Fun Romance Reads

The romance genre is booming, and so many engaging and entertaining titles are coming out. With so many publishing, it can be hard to decide which to pick up. This week, I am highlighting some that I have read and loved:

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin - One-Star Romance combines romance, humor, and reflections on life's complexities. Right before Natalie Shapiro walks down the aisle as her best friend’s maid of honor, she discovers that the best man has left her newly published book a one-star review on Goodreads, creating strife between the pair. Over time, the duo is thrown together, and they slowly come to understand each other better. As various truths become known, the pair realizes they may have more in common than they initially thought. Hankin’s heartwarming and hilarious storytelling ensures that this rom-com also touches on the importance of friendship, growing up, and what it means to be human. The literary aspects of the book are an appealing add for diehard readers, and this will make a great vacation read.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – When Clementine loses her beloved Aunt Analea, she finds it difficult to move forward, so she throws herself into her work as a book publicist and looks for love but struggles to find the right guy. After inheriting her aunt’s apartment, she moves in and is startled one day to find a strange man in the kitchen. As they begin to bond, she is dismayed to learn that he lives seven years in the past. Her aunt had often hinted that the apartment held secrets regarding time and how it exists there. I find time-travel stories intriguing, and this one is a winner. Both the premise, in a New York City apartment, time occasionally overlaps by seven years, and the way the story plays out are fantastic, and I was so sad when the book ended, but the ending is wonderful. 

Under Your Spell by Laura Wood – The daughter of a self-absorbed older rock star finds herself unexpectedly “babysitting” the most popular (and handsome) musician in the world and is unsettled when their relationship becomes more personal – especially since she swore she’d never, ever date someone famous. This book is so much fun, and I adored the focus on music as well as the forced proximity story line. Wood’s dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny without feeling forced, and the main characters’ banter is spectacular. The sibling dynamic among the three sisters is a great addition to the book as well as the way Wood crafts a strong sense of place with the English countryside setting. This will be my favorite rom-com of the year. Those who like engaging and sweet romances, as well as well-crafted characters, will really enjoy this one.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren – Writing duo Christina Lauren (the combined pen name of writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) is back with a fabulous summer read. Felicity Chen, who goes by Fizzy, is a bestselling romance author who has lost her ability to write happily-ever-afters, partly because she feels that she will never find her own true love. When Connor Prince, a documentary filmmaker and single dad, is tasked with creating a reality dating show or face losing his job, he contacts Fizzy to star in the show – what would romance readers love more than seeing their favorite writer fall in love on national TV? Reluctantly, Fizzy agrees but includes a long list of requirements that Connor surprisingly agrees to. Chock-full of fun pop culture references, with a focus on our nation’s obsession with reality TV, The True Love Experiment is a sweet and engaging romance with fun banter and genuinely likeable characters.

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.