| Chef's Kiss by T.J. AlexanderWhat it is: a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers workplace romantic comedy with big Bon Appetit Test Kitchen energy.
What happens: As venerable culinary publisher The Discerning Chef pivots to video, recipe developer Simone Larkspur navigates a fraught working relationship with test kitchen manager Ray Lyton, which gets more complicated when Ray comes out as nonbinary.
For fans of: Anita Kelly's Love & Other Disasters. |
|
| Never a Duke by Grace BurrowesThe problem: Fearing the worst, Lady Rosalind Kinwood enlists banker Ned Wentworth to locate her missing lady's maid.
The other problem: Born in the slums and a survivor of Newgate prison, Ned is the perfect person to search London's seamy underbelly for a missing person, but his past stands in the way of a future with Rosalind.
Series alert: Never a Duke is the 7th book in the Rogues to Riches series, which begins with My One and Only Duke. |
|
| By the Book by Jasmine GuilloryWhat it is: a charming Beauty and the Beast retelling by the author of the Wedding Date series.
Starring: Isabelle "Izzy" Marlowe, the only Black editorial assistant at Tale as Old as Time publishing; author Beau Towers, who owes her a manuscript, which Izzy is going to retrieve no matter what.
Series alert: By the Book marks the 2nd standalone installment of the fairy tale-inspired Meant to Be series, which begins with Julie Murphy's If the Shoe Fits. |
|
| Book Lovers by Emily HenryIntroducing: New York literary agent Nora Stephens, who's practically a Hallmark movie villain after being "dumped in a full lifestyle-swap three times" by men who leave her for small-town bakers and florists.
What happens: Nora agrees to a girls' trip with her pregnant sister to quaint Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, where she can't escape grumpy editor Charlie Lastra, who brutally rejected her client's last book.
About the author: Emily Henry is the bestselling author of Beach Read and The People We Meet on Vacation. |
|
| Never Been Kissed by Timothy JanovskyRe: Wren Roland, a 22-year-old hopeless romantic who's holding out for that "perfect-kiss-before-the-credits."
cc: After a few drinks, Wren impulsively emails all his high school crushes, including Derick Haverford, who will be working alongside him this summer at the local drive-in theater.
You might also like: Annabeth Albert's True Colors series or Kris Ripper's Love Study novels. |
|
| Part of Your World by Abby JimenezWhat it's about: After Minneapolis ER doctor Alexis Montgomery's car gets stuck in a ditch in rural Wakan, Minnesota, she enjoys a one-night stand with her rescuer, carpenter Daniel Grant, who's ten years younger and unlike anyone she's ever met.
Why you might like it: Opposites attract in this heartwarming small-town romance that stars a heroine figuring out the life she wants and a rugged yet gentle hero who fosters baby goats. |
|
| The Romantic Agenda by Claire KannWhat happens: When her best friend (and secret crush) Malcolm announces that he's found love -- with someone other than her -- Joy decides it's time to finally confess her feelings.
And so... During a weekend getaway with Malcolm, his new girlfriend Summer, and Summer's ex-boyfriend, Fox, Joy agrees to Fox's plan to fake a relationship with him in order to make Malcolm jealous.
What sets it apart: Black asexual main characters and a sensitive depiction of the ups and downs of their platonic relationship. |
|
| No Rings Attached by Rachel LaceyStarring: Lia Harris, who lied about having a girlfriend and now needs to find a plus-one in time for her brother's London wedding; and Grace Poston, who has sworn off relationships but agrees to pose as Lia's date.
Read it for: a balance of witty banter, angsty pining, and family drama.
Series alert: This 2nd book in the Ms. Right series, after Between the Lines, shifts the focus to Rosie's best friend Lia. |
|
| Funny You Should Ask by Elissa SussmanThen: MFA grad Chani Horowitz's career took off after her assignment -- a magazine profile of Hollywood heartthrob Gabe Parker -- turned into a wild weekend during which, she insists, NOTHING HAPPENED.
Now: A decade later, recently divorced Chani gets an offer to recreate her famous interview with Gabe, whose star has dimmed after a messy divorce and a stint in rehab.
For fans of: Edith Zimmerman's 2011 GQ profile of actor Chris Evans; Katie Heaney's Public Relations. |
|
| Just the Two of Us by Jo WildeLove in the time of quarantine: Married for 35 years, Julie and Michael Marshall are on the verge of splitting up when a pandemic lockdown forces them to reassess -- and perhaps rekindle -- their relationship.
Why you might like it: This second chance romance shifts between past and present as it illuminates the couple's long and complex history.
Reviewers say: Mature leads and the "slow but constant burn of [their] redeveloping chemistry" (Publishers Weekly) makes this stand-alone novel "a refreshing change of pace" (Library Journal). |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|