Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest, which releases on June 9th 2026.

Noelle Lewis doesn’t have time for long walks on the beach, brunch with the girls, or summer vacations. She’s too busy saving up to go back to college. After recently getting laid off from her bookseller job, her main gig is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough for the upcoming semester’s tuition. But then the perfect, if not unconventional, opportunity arises…

Jeremiah Smith II, grandson of the founder of Smith’s Sweets—a well-known baked goods company—once lived a life of frivolity. Since his grandfather’s death, Jeremiah’s tried to clean up his act, but it’s hard to focus when his family requests that he join them at their summer house in Heart Beach, New Jersey, where his most painful memory lies. To avoid going there, Jeremiah claims he already has plans with his girlfriend, and of course, his family tells him to bring her. The problem? Jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.

After a chance meeting, Noelle and Jeremiah come to an agreement. He’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use that money toward her tuition. She figures it will be quick, easy money, but as it turns out, Jeremiah’s family is lovely, and Jeremiah is even lovelier. Soon, a weekend agreement turns into an entire summer, and Noelle and Jeremiah will have to keep their hearts in check, or else it’s sink or swim for them both.

Chapter One

New York City
Present Day

There was an unopened box of Smith’s Sweets salted caramel chocolate chip cookies waiting for Noelle Lewis in her kitchen cabinet.

She’d been thinking about the cookies for hours. Earlier at her day job while organizing a new beach reads display, she’d daydreamed about dipping the delicious cookies in milk before taking a big bite as she sat on the couch and searched through movie options on streaming services, pretending to look for something new, only to end up choosing Brown Sugar for the billionth time. Unfortunately, though, her date with her favorite cookies and early-2000s rom-com would have to wait. Because tonight was reserved for her side hustle.

In the dimly lit bathroom of Galactic Karaoke in Koreatown, Manhattan, Noelle hastened to unravel what felt like a yard of toilet paper, and she handed it to her client, Sheree, who stood at the bathroom sink, crying tears of anger because her cousin was ruining the joint bachelor-bachelorette party for Sheree and her fiancé, Justin.

“I don’t know why she’s here,” Sheree grumbled, accepting the wad of toilet paper. She swiped at the running mascara that now streaked her brown cheeks and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She emitted a weary sigh and turned her tearstained face back to Noelle. “Why bother showing up if you don’t even like me or my fiancé? She’s drinking up all the liquor that she hasn’t lifted a finger to pay for, and she’s being a bitch to Justin’s friends, but she thinks she’s flirting. Lord knows why I let my mom guilt me into choosing her as my maid of honor.”

“They say that weddings bring out the worst in people,” Noelle said gently.

Secretly, Noelle had to admit that Sheree’s cousin Raven was a bit much. Earlier at dinner when Sheree had introduced Noelle to the rest of the bridal party; her fiancé, Justin; and Justin’s friends, Raven had looked Noelle up and down with pursed lips like she’d just finished sucking on a sour straw. And for the past twenty minutes, Raven had hogged the microphone and was currently making her way through Rihanna’s catalog. Her off-key rendition of “Rude Boy” was terrible enough to make someone’s ears bleed. It didn’t help that she insisted on attempting to dance like Rihanna while she sang. She needed to sit down, expeditiously.

But it wasn’t Noelle’s job to fan the flames of drama. She was here to smile and seamlessly adapt, all in an effort to make the bride’s life easier. It was why she’d pulled Sheree into the bathroom when she’d noticed her eyes brimming with tears.

“Listen, you don’t have to let Raven ruin your night,” Noelle said, taking Sheree by her shoulders and looking at her head-on. “Think of the bigger picture! In a couple months, you’ll be married to the love of your life and living happily ever after. One drunk cousin won’t ruin that for you, will she?”

Sheree sniffled and allowed herself a small smile. “I really do love Justin,” she said. “I can’t wait to marry him.”

“Of course you can’t.” Noelle beamed, satisfied that she’d managed to lift Sheree’s mood. She reached into her purse and retrieved a tube of mascara. She always brought mascara, disposable spoolies, and makeup remover with her on nights when she had a wedding or wedding-related event. Brides tended to cry a lot. Noelle didn’t judge. Most brides were stressed the hell out and barely sleeping. Also, it wasn’t her job to judge.

She instructed Sheree to widen her eyes and look up as she reapplied mascara to her lashes and wiped away the residue of makeup on her cheeks. When Sheree shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms, Noelle shrugged off her leather jacket and draped it around Sheree’s shoulders.

“No more tears,” Noelle said. “Not when you look so beautiful.”

Sheree looked at her reflection again and glanced at Noelle sidelong with a smirk. “You’re good at this. I see why you have a five-star rating.”

Noelle smiled and shrugged, like it was no big deal. But truthfully, she took a lot of pride in her five-star Bridal Bestie rating. Noelle wasn’t one of Sheree’s oldest friends, and she wasn’t a wedding planner or a wedding crisis manager, for that matter. She’d been hired by Sheree to be one of her bridesmaids.

Sheree, a twenty-nine-year-old workaholic accountant who struggled to find time outside of the office to make friends, found herself in a tricky predicament when her outgoing fiancé Justin wanted all five of his line brothers as groomsmen. Sheree chose three cousins and her old college roommate to make up her bridal party, but she needed a fifth bridesmaid. Through the bridal grapevine, Sheree was made aware of Bridal Bestie, a website where a person could contract a professional stand-in to act as a bridesmaid for their wedding. That was where Noelle came in.

After passing a thorough background check, Sheree was able to sift through the agency’s available professionals in the area. There must have been something about Noelle’s profile that Sheree liked, because she took the next step, which was to request an agency-arranged meeting with Noelle. They got coffee in order to feel each other out. Then Sheree chose the Ultimate Best Friend package, which meant that in addition to being a bridesmaid in her September wedding, Noelle was contracted to attend tonight’s bachelor-bachelorette party, as well as Sheree’s bridal shower next month in August.

The story that Noelle and Sheree had agreed to tell was that they’d met a few months prior at a Lagree class and had quickly become close friends. Justin knew the truth, of course. But the rest of Sheree’s family had easily accepted the tale because Sheree attended Lagree religiously. Noelle, however, hadn’t ever heard of Lagree before meeting Sheree, so she’d watched countless YouTube videos of people bending themselves into pretzels on workout machines just in case anyone asked her a question about the class. So far, Lagree hadn’t come up, and it probably wouldn’t. But Noelle liked to be prepared anyway.

“Come on, let’s head back,” Noelle said, urging Sheree toward the bathroom exit. “You’ve got more singing to do. Maybe you can sing ‘We Found Love’ if Raven hasn’t already.”

Sheree laughed and smiled at Noelle gratefully as she followed her out of the bathroom and down the dark hallway back to their private karaoke room. One of Justin’s groomsmen had managed to steal the mic from Raven, and he was belting out “Don’t Leave Me” by Blackstreet. The other guys were surrounding him and singing backup. Raven stood in the corner of the room with her arms crossed, glaring daggers.

Noticing that they’d returned from the bathroom, Justin rushed over to Noelle and Sheree. He wrapped his gangly arms around Sheree and sported a lopsided, drunk smile.

“Everything good, babe?” he asked. Sheree grinned up at him and nodded. Justin looked over Sheree’s head at Noelle. “Thanks for helping her, Nola.”

For a second, Noelle considered correcting him. But he was drunk, and it honestly didn’t matter if he got her name right. She wasn’t a permanent fixture in their lives. She’d been working with Bridal Bestie for almost two years, and sometimes when she got along really well with a client, she wondered what it might be like if they tried to be real-life friends. One of the reasons she was so good at this job was because she didn’t struggle to connect with other people. In her high school senior year superlatives, she’d been voted Most Friendly. But it was a lot harder to make friends as an adult. She’d long ago lost touch with anyone from the University of Maryland, and lately she saw less and less of her best friend and roommate, Tati, because she spent most nights at her boyfriend André’s place. Noelle was happy for Tati. She was blissfully in love and had finally found her person after kissing one too many frogs. But Noelle still missed her. Both things could be true.

Sheree would probably be cool to hang out with in real life. But these days, Noelle was more concerned about the money.

She’d had various side hustles over the years. Bartending, cater waiting, walking dogs, babysitting toddlers, walking dogs while babysitting toddlers. Being a hired bridesmaid was by far the easiest and highest-paying side gig she’d ever had. With her side gig money, her paychecks from her main job at Hidden Gems Books, as well as doing food delivery and rideshare driving, combined with a bit of financial aid and private loans, she almost had enough money to go back to college and finish her bachelor’s degree. Finally.

Suddenly, across the room, an argument broke out between Raven and the groomsmen. While Sheree and Justin went to intervene, Noelle checked the time on her phone. 12:03 a.m. Her contract stated that her services were no longer needed after midnight, so her work here was officially done.

When there seemed to be a break in the bickering, she approached Sheree, lightly tapped her on the shoulder, and whispered, “I’m sorry, but it’s after midnight, and I’m going home now.” She lowered her voice another fraction. “Um, I just want to remind you that the remaining fee for tonight is due tomorrow by twelve p.m. and you can pay directly through the website. I’ll send you the receipt to reimburse me for my ride home.”

“Oh, of course, of course!” Sheree twisted around and gave Noelle a firm, warm hug. It felt nice. Even if their friendship was pretend. “I’ll pay everything asap. Get home safe.”

Each Bridal Bestie client was different, but what they had in common was that they needed Noelle’s help in some form or another. People with big social circles weren’t in need of her services. More often than not, her clients were a little lonely.

Maybe that was another reason that Noelle was good at this particular side hustle. She knew how loneliness could house itself inside your body and sit on top of your heart. Even six years later, she still vividly remembered the emptiness she felt as she’d packed up her junior year dorm room, knowing full well that losing her scholarship meant that she wouldn’t be able to return to UMD to finish her senior year. Her ex, CJ, hadn’t bothered to say goodbye to her, even though he was the reason she’d gotten into trouble and lost her scholarship in the first place.

But then again, the only person she could truly blame was herself. No one had told her to get mixed up with him and jeopardize her future.

As Noelle stepped outside onto the sidewalk, a group of girls walked by, laughing among themselves as they marched on in their high heels. It was early July, and the air was hot and muggy. People were out and about, enjoying summer. Noelle couldn’t remember when she’d last taken time off to do anything that remotely resembled summer fun. Unless she counted the afternoon last August when she’d gone to that run-down indoor water park with Tati, and middle school boys had catcalled them while they’d floated down the lazy river.

Noelle lived in New Jersey, a state lined with beaches, but she hadn’t been to the shore in almost three years. Working and saving every bit of money to go back to school was more important.

Her phone vibrated with an alert that her car ride was four minutes away. At the same time, she heard the karaoke bar entrance door open and close behind her. She turned around and came face-to-face with one of Justin’s groomsmen, Brian. He was medium height with light brown skin, and he must have come to their outing straight from work, because he was still wearing a suit, although he’d ditched his tie and unfastened the top buttons of his shirt.

Noelle had noticed Brian looking at her across the table at dinner, and upstairs during karaoke, he’d sat unnecessarily close to her on the couch, “accidentally” brushing his hand across her thigh as he’d reached for his drink.

In her line of side hustle, Noelle was often hit on by drunk guests who were excited to see a new face in their familiar ecosystem. But she held firm on maintaining boundaries with her clients and their loved ones. It was the only way to keep things professional. And on a personal level, she had no interest in dating right now. Why willingly give away what little time and energy she had to someone who more than likely wouldn’t bother meeting her halfway? She’d learned the hard way not to set herself up for disappointment in that regard.

“You dipped without saying goodbye,” Brian said as he approached her with a lazy smile. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyelids drooped. He was drunk, obviously. “Broke my heart a little.”

Noelle forced a smile. If Tati were here, she would have told Brian to fuck off without thinking twice. But Noelle hadn’t been hired for an Ultimate Best Friend package in a while. It had been an unusually slow summer for Bridal Bestie. Last summer, Noelle had worked at least two weddings a month. This summer, she’d worked one wedding in May, and the wedding she’d been assigned to in June had been called off at the last minute because the wedding planner had discovered that the venue was hiding a black mold infestation. Noelle had zero weddings lined up for July and August. Weddings were just too expensive now. People were opting to get married at the courthouse or to elope abroad. Noelle needed this gig with Sheree. It was good money, and she didn’t want to screw up her payday by cursing out one of the groom’s best friends.

“Yeah, I’m just tired,” she said, stepping toward the street and putting space between herself and Brian. “I’m heading home now.”

He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll stand out here with you. This city’s dangerous. Somebody might try to snatch your pretty self up.”

He winked. Noelle fought the urge to grimace.

Most days, she wore a Hidden Gems Books T-shirt and a pair of jeans and sneakers. When she wasn’t working, she wore whatever clothes she bought off the sale rack. For her Bridal Bestie gigs, with the exception of the bridesmaid dresses that were provided for her, she borrowed cute clothes from Tati. Like the sleeveless navy blue bodysuit, high-rise barrel jeans, and silver Mary Janes that she wore tonight. A few days ago, when Tati had last been home, she’d styled Noelle’s hair in goddess braids that fell down her back, which Noelle wore loose.

All this to say, Noelle was aware that she looked nicer than usual tonight. And because of her five-foot-three-inch height, she was also aware that people sometimes assumed she couldn’t take care of herself. But she didn’t leave the house without pepper spray in her purse and she wasn’t afraid to use it.

Excerpted from The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest Copyright © 2026 by Kristina Forest. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Summer Girlfriend’ by Kristina Forest appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This was so hard. I can go on and on with the number of upcoming diverse reads I’m excited about, but here are eight books by authors I admire that I think you should put on your radar:

Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow

I love a good slow burn, and I’ve heard that Keshe will deliver one in this romantasy. Make it happen at a magical college for aspiring veterinarians, and I’m already hooked. Add in academic rivals with animal familiars and a unique magic system to give the plot even more appeal. I can’t wait to read Strange Familiars. Out 5/19/26

By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin

A cowboy romance? Say less. Alexa Martin writes her heartfelt books with lots of humor, and I’ve heard this one is no exception. By the Bootstraps is set in a small town with Friday Night Lights as a comp and home renovations gone wrong. Which means it sounds like it was made for me. And perhaps for you too? Don’t even get me started on its stunning cover. Out 5/26/26

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

I haven’t read this one yet, but I already know I’m going to love it because, in my opinion, Kristina never misses. Her writing is sweet and fun, with a world and characters that feel so relatable and lived in. The Summer Girlfriend features a dual point of view for the lovers and fake dating where he falls first. I think this is going to be the perfect book to bring to the beach and its cover is sure to catch eyes while you’re there. Out 6/9/26

Die For Me by Shirlene Obuobi

If you haven’t yet heard of Die For Me, I am happy to be the one to tell you about it. Though, I refuse to spoil anything because the mystery is my favorite part of this book. At its base level, Die For Me is a paranormal romance but it also bends genre in the best ways. It’s sensual, thrilling, compulsive, and a little twisted. Featuring an intelligent interventional cardiologist and the sexy younger man she can’t seem to figure out. You might find yourself wondering just how gray you are on the moral scale while you’re reading this one. I devoured it. Out 7/14

Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar

I adore Naina’s romance books for their emotional richness. Even with familiar themes and comps, they feel very specific to her experiences. Just a Highland Fling features a main character who travels to her estranged father’s wedding and goes on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands to track down his runaway bride. What’s more fun? She goes on this adventure with her one-night stand. Out 7/21/26

Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson

This book is addicting. Rioghnach is such a clever storyteller. Every single line matters. A true enemies-to-lovers, this contemporary romance book comes with teeth and tension. I was biting my nails as I flew through pages, only to force myself to slow down and savor the words. These characters are realistically imperfect, they are messy, which made watching them realize they want each other that much more delicious. There’s no purity policing in this book. It’s not careful, in the best way. And that includes all the important commentary on the publishing industry. Out 10/6/26

Sunflower Season by Danica Nava

I had the honor of reading Sunflower Season in its early stages and it’s such a heartfelt, sweet second chance romance, set in a charming town with a callback to late 90’s-early 2000’s romcoms like Sweet Home Alabama and Hope Floats. Danica is witty on and off the page, so expect to laugh while you swoon over these characters finding their way back to each other. I adore them! Out 10/20

Two Can Play That Game by Zakiya N. Jamal

This book doesn’t come out for a bit, but I’m anxious for it. That cover? Sexy. Fake Dating? I love. Basketball? Yes, please. Sex positive sapphic romance? Take my money. Imagine sitting courtside and almost taking a basketball to the face before having the meet-cute of your life with a charming WNBA star? I already know I’ll be giggling and kicking my feet. Out 11/17/26.

Happy Reading!
Xx
Riss

The post Upcoming Diverse Reads To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About Still Into You: Two exes reunite for a make-or-break interview that will either bring them back together … or drive them apart forever. Released February 10th 2026.

One of my favorite parts of writing a book is the brainstorming phase, where I consume anything and everything I can get my hands on that might inspire me. I want to know what’s out there already, and what I could bring to the conversation that hasn’t already been said.

My latest novel—released February 10, 2026—is a love letter to elder emos. Still Into You follows Sloane Donavan, an aspiring music journalist struggling to break into the industry. When elusive metal frontman Dax Nakamura agrees to give her his first interview in eight years, she should be jumping at the opportunity. The catch? He’s her ex. Unable to pass up a shot at making her name—and helping Dax clear the reputation that’s plagued his—Sloane agrees. It’s only a conflict of interest if anyone finds out. But the article Dax wants and the salacious tell-all Sloane’s editor is expecting are two completely different stories. And as old feelings resurface, Sloane’s journalistic integrity hangs in the balance. This is the career-making piece she’s been waiting for, but it comes with a price: the chance to rewrite the ending with her first and only love.

As an emo kid in the early 2000s, I pulled heavily from my own experiences going to shows at skate parks and random parking lots. That said, I don’t possess a single crumb of musical ability. I would prefer not to be on a stage thankyouverymuch, and being a touring musician sounds really exhausting, actually. But I had so much fun researching Still Into You, diving into movies, tv shows, podcasts, and—of course—books that centered around musicians. Here is a selection of music-focused books that I loved, as well as a peek into my TBR:

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel

Pop superstar Ella Simone and MLB player Miles Westbrook team up to turn their tabloid scandal into an opportunity—a PR relationship that will shore up both their reputations. But as the lines between reality and PR begin to blur, will Ella stick to the choreographed life she knows so well, or surrender to a love that could set her free?

I fell in love with Ariel’s debut, and her transportive writing quickly made her an autobuy author for me. The way her MMCs go all in for the FMC will never fail to make me swoon.

Feels like: The opening notes of Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby.

Some Kind Of Famous by Ava Wilder

In this steamy and emotional small-town romance, a disgraced ex-musician and a local handyman try to resist their growing attraction for each other—until a house renovation forces them together.

I’m obsessed with Wilder’s writing. Her ability to craft such raw, real characters with believable flaws and hurts that have you wanting to hug and shake them as you’re rooting for them, their happily ever after so well-earned and fought for.

Feels like: Alanis Morissette girlies in their lovergirl era.

August Lane by Regina Black

Luke Randall didn’t write the love song that made him famous—August Lane did. A secret that August threatens to expose unless he writes a new song with her for her mother’s concert celebrating her induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame. As the concert nears and their passion bond rekindles, August will have to choose between an overdue public reckoning with the boy who betrayed her, or trusting the man he’s become to write a different love song.

Regina Black is every author’s favorite author. If you’re not already reading her books, 1) what are you doing? And 2) know that I’m jealous you get to experience them for the first time.

Feels like: Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

When two ex-bandmates and former best friends reunite to perform on a cruise ship, sparks fly. John has been in love with Micah since they were kids, but never said anything for the sake of the band. But when the two reunite, Micah can’t help but see John with brand new eyes. As the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point, they must decide if their relationship is more than a one-hit wonder.

I think about this book constantly. You can always tell when an author is writing about something they love, and Thompson’s love of music shines through in this novel. Childhood friends to lovers, second chance, angst, nostalgia, this book is everything I wanted it to be and more.

Feels like: The Twilight soundtrack.

The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod

Antonia Bennette is not a rock star. Neither are the Lillys—not yet. But the difference between being famous and being almost famous can be a single wrong note…or the start of something that’ll change your life forever.

Axelrod is a musician herself and it really enriches so many aspects of this novel. It’s equal parts a slow burn, childhood friends-to-lovers romance and a love letter to female musicians. Bonus: The sequel, Girls With Bad Reputations, is already out, with two more books in the Lilly’s series teased on Axelrod’s website.

Feels like: An Ecca Vandal album.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Sometimes the blurb is so good that I don’t even know what to add. Exes forced to fake date for PR? Say less. Come for the angst and the longing and stay for the sweeping feelings, the found family, and the nuanced exploration of mental health. The second book in this series, For Our Next Song, just released January 13, and I cannot wait to dive in!

Feels like: Hayley Williams hitting the high note in All I Wanted.

Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

Karaoke is the only time Lily Fischer can step outside of her quiet shell. When there’s a mic in her hand, she’s no longer merely a receptionist harboring big dreams. At Moonie’s, Lily can pretend to be someone else: someone bold, who takes what she wants. And tonight, what Lily wants is the way Sam looks at her across the room as she sings her signature opening song, like they see her exactly as she wants to be seen. Like Moonie’s Lily is real.

Confession: I have never done karaoke, nor do I intend to. However, I yearn to be the type of person who enjoys it. Thankfully, there are three novellas in the Moonlighters series where I can live vicariously through people who do. Check out the accompanying playlists on Kelly’s website for the optimal reading experience!

Feels like: Bringing the house down with the perfect karaoke song choice.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

Iris, a career-focused single mom and young widow, travels for work with popular R&B singer Angel and finds herself falling for him along the way.

A man with a long-held crush? He wrote a song about her?!? We’re into each other but we’re working together and have to keep it professional?!?!? This premise is music to my ears!

Feels like: May I Have This Dance by Francis & the Lights ft. Chance The Rapper

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort

A wildly electric romance about two musicians, Broadway star Erika Greene and German hair metal band frontman Christof Daae—who collide on the stage of a Nevada opera house.

If there were a Venn diagram of Phantom of the Opera and Jareth from Labyrinth, this book would be the overlap. You can always expect to laugh in a book by Comfort, but I especially appreciate her FMCs. They’re a little sharp, don’t always have it together, and top from the bottom (iykyk).

Feels like: The hilarity and hijinks you’d expect in a Twisted Sister music video.

Where Are Your Boys Tonight? by Chris Payne

An oral history of the rise and fall of emo from 1999 to 2008, featuring My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Panic! At the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional.

I was a chapter into this audiobook when I ran out to grab a physical copy because I needed to highlight and underline every other line. Immediately after finishing the book, I began rereading. If you were an emo kid in the early 2000s, this is required reading.

Feels like: The G note at the start of My Chemical Romance’s Welcome To The Black Parade.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

A powerful and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink. Their big break is here—if only they can survive it.

This just came out January 20, 2026, so this is a peek into my TBR. I cannot wait to dive into this one!

Encore by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang

In this music-filled queer romcom, ex-bandmates and successful solo artists Amelia and Ramona are forced to reconcile when their indie trio embarks on a reunion tour, five years after their breakout album, tour, and the one night that ruined everything.

Another peek into my TBR. This book isn’t slated to release until 2027, but this is just how seated I am for it.

The post Music-Focused Book Recommendations From Author Erin Connor appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover some of our picks and let us know if you’ll be picking up any!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

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A romance writer’s wildest dreams—the bestseller list, a movie deal, and a date with the real-life inspiration for her Hollywood hero—are all within her grasp if only she can hold it all together.    

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

Big Name Fan by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

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When two A-list celebrities famous for their on-screen chemistry as TV detectives (think: sapphic Mulder and Scully, or queer Rizzoli and Isles) are reunited to investigate a real-life Hollywood murder, fans who have been ‘shipping the leading ladies for years might just get the ending they’ve always wanted…

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

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In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde

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A young woman with Bollywood roots hires a barista to act as her boyfriend for her cousin’s wedding—only to learn you can’t fake chemistry like theirs—in this desi romance from the author of Match Me If You Can.

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding

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For fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall, and Meryl Wilsner, an actually hilarious, sweetly sexy, gloriously relatable sapphic rom-com about a fake relationship, very real emotions, and writing your own Hollywood love story – from the acclaimed author of For Her Consideration.

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

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The third in the steamy, hilarious Campus Diaries series by New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy, set in the same world as Off Campus and Briar U.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu

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A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening, almost entirely at a high school reunion….

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

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Preslaysa Williams, author of the “emotionally stirring debut” A Lowcountry Bride (Oprah Daily), returns to the Lowcountry with a heartwarming friends to lovers story about the courage to fall in love again.

Back After This by Linda Holmes

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?

Break Point by Yahrah St. John

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Falling in love cost Teagan her heart and a pro tennis career. But when her rival returns, they’ve got one last chance for a rematch…if they can keep the game on the court!

Cupid on the Loose by John. J. Jacobson

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From the author of All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone and California Fever comes a romantic comedy about the exuberant intoxication of amore and its often hilarious antics.

Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Devoted fangirl meets hesitant fanboy in this swoony contemporary love letter to readers who adore fantasy worlds, from the beloved authors of The Breakup Tour.

What February romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 Swoonworthy Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In February 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Erin lives in the PNW with her spouse, two large dogs, two lazy cats, and more houseplants than she can count. When not exploring fictional worlds, she enjoys hiking, cooking, emo nostalgia, and slowly but surely actualizing her lifelong goal of becoming a forest witch.

About Unromance (out Jan 14, 2025): A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

My upcoming debut novel, Unromance, is a love letter to rom-coms, celebrating all the tropes and cliches that readers have come to know, love, and expect. Each chapter of Unromance begins with a trope definition, and I wanted to pay my respects to some of the authors that inspired me, as well as books that excelled at making these tropes their own, making the familiar feel both fun and fresh. Here are a few of my favorite rom-coms that live rent free:

The Meet Cute
The love interests meet. It’s cute. It upends their entire lives.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Our heroes meet by getting stuck in an elevator together, and over a shared meal of purse cheese, our heroine agrees to be our hero’s fake date to his ex’s wedding. Guillory understands that couch time and pizza is a love language, and I really respect that about her books.

Love In The Time Of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

If a strange man shows up in the middle of the night to help you move the massive desk off your car, it’s completely reasonable to assume he might be a serial killer and not just a cute neighbor who has a totally legitimate reason to have a garage covered in tarps. Thompson writes my favorite female protagonists.

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

Our main character saves her hot new neighbor from a dangerous midnight intruder—the rental house’s Roomba. This is a small-town romance, so of course the local officials who answer the 911 call are her brothers. This meet cute is equal parts bonkers and endearing, a masterclass in situational humor.

The One-Night Stand
Romance math dictates that the less likely a character is to have a one-night stand, the more likely they are to run into said one-night stand again.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

I respect Solomon for writing a one-night stand that’s bad, actually. I respect her even more for writing the sex lessons trope where the female main character is the expert, with a male main character that is very eager to learn. This book contains one of the hottest first kisses I’ve ever read and should be studied.

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

Sometimes you have a one-night stand with a hot MILF only to realize it’s your best friend’s mom. Wilsner said “MILF”, and I said “Add to cart.”

Scandalized by Ivy Owens

What, your flight gets cancelled and you run into your childhood crush at the airport hotel and you’re not going to have a one-night stand with him? This book reads like fanfiction and a daydream all rolled into one, and I can’t think of a higher compliment than that.

The Contract
When two characters make a pact, replete with rules, which they are totally going to follow.

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

It’s completely reasonable to fake date the girl you had a disaster blind date with to get your brother to stop setting you up. And if she needs you to be her fake girlfriend for the holidays, it’s a win-win. This sapphic rom-com is equally swoony and steamy, as is everything Bellefleur writes.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

If you’re concerned about your bedroom prowess, hiring a professional sex worker and creating lesson plans with him is the logical solution. I dare you not to become completely enamored by this couple as their sex lessons become dating lessons, and eventually, dating for real. This book will always be one of my first recommendations to any reader looking to get into the genre.

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

If you get dumped at the airport right before embarking on an adventure reality show, the only solution is to enlist the hot, grounded pilot to be your fake boyfriend for the duration of the competition. If you like the only one bed trope, you’re really going to love having it over.. and over.. and over… all across the globe as these fake boyfriends compete on national TV, learning and growing together in this tender yet steamy romance. (*Out 06.10.25)

Holiday Hallmark Movie
Equal parts twinkling lights and patterned scarves, three dashes of hot-as-cocoa lingering looks, sprinkle in a tree-lighting ceremony, and serve up, at an ice skating rink in the town square.

In The Event Of Love by Courtney Kae

Okay, so what if you crashed into your childhood crush’s tree farm sign and fell into her hot, lumberjane arms and are now roped into a scheme to save your small town from the big, evil corporation. It doesn’t mean you’re going to fall in love with her… Right? This rom-com intentionally leans heavy into Hallmark cliches, but makes them feel fresh and new whilst still as cozy and endearing as you would expect.

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

This book is an absolute dream of a tropefest. It’s like the lyrics of Last Christmas had a baby with a Hallmark movie. Our protagonist agrees to a marriage of convenience with her landlord, and goes home with him for Christmas to keep up their fauxmance ruse, only to realize his sister is the woman she fell in love with last Christmas Eve—and was betrayed by the very next day. This book has all the mess and hijinks you could ever want from a holiday romp.

You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

Pitched as Schitt’s Creek meets Red, White, & Royal Blue, what else could you need to know? Our grinchy protagonist gets shipped off to a small, winter wonderland town where he discovers a found family, the miracle of forced proximity, and—of course—the true meaning of Christmas. This book is so warm and charming that even the grinchiest of readers will find their hearts growing three sizes.

The Quirky Best Friend
They’re weird, know how to push all your buttons, and you love them for it. No notes.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

This sassy best friend was such a fan favorite that she ended up getting her own book, The True Love Experiment. Start with TSE to meet her as we all did and fall in love with her, then read TTLE and watch her fall in love on a trope-based reality dating show.

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

Sometimes the snarky best friend is an eighty-year-old woman. Not enough books feature older characters, much less ones that get to be as feisty and spirited as this one, full of wisdom dispensed as hilarious anecdotes. I would read an entire book of just these two talking about everything and nothing.

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

The entire supporting cast of characters in this book is an absolute riot. Situational humor is difficult to pull off in text, but this book has it in spades. As a queer person from the south, this book set in the mountains of Georgia is the hug I didn’t know I needed.

Everyone Can See It But Them
No explanation necessary.

You, With A View by Jessica Joyce

In the wake of her grandmother’s passing, our protagonist uncovers photos of her grandmother’s first love—and the honeymoon road trip she never went on. With the help of the internet, she finds her grandmother’s former love. Lo and behold, he’s her high school nemesis’s grandfather. The three of them set out to complete the road trip, and no spoilers, but the way this sweet grandpa sees what’s coming before our protagonists do… Get your tissues ready. This rivals-to-lovers romcom is one of the sweetest, most heart-warming books, whilst also being sexy and witty. A true masterpiece.

Love & Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

A conspiracy theory skeptic and a true believer team up to make a web show hunting cryptids, and their back-and-forth chemistry leaves viewers wondering if there’s more to the duo than just co-hosts. There’s nothing better than reading a book where you can tell how much fun the author had writing about their niche interest, and even if you’re a skeptic like our main character, you’ll believe in this couple.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore

Our protagonists agree to be filmed as part of an online series following Gen Z in the workplace, and viewers instantly ship the two of them, not knowing our love interest stole the promotion our protagonist was gunning for. But when they have to work on a project together, they realize the internet might have been onto something. This debut is a knockout.

Secrets, Secrets
Romance statistics calculate that if you have a secret, the odds of it coming out at the absolute worst possible moment are 100 percent.

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria

With both their acting careers on the line, our protagonists take rehearsing their scripts very seriously, and if that means practice-kissing your incredibly hot costar, it’s all in service of the craft. Until it’s not, and their behind-the-scenes romance could risk exposing our hero’s closely guarded secret.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Perfect for fans of a You’ve Got Mail premise. Our two writer protagonists fall for each other via email correspondence—not knowing they’re actually neighbors. There’s something so delicious about watching people fall for each other online and then in person, knowing they’re the same and waiting for them to realize—especially when one of them realizes it first and knowing the secret will have to come to light—? Chef’s kiss.

Hot Summer by Elle Everhart

In this Love Island-esque premise, our protagonist agrees to go on the dating show and make it to the finale in exchange for a promotion at work—one of the show’s partners. Her connection to the show has to remain secret, but that becomes harder and harder as her connection to one of the contestants grows genuine—and puts her winning strategy at risk.

Just Once, To Get It Out Of Our Systems
The heroes are convinced their feelings are purely physical and the only solution is to act on them. Once. Just once. The heroes are also probably really bad at math.

You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon

I love a meta moment, so when this trope gets referenced by the swoony poet love interest saying, “So did you get it out of your system?” and “That’s not going to be the only time.” To quote Paris Hilton, “That’s hot.” (* Out 02.18.25)

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

She’s a romance cynic. He’s a hopeless romantic. They can totally fake date and casually sleep together, right? Talia Hibbert is romcom gold and a true smut queen. This entire series is required reading for any romance aficionado. 

What Is Love? by Jen Comfort

In this Jeopardy-inspired rom-com, two rivals team up to beat the show’s top ranked competitor in an All Star round. While the two couldn’t be more different, as they study together, they find an unlikely connection, and that maps can be quite sexy, actually.

One Night Stand To Strangers To Friends To Lovers To Idiots To Lovers
Invented by Mason Álvarez-West and Sawyer Greene, probably.

Unromance by Erin Connor

When a jaded romance author gets stuck in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she recognizes it for what it is: not a meet cute, but an opportunity for a one-night stand and a little inspo for her next book. But when they run into each other again, they realize they can help each other: she can cure him of the hopeless romanticism that keeps landing him in the tabloids, and in return, he can use it to help her with her writer’s block. Surely, acting out romance tropes together won’t have them hurtling towards a happily ever after neither of them saw coming.

The post 25 Rom-Com Book Recommendations From Author Erin Connor appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2025! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Emily Henry, Charlotte Stein, TJ Alexander, Jasmine Guillory, Ali Hazelwood, Meryl Wilsner, Abby Jimenez, Sarah Hogle, Katherine Center, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Ashley Poston, and many more, along with so many debuts too!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, YA books, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and Fiction books list.

JANUARY 2025

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

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A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.

Work In Progress by Kat Mackenzie

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A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

Unromance by Erin Connor

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A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

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Archaeologist Miriam and journalist Rafael are destined to be rivals and must journey together to find the Lost City of the Moon. As they navigate treacherous paths and rival crews, their hearts become entangled in a thrilling adventure where love and duty collide in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti returns with another hot, hilarious Regency romp about a reclusive earl and the wallflower-turned-radical-pamphleteer who turns his life upside down.

Yin Yang Love Song By Lauren Kung Jessen

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In this charming rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, an herbalist fake dates a star musician–perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

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From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

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Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

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With his funny, big-hearted adult rom com debut, bestselling, award-winning YA author Julian Winters shows sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

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When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Let’s Call A Truce by Amy Buchanan

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Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

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Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

FEBRUARY 2025

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

MARCH 2025

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch

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It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

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One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo

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The long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon The Light We Lost: a thrilling love story about the roles fate and choice play in shaping a life.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam

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A steamy new rom-com from the popular author of Happy Endings and Full Exposure, where two friends get the opportunity to work together on their dream project—a Cinderella rock musical with an all-Asian cast—and discover that falling in love was the easy part…

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

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Perfect for fans of Ted Lasso, this delicious slow burn romance turns a pretend marriage into real love.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

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Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

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The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

Cover Story by Celia Laskey

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A hilarious, emotional love story about an extremely anxious publicist who’s tasked with keeping an extremely gay starlet in the closet—but who ends up falling for her instead.​

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

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A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

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A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

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From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that’s both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey

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One of the greatest love stories in history gets derailed when a struggling poet at Cambridge runs into a time-traveler who agrees to help him find his muse—a thoughtful and uplifting romantic comedy for fans of About Time and The Midnight Library.

APRIL 2025

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

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A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

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Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey

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A small-town waitress and a big-city Broadway press agent swap homes to escape the messiness of their personal lives, only to find new purpose—and new love.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

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Meryl Wilsner’s spicy romance, their first with a nonbinary lead, where two lifelong best friends go on a nonrefundable honeymoon together and discover sometimes to find a happily ever after, you just have to ask.

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

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Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

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From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

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From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

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A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

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The exciting new contemporary romance—and her first to feature a queer romance—by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed

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A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from the New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.

MAY 2025

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher

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A witch and a shifter get a second chance at love in this new paranormal romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling author April Asher.

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt

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Sparks fly in this summer romp for fans of Casey McQuiston when dancers at a Catskills resort try to pull off the perfect show, and find happiness and a place where they belong on the way.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

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From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós comes a steamy love story of a divorced schoolteacher who discovers that her perfect no-strings fling is anything but…

Not So Fast by Karen Booth

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It’s Formula One—getting revved up is all part of the fun in this sizzling, high-octane rom-com for fans of Rush and The Hating Game.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

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A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

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A former adolescent TV punch line has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash course with her past, spending a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

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An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and “melt your face off intimacy” (Jessica Joyce).

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

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A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

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No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

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A hilarious, unputdownable second-chance-romance about the most unlikely, gay roommate mishap. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

JUNE 2025

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

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Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons’s gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in with the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North

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A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup in Maggie North’s sparkling second novel about starting over.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel

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Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

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A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

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Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

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Two estranged best friends find that their long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

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A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians’ tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

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In this contemporary novel from the author of Counting Down with You, singer-songwriter Summer Ali shakes things up with a PR stunt “dating” actor Jules Moradi, but the lines between real and fake begin to blur.

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them unexpectedly announces they’re getting married.

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja

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In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after?

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Mulan is reimagined as a contemporary romance about family expectations, mistaken identity, and high stakes mergers—of both business and the heart.

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

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From the author of Just Some Stupid Love Story, an irresistible rom-com about what happens when a cruise ship romance goes…overboard

What 2025 romance books are you looking forward to reading? Any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Releasing on April 16th 2024, When I Think Of You is a sweeping second chance romance from debut author Myah Ariel where the unexpected spark of two former flames may force them to choose between their dreams and each other.

As a nineties kid with an old-soul, I feel like I was destined to become a romance author. Whether I was riding in the backseat of my mom’s station wagon belting out to R&B icons like Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton or getting dressed for school with the antics of Hillman College’s coeds as background noise–I’ve grown up surrounded by potent illustrations of Black Love. Naturally, when I sat down to write my first book, When I Think of You–which is itself a romance novel about making a romance film–I wanted to create something that felt just like the Black love stories that made me a hopeless romantic in the first place. One that evoked the chemistry and longing my favorite artists sang about, and that featured the vibrantly authentic characters that have been immortalized in movies and on TV. In that same spirit, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite romance novels written by Black authors, and the classic films and TV shows to pair them with based on vibes alone.

Vibe: When you find ‘the one’ but seemingly never at the right time…

Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan & Sylvie’s Love (Film, Dir. Eugene Ashe, 2020)

Read this contemporary romance that features a seering take on the childhood friends to lovers trope which brings us on an angst-filled journey of two soulmates with the worst timing–much like the gorgeously lyrical film Sylvie’s Love which, set in the 1960’s, highlights a “right person-wrong time” connection between a deeply conflicted woman who is soon to be wed and the jazz musician who swept her off her feet. 

 

Vibe: When the world is harsh but in each other, you find a soft place to land…

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams & Poetic Justice (Film, Dir. John Singleton, 1993)

Read this second-chance love story about two tortured novelists who reunite after spending years calling out their unresolved passions for each other through their art. Then watch this West Coast road trip flick which chronicles a romance marked by vulnerability between a talented poet and hairstylist played by the Janet Jackson and an aspiring musician played by Tupac Shakur in his prime.  

Vibe: When college provides a vivid backdrop for self-exploration with a test-run for the real world…

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola & A Different World (TV Show, Created by Bill Cosby, 1987-1993)

Read this contemporary romance which centers an outspoken college radio host who doles out dating advice to her Black women cohorts only to find herself embroiled in a very inconvenient situationship with her campus’ biggest f-boy. Then watch the canon television series that follows the exploits of students at Hillman College, a fictionalized HBCU, and produced one of the most pleasantly surprising and iconic “opposites attract” TV couples of all time.

 

Vibe: When a shared passion forges a connection you can’t shake…

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest & Brown Sugar (Film, Dir. Rick Famuyiwa, 2002)

Read this dreamy epistolary romance between two New Yorkers who eventually learn they have more in common than a deep appreciation for books. Then watch this timeless romcom starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs whose mutual affinity for Hip Hop sealed their friendship in childhood, but eventually blossomed into something else entirely–which neither one of them could deny. 

Vibe: When the attraction burns brighter than all the reasons why this should never happen…

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black & Scandal (TV Show, Created by Shonda Rhimes, 20012-2018)

Read this sizzling contemporary romance about a woman who, fed up with her role as political trophy-wife to her philandering husband, finds an all-consuming connection with a younger artist who sees beyond the appearances she’s kept so well. Then watch (or binge, let’s be real) this gripping TV drama about brilliantly devious political fixers and the radioactively scandalous, yet wholly undeniable forbidden romance at its center.   

 

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert & Rye Lane (Film, Dir. Raine Allen-Miller, 2023)

Read this deliciously humorous and heartfelt romantic comedy between a jaded academic and a brooding ex-athlete who enter a fake relationship only to find something all too real. Then watch Raine Allen-Miller’s feature debut which puts a vivid and stylized spin on the timeless fake-dating trope, by following a down on his luck, just-dumped Dom and the vibrant Yas, who draws him out of his shell while nursing her own broken heart. 

 

Vibe: When getting away means finding yourself in the eyes of someone you didn’t know you were searching for…

Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop & How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Film, Dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan, 1998)

Read this viscerally escapist sensation about finding love where you least expect it– at your sister’s tropical destination wedding– to your ex, and the life-affirming connections that can take you by surprise. Then watch the classic age-gap romance between the one and only Angela Bassett, and Taye Diggs, who meet on the beaches of Jamaica and spark a passionate, if unlikely, romance that tilts both their worlds on end.  

Vibe: When what sets you apart, actually makes you perfect for each other…

Pride & Protest by Nikki Payne & Something New (Film, Dir. Sanaa Hamri, 2006)

Read this brilliantly remixed Pride & Prejudice retelling about an activist DJ, fighting to save her neighborhood, and the well-intentioned billionaire who’s family business is primed to run afoul of everything she stands for. Then watch this nuanced interracial romance starring Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker, whose characters perform the delicate, sometimes awkward, and often vulnerable dance of falling in love, authentically, across differences.

The post 8 Romance Novels By Black Authors and The Films/TV Shows To Pair With Them appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Kristina Forest’s The Partner Plot, which releases February 27th 2024.

To Violet Greene, fashion is everything. As a successful celebrity stylist, she travels all over the world, living out her dreams. Professionally, she’s thriving, but her personal life is in shambles. After surviving a very public breakup with her ex-fiancé six months ago, Violet is now determined to focus on her career. But life hands her something—or rather, someone—that might derail everything…

Xavier Wright did not expect to run into his high school girlfriend Violet—the girl he once thought he’d marry—on a birthday trip to Vegas. As a high school teacher and basketball coach, he rarely leaves his New Jersey hometown, so what were the chances? But when the initial shock wears off, they decide to celebrate together. They feel young and reckless as they party the night away—and reckless they clearly were when the following morning, they wake up beside each other with rings on their fingers.

Their impulsive nuptials might be a blessing in disguise, though, when they realize that both of their careers could benefit from the marriage. So they play the part of a blissfully wedded couple. Yet when their passion comes hurling back, they realize their feelings are just as real as they were back when they were teens. But are their lives too different to stick it through or will they finally get a happy ending?

Violet turned and quickly scanned the clusters of people moving through the lobby. She’d lost her room key at dinner and was waiting to receive a new card while Karina and the rest of their group got ready for the club. She didn’t spot a familiar face in the crowd. Maybe she’d been imagining things. Alex pointing out Violet’s tattoo must have put her on edge. She turned back toward the desk, and the person shouted her name again. This time, Violet spun around and found herself looking directly at Raheem Anderson from high school.

He was walking right toward her, smiling huge and waving. The ceiling lights reflected off his flashy gold chain and grills. Violet was so dumbfounded to run into Raheem here of all places, she could only stare and blink. The last time she saw him, she’d been seventeen years old, smoking a bowl with him and Xavier in his basement. Eleven years ago. She kept in touch with his fiancé Bianca here and there, so she knew that they were the parents of an absolutely adorable one year old, Raheem Jr. But she hadn’t spoken to Raheem directly in a very long time. She’d deactivated her Facebook a while back and had no interest whatsoever in reviving it. And other than Bianca, she didn’t follow anyone from high school on Instagram.

“What’s up, girl?” Raheem reached Violet and enveloped her in a tight hug. As a teenager, he’d been short and scrawny, the kicker for their football team who’d rather run in the opposite direction than be tackled. Now, he was still short, but he’d gotten stockier, like he worked out. He lifted Violet with ease through the sheer strength of his hug before setting her back down. “How you been?”

“Good.” She was still blinking, still baffled. She placed her arms on his shoulders and leaned away slightly, getting a better look at him. His eyelids were droopy, and she inhaled a faint whiff of alcohol on his breath. “Wh—what are you doing here?”

“Partying, of course! What else? You know how I get down.”

“Ha.” She didn’t know how he got down. Not anymore.

“Your room key, miss.”

Startled, Violet turned to the front desk associate who was holding out her replacement key card. She thanked him and slipped the card in her clutch before turning back to Raheem.

“Well, it was good to see you…” She began to edge away, glancing down at her vibrating phone. There was a text from Edwin on behalf of Karina, asking if Violet was having an issue getting another room key. Alex had also texted and asked where Violet had packed the extra roll of boob tape for Karina’s outfit change.

She needed to get back to her team. Plus, suddenly seeing Raheem in this unexpected way stirred up a lot of memories that she’d rather keep buried deep in the crevices of her mind where they belonged.

“Wait, one second,” Raheem said, holding out an arm to still her. He glanced back and stood on tip toe, waving his hand and beckoning someone else over.

Somehow, without having concrete proof, she knew who Raheem was calling out to. Because who else would it be? The blood drained from Violet’s face. Her throat grew dry, and she swallowed thickly. She took another step back, ready to escape.

“Actually,” she croaked. “I can’t—”

“X!” Raheem shouted, his hand placed lightly on her elbow. “Come here, cuzzo!”

She squeezed her eyes closed. Her insides were screaming at her to make a run for it.

I’m not ready for this! I was supposed to be cool, calm, and collected when I saw him again! Not exhausted and running on three hours of sleep! He was supposed to look at me and immediately regret the day he broke my heart!

She forced herself to take a deep breath and open her eyes. Then the air whooshed right out of her. Standing a head taller than everyone around him and striding in her direction was the former love of her life.

Xavier Wright.

He and Violet locked eyes and the room tilted off center. She blinked rapidly and cleared her throat, silently scolding her heart for its erratic beating. But her heartbeat only defied her more as Xavier drew closer. She took in his strong build and alert gaze. His shiny, perfect curls atop his fresh haircut. His smooth, acne free skin. Oh, fuck, he was still gorgeous. Why?! Why hadn’t he developed a receding hairline? Why didn’t he have a struggle bus beard that refused to connect? That was what he deserved!

And he was smiling at her. Smiling. Like he was overjoyed to see her. Like he hadn’t shattered her poor, fragile nineteen-year-old heart into a million little pieces.

“Violet,” Xavier said, coming to a stop right in front of her. He sounded dazed, somewhat breathless. “Hey.”

Then he was hugging her. He wrapped his arms around her, enfolding her against his body. He was still so much taller than her. Her face was adjacent with his chest. Her pulse thundered, and she commanded herself to breathe deeply and stay cool. God, he smelled good. Minty and clean. For a moment, she was so overwhelmed, she didn’t know what to do, how to respond. Stilted, she lifted her arms and brought them around to rest at his upper back. The awkwardness and shock she felt at his presence momentarily melted into familiarity. It was so natural to hug him. Like nine years hadn’t gone by since they’d last spoken, standing on his front porch on the first day of winter break.

Their hug was both never-ending and brief. Xavier’s arms fell away and he stepped back, putting a polite amount of distance between them. Violet cleared her throat again and let her eyes roam his face, noticing the differences between then and now. For one, there was his full beard and the deeper laugh lines around his mouth. He’d put on more weight, and it looked good on him. His cheeks were fuller, his build slightly huskier. He was no longer the wiry beanpole from high school. But some things remained the same, like the beauty mark above his left eyebrow and the scar on his chin from when he’d fallen during a game.

In today’s day and age, it was easy to keep tabs on someone without actually ever talking to them, but as far as Violet could tell, Xavier had zero social media presence. Through her parents, she knew that he still lived in Willow Ridge and that he was teaching at the high school. For some reason, Dahlia often felt the need to inform Violet of Xavier’s existence every time she ran into him at the supermarket or a town event.

“He’s so handsome and kind,” Dahlia often said. Then she’d go on and on about what a difference Xavier was making with the high school students, like she hadn’t called him a menace to Violet’s education when they’d been high school students themselves.

Whenever Dahlia mentioned Xavier, Violet feigned nonchalance and tried her best to ignore the prick in her chest. But now that she and Xavier were face to face, she had proof that her mom had been telling the truth. He was still handsome.

She stared at him, fumbling for something to say.

What do you have to be nervous for? You are that girl. Act like it.

“It’s nice to see you,” she said. Her voice took on a cool level of indifference. Her easy smile required a mountain of effort. “What brings you to Vegas?”

“I won a raffle for a free room at the hotel.” His voice was deeper. Another change. He smiled a little and shrugged. “Celebrating my birthday.”

“Oh, right,” she said, as if she’d forgotten that his birthday had passed just a few days ago on January twelfth. “Happy belated.”

“Thank you.” He was staring at her so intently, her cheeks were beginning to burn under his gaze. “I’m guessing you’re here for work? With Karamel Kitty?”

Ah. He might not have been on social media, but someone had apparently been keeping tabs.

“Yes.” She nodded, even though that was unnecessary because she’d just said yes. “About to go to the club, actually.”

“Oh shit, us too!” Raheem said.

“Oh, really?” Violet glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Alex or Edwin. Even Karina’s surly bodyguard would do right now. Anyone to pull her away and put an end to this encounter. “Cool.”

“You look beautiful, Vi,” Xavier blurted.

Her gaze snapped back to him. Hearing him say her nickname so softly threatened her mask of composure. She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, his jaw working as his eyes quickly swept over her. She saw the moment that he noticed the X on her hip. He paused, and his eyes widened for a millisecond. Embarrassed, she adjusted her dress once again to cover the exposed skin. Apologies to Valentino Garavani, but she was going to burn this dress the first chance she got. She could only imagine how she looked right now. Walking around in a dress which showed off the tattoo that was dedicated to him!

Yet she was dying to know if he still had his tattoo as well. Pride kept her from asking.

“Thank you,” she finally said, looking away again.

“This is a beautiful thing.” Raheem put his arms around Violet and Xavier and pulled them into a group hug. “The old crew back together again like old times. We’re just missing B.”

Violet looked across at Xavier, who stared back at her. The corner of his mouth lifted into an awkward smile. God, this was so weird.

Suddenly, the lobby grew louder, and people pulled out their phones, angling them toward the elevator. Fans began shouting for Karamel Kitty.

“That’s my cue,” Violet said, disentangling herself from the group hug. She glanced at Xavier, struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was really in front of her, flesh and blood. “It was, um, nice to—”

“Wait, Violet, you gotta introduce me to Karamel Kitty,” Raheem said, clasping her hand in his. “Please, she’s my favorite rapper. The second love of my life, after Bianca.”

“Uh.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Xavier said, removing Raheem’s grasp on Violet’s hand. He smiled at her again, and her silly, traitorous heartbeat went on the fritz. “But if you’re ever back in Willow Ridge, maybe we—”

“No, I need to meet her!” Raheem begged. “When will I ever get this chance again?”

Violet shot Raheem an annoyed look. What had Xavier been about to say? If she were back in Willow Ridge, maybe what? More importantly, why did she care?!

The shouts from the crowd grew louder, and Raheem’s hold on Violet’s arm went slack. She turned, and Karina and crew were walking in her direction, flanked by her bodyguard and the additional hotel security. Karina waved and blew kisses to her fans. When she spotted Violet, she threw her arms up like, girl, where the hell have you been?

“Sorry,” Violet said, once Karina plus entourage reached them. “These are old friends from high school, Raheem and Xavier.”

Karina raised an eyebrow, and Violet nodded once. Confirming that yes, this was that Xavier. Karina knew all about Violet’s harrowing bout with first love thanks to that fateful day they’d spent trapped inside the elevator in Dubai.

“How y’all doing?” Karina asked. Raheem’s openmouthed stare could have caught flies as he shook Karina’s hand. Xavier shook Karina’s hand as well, but Violet felt his eyes on her the entire time.

“Okay, we really need to get going,” Edwin said, coming forward.

“Oh, which club y’all going to?” Raheem asked.

“The one in the hotel,” Karina answered. She smirked, like Raheem amused her.

“Same as us! We should go together.”

Raheem suggested this so easily as if he and Karina, a Grammy nominated rapper, had been friends for years and didn’t just meet two seconds ago. Beside him, Xavier grimaced.

Violet and Karina exchanged another glance. Karina furrowed her brows, her way of asking if Violet cared whether or not Xavier and Raheem joined them. Violet would prefer it they did not join them. But she didn’t want to make this situation more awkward by telling them no, especially because Raheem looked so excited.

After she and Xavier had officially ended things all those years ago and Raheem had no real reason to keep in contact with Violet, he’d continued to reach out every once in a while to see how she was doing. Before she’d changed her number to a New York zip code.

In answer, Violet subtly lifted her shoulder and shrugged. Karina blinked once. You sure? Violet cleared her throat. Yep.

“Yeah, you can come,” Karina said. She gestured to Edwin. “Can you add their names to the list, boo?”

Edwin quickly took down Xavier and Raheem’s information, and Violet finally had a chance to break away. She went over to Alex and asked if she’d found the boob tape for Karina, then she asked if the rest of the dresses were ready to be shipped back to her Manhattan studio space in the morning. And all the while, she pretended like she couldn’t feel Xavier watching her.

At the club, she’d make sure to put a fair amount of distance between them. She didn’t have to make a big deal out of this. He’d popped her cherry and had been the object of her hormone crazed teenage affections. So what? It was old news.

After tonight, she’d never have to see Xavier again.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Partner Plot’ by Kristina Forest appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to learn more about Kristina’s inspiration, book recommendations, and all things The Neighbor Favor!

Hi Kristina, thank you so much for chatting with us! First off, can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m Kristina and I write romances for both teens and adults. The Neighbor Favor is my most recent novel, about two people who anonymously correspond online and later become real life neighbors.

What sets The Neighbor Favor apart from other contemporary romances?

What I like most about The Neighbor Favor is that I think it fits well into the contemporary romance canon. I didn’t set out to do anything revolutionary. I just wanted to tell a good, romantic story with Black characters, and I hope that’s what I achieved! As a romance reader, I like to go into a book knowing that it’s going to deliver on certain tropes and storylines, and hopefully readers feel satisfied with the story that I wrote. That in itself makes any book feel special.

What was your inspiration behind N. R. Strickland’s novel: “The Elves of Ceradon”?

I was mostly inspired by high fantasy novels/their cinematic adaptations, like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings.

Do you have a favorite scene or chapter in The Neighbor Favor?

I really love Lily and Nick’s emails in part one of the book. Another favorite scene is when Lily and Nick take her cat Tomcat to the vet.

If you could pick a song to describe Lily and Nick’s relationship, what would it be?

“Plastic off the Sofa” by Beyonce’

Which Greene sister are you most like: Lily, Violet, or Iris?

I’m like of each of them. I think of it like the rising, moon and sun signs of the zodiac. I’m an Iris rising, Violet sun and Lily moon.

Did you encounter any challenges while writing The Neighbor Favor and, if so, how did you overcome them?

Because I come from a YA background, I was hyperfocused on making sure that Lily and Nick genuinely sounded like people who are in their late twenties. I shared the manuscript with my critique partner and agent and asked for their thoughts and advice on making sure Lily and Nick came across as authentic.

Other than The Neighbor Favor, what is a “book about books” that you always recommend?

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare or Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

What’s next for you?

Next for me is the follow up to The Neighbor Favor, which is about Lily’s older sister, Violet and my next YA romance as well.

Lastly, are there any releases this year our readers should look out for?

Yes!

• The Art of Scandal by Regina Black
• Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne
• Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown
• Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn

Will you be picking up The Neighbor Favor? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Kristina Forest, Author of ‘The Neighbor Favor’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Neighbor Favor is a contemporary adult rom-com featuring the pen pals/secret identity, “friends to lovers”, and forced proximity tropes. I would highly recommend The Neighbor Favor to fans of “books about books” such as By the Book by Jasmine Guillory, Book Lovers by Emily Henry, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, Booked for the Holidays by Chelsea Curto, or Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. Some themes present in The Neighbor Favor include communication, companionship, escapism, empowerment, family, fear of failure, love and heartbreak, isolation, and overcoming fears. Some trigger warnings include cheating, toxic relationships, death of a partner (in the past), and absentee parents.

First off, being a huge book nerd myself, I loved how “bookish” this book was as the main characters are both bookworms working in the writing and publishing industry and they bond over their love of books and reading. I enjoyed reading about Lily and Nick’s almost soulmate-like connection; they are both introverted or closed off, but they are inexplicably able to come out of their shells and be themselves whilst around each other. I also appreciated that, even though there was some miscommunication, once the main couple finally got together, they didn’t really have a third-act break-up.

The biggest downfall for me was that The Neighbor Favor was very slow to start and hard to get into seeing as the first forth of the novel consisted of Lily and Strick’s email exchanges; it seemed like the email section should have been shorter as perhaps we had to wait too long to get into the main action of the story. Overall, the plot wasn’t really what I was expecting…the plot was almost Hallmark-y (but with some spice!), and not very action-packed. Lastly, the miscommunication/secret identity plotline caused this sense of impending doom as you are waiting for the inevitable fallout that would accompany Lily discovering Nick’s secret.

At the end of the book, there was a sneak peek at Violet’s story so I assume that there will be at least two more installments of this series (one for each of Lily’s sisters). If you’re a bookworm, enjoy “books about books” and have always fantasised about befriending your favourite author, then you should definitely check out The Neighbor Favor.

The Neighbor Favor is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Neighbor Favor? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with, in this sparkling and heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest.

Shy, bookish, and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming a children’s books editor, but she’s been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over email turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else Lily won’t let herself entertain—until he ghosts her without a word.

Months later, Lily is still crushed, but she’s determined to get a hold of her life, starting with finding a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, who she feels drawn to for reasons she can’t explain. But little does she know, Nick is an author—her favorite fantasy author.

Nick, who has his reasons for using a pen name and pushing people away, soon realizes that the beautiful, quiet girl from down the hall is the same Lily he fell in love with over email months ago. Unwilling to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else, though this simple favor between two neighbors is anything but—not when he can’t get her off his mind…

The post Review: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest appeared first on The Nerd Daily.