Reader's Place: February 14, 2023
This Valentine’s Day we’re looking at a swoon-worthy selection of new and diverse romances on our shelves at Maplewood Library’s Adult Services location at 129 Boyden Avenue.
Better Than Fiction, by Alexa Martin (Library Catalog, eBCCLS)
Love isn’t always by the book in this charming romantic comedy about a bookseller discovering how to be the main character in her story. As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best—meddle.
Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From going river rafting to trying local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fiction. When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.
Honey and Spice, by Bolu Babalola (Library Catalog, eBCCLS)
Bolu Babalola's debut novel, full of passion, humor, and heart, centers on a young Black British woman who has no interest in love and unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a fake relationship with the man she warned her girls about. Sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) Kiki Banjo has just made a huge mistake. As an expert in relationship-evasion and the host of the popular student radio show Brown Sugar, she's made it her mission to make sure the women of the African-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University do not fall into the mess of "situationships", players, and heartbreak. But when the Queen of the Unbothered kisses Malakai Korede, the guy she just publicly denounced as "The Wastemen of Whitewell," in front of every Blackwellian on campus, she finds her show on the brink. They're soon embroiled in a fake relationship to try and salvage their reputations and save their futures. Kiki has never surrendered her heart before, and a player like Malakai won't be the one to change that, no matter how charming he is or how electric their connection feels. But surprisingly entertaining study sessions and intimate, late-night talks at old-fashioned diners force Kiki to look beyond her own presumptions. Is she ready to open herself up to something deeper? A funny and sparkling debut, Honey and Spice is full of delicious tension and romantic intrigue.
A Lady for a Duke, by Alexis J. Hall (Library Catalog, eBCCLS)
A lush, sweeping queer historical romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Lisa Kleypas.When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood. Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become. As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
Lunar Love, by Lauren Kung Jessen (Library Catalog, eBCCLS)
This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams. Olivia Huang Christenson is excited-slash-terrified to be taking over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. But when she learns that a new dating app has made her Pó Po’s traditional Chinese zodiac approach all about “animal attraction,” her emotions skew more toward furious-slash-outraged. Especially when L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family’s legacy. Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal: they’ll find a match for each other—and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who’s already adept at stealing business ideas…so what’s stopping him from stealing her heart too?
Not the Plan, by Gia De Cadenet (Library Catalog)
An ambitious chief of staff is torn between love and politics when she falls hard for her biggest rival in this swoon-worthy romance. Isadora Maris loves her job and she's good at it. After nearly a decade in state politics, stonewalling senators and aggressive lobbyists are no match for her diplomacy and unflappable commitment to her principles. If all goes according to plan, she'll be managing her boss's successful race for U.S. representative and finally fulfilling her dream: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference. But Isadora's cool professionalism is knocked off kilter when she meets Karim Sarda, the newly-hired legislative director of her boss's biggest political rival-and the biggest pain in her neck. He's gorgeous, brilliant, and seems to share many of her ideals. So why's he working for the California senate's most notorious jerk? Given their bosses' fierce political rivalry despite being on the same side of the aisle, Isadora deems Karim off limits, despite the heat she feels whenever he's in the room. Her fear of tarnishing her reputation by flirting with the enemy is compounded by the fact that she was taught to believe nothing she ever did was good enough. Karim knows that struggle all too well: He's still processing the wounds left by his former marriage. As the late nights working together on an ambitious healthcare bill add up, both start to realize that maybe their biggest rival might also be the one who knows-and loves-them best.
On the Hustle, by Adriana Herrera (Library Catalog)
Alba Duarte is the queen of the side hustle. As the eldest daughter in her crisis-prone family, she's always stepped up to help. Her favorite gig is doing Instagram-worthy, bookish-themed bedroom makeovers for friends. Her most hated? Working as the assistant to the most gorgeous—and most infuriating—man on earth. Theo Ganas is a former Olympic swimmer and heir to a bona fide real estate empire. He's also about as warm and fuzzy as a New York City winter, and quite frankly, Alba has had enough of his ridiculous demands and cold shoulder. When opportunity knocks, she decides to put herself first for once...which means leaving her demanding boss—and relatives—behind. Her new life in Dallas seems like everything Alba's ever wanted, until a bafflingly charming and attentive Theo turns up in the Lone Star State with an offer she simply cannot refuse. Agreeing to do a home improvement reality TV show with her sexy, and suddenly flirtatious, former boss is not a good idea, but it just might be the makeover her heart has been waiting for.
Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club, by Roselle Lim (Library Catalog, eBCCLS)
A heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it. Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud—she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast. In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo complex: the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life.
Vanessa Jared's Got a Man, by LaQuette (Library Catalog)
LaQuette's debut romantic comedy tells the story of a woman getting her groove back and getting a second chance at love. Vanessa Jared, a 40-something divorcee, decided that the best way to pull herself out of their post-divorce slump was to form The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club and start the "Do Me" portion of her and her friends' lives.But on the two year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex...until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancee wearing her grandmother's ring—which he clearly stole from her. So now it's on. Vanessa is ready to take this trifling (fill-in-the-blank) down. What she does not expect is to fall in love along the way.
Compiled by Jenny Zbrizher