Romantic Comedy Review: Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley

Published: May 25th, 2021

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Heat rating: 🔥🔥

# of pages: 320

My rating: 4.5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Warning: This review contains marked spoilers

Kara Sullivan’s life is full of love—albeit fictional. As a bestselling romance novelist and influential bookstagrammer, she’s fine with getting her happily-ever-after fix between the covers of a book.

But right now? Not only is Kara’s best friend getting married next week—which means big wedding stress—but the deadline for her next novel is looming, and she hasn’t written a single word. The last thing she needs is for her infuriating first love, Ryan Thompson, to suddenly appear in the wedding party. But Ryan’s unexpected arrival sparks a creative awakening in Kara that inspires the steamy historical romance she desperately needs to deliver.

With her wedding duties intensifying, her deadline getting closer by the second and her bills not paying themselves, Kara knows there’s only one way for her to finish her book and to give her characters the ever-after they deserve. But can she embrace the unlikely, ruggedly handsome muse—who pushes every one of her buttons—to save the wedding, her career and, just maybe, write her own happy ending?

Talk Bookish to Me is basically a love letter to the romance genre. Our heroine, Kara, is a romance author, a fierce defender of the genre, and a bookstagrammer (so she’s basically me). She’s spent months unable to write her next book and, with her deadline looming, is getting desperate. When she’s reunited with her first love - the guy who broke her heart ten years ago, and who she still harbours a ton of resentment toward - she’s both irritated and intrigued to discover his presence has unblocked her creative flow.

This book was so charming. It had me laughing within the first few pages, and I connected easily to Kara. I loved the combination of second chance and enemies-to-lovers; Kara and Ryan clearly had unresolved feelings for each other and despite the initial anger they felt toward each other for all that had happened, they couldn’t deny their lingering feelings or the chemistry between them. I also really enjoyed the friendship dynamics between Kara and her two best friends and how supportive they were.

Now, here’s where we get into spoiler territory: Cheating is usually a deal-breaker for me. If I’d known that aspect of the plot going in, I’m not sure I would have read this book, which would have been a shame because I genuinely enjoyed it. The way it all happened made me sad, angry, and disappointed in Ryan. I feel so torn because what he did was wrong and inexcusable, but...I appreciated how it all worked out? People make mistakes and while this was a colossal one, he and Kara were clearly in love and were meant for each other. I do wish there had been some other conflict because it feels icky seeming like I’m ‘okay’ with the cheating aspect. I’m not okay with it, but Ryan knew what he did was wrong and was willing to face the consequences. People aren’t perfect and we can’t expect fictional characters to be either. As an author herself and a champion of romance, Kara knew that better than anyone, and I feel like her decision to forgive Ryan was an informed one. She loved him enough to forgive him and forge ahead with a relationship. As readers, our viewpoint is subjective and we bring our own personal biases and histories, so I completely understand how that part of the book will be a hard no for some people. // End spoilers

I think Talk Bookish to Me will be a hit with many romance readers. It definitely was with me! I’ll look forward to more books from Kate Bromley.

Have you read Talk Bookish to Me?

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Romantic Comedy Review: Italy Ever After by Leonie Mack

Italy Ever After by Leonie Mack

Published: May 11th, 2021

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Genre: Romantic Comedy

My rating: 4.5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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TV journalist Lou feels battered and bruised after her divorce from Phil, the father of her daughter Edie. Her confidence and sense of fun have steadily been drained away, and she isn’t sure who she is any more.

When the opportunity arises to accompany Edie on a music camp in Italy for a month in the summer, Lou jumps at the chance for new adventures, new horizons and new friends. The hazy warmth of the summer sun, shining brightly over the stunning Lake Garda, slowly brings Lou back to life.

Nick Romano, Edie’s music teacher, loves being home in Italy, but coaching his students for their concert in Milan, is bringing back difficult memories. His blossoming friendship with Lou is the perfect distraction, although a summer fling would be easier to conduct without the scrutiny of his mother Greta, not to mention the interference of his extended Italian family.

As the summer passes, full of sunshine and breath-taking scenery, gelato and delicious feasts, Lou and Nick get ever closer. But as the time for farewell creeps up on them, will they be able to say goodbye and leave their memories behind in the Italian sun, or can a summer romance last a lifetime?

I don’t often manage to read ARCs months in advance, but as soon as I was granted access to Italy Ever After on Netgalley in February, I dove right in. After fourteen months of isolation due to the pandemic - plus a long, cold winter - I’ve been dreaming of sunshine and beautiful far-off places. Italy Ever After was the exact vicarious holiday I needed to lift my spirits and bring me hope for better days.

Lou is getting divorced after twelve years of marriage to a man who made her feel talentless and ordinary. She’s coasting by in her career and has poured all her focus and love into her eleven-year-old daughter Edie, who’s a violin prodigy. When she gets the opportunity to accompany Edie to a music camp in Italy over the summer, she jumps at the chance and sees it as the perfect opportunity to explore different hobbies and find something that makes her extraordinary. It doesn’t hurt that Edie’s super-hot Italian music teacher will be at the camp too.

I loved Lou and found her so real and relatable. She barely knew who she was anymore outside of being a wife and mother, so her idea of seeking a talent was really her way of seeking validation and fulfillment after her husband made her feel so small for so long. I loved watching her come into her own, learn a lot about herself - often with help from others - and learn to stand up for herself, speak up, and go after what she wanted. She and Nick were both living in fear, embodying past mistakes, and were unable to move forward. They had great chemistry and banter and they really saw each other - and weren’t afraid to tell the other what they saw, good or bad. They balanced each other perfectly, and I loved watching them grow closer. I also really enjoyed Lou’s relationship with Edie, and how much Nick cared about her too.

This book is a must-read this spring and summer for romance fans. Prepare to be whisked away on a virtual trip to sunny Italy and fall in love with the setting and characters.

Have you read Italy Ever After? If you could hop on a plane and take a trip anywhere right now, where would it be?

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Rom-Com Review: The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall

Published: May 4th, 2021

Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Heat rating: 🔥

# of pages: 400

My rating: 4.5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Sophie Breeze is a brilliant bridesmaid. So brilliant, in fact, that she’s made it her full-time job.

As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is hired by London brides to be their right-hand woman, posing as a friend but working behind the scenes to help plan the perfect wedding and ensure their big day goes off without a hitch. When she’s hired by Lady Victoria Swann–a former model and “It Girl" of 1970’s London; now the Marchioness of Meade–for the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is.

Of course, it’s not ideal that the bride, Lady Victoria’s daughter, Cordelia, is an absolute diva and determined to make Sophie’s life a nightmare. It’s also a bit inconvenient that Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia’s posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. But when a rival society wedding is announced for the very same day, things start to get…well, complicated.

Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career–execute a high-profile gala for four hundred and fifty guests in record time, win over a reluctant bride, and catch the eye of handsome Lord Swann–all while keeping her true identity a secret, and her dignity intact?

Sophie Breeze is a professional bridesmaid. She’s there for a bride leading up to and during her big day for whatever she needs, big or small. And when she’s tasked with being a bridesmaid to Lady Cordelia Swann, a seemingly spoiled, ill-tempered, snobby aristocrat--who Sophie admired in her teen years, no less--she’s determined not to let Cordelia get the best of her. Not only is she faced with outrageous demands from Cordelia, but she also has other brides to attend to (many with their own strange requests), deal with other people’s expectations and assumptions about her (in particular her jerk of an ex), and manage her growing feelings for Cordelia’s sweet and charming brother, Tom.

The Secret Bridesmaid was hilarious. I smiled and giggled my way through this book, sometimes even laughing until I had tears in my eyes. I shed some actual, emotional tears too because there were some genuinely heartwarming and beautiful moments. The concept of this book was so much fun and it was executed so well. I loved watching the progression of Sophie and Cordelia’s relationship, and I enjoyed Sophie’s relationship with her cousin/best friend, Cara. It was also fun getting to see some of the things Sophie did for other bridesmaids, and the correspondences between chapters had me laughing myself silly. I do wish there’d been a bit more focus on the romance - it is a romantic comedy, after all - but the book was just so good, I can’t even really complain that it took a bit of a backseat.

The Secret Bridesmaid is highly entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching. It was an absolute delight to read from beginning to end, and is without question one of my favourite books of 2021 so far. I’d love to see it turned into a movie or even a mini-series.

Have you read The Secret Bridesmaid? Have you ever been part of a wedding party?

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Book Review: Friends Like Us by Sarah Mackenzie

Friends Like Us (Cranberry Cove #2) by Sarah Mackenzie

Published: January 26th, 2021

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Romantic women’s fiction

Heat level: 🔥

# of pages: 272

My rating: 4.5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Bree Rhodes and Jill Kelly have been best friends since kindergarten. When Bree survives a cancer scare, the knitting shop assistant takes it as a sign to step out of her comfort zone...or at least take a few tentative tiptoes. But in no time she's in over her head with a hot architect, a new puppy and a shot at buying her dream inn. And the harder she tries to stay afloat in her new normal, the harder it is to hold onto her friendship with Jill who seems to be ebbing away.

While her best friend is living her best life, art boutique owner, Jill, is simply trying to live. Still struggling after a freak motorcycle accident took the life of her husband, Jill doesn't know how to start over—or if she even wants to. Life isn't easy as a young widow, especially when she's hiding a painful secret. But when she learns that the fairytale Maine cottage she'd once dreamed of buying with her husband is on the market, she has to decide whether she's ready to let go of the past and to write a new chapter. But the only way to do really heal is by revealing to Bree a truth that will either destroy their friendship forever or bring them closer together.

 

While I love romance, I have a special fondness for books about friends. Bonus points if those friends have known each other forever, like Bree and Jill, because my own bestie and I have known each other since the first grade. I enjoyed Sarah Mackenzie’s 2019 debut, Forever Friends, but I LOVED Friends Like Us. It was realistic, funny, hopeful, and heartwarming.

After a cancer scare, Bree makes an anti-bucket list: things that will push her outside her small life and her comfort zone and help her truly live. Her first task seems simple but it sets a whole new life into motion. Jill is grieving the loss of her husband, along with the life she knew and the life they’d planned together. She has a successful business, but the rest of her life is a mess; she’s stuck and doesn’t know how to move on or even if she wants to. With each other’s love and support, both women learn to take chances, open their hearts to love (and not just romantic love), and see the possibilities life has to offer.

Friends Like Us spoke to me in so many ways. I loved how Bree and Jill leaned on each other and were strong for each other, but also learned to be strong for themselves. I loved seeing them both open themselves up, and I cheered them on throughout the story. I enjoyed the romance storyline in this one more than the first book, I think because I relate to Bree much more than I did to Sadie or Renee. I also appreciated that Jill’s story didn’t include a front-and-centre romance because she was still deep in grief and figuring things out. I can’t say much more without the risk of spoilers, but I was pleased and satisfied with how the romance storylines progressed. I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the first book and ‘catching up’ with them and seeing them happy. I hope there’ll be more books in this series because I’d love to see Essie and Ashley get their chances at happily ever after.

Friends Like Us is going to be one of those books I recommend often. Love books about friendship? Self-discovery? Taking chances? Finding love in unexpected places? This is the book for you. Also, if you love Jill Shalvis’s Wildstone series (which I discovered last year and continue to love this year with the newest installment), Friends Like Us has a similar vibe - an emphasis on character growth with a swoony side of romance.

Read my review of Forever Friends by Sarah Mackenzie

Have you read Friends Like Us? What are some of your favourite books that feature close friendships? 

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Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

The Forever Girl (Wildstone #6) by Jill Shalvis

Published: January 12th, 2021

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Tropes: Found family, forced proximity, friends to lovers

Heat level: 🔥🔥

# of pages: 400

My rating: 4.5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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When Maze returns to Wildstone for the wedding of her estranged bff and the sister of her heart, it’s also a reunion of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a tragedy tore them apart and scattered them wide.

Now as adults together again in the lake house, there are secrets and resentments mixed up in all the amazing childhood memories. Unexpectedly, they instantly fall back into their roles: Maze their reckless leader, Cat the den mother, Heather the beloved baby sister, and Walker, a man of mystery. 

Life has changed all four of them in immeasurable ways. Maze and Cat must decide if they can rebuild their friendship, and Maze discovers her long-held attraction to Walker hasn’t faded with the years but has only grown stronger.

  

The Forever Girl is the third Wildstone book I’ve read; if I could describe this standalone series with one phrase it’d be “imperfect people finding their perfect match”. I love how Shalvis writes deeply flawed and often emotionally scarred characters who are completely relatable and three-dimensional, and she has them finding love - the love of family, the love of friends, and the love of a partner. The Forever Girl was no different and, as my first read of 2021, it set the bar high for the rest of the year.

Stories about strong bonds, deep friendships, and family - whether blood family or found family - are among my favourites, and Shalvis does those things so well. Maze, Caitlin, Walker, and Heather were brought together in their youth as foster children in Caitlin’s family. They each had their own emotional baggage and trauma to deal with, but they found love and stability with the Walshes until tragedy tore them apart and scattered them. Now as adults, they’re reuniting for Caitlin’s wedding and they have a lot to overcome - past hurts, mistakes, and misunderstandings, along with secrets, resentments, and guilt. Throw in the issues each of them is currently dealing with as adults who have grown and changed, and there’s a lot of tension and emotion bubbling in the lake house.

This story had so much heart. The bonds between these characters ran deep, and yet they had so many things to overcome. There were some heavy themes - grief, mental health, childhood trauma - but it was all handled so well and was balanced by humour and moments of levity and hope. I loved the family and friendship dynamics, as well as the romantic ones. I laughed and teared up while reading - sometimes both at once. I was completely emotionally invested from beginning to end.

Full of heart and humour, The Forever Girl is a beautiful story about chosen family, bonds that last forever, forgiveness, and following your heart. I can’t wait for more Wildstone books.

Read my review of Almost Just Friends

Read my review of The Summer Deal

The publisher has generously allowed me to offer a print copy of The Forever Girl to one lucky US winner!

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New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Follow Jill on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Have you read The Forever Girl or any of the other books in the Wildstone series? What are some of your favourite books about family bonds? 

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The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan: An Emotional Punch With a Side of Intrigue and Scandal

The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Published: July 7th, 2020
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Royal Romance
My rating: 4.5 stars
Acquired this book: From the publisher in exchange for honest consideration
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After a scandalous secret turns their fairy-tale wedding into a nightmare, Rebecca “Bex” Porter and her husband Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile. The public is angry. The Queen is even angrier. And the press is salivating. Cutting themselves off from friends and family, and escaping the world’s judgmental eyes, feels like the best way to protect their fragile, all-consuming romance.

But when a crisis forces the new Duke and Duchess back to London, the Band-Aid they’d placed over their problems starts to peel at the edges. Now, as old family secrets and new ones threaten to derail her new royal life, Bex has to face the emotional wreckage she and Nick left behind: with the Queen, with the world, and with Nick’s brother Freddie, whose sins may not be so easily forgotten — nor forgiven.

Since I was late to the game reading The Royal We, I was able to start The Heir Affair with all the happenings and characters fresh in my mind. After spending over a week with Bex, Nick, Freddie, and the gang, they became very real to me, with their saga feeling as if it played out like a movie in my head. Now I miss these characters and their world!

Part of why The Royal We was so fun was because it was familiar in a way. I didn’t follow Will and Kate’s relationship in the early days, but I became obsessed with the couple when they announced their engagement, so getting to read a fictionalized version of a story with many similarities to their relationship was entertaining and amusing. The Heir Affair was completely different, though; it was still a lot of fun and I was still entertained and amused, but it all felt fresh and new and much less like Will and Kate fanficiton.

We so rarely get to see what happens after the ‘and they lived happily ever after’. Most romances feature couples falling in love and, while they struggle and overcome obstacles, you know a happily ever after (or happy for now) is guaranteed. But what happens when the shine of a new relationship wears off and the honeymoon is over? What happens when the obstacles in a marriage seem insurmountable? That’s what we got in The Heir Affair. We still got the ‘behind the scenes’ of royal life/life in the public eye and how that affected every aspect of Bex and Nick’s life, but their relationship had more depth because more was at stake. While most people can’t relate to dodging paparazzi and having every aspect of their life scrutinized under a microscope, the authors managed to make it relatable. It helped that real-life issues like infertility, infidelity, secrets and lies, and mental health were woven through the plot.

While The Royal We felt mostly like fun escapism, The Heir Affair dealt with much heavier subject matter. It was still hilarious and definitely had plenty of fun, light-hearted moments, but it also made me tear up and outright cry on several occasions because Bex’s pain was so authentic. Also, as someone who has had mental health struggles for years, I appreciated the way mental health was dealt with in an honest and open way, with references to therapy and coping mechanisms. I also continued to enjoy Bex's relationship with her college friends (I want a friend like Gaz in my life - in fact, I think we all need a Gaz), the different (and healthier) dynamics between her and her sister Lacey, and Bex's relationship with various royals. There are several scenes with the Queen that had me grinning and laughing throughout. With all the heavy subject matter, this book easily could have turned depressing, but the authors struck a good balance between the parts that felt like an emotional gut-punch and the parts that were truly hilarious.

If you haven’t read The Royal We, I highly recommend picking up a copy, along with The Heir Affair. This royal saga will make you laugh, cry, rage, and fall in love. Full of surprises and lots of heart, The Heir Affair is one of the best sequels I’ve ever read, and I'm grateful to the authors for giving us the opportunity to return to this world. I know Bex, Nick, and the others will stick with me for a long time.

Read my review of The Royal We

Have you read The Heir Affair or The Royal We? Do you have a favourite sequel? Or a book you wish would get a sequel?

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