Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner
Fun, witty banter, a gorgeous setting, enemies-to-lovers, and a deeply wounding backstory that will break your heart make this an unputdownable read. I love that this book has so many good life quotes.
Brynn’s huge, public gaff on the morning show she co-hosts sends her running to her hometown in Colorado to repair her reputation and beg their forgiveness. The humble town she couldn’t wait to escape from as a teenager is a refuge for ex-reporter Sebastian. Her mask of smiles doesn’t fly with him and it’s not until she reconnects with her past that her true self can win him over. Five stars.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I read this in two days. The story gripped me (great, quirky characters) with a fun premise – that two flatmates who have never met leave each other notes and eventually fall in love.
This is the same premise as Becca Kinzer’s Dear Henry, Love Edith book, so if you liked one, you’ll probably enjoy the other.
Warning: A few tough themes (emotional abuse, stalker ex-boyfriend, falsely accused sibling in jail.) Technically the book was closed door, but we got pretty close and there was some language. Four stars.
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
More than a speculative rom-com, Cousens brought ALL the emotions and broke me in the best way. A mid-twenties woman is impatient with where she’s at in life – crappy rent and job, bad dates, broke, etc. She just wants to skip to the good part. So she makes a wish and wakes up 16 years into her own future. As she bungles through parenting two little kids, work, and a husband, she realizes that she doesn’t want to skip anything. I loved her relationship with her husband – this was a very rare relationship and a joy to read. Five stars. *Brief language and a closed door scene.
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghen
I loved the music aspect and the beach setting (especially since as a reader, I never had to experience the boat-load of showers and sand everywhere and half-dry, sandy towels). Samantha’s last summer at the beach with her family before her marriage and start to the perfect life shakes her understanding of what she really wants and who she is. There were some unique plot points here that surprised me, which I love. With themes of forgiveness and a beautiful reawakening to the character’s true identity, this was a deep but fun second-chance-trope read. I would also recommend Nora Goes Off Script by this author. Three and a half stars.
* A bit of language and closed door scenes.
I Need a Napkin 