Welcome to the new segment Author Spotlight!
In today’s day and age, it’s fairly easy to find yourself in a reading rut. Maybe you’ve succumbed to reading solely what others are squealing about on your Goodreads timeline or what you’re otherwise familiar with. Perhaps you are in a reading slump and just need something completely different to get you out of that! Or maybe you find yourself wanting to read outside of your comfort zone, to find a new, fresh voice in the publishing mayhem. Author Spotlight is designed to present you with authors in the book community you might not have heard about before!
For this first instalment, let me introduce you to the Queen of Banter: Rachel S. Grey!
I first encountered R.S. Grey after I read a little book called A Court of Mist and Fury and found myself facing the worst slump of my reading career. Stumbling around Goodreads in search of a lighthearted book, I found it – Out of Bonds by R.S. Grey. Hooked on her laugh-out-loud dialogues, feel-good plotlines and endearing love interests, I proceeded to read almost every one of her works within a week and left my reading slump in the dust.
Grey has sixteen novels under her belt so far, and there seems to be no end in sight. On her Instagram she gives her readers the chance to see constant updates on her writing progress, secret snippets and funny stories of her everyday life. Grey is also very vocal about her reviews sharing them on her Instagram stories and replying to reader queries.
The hilarious dialogue is one of Grey’s best-selling points. She has truly mastered comedic timing, and while humour may be subjective, Grey’s pop culture references never fail to hit their mark:
If only we actually were in Harry Potter. I’d totally Crucio her ass. Yeah, that’s right, I’d use one of the Unforgivable Curses. Come at me, Ministry of Magic. (Scoring Wilder)
My palms are sweating. My knees are weak. My arms are heavy. Eminem’s the only one who understands me right now. (The Beau and the Belle)
With a supple dose of sarcasm and self-deprecating humour, Grey proves that growing older does not mean you lose the ability to laugh about yourself from time to time.
Writing for the new adult genre, Grey introduces women in their early twenties who don’t have all the answers but make up for it with quirky personalities and approachable lives. These are refreshingly realistic and relatable women, but they are none the weaker for it. Grey excels at portraying real women, in all their divine variety. Her protagonists range from successful career women, Olympic contestants to soccer camp champions—all with a drive to be more. Add in a bunch of awkward meet-cutes, clumsy love declarations and snarky banter, and you have a book you won’t want to put down.
Furthermore, Grey’s love interests are marvellous. There are guys that toe the line between being funny and broody, men who know what they want and fight for their love, and those quiet, trustworthy ones you know you’ll want to keep for yourself. While not all of them have drool-worthy abs (like we’re supposed to expect in the new adult genre at this point), they have charismatic personalities that will make your heart beat faster.
Enemies-to-lovers, forbidden fruit, high school crush, slow burn—it seems there is no trope Grey cannot turn into a binge-worthy read. Her recipe is addictive with no two novels are the same. Most of Grey’s novels are standalones with a few exceptions and can therefore be read in any order you want them to. Some characters make cameos in books, though, which makes for a fun little cherry on top when you recognise them. Regardless, whether you find yourself biting your nails to see if a certain soccer coach will break the rules, get a front-row seat to watch two singers who can’t stand each other write the perfect love song together, or a delicious enemies-to-business-associates-to-lovers rollercoaster, you’re guaranteed a fun time no matter which book you pick.
Lastly, Grey’s writing has evolved over the years. Despite her novels still being fun reads, she has begun to tackle more relevant topics, such as toxic relationships and finding the strength to move on. Grey’s latest novel Arrogant Devil has received a great deal of praise on Goodreads, with readers calling it “delightful and lighthearted”, “exceptional”, and “definitely my cup of tea”.
Readers who enjoy fluffy YA contemporaries such as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han and are looking for more mature content or enjoy other NA authors like Christina Lauren, R. Scarlett, Erin Watt, J. Lynn, or Krista & Becca Ritchie will find themselves drawn to Grey’s books.
Though she may be a veteran, Grey is a fresh breath of air in the New Adult genre and her romantic comedies make for a perfect summer read, so go on and explore her range of novels!
Find R.S. Grey on her website and social media with her books available for purchase on Amazon.
P.S – A little Insider tip is that Grey usually announces the date for pre-orders on her Instagram and up until the release day, her ebooks are up for grabs for 99 cents on Amazon.
