Tag: romance

Racing Romances

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Walking the new shelves, I discovered a new trend in sports romance I haven’t yet read: racing romances! I’m talking car racing, mostly Formula 1. Determined to find one that I would like, I searched the catalog for some romances will have your heart racing while the characters race around the track.

As of this writing, all titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.

Cross the Line by Simone Soltani, book 1 in Lights Out series

Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem—he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.

Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed… – Berkley

Drive by Tamara Lush, book 1 in Pretenders series

Determined to win. Destined to fall.

Savannah “Savvy” Jenkins is no stranger to the crude comments and leering looks she gets in the pit. Out to prove that she can succeed in a man’s world, she thinks she knows what to expect when she joins Formula World champion Dante Annunziata’s crew.

Dante is determined to finish his season on top. And Savvy is nothing but a distraction that threatens to get in the way. Convinced Savvy has no business on the team, Dante’s prepared to do anything to get her off.

But when a paparazzo catches the two in a compromising position, Dante and Savvy are in for a fauxmance for the ages. As their fake attraction turns real, they realize that there may be more to life than simply speeding through it. – W by Wattpad Books

Offtrack  by Esha Patel, book 1 in Offtrack series

Diana Zahrani is Formula One’s first female racing driver this century. All the other drivers are told to race carefully around her, and leave her to her real job: being a pretty face and good advertising for a hypermasculine sport. But Diana’s not worked this hard her whole life just to be a mascot.

World Championship favourite Miguel de la Fuente is not taking any rookie seriously, let alone a woman. With his first championship win looming, all he has to do is stay focused – and make sure Diana stays out of his way.

But motorsports is a small world, and as Diana and Miguel race their way through the season, they’re forced to face each other again and again. When sparks fly, Miguel and Diana must decide for the sake of their teams where their priorities lie: on track, with the championship, or offtrack, with each other… – Avon

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery

Kian Walker has always been the golden boy of motorsport. The four-time Championship winner has racing in his DNA – his father was a legend on the track, just don’t let him catch you comparing the two. As reckless and unreliable at home as he was behind the wheel, there’s nothing Kian wants less than to be just like his dad.

Enter Harper James. This year’s rookie called up to compete with the big boys – and Kian’s new teammate. Cocky, hot-headed and with a reputation for breaking as many hearts as he does new track records, Harper’s the opposite of Kian in every way. But when the season starts, there’s no getting away from him.

This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he’s anywhere near his teammate? – One More Chapter

Throttled by Lauren Asher, book 1 in Dirty Air series

Noah: Maya Alatorre is the sister of my teammate… and my new obsession. Keeping my distance during the Formula 1 season should be easy, except I always find ways to see her: press tours, pre-race rituals, sponsor events and black-tie galas. The more time we spend together, the stronger my desire grows.

Sneaking around with her is one thing, but wanting more? Never going to happen. She might be a distraction dressed like a daydream, but no woman is worth risking the championship title over. Or so I thought.

Maya: Noah Slade is Formula 1 royalty and my brother’s biggest rival. When I’m invited to join my sibling while he competes for the World Championship, I promise to avoid Noah at all costs. Twenty-one races, two drivers who hate each other, and one forbidden attraction I can’t ignore.

Developing feelings for Noah wasn’t part of my plan. But then again, neither was anyone finding out. Turns out the man I was warned about happens to be the one I can’t stay away from – even if he breaks my heart once the season comes to an end. – Simon & Schuster

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“I hope that if you’re called to resist injustice you’ll have the courage to do so. I hope you’ll love fiercely and freely. In those ways I hope you’ll be good Americans”
― Lauren Wilkinson, American Spy

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson has been on my to-read list since it was published in 2019. It is described as a Cold War thriller with elements of family, love, country, and spies.

Marie Mitchell works as an intelligence officer for the FBI. It’s 1986 and even though she’s incredibly talented, she has been relegated to recruiting and managing a network of informants. Marie is constantly overlooked for missions, something that she has come to expect as a black woman working in an all-white male field. Her career has essentially stopped, leaving her stuck filling out paperwork.

When Marie is approached by the CIA with an opportunity to join a task force to take down Thomas Sankara, the president of Burkina Faso, she’s intrigued. Sankara is the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso who caught the attention of the Americans with his Community ideology. When she meets Thomas, Marie realizes this job isn’t what she thought it would be. She admires the work he is doing and suspects that she was recruited for this job because of her appearance and not her talent as an agent. Other factors put Marie on guard, eventually changing her opinion over the year she follows Sankara. Marie grows closer to Sankara, seduces him, and ultimately has a hand in his downfall. Her status as an unwitting and unwilling accomplice lead her to attempt revenge against those who set her up.

I didn’t realize until I finished American Spy that this book was inspired by true events. After I did some research, this book took on a whole other level of meaning for me. It’s a spy thriller, historical fiction, a family drama, and a suspense story. The aspects of race and gender were also fascinating. All in all, a great debut novel.

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“Change is never easy, but without it we can’t move forward.”
― Helena Hunting, A Love Catastrophe

Sometimes you just need to pick a book based on what the cover looks like. My latest read picked that way was A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting. This was such a fun, cute romance with two main characters whose jobs I had never read about in a romance before: a woman with a cat-sitting/cat-training business and a man who works as a data analyst for an NHL team.

Kitty Hart enjoys her job as the Kitty Whisperer. She is internet famous and is considered an expert on anything feline. Her job: she runs a cat-sitting business! Her latest client is proving difficult though. She has fallen face-first into him, plus he doesn’t seem to be a cat person, which is a major problem.

Miles Thorn isn’t great at first impressions. He is dealing with the fallout of his mother’s latest hospital stay. The news he receives from the doctors isn’t good, which means that he needs to figure out what to do with her house and her Sphynx cat named Prince Francis that his mother absolutely adores. Luckily Miles found Kitty on Instagram. The downside is that Miles isn’t a cat lover, and he especially doesn’t like Prince Francis. Miles and Kitty continue to have awkward run-ins, but their awkwardness starts to turn into attraction. The two spend more and more time together. These forced interactions start out business-related, but turn more personal over time, leading the two to wonder where exactly they are going in their lives and what they want out of their futures.

I adored this book. Helena Hunting wrote these characters with beauty and grace, giving them the ability to grow throughout their personal lives and express their emotions without fear. It honestly felt like their relationship was realistic. I also enjoyed that the third act issue wasn’t a break-up and was instead a business/personal related problem. (Third act breakups in romance are not my favorite). Hopefully other books by this author are similar because I’m looking forward to reading more by her!

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“What I am is an adult woman with agency and the tools to make choices. Feel free to, you know, treat me accordingly.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Bride

I stumbled upon a copy of Bride by Ali Hazelwood available for checkout online through Libby one night and decided to give it a try as her Love Hypothesis series is one of my favorites. Going in with no expectations, but knowing I would read a bit of spice, I was pleasantly surprised with the world-building, relationship changes, and character growth present. If you’re looking for a romance with a bit of open door spiciness, give Bride a try!

Misery Lark is the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest. If you think that means she has a bit of power and deference amidst the Vampyre community, you would be mistaken. When she was young, she was sent to live amongst the humans as the Vampyre collateral with the understanding that if something bad happened between the humans and Vampyres, Misery would be immediately killed. After her tenure as collateral ends, she had trouble adjusting to life amongst Vampyres, so she decided to move back amongst the humans. Misery is living and working amongst the humans with only one human, her best friend Serena, knowing she is a Vampyre.

Out of the blue, Misery’s presence is requested in front of her father. In an attempt to solidify a peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their enemies, the Weres, her father is demanding Misery to once again exchange herself. She has been told she is to marry the Alpha, Lowe Moreland. He’s ruthless and unpredictable, but rules with feeling and absolute authority. He couldn’t be more different than her father. When the two first meet at their wedding, it is clear that he doesn’t trust her. He isn’t wrong. Misery has entered into this marriage with secrets that she intends to never reveal. Misery and Lowe must navigate this tenuous new relationship, one that has the power to destroy the Vampyres and Weres with the slightest misstep. Swapping one cage for another, Misery doesn’t mind being with the Weres if it means she can find the answers she is desperately searching for. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get answers. Being underestimated may work to her advantage.

*SPOILER ALERT* A second book called Mate that takes place in this world is set to be released in October 2025 (there are major spoilers for Bride in the description of Mate, so be careful looking it up!)

The Title is a Song (Lyric)

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Does your mind wonder when you’re looking for a new book to read? If so, check out this latest book list! While browsing the new shelves, I noticed books with song or lyrics as the titles. Thinking that there must be more, I compiled a more in-depth list of books that fit the theme of ‘the title is a song (lyric)’. Below you’ll find books published in both 2024 and 2025 that had me humming away while shelving!

All of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. Descriptions are provided by the publisher.

Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli

Her life. Her rules. Finally.

Anuri Chinasa has had enough. And really, who can blame her? She was the unwilling star of her stepmother’s social media empire before “momfluencers” were even a thing. For years, Ophelia documented every birthday, every skinned knee, every milestone and meltdown for millions of strangers to fawn over and pick apart.

Now, at twenty-five, Anuri is desperate to put her way-too-public past behind her and start living on her own terms. But it’s not going so great. She can barely walk down the street without someone recognizing her, and the fraught relationship with her father has fallen apart. Then there’s her PhD application (still unfinished) and her drinking problem (still going strong). When every detail of her childhood was so intensely scrutinized, how can she tell what she really wants?

Still, Ophelia is never far away and has made it clear she won’t go down without a fight. With Noelle, Anuri’s five-year-old half sister now being forced down the same path, Anuri discovers she has a new mission in life…

To take back control of the family narrative.

Through biting wit and heartfelt introspection, this darkly humorous story dives deep into the deceptive allure of a picture-perfect existence, the overexposure of children in social media and the excitement of self-discovery. – Graydon House

Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning

Willow’s worst nightmare was being canceled. But the shadows in the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation.

After sitcom star Willow tweets herself into infamy and stumbles blind-drunk into a swimming pool, her agent ships her off to Camp Castaway. Nestled deep in upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults who are desperate to leave their mistakes behind. No real names, no phones . . . no way to call for help.

Willow’s fellow campers seem okay. Her own favorite actress is even here, making a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when one of the campers vanishes and Willow finds a mutilated doll in her room with a threatening message rolled up inside its mouth. Terror grips the group, campers begin to lose their heads—literally—and disturbing past deeds come to light.

Is Willow about to get cancelled all over again, this time for good? – G.P. Putnam’s Sons

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War

When freelance journalist Khin Haymar is assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, Hollywood’s hottest movie, she’s determined to succeed. Tyler has returned home to Myanmar to shoot his latest film, and if Khin’s able to get an exclusive, there may well be a permanent position waiting for her at Vogue Singapore.

Tyler has a very private life and doesn’t show any sign of letting down his walls for Khin. But then one night on set, a man follows Khin into the park. When he threatens her, Tyler steps in and things escalate fast. Khin knows they can’t go to the police, even if this was self defense, and even if this stranger seems to have targeted her specifically.

As Khin and Tyler work together to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer and Tyler finally starts opening up. But now the idea of writing the article gives Khin an uncomfortable morality-related guilt. Before long, everything hangs in the balance. Will they get away with murder? Can Khin get the exposé she needs for her dream job? And is she willing to risk Tyler’s trust in the process? – St. Martin’s Griffin

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk

She’s a small-town schoolteacher, he’s a hotshot creative director. Together, it’s hate at first sight.

Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh is the last person she’d tell. He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.

But Sophie desperately needs his help.

Because she’s not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.

When a trip to the countryside means sharing a cottage with only one bed, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself? – HarperCollins

This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things by Naomi Wood

In my life, I had always been a good woman; controlling what it was that I wanted. But recently, I had started to notice my bad energy, and I began to follow it, wondering where it would take me . . .

A woman has an unexpected outburst at a corporate therapy session for working mothers. A couple find some long-overdue time to rekindle their relationship and make an ill-advised home movie. A pregnant film director plots revenge on the actress who betrayed her. An ex-wife deliberately causes conflict at her ex-husband’s wedding.

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things illuminates the lives of malicious, subversive, and untamed women. Exploring failed sisterhood, dubious parenting, and the dark side of modern love, this powerful and funny collection exposes how society wants women to behave, and shows what happens when they refuse. – Mariner Books

We Could Be Heroes by Philip Ellis

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear high heels and a wig.

Patrick’s acting career is on the rise, and the superhero movie he’s filming might put him on the map . . . if the endless reshoots ever stop. Meanwhile, Will, a secondhand bookseller and part-time drag queen, is just trying to live his best life. After a chance encounter on a particularly chaotic night, a curious friendship sparks between the two men.

At least, that’s what they tell each other. Sure, Patrick finds Will captivatingly hilarious, and Will can’t help but keep thinking about who is really behind the perfect mask Patrick shows the rest of the world, but nothing could ever really happen, right? Superheroes don’t date drag queens, after all.

When reality crashes into the fantasy world they’ve built together, Will has to make a choice between the man of his dreams and being true to himself. Can Patrick be the hero Will’s been waiting for, or will Will be the one to save Patrick after all? Uproarious and touching, We Could Be Heroes is an ode to queer joy and a romance that just might save the world. – G.P. Putnam’s Sons

What is Love? by Jen Comfort

Answer: From the Latin word for crossroads, this is knowledge so common as to be obscure, the pursuit of which engages millions daily. Question: What is trivia?

Trivia is the magic in the mundane, the connection in the commonplace, and Maxine Hart’s second-favorite pastime. A self-proclaimed Brooklyn street rat and a high school dropout, Maxine has never been a fan of formal education, but thanks to her ADHD “superpowers,” she’s a glutton for knowledge―and a good fight. And when Maxine enters the trivia game show Answers!, her brilliance, coupled with her penchant for big bets, devastates her competition. Even record-holding, 76-time-winner Teddy Ferguson.

Or was it their kiss the night before they faced off that threw the buttoned-up professor off his game?

Now, Maxine and Teddy cross paths again in a high-stakes tournament against all-time Answers! winners, including undefeated champion Hercules McKnight. With nothing in common but an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a desire to win, Maxine offers Teddy a deal: combine their strengths to shore up their weaknesses. She’ll push his tolerance for risk and improve his buzzer speed, if he’ll find creative ways to fill in the gaps in her education.

Except neither one of them foresaw just how scintillating learning could be… – Montlake

You Better Watch Out by James S Murray and Darren Wearmouth

Forty-eight hours until Christmas, Jessica Kane wakes up with blurred vision, ears ringing, and in excruciating pain. A gash in her head and blood running down her face, the last thing she remembers is going for a run and something or someone hitting her in the head.

It doesn’t take her long to realize she is trapped in an unknown, deserted town with five other strangers who share similar stories of being attacked and stranded there. Unsure why and how they got there, she knows one thing for certain, she has to find a way out.

That becomes nearly impossible when someone is meticulously orchestrating their deaths, one by one, and the only thing Jessica can do is watch the life leave their eyes.

The fenced-in town is the killer’s very own playground and there’s nowhere left to hide… she better watch out because she could be next. – St. Martin’s Press

2025 releases!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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The Nightmare Before Kissmas is book 1 in the Royals and Romance series by Sara Raasch. This book is a mix between The Nightmare Before Christmas, Red, White, & Royal Blue, and The Santa Clause and I absolutely LOVED it. 5/5 stars. It was delightful and raunchy and messy and adorable. The world building isn’t overwhelming, the characters are well-developed, and the relationships are realistic. The second book, Go Luck Yourself, is set to be published in March 2025. I can’t wait!

Nicholas ‘Coal’ Claus may be the heir apparent to Christmas, but that doesn’t stop him from being on the naughty list. His father, the reigning Santa, has turned Christmas into a PR stunt, hauling Coal and his younger brother out in front of the news media whenever he has the chance. Determined to find some normalcy, Coal isn’t afraid to bend the rules, even when his escapades end with him drunkenly making out with a random dark stranger in a bar alley after some devastating news breaks.

His attempts to escape are soon quelled by his father when Coal, his brother and his best friend Iris are brought together for Christmas kick-off festivities. Coal is shocked to discover that his father has decreed that he is to marry Iris. This whole situation is bound to end in disaster, given that his brother is secretly in love with Iris. When Halloween unexpectedly shows up with their own suitor for Iris, Coal is at a loss. His rival is the Prince of Halloween, who also happens to be the stranger he made out with behind that bar. This messy situation keeps devolving, leading Coal and his friends to have to fight for what their holidays and they themselves deserve.

Romance Manga

- Elena Leave a comment

As Valentine’s season hits, I always find myself in the mood for romance– the sweeter, the better. And nothing scratches that reading itch quite like a romance manga. Here’s a few of my favorite series, guaranteed to get you giggling and kicking your feet. (Descriptions below provided by the publisher.)

Honey Lemon Soda by Mayu Murata

Uka Ishimori has one dream in life: to have fun in high school! As a self-avowed dense, stone-faced introvert who spent all of middle school hardening her heart against a daily barrage of bullying, breaking out of her shell is easier said than done. Luckily, she’s not alone—Kai Miura, a classmate whose blond hair reminds her of the lemon soda he so enjoys, has her back. Step by step, she endeavors to cast off the shadows of her past and reinvigorate her life!

A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita

Yuki is Deaf and a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi can speak three languages, sign language isn’t one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?

My Love Mix-Up! by Wataru Hinekure

In this warmhearted romantic comedy, mistaken identity leads to a blossoming romance between two boys. Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses by Koume Fujichika

The distance between a boy and his crush shrinks every time she forgets her glasses! Komura starts his school year with a new seat neighbor in homeroom—the bespectacled Mie. Before long, he’s nursing a raging crush on his quirky classmate who’s always forgetting her glasses! While this might be ideal for Komura to get to know Mie better, will his poor heart give out from the daily strain of being up close and personal with the girl he likes?!

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop by Imo Oono

He’s a shy haiku writer who wears headphones to keep people at a distance. She’s a streamer who always hides behind a mask. After their worlds suddenly collide, these two strangers find themselves sharing secrets they’ve been desperate to keep under wraps. Even though their methods of self-expression couldn’t be more different, they’ll find they understand each other better than they ever expected…

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

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“She wasn’t so much afraid of dying as she was of forgetting to live her life. Somewhere along the way, she’d forgotten to figure out who she was or what she wanted to be when she grew up.”
― Laurie Gilmore, The Pumpkin Spice Café

Jeanie’s aunt has given her the ultimate gift, ownership of her beloved, Pumpkin Spice Cafe, and the apartment above, located in a small town called Dream Harbor. Needing a break, Jeanie packs up her belongings, leaves the big city, and travels to Dream Harbor, yearning for a new start in the small town. The adjustment period proves a little rough, but Jeanie is determined to be a new person, to break away from her past self and become a bright, bubbly person. Her happy attitude starts to shake when strange noises repeatedly keep her awake at night.

A local farmer who provides the Pumpkin Spice Cafe with some of its produce, Logan is happy to limit his time in Dream Harbor as much as possible. The people in town are gossip happy and his past relationship’s disastrous ending has already given them enough fodder for a lifetime. When he stumbles upon Jeanie, Logan knows that his quiet life is about to change. His routine starts to crumble and he finds himself wanting to get closer to Jeanie. Logan may find Jeanie’s positivity irritating, but he can’t stay away. The two grow closer when issues start to plague Jeanie at the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Will Logan and Jeanie’s new friendship survive the gossip mill? Or will they separate, leaving their feelings for each other crushed?

I came into this book with no prior knowledge, other than it was very popular on social media and with Davenport patrons. I found The Pumpkin Spice Cafe to be a quick, cozy, cute read. Gilmore introduces some elements of mystery alongside the romance, which I enjoyed. She also features some of my favorite romance tropes: found family, small town feels, and grumpy x sunshine. This is also a spicy romance! If you want to feel like you’re reading a Hallmark movie with some spice, try out The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore.

Dream Harbour series

  1. The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (2023)
  2. The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (2024)
  3. The Christmas Tree Farm (2024)
  4. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (2025)
  5. The Gingerbread Bakery (2025)

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

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“What didn’t kill me didn’t make me stronger; what didn’t kill me made me into a victim. But I made me stronger. I made me into a survivor.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Girls I’ve Been

Nora is in a bit of a mess. First off, her ex-boyfriend and best friend Wes walked in on Nora and her current girlfriend Iris making out. Wes knew they were friends, but not that they were dating. To make matters more awkward, the three have to meet up the next morning to deposit money at the bank that they earned as the result of a fundraiser. Nora just wants to get in and out of the bank as quickly as possible to minimize the awkwardness. The day has other plans, because as soon as the trio walks into the back, two bank robbers walk in and take everyone hostage.

This situation is concerning to Nora, but for different reasons than it is for the others. Nora is the daughter of a con artist. Her mother has moved her around the country, targeting criminal man. Nora grew up as a lot of different girls, becoming whomever her mother needed her to be for the con she was running. Nora’s life changed when her mom ended up falling for her mark. She knew she needed to escape, which resulted in the ultimate con and eventually landed Nora where she currently lives.

It’s been five years since Nora escaped, but these two bank robbers have the ability to destroy what little stability she has managed to grab for herself. If she isn’t careful, the robbers could learn Nora’s secrets and upend her life. Nora has plans though. They have no idea all that she is capable of.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Girls I’ve Been and loved it. This book is intricately plotted, yet quickly paced. The characters are strong, opinionated, and sassy. Heads up that this book does alternate between different timelines, so you need to pay attention! This book is definitely set up as the first book in a series as not everything is solved in the end and readers are left wanting to know more about the characters and their backgrounds. I have high hopes that my questions will be answered in book 2!

Girls I’ve Been series

  1. The Girls I’ve Been (2021)
  2. The Girl in Question (2024)

“There is no normal. There is just a bunch of people pretending there is. There’s just different levels of pain. Different stages of safe. The biggest con of all is that there’s a normal.”
― Tess Sharpe, The Girls I’ve Been

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

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“By my reckoning, everyone gets a handful of movie-worthy moments in their lives. Some people would probably pick out their wedding day or the birth of their child for their showreel, but for most of us it’s the unexpected moments life occasionally gifts our way that make for the best memories.”
― Josie Silver, A Winter in New York

Every winter, I say I’m going to immerse myself in winter romances for a couple months. Every December, I prove myself a liar and only successfully read one before I turn back to my trusty thrillers. My wintery romance for 2024 is A Winter in New York by Josie Silver. The cover hooked me at the start, but the premise pulled me in further.

Iris grew up hearing stories of New York from her mother who spent some time in New York as a traveling musician. Her mother’s dreams of becoming a famous musician were sadly cut short, leaving the two to move back across the ocean. After her mother’s death, Iris travels back to New York, determined to restart her culinary career after a disastrous end to an even worse relationship. Leaving her heartbreak behind her, Iris wishes to start over and find the places that her mother talked about and documented in her scrapbook.

While walking the streets of a famous food festival, Iris stumbles upon a gelateria with a door that looks startlingly familiar. She quickly realizes that this door is in one of the pictures that her mother placed in her scrapbook. Her mother never talked about this, except to tell Iris that the man in the photo was the great lost love of her life and that the gelato recipe also in the book must never be shared. When Iris ventures inside the gelateria and meets Gio, she discovers that her past is tied to both of their presents. Gio has a crisis of his own, but miraculously Iris can solve his problem! If she does so, that will bring up a slew of other issues that become more compounded the more time Iris spends with Gio and his family. How far is Iris willing to go to fall in love and find her place in a family? Can she let go of the past?

A Winter in New York is a comfortably cozy romance that travels a whole year in the life of Iris as she travels to New York to rebuild her life. This book is a bit of a dual timeline, giving readers a glimpse into Iris’s past. Seeing Iris blossom from a meek person at the start to someone not afraid to stand up for herself at the end was incredibly heartwarming. Found family and biological family play huge roles in this book, but the closeness found through the holidays reigns supreme.

This title is also available in large print.