Book Review: The Break Up Tour by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley ‘The Break Up Tour’ was released in 2024, and is known to be inspired by Taylor Swift amalgamating her discography and going on tour with ‘The Eras Tour’. To celebrate the first anniversary of the end of her tour, I could think ofContinueContinue reading
Category Archives: Romance Novel
Book Review: Daydream by Hannah Grace ‘Daydream’ by Hannah Grace was released in 2024. It is the third book in Grace’s Maple Hills series, which follows an ice hockey team and their respective love stories. This book was highly anticipated by Grace’s readers. It follows Henry Turner, the delightful best friend from ‘Icebreaker’ and ‘Wildfire’,ContinueContinue reading
‘The Passing Playbook’ by Isaac Fitzsimons was released in 2021. It was his first novel and tells the story of a transgender teen, Spencer, who moved to an expensive private school after a threat was made to his life due to his identity at a previous school. When he joins Oakley, he declares that for his own safety, he will “go stealth” and rely on his ability to pass as cisgender to stay under the radar.
‘Café Con Lychee’ by Emery Lee (e/em) was released in 2022 and is Lee’s second book. It follows the story of Theo Mori and Gabi Moreno, as their rival family restaurants are forced to acknowledge a common enemy: World Fusion Café, an establishment with mediocre food, but vibrant, Instagrammable drinks.
‘Felix Ever After’ by Kacen Callender was their second young-adult novel, and was released in 2020. The story follows seventeen-year-old Felix Love’s life after he is the victim of a malicious hate-crime, where old photos from his Instagram, pre-transition, were blown up and put on display in the foyer and gallery space at the art school he and his best friend Ezra attend: Saint Catherine’s.
Book Review: Drop Dead by Lily Chu ‘Drop Dead’ by Lily Chu is an Audible Original story that was released in 2024. It is a split narrative rivals-to-lovers romance novel with fade-to-black bedroom scenes. The events of the book focus on two journalists who are both esteemed in their individual careers, whose lives keep crashingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Wildfire by Hannah Grace ‘Wildfire’ by Hannah Grace was released in 2023. It is the second book in her Maple Hills series, and is preceded by ‘Icebreaker’ which was a smash hit on Booktok and definitely helped put hockey romance on the map. This book takes place during the summer following ‘Icebreaker’ andContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up by Charish Reid ‘Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up’ by Charish Reid was released in 2023. I happened across it when I was browsing recommended romance novels after finishing another romcom. I was immediately enamoured with the idea of older characters finding love, since it seemed that most ofContinueContinue reading
Book Review: D’vaughn And Kris Plan A Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins ‘D’Vaughn And Kris Plan A Wedding’ by Chencia C. Higgins was published in 2022. I read this as an audiobook as part of Spotify Premium’s audiobook service, and I absolutely loved how immersive it made this reading experience. ‘D’Vaughn And Kris Plan AContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Love At First Set by Jennifer Dugan ‘Love At First Set’ by Jennifer Dugan was released in 2023. It drew my eye thanks to TikTok, where it was promoted as a love story between two women who meet in the bathroom, and one encourages the other to leave her fiance at the altar.ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti ‘Hate Mail’ by Donna Marchetti is a romantic comedy that was released in 2024. The book tells the story of former pen pals, Naomi Light and Luca Pichler, who, throughout the years have been sending mean letters to each other, while also being the other’s closest confidante. Until,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake ‘Make The Season Bright’ is a holiday romance novel by Ashley Herring Blake. It was released in 2024 and follows the second-chance romance between Charlotte and Brighton, two queer women in their late twenties, who, once-upon-a-time had been engaged, only for Brighton to leave CharlotteContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Only For The Holidays by Abiola Bello ‘Only For The Holidays’ by Abiola Bello was released in 2023. It is a New Adult romance novel that follows Quincy and Tia, two teenagers, whose paths cross when Tia’s family book a holiday at Quincy’s family’s rural farm and lodge. Quincy Parker is well-off. HisContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Worst In Show by Anna E. Collins ‘Worst In Show’ by Anna E. Collins was published in 2024. It is a rivals-to-lovers romance novel that follows Cora and Leo, rival pet store owners. While Cora works for a family business, Leo is a swanky, former Wall Street worker, who moved into the emptyContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Darn Knit All by Evie Mitchell ‘Darn Knit All’ by Evie Mitchell is the third book in her All Access Series: a romance series that puts a spotlight on showcasing relationships starring people with an array of disabilities. This book, which was released in 2024, the best part of three years after itsContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Finn Rhodes, Forever by Stephanie Archer ‘Finn Rhodes, Forever’ is the last book of Stephanie Archer’s series following the Rhodes brothers and explores the relationship between baby of the family Finn Rhodes and his childhood sweetheart, Olivia Morgan. It was released in 2023 and is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription.ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace ‘Icebreaker’ by Hannah Grace was published in 2022. It was Grace’s debut novel. The story is a great introduction to her Maple Hills Series, a hockey romance series, which seemed to catapult hockey to the precipice of sports romance. I am very late to the game when it comesContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Break-Up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely ‘The Break-Up Artist’ by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely was an audible original novella, and is only available to listen to with an Audible subscription. It tells a compelling story of grief, jealousy, miscommunications, imposter syndrome and all the nuanced issues with falling inContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa ‘Most Ardently’ by Gabe Cole Novoa was released in 2024. It is part of the Remixed Classics series, where authors of diverse backgrounds rewrite classic fiction. Authors who have contributed to this collection include Novoa, Cherie Dimaline, Caleb Roehrig, Kalynn Bayron, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tasha Suri, Aminah MaeContinueContinue reading
Book Review: In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes by Stephanie Archer ‘In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes’ is the third of Stephanie Archer’s Queen’s Cove series, it was released in 2022. It is available to read, along with the rest of the series via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription. This book follows Holden, the second-born Rhodes, reclusive, reserved,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Playing For Keeps by Jennifer Dugan ‘Playing For Keeps’ by Jennifer Dugan was released in 2024. It follows the story of Ivy and June, two queer teenagers who absolutely love sport – while June is the only girl on a boys’ baseball team, and their star pitcher, Ivy dreams of a career onContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert ‘Take A Hint, Dani Brown’ by Talia Hibbert is the second book in her Brown Sisters trilogy, following the three Brown sisters, Chloe Brown, Dani Brown, and Eve Brown. My review of the first book in the series, ‘Get A Life, Chloe Brown’ went liveContinueContinue reading
‘The Henna Wars’ by Adiba Jaigirdar was released in 2020. It was a huge milestone in the development of young adult queer literature. If readers were lucky enough to read about sapphic relationships prior to the release of The Henna Wars, it was a struggle to find ones that weren’t about white girls.
Book Review: Told You So by Leeanne Slade ‘Told You So’ by Leeanne Slade is an Audible Original story. It is a romantic comedy that follows a woman called Lucy Redway, who has experienced more than her fair share of heartbreak in her past. The story catalogues her experience during the week leading up toContinueContinue reading
‘She Gets The Girl’ is a novel co-written by Alyson Derrick, Rachael Lippincott and was published in 2022. It follows two girls, Alex and Molly, in their first month of college. Despite being in the same classes, Alex and Molly are worlds apart, and when they meet at a house party on their first day, both make an impression.
‘The Gravity Of Us’ was Phil Stamper’s first novel, released back in 2019. This insightful story shouts hard-hitting truths from the rafters; a primary theme of this book is communication, whether among friends, family, or the media.
Book Review: Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake ‘Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail’ by Ashley Herring Blake was released in 2021. It is the second of her series set in Bright Falls. However, it can be read as a standalone. I reviewed the first book in the series last year, you can read myContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Weiner Across The Way by Amy Award ‘The Wiener Across The Way’ by Amy Award is the second book of the Cocky Kingmans’ series. It was released in early 2024, and is preceded by ‘The Cock Down The Block’, which I reviewed back in March. I cannot even begin to say howContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Wrong Mr. Right by Stephanie Archer ‘The Wrong Mr. Right’ is the second book in Stephanie Archer’s Queen’s Cove series. It was published in 2022 and is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Subscription. I read the first book in the series, ‘That Kind Of Guy’ in a few hours, andContinueContinue reading
Somewhere In The Crowd by Katrina Logan was released in April 2023, less than a month before the UK hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. The novel follows a group of friends who meet twelve years prior in 2010, at the Eurovision Grand Final in Oslo, and make a pact to meet for the contest each year.
Book Review: Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert ‘Get A Life, Chloe Brown’ was published in 2019. It is the first book in Talia Hibbert’s Brown Sisters Series, a romance trilogy following the three Brown sisters, Chloe, Danika and Eve. All three of these books are available to read via Amazon’s Kindle UnlimitedContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Rescue Me by Sarra Manning ‘Rescue Me’ by Sarra Manning was released in 2021, it is one of a vast catalogue of published books Manning has released in her career. This novel follows the story of Margot and Will, two strangers who meet by chance at an animal rescue centre and fall headContinueContinue reading
Book Review: That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming ‘That One Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon’ by Kimberly Lemming was originally published in 2021. It is the first book of her ‘Mead Mishaps’ series, which follows the stories of multiple characters at different points in time withContinueContinue reading
‘Queen Charlotte’ is a novel set in the ‘Bridgerton’ universe, following the life of King George III and his wife, Queen Charlotte. The book was released in 2023 in the wake of the successful spin-off season of Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’, with the same name.
Book Review: Happy Place by Emily Henry ‘Happy Place’ by Emily Henry was released in 2023, and follows the story of Harriet, when she attends a summer trip to her friend Sabrina’s beach house for their annual reunion, and finds out her ex-fiancé has also been invited, because neither of them thought it prudent toContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Love Flushed by Evie Mitchell ‘Love Flushed’ is the second book of Evie Mitchell’s ‘All Acess’ series, and was released in 2021. It is preceded by ‘Knot My Type’, which I reviewed previously, and will be followed by ‘Darn Knit All’, which, unfortunately, doesn’t yet have a release date. You can read myContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Sit, Stay, Love by Amy Hutton ‘Sit, Stay, Love’ by Amy Hutton was released in 2023. It is a friends-to-lovers romcom set in Australia, and follows Sera, a young woman who runs an animal rescue, who has inadvertently found herself caught with two men interested in her. Anyone who knows me knows thatContinueContinue reading
Book Review: That Kind Of Guy by Stephanie Archer ‘That Kind Of Guy’ by Stephanie Archer was published in 2021. It is the first book of her Queen’s Cove series, all of which are available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited subscription. This was a book that I kept seeing all over social media, andContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Cock Down The Block by Amy Award ‘The Cock Down The Block’ by Amy Award was released in 2023, it is a short, immersive romcom with a plus-sized female lead, and is available to read with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, as is the sequel, ‘The Weiner Across The Way’. It is theContinueContinue reading
‘Fresh’ by Margot Wood was released in 2021 and follows the story of Elliot McHugh as she begins the next stage of life: Freshman Year at Emerson College. Before she left Cincinnati for Boston, having lived with her seemingly perfect sister, Izzy, who is studying medicine, and her younger sister, Remy, who has an eclectic obsession with dryer sheets, Elliot was betrayed by the people she held closest to her. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her for months, and her three best friends knew and didn’t tell her. Vulnerable, alone, and seeking fun, sex, and freedom, Elliot is ready for a new adventure.
Book Review: The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble ‘The Situationship’ by Taylor-Dior Rumble was published in 2023. It’s an empowering story of navigating the corporate world and the realm of dating apps. It is Rumble’s first novel. The story follows Tia, a woman in her twenties living at home with her family in London. She’s strugglingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy ‘Zora Books Her Happy Ever After’ by Taj McCoy was released in 2023. It was her second novel, and is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service. The story follows Zora, a small-business and home owner, who runs a bookstore. After an authorContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann was released in 2022 and tells a poignant story of love, self-acceptance, heartbreak, and empowerment. We follow Joy, a black woman in her thirties who looks like she has her shit together. She is beautiful, confident and has a successful career,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell ‘Knot My Type’ by Evie Mitchell is the first book of Mitchell’s ‘All Access Series’, and was released in 2021. It is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Subscription. The story follows Frankie and Jay, who live in the small town of Capricorn Cove. Frankie isContinueContinue reading
‘Meet Cute Diary’ was author, Emery Lee (ey/em)’s debut novel. It was released in 2021. The story follows sixteen-year-old Noah as he spends the summer with his older brother, Brian in Denver, Colorado. Noah utilises a cross-country move to California to be his true self after coming out as transgender, inspired by a trans girl who came out at his school.
Book Review: How To Excavate A Heart by Jake Maia Arlow ‘How To Excavate A Heart’ by Jake Maia Arlow came out in 2022 and was a Christmas rom-com. It follows Shani, a Jewish college student, on Winter Break, and taking on an internship. On the drive to DC, Shani and her mum end upContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross ‘Divine Rivals’ by Rebecca Ross was released in early 2023. It is the first book in the Letters of Enchantment duology. The second book, ‘Ruthless Vows’ is due to be released in the latter end of the month. The story followed two characters, Roman Kitt and Iris Winnow,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ‘Red, White, And Royal Blue’ was Casey McQuiston’s debut novel. It was released in 2019, and was recently adapted into a movie on Amazon Prime. The story follows an alternate version of international history, where instead of Donald Trump, a fictional Democrat, Ellen Claremont, wonContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn Julia Quinn’s ‘Bridgerton’ series consists of eight novels, each of which tell the story of one of the late Viscount Bridgerton’s eight children. The books were released between 2000 and 2006, and are the subject of the Netflix series, Bridgerton, which has been ongoing since 2020. TheContinueContinue reading
‘One To Watch’ was a novel by Kate Stayman-London and was released in 2020. It follows Beatrice, known as Bea, a plus sized fashion blogger and influencer on her thirties *gasp*, who has been unlucky in love.
‘Delilah Green Doesn’t Care’ by Ashley Herring Blake is the first book of three that explores several young women residing in Bright Falls, Oregon. It was released in early 2022, with its sequel coming out just months later, toward the end of the year. The third book, ‘Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date’, will be released in October 2023.
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’, shortened to ACOTAR, is an ongoing fantasy series by Sarah J Maas, which started back in 2015. This series of what is currently five books has been a sensation among readers on BookTok’s literary community.
‘One Last Stop’ was Casey McQuiston’s second novel and was published in 2021. The book follows August, who has moved to New York City to finish college, after a tumultuous relationship with her mother left her needing space.
‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman is a series of graphic novels. The first volume was published in 2019 and the series remains ongoing. It is now the subject of a live-action adaptation by Netflix.
‘Opposite of Always’ was Justin A Reynolds’ 2019 debut novel. It follows the story of Jack King, a high school senior, who falls in love with a first year college student called Kate when they meet at a party during his college campus tour. But when Kate dies due to complications with her sickle cell anemia, a condition Jack didn’t know she even had, he finds himself trapped in a time loop, reliving the past four months in a bid to keep her from meeting the same fate. Again and again and again.
‘These Violent Delights’ and ‘Our Violent Ends’ are Chloe Gong’s duology which retells the story of Romeo and Juliet through the lens of rival gangs in 1920s Shanghai. The first book, ‘These Violent Delights’ was published in 2020, while the sequel was released a year later in 2021.
‘Melt My Heart’ is a young adult coming of age story by Bethany Rutter. It was published in 2020 and follows the story of Lily Rose, an eighteen year old girl striving to try something new every day in anticipation of leaving for university in September, miles away from her twin sister, Daisy.
‘Beach Read’ was Emily Henry’s 2020 contemporary romance novel – a hit on TikTok and filled with popular tropes it’s personable and upbeat tone made it an easy and delightful read.
Imogen L. Smiley 