I’m back! Again! It may take some time to return to the rhythm of posting regularly, but I’m going to try. In the meantime, I am still reading, and I’ve chosen the best of the batch to share with you this week. If you’re in the mood for romance recommendations, this is the roundup for you!
Yours Truly (Part of Your World #2) by Abby Jimenez: Even after enjoying Part of Your World, I was unprepared for how much I loved Part of Your World. Bri is just as great as she seemed in the first book — even better — and Jacob is a total sweetheart. Together, they are funny and warm and sexy, and although Jimenez made me understand how real their individual problems were, she also convinced me that, together, they’d be okay.
Highly Suspicious & Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert: Speaking of funny, I usually don’t read YA romance, but in Hibbert we trust — and with good reason! Celine and Brad had me cackling and giggling from chapter one with their bickering, bantering, and obvious infatuation. A great little romcom that I expect to read again!
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren: When a nature documentary maker and a romance novelist who’s never been in love team up to put a fresh twist on a reality dating show, more sparks fly on set than on camera. The leads were likable and so perfect together, providing fun and the perfect amount of angst, and I liked that they both subverted some romance stereotypes.
The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman: I wouldn’t have read this book if it wasn’t a book club pick, and I’m glad I did—in fact, the more I think about the book, the more I like it. The heroine, Prudence, is a delight, with her quirky mix of drama queen and no bullshit. I was expecting high drama and soap, and I got absurdist humor and stirring descriptions of the power of the music. There’s a certain Pushing Daisies-esque sensibility to it, and I’d love to see an adaptation from Bryan Fuller.
Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli: When Jasmine Randhawa finds herself on a senior cruise with her estranged parents and hundreds of aunties and uncles from her childhood, she’s forced to face some truths about herself, like the fact that maybe it’s time to grow up. Jasmine and Jake’s romance never clicked for me, as they never felt like they were at the same place in terms of maturity and readiness for commitment. But as friends, their childish bickering is fun, and Lalli does a good job with Jasmine’s growing pains and the family dynamics. There are other books that do it all better, of course, but it’s an easy time-pass read. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Arabella by Georgette Heyer: A sentimental favorite, I very much enjoyed the opportunity to reread this sparkling little romcom. Arabella and Mr. Beaumaris are a great pairing, and his slow acceptance of his fate is as entertaining for me as it is for his “helpful” servants. A fun, romantic read and one of the best in Heyer’s “naive young heroine” category. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
—b
Book It With Becca 