To Read or Not To Read

Helen Hoang's best yet, The Heart Principle is a book born from personal experiences, making it both intensely, heartbreakingly real and incredibly hopeful. The plot explores everything from caregiving/caretaking to autism to burnout to all kinds of relationships, The Heart Principle  encompasses so much, while also maintaining the perfect emotional core. Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And then the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger's syndrome. Her journey inspired  The Kiss Quotient . She currently lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two kids, and a pet fish. Visit her online at  helenhoang.com ,  facebook.com/hhoangwrites ,  instagram.com/hhoangwrites , and  twitter.com/hhoangwrites . You can find more of my reviews of He...

Another bighearted and sweet contemporary romance novel from Helen Hoang, The Bride Test does more than just explore a lighthearted romance: Hoang details the complexity of the immigrant experience, dives even further into autism representation, and more. For a quick, entertaining, and heartfelt read, The Bride Test is for you!  Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And then the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger's syndrome. Her journey inspired  The Kiss Quotient . She currently lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two kids, and a pet fish. Visit her online at  helenhoang.com ,  facebook.com/hhoangwrites ,  instagram.com/hhoangwrites , and  twitter.com/hhoangwrites . You can find more of my reviews of Helen's works here .  Kh...

A fast-paced and definite must-read novel in the contemporary romance genre, The Kiss Quotient creates necessary space for underrepresented voices in a genre that doesn't do that enough! I devoured this novel, both because I became very invested in Stella's and Michael's stories, but also because the structure and tropes of this novel made interesting commentary on what we believe romance to be. Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And then the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger's syndrome. Her journey inspired The Kiss Quotient . She currently lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two kids, and a pet fish. Visit her online at helenhoang.com , facebook.com/hhoangwrites , instagram.com/hhoangwrites , and twitter.com/hhoangwrites . You can find m...

A hilarious, compassionate debut from Mazey Eddings, A Brush with Love will not only make you care about dentistry (as Rosie Danan says), but will make you care about best friends to lovers, slow burn romances. Another contemporary romance set against the academia scene, Dan and Harper find love for another another amidst understanding and loving themselves, and the life they want to create.  Mazey Eddings is a neurodiverse author, dentist, and (most importantly) stage mom to her cats, Yaya and Zadie. She can most often be found reading romance novels under her weighted blanket and asking her boyfriend to bring her snacks. She's made it her personal mission in life to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain. With roots in Ohio and North Carolina, she now calls Philadelphia home. You can find more of my reviews of her work here .  Harper Horowitz is anxiously awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program when she crashes (literall...

Christina Lauren brings forth yet another hilarious, romantic, full-hearted story with The Soulmate Equation . This one has everything you could ever want out of a contemporary romance (including some tropes!), and more. For a feel-good read anytime of the year, I will be highly recommending The Soulmate Equation.  Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners/besties Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the  New York Times, USA Today  and #1international bestselling authors of the Beautiful and the Wild Seasons series,  My Favorite Half-Night Stand, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Dating You/Hating You,  and  Autoboyography . You can find them online at  christinalaurenbooks.com , @ChristinaLauren on Instagram, or @ChristinaLauren on Twitter. You can find more of my reviews of Christina Lauren's works  here .   Single mom Jessica Davis is a data and statistics wizard, but no ...

The Bellinger sisters are back, and this time, it's Hannah's story Tessa Bailey has dived into. Hook, Line, and Sinker is an absolutely gorgeous story, one that balances falling in love with yourself just as much as falling in love with someone else. With Bailey's trademark humor, this rom-com novel is for the books!  New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey aspires to three things: writing hot and unforgettable character-driven romance, being a good mother, and eventually sneaking onto the judging panel of a reality-show baking competition. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her husband and daughter. You can find her at tessabailey.com, on Twitter @mstessabailey or on Instagram @tessabaileyisanauthor. You can find more of my reviews of Tessa's works here .  King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah ...

Erin Sterling charms with her debut supernatural-infused romantic comedy. Full of Halloween hijinks, ghosts from the past, and strong female relationships, Sterling's The Ex Hex sets the stage for a future of contemporary romance with some witchy twists.  Erin Sterling also writes as Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books for young readers. Her work has been sold in more than a dozen countries. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and currently lives in Alabama. You can find her on Twitter @ladyhawkins or on Instagram @ladyhawkins. You can find more of my reviews of her work  here . Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths . . . and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn't use her magic this way, but with only an "Orchard Hayride"-scented candle on hand, she isn't worried it will cause him any...

Anna-Marie McLemore stuns once again with a magical realism story about self-discovery and self-love in the face of past trauma and fighting new battles. Lakelore follows two trans nonbinary brown neurodivergent teens as they both navigate a relationship with themselves and each other. One of McLemore's best yet, Lakelore is a must read for everyone, everywhere.  Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and taught by their family to hear la Llorna in the Santa Ana winds. They are the author of The Weight of Feathers , a finalist for the 2106 William C. Morris Debut Award; 2017 Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours , which was longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's Literature and was the winner of the Otherwise Award (formerly the James Tiptree Jr. Award); Wild Beauty ; Blanca & Roja; Dark and Deepest Red ; and The Mirror Season , which was also longlisted for the National Book Award in Young People's literature. ...