To Read or Not To Read

A glamorous yet real Hollywood romance, Jasmine Guillory's 2021 release, While We Were Dating  tackles more than just love. With authentic discussions of mental health and anxiety, Guillory shines a light on what life truly looks like these days, while also giving us hope for the good that comes with bad. With her trademark fizzy romance and sincere characters, Guillory's latest romance will be sure to make readers smile.  Jasmine Guillory is the  New York Times   bestselling author of five romance novels, including  The Wedding Date   and  The Proposal . Her work has appeared in  Real Simple, Cosmopolitan,  and  O, The Oprah Magazine . She lives in Oakland, California. You can find her at at jasmineguillory.com. You can find more of my reviews of Jasmine's works  here . Ben Stephens has never bothered with serious relationships. He has plenty of casual dates to keep him busy, family drama he's trying to ignore, and his adverti...

Jasmine Guillory's most thrilling, charming, and romantic novel yet, Party of Two is sure to delight! My favorite of The Wedding Date series to date, Party of Two follows career-oriented Olivia Monroe as she navigates life, food, and love in Los Angeles. When she meets junior senator Max Powell, her entire plan is thrown into chaos—which creates the perfect story of romance, growth, and happiness.  Jasmine Guillory is the  New York Times   bestselling author of five romance novels, including  The Wedding Date   and  The Proposal . Her work has appeared in  Real Simple, Cosmopolitan,  and  O, The Oprah Magazine . She lives in Oakland, California. You can find her at at jasmineguillory.com . You can find more of my reviews of Jasmine's works here . Dating is the last thing on Olivia Monroe's mind when she moves to LA to start her own law firm. But when she meets a gorgeous man at a hotel bar and they spend the entire night flirting, she di...

Jasmine Guillory brings the world another lovely romance with her fourth novel, Royal Holiday . Following the direct, spontaneous, thoughtful Vivian Forest, we get an international romance that makes a statement: you can fall in love at any point in your life, not just when you're young, but definitely when you least expect it. For fans of her previous novels especially, Royal Holiday will feel like falling into a familiar world with new characters—but always with a happily ever after.  Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times   bestselling author of five romance novels, including The Wedding Date and The Proposal . Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, and O, The Oprah Magazine . She lives in Oakland, California. You can find her at at jasmineguillory.com. You can find more of my reviews of Jasmine's works here .  Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie's work tr...

For fans of The Betrothed  comes the finale to Kiera Cass's first duology, The Betrayed . The ending of Hollis's story will shock some, excite others, but overall leave fans wanting to know more about the conclusion of Hollis's story. More gripping than its predecessor, The Betrayed shows a good growth in Kiera Cass's storytelling, while still leaving a good space to continue that growth. With a couple of unresolved questions and feelings, I would recommend The Betrayed to those who finished The Betrothed and longed to learn the ending of Hollis's story.  Kiera Cass is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Selection series and The Siren, The Betrothed, and The Betrayed . She is a wife and mom and too many other things to list. If she could make a crown out of anything, it would be the unending tears of her readers. You can learn more about Kiera and her books at www.kieracass.com. You can find more of my reviews of Kiera's work here .  Can you follow y...

Subways usually leave people feeling grossed out, not magical; and in fact, there's a lot of things in New York City that don't glimmer like they do in movies—except for one thing, and, you guessed it, it's love. This is the setting of Casey McQuiston's sophomore novel, One Last Stop . A subway romance story, this book is about so much more than romantic love. It's about learning to love yourself and your past; loving someone (or something) so hard you'd fight to keep them alive; finding your squad and doing everything in your power to keep them happy; and so much more. With her trademark wit, a swoony romance, and masterful writing skills, McQuiston crafts a novel that is magical, heartwarming, powerful, and unlike anything we've seen before.  Casey McQuiston is a New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies and a pie enthusiast. She writes books about smart people with bad manners falling in love. Born and raised in South Louisiana, she now lives...

For a feel-good reread, I instantly turned to Stephanie Perkins's Isla and the Happily Ever After. Stephanie Perkins has a magical way of making the mundane seem extraordinary, and bringing powerful female characters to the page. With another trademark swoony romance and a story that doesn't dismiss any of the anxieties or triumphs of being a teenager, Isla and the Happily Ever After is a must-read for any teenager who needs help finding their inner confidence.  Stephanie Perkins has always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews  praised her debut novel, Anna and the French Kiss , declaring, "Smart dialogue, fresh characters and plenty of tingly interactions . . . Sarah Dessen fans with welcome another author who gracefully combines love and realism." Stephanie lives in the mountains of North Carolina live with her husband. You can connect with Stephanie at www.stephanieperkins.com or @...

A magical retelling of a favorite classic, The Weight of Feathers masterfully weaves a story of familial expectations with the desires of one's heart. By deviating from its source inspiration in exciting and thoughtful ways, McLemore develops a story about making your own choices, defining your own destiny, becoming who you were always meant to be. A stunning debut novel, The Weight of Feathers is a thought-provoking and lyrical read, one that will not leave you, even after the final page has closed. Anna-Marie McLemore is a queer, nonbinary, Latinx author who grew up hearing la Ilorona in the Santa Ana Winds. Their books include William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist  The Weight of Feathers ; Stonewall Honor Book  When the Moon Was Ours , which was longlisted for the National Book Award;  Wild Beauty , a  Kirkus, Booklist , and  School Library Journal  Best Book of 2017;  Blanca & Roja , a  New York Times Book Review  Editors' Choice;...