The dazzling author duo, comprised of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, best friends and overall badasses, has been putting out bestseller after bestseller, while making people swoon all over the planet.

No one does romance tropes quite like this author pair does—always fresh, never boring. You want an enemies-to-lovers story where there’s only one bed? The Unhoneymooners is right up your alley. More of a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope? My Favorite Half-Night Stand will make you flail your arms and beg the characters to finally realise they’re perfect for each other. Want to read about an unexpected romance with fake dating? Roomies is where it’s at. And if you just want to feel empowered in those quirks you often feel aren’t socially acceptable and are still looking for that one person that gets you – flaws and all? Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Dating is what you need in your life. And if you need a bit more steam to your romances, the Beautiful Bastard series is for you. Really, there’s something for everyone. Though the tropes might be formulaic, there is nothing generic about these innovative romances (and let’s be honest, we all love these tropes, after all).

What I appreciate most about Christina Lauren is the fact that none of their books ever fall into the dreaded ‘drawing out’ pit that pervades the romance genre. There’s no point in their stories where you have to drag yourself through a chapter; their writing is engaging and keeps you gripping those pages throughout. They are also incredibly apt at making you feel all the feels – from rolling your eyes at misogynist comments you’ve probably heard in real life before (and women delivering badass responses to those comments) to swooning when the couple you were rooting for finally gets together to choking up when everything feels like it’s about to fall apart. With their uncanny ability to create characters that feel instantly relatable, supernaturally funny, and just that touch of too good to be true, their romantic comedies dazzle.

I was lucky enough to discover their books through their YA release Autoboyography – a beautiful, heartbreaking story about a bisexual boy who falls in love with the son of a Mormon preacher (cue Taylor Swift’s Mine). It is an intricate look at love, religion, identity, and the search to find your place in a world that might not be all too friendly if you’re too honest about your feelings. But it’s also a story of acceptance, of found families and friendship that endures.

The best part about Christina Lauren’s writing is that it always draws you in. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a bit meh about feelings, you can easily get lost within the pages of their books. With snappy writing, quick wit and a heavy portion of feel-good energy, these books will make you smile, swoon and send you right back to the bookstore to pre-order their next release., which is Twice in a Blue Moon and releases on October 22nd.

Do you have a favourite book by Christina Lauren? Tell us in the comments below!

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The young women in her stories are amazingly complex and fierce young women, fighting for what they believe in and their places in the world. From Maya and Gauri, to the young Aru Shah…these young women will bring you to your knees in admiration (also looking at Zofiya and Laila, another two phenomenally written women). Of course the men she writes also have their dashing charms too.

“Honor your voice. Honor your story.” – Roshani Chokshi writing an article for The Book Smugglers

Writing YA and middle grade, all of her stories have been inspired by her Filipino and Indian heritage, allowing kids, teens, and even adults find themselves represented within these stories. That being said, she’s so real about sharing the reality that the stories she tells are from her perspective, and doesn’t speak for entire groups of people. I feel this is especially important in today’s time.

“She didn’t like following outlines, laughed openly at my ideas of backstory and kept trying to kill her love interest. The savagery.” – Chokshi talking about Gauri for an interview on Bustle

In writing or in person, Roshani’s voice is unique; having a way with words that’s just spell binding. I’ve had the opportunity to hear her speak at a few panels and just like her books, she’s witty, humorous, and so incredibly genuine. You can’t help but listen to what she has to say. I feel like her charisma and charm bleed into her characters, bringing them to life and making them relatable.

2019 is a big year for Roshani, as she published The Gilded Wolves in January, she’s getting married in March, and also will publish Aru Shah and the Song of Death on April 30th. Definitely go out there and give her some love!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to read any of her books, here’s a list:

Young Adult:

The Star-Touched Queen

A Crown of Wishes

Star-Touched Stories

The Gilded Wolves

Middle Grade:

Aru Shah and the End of Time

Aru Shah and the Song of Death

My personal suggestion is start with her first book The Star-Touched Queen. I feel like this book is where her writing style and voice are showcased the best, and each story builds, adds more dimension to the characters, to the world. Each one is better than the last. Of course, my two favourite stories from Chokshi are The Star-Touched Queen and The Gilded Wolves. I cannot wait what she’ll blow us out of the water with next.

Find Roshani’s books on Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read any of Roshani’s books? Tell us in the comments below!

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For me, reading is an escape from reality. Whenever I feel like I need to hit the pause button I pick up a book and listen to music. Even if the story I am reading is telling one that could easily be about me or my friends, it still is a safe haven. But when you read a story and feel understood you shelve them in your heart as special. An author with an enchanted “pen of understanding” and magic wand is the amazing Rainbow Rowell.

Rowell, who lives with her husband and two sons in Nebraska, is an author you cannot put into a box. She writes for young adults, adults, and comic fans, but what they all have in common, they are written by a nerd for nerds.

You’ve read the same books that I’ve read. You love the same stories. Let’s talk about them. Let’s think about them. Let’s take them apart and see what’s inside. – Via an interview with The Guardian

With such a unique name as Rainbow, her books do feel quite magical. She writes from the heart and her characters feel real as they often struggle with the same problems as the people who read about them. You can relate to the woman gossiping with her friend as well as to the girls and boys who do not feel like they fit into society no matter how hard they try.

Nerd, fangirl, fanboy, and so forth are all terms which have been considered offensive at some point to make one feel uncomfortable. Thankfully, times have changed because what would life be without having a smile on your face while talking to others about the latest news about your favourite something or someone? If you want to admit it or not, there is a little nerd in everyone, even in you!

And the thing about nerd culture mainstream culture now means that there’s no place to just be a nerd among other nerds – without being reminded that you’re the nerd. – Kindred Spirits

Adult Novels:

Attachments (2011)

The story follows Lincoln whose job it is to read email correspondence written by the employees of his company, to make sure they are not using them for private conversations. Beth and Jennifer trade gossip over emails and Lincoln is the invisible third wheel.

Landline (2014)

37-year-old Georgie McCool discovers that she is able to call her 22-year-old version of her husband through her landline. The career-driven Georgie has the chance to fix her marriage before it even started to break.

Young Adult Novels:

Eleanor & Park (2013)

The dual narrative book follows the two misfits Eleanor and Park who live in Omaha from 1986 to 1987. Eleanor, a chubby 16-year-old girl with curly red hair, and Park, a half-Korean 16-year-old boy, meet on a school bus on Eleanor’s first day at the school and gradually connect through comic books and mix tapes of ’80s music, sparking a love story.

Fangirl (2013)

The twins Cath and Wren are freshmen at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While Wren has no problem to connect with people, Cath is struggling to fit in due to her social anxiety disorder. So Cath spends her free time mostly writing fan fiction about her favourite book series about the magician called Simon Snow.

Carry On (2015)

The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is the spin-off to Fangirl as Cath loves the protagonist Simon Snow. It follows the final year of Simon Snow, who has to fight a greater evil while also cope with his roommate Baz. It is a standalone novel which is not one of Cath’s fan fictions.

Other Works:

Midnights (2014)

First published in the short story book My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins, Noel and Mags met the first time at a New Year’s Eve party and become friends. They continue spending NYE together and fall in love a bit more each time. Also available in Almost Midnight.

Kindred Spirits (2016) – World Book Day Edition

Elena cannot wait to see the new Star Wars movie and decided to camp for a week before the premiere in front of the cinema, and meets Gabe. Also available in Almost Midnight.

Runaways (2017)

First published in 2003, Rowell and Kris Anka had the honour to new create the team of six teenagers who discovers that their parents are part of an evil crime organisation known as “The Pride”. They run away and make it their goal to stop them.

What’s To Come?

Rowell will publish two books in 2019. Wayward Son is the much-anticipated sequel to Carry On and the graphic novel, Pumpkinheads. The graphic novel follows Deja and Josiah who are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

“I think young adult books are wonderful for teenagers because they make you feel less alone. When you’re a teenager, you worry that maybe you’re the only person feeling this weird or scary or perverted thing. And YA books tell you, “Nope. Your weird stuff is pretty normal, and you’re not the only one who’s scared.” – via interview with The Guardian

If you happen to read all of Rainbow Rowell’s book and you’re looking to read something else, then maybe the following books could be of interest to you!

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad’s old costume, Elle’s determined to win – unless her stepsisters get there first.

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.

Anna and The French Kiss Trilogy by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris–until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all…including a serious girlfriend. The exciting thing about this trilogy? Each book is a new story with new characters!

Do you have a favourite book by Rainbow Rowell? Tell us in the comments below!

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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.

Do you enjoy books by R.S. Grey? Or will you be checking them out? Tell us in the comments below!

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