom-com! I love that she gives us a little bit something different each time.
Loved Funny Story and can’t wait to go back and reread my favorite parts.
Ranking Emily Henry books (they’re all 5 stars)
1. People We Meet on Vacation 2. Book Lovers 3. Happy Place 4. Funny Story 5. Beach Read
