Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Lillie Vale’s Hit Me With Your Best Charm, which is out now.

Every year without him, it gets easier to pretend Nova doesn’t believe in myth and magic. Easier to pretend she’s doing okay. Easier to pretend she doesn’t have a secret crush on the girl she fake-hates.

Kiara Mistry is the luckiest girl in town and the thief of every crush Nova had her heart set on first. In theory, Nova should resent Kiara. But it’s getting harder to deny her feelings.

When Nova lays an unintended hex on Kiara at the Fall Festival, and one misfortune after another swiftly follows, soon Kiara’s very survival is at stake. To reverse the bad luck, Kiara’s exes turned BFFs commence a quest for the miraculous wishing well. There’s only one person who can get them there . . . Nova.

But to save Kiara—and maybe find her dad, too—she’ll have to believe in something much stronger than magic. Nova will need to believe in herself.

Nova, if you weren’t so good at keeping secrets, you wouldn’t be in the dark maw of the forest now.

Certainly not on the heels of dusk, hugging myself against the biting cold and the prickling unease. Definitely not after I’d been forbidden by my last remaining parent. Not once, not twice, but as long as memory. And considering these are the same woods that stole my father from us seven years ago, Mom has good reason.

But she’s given up hope, and I never will.

I try to make it out here once a week, try to push myself to go an extra step, then fifty feet, then half a mile. Today I’m the farthest I’ve ever been, but compared to the impossible vastness of Longing Woods, that’s not saying much. Between school, home, volunteering, and friends, I don’t get to spend much time here. It’s not nothing, but at this rate, I’ll never find Dad.

And after this long, I’m the only one still looking.

If anyone knew I was doing this, they’d say it was a fool’s hope. A desperate daughter plunging headfirst into danger to find a man everyone else believes to be long dead. Maybe they’re right, but my heart tells me my dad is alive. And if he ­is . . . I’m his last hope.

He’s been missing exactly seven years to the day. The day of our town’s Fall Festival. Today is scarred into us like my parents’ initials carved into the bark of the trees I passed a mile back. Losing him isn’t something we’ve gotten over or moved past, as though such a thing should even be possible. One of the people who loved me the most in the world is gone. Nothing about that will ever be okay.

Mom and I have never acknowledged the anniversary of his disappearance, not even once. It hurt and confused me when I was a child, but I get it now. It already tortures Mom enough every other day of the year. The last thing I want is to compound it, but here I am, doing just that.

Is it worth risking Mom’s wrath and being grounded for the rest of my junior year?

Without question.

There are thousands of living things merrily going about their business, completely unconcerned with the fading day and the teenage girl in their midst and the fear nipping at her heart. I’m the furthest thing from alone out here, but that’s not as comforting as it sounds. Strange noises always follow me wherever I go. Something more than the wind rustling dry leaves or crickets calling to each other.

There! There it is again.

Soft crunches surround me. Whisper soft, like careful footfalls trying not to give themselves away. My breath catches. I rub away the prickles on the back of my neck, the insides of my wrists. Steady my breathing the way Dad and, later, my therapist taught me.

It could be anything: Gray squirrels scrambling across brittle September leaves, collecting nuts. The huffs and grunts of antlered elk. Plump wild turkeys with their dark plumage foraging for seeds and insects, stalking the odd small reptile, too. I don’t mind the frogs and lizards, but the last thing I want is to run across a snake.

Dad’s stomach wouldn’t be tense with sick dread, but mine definitely is. I might have been raised by a fearless outdoorsman for the first ten years of my life, but I spent the next seven living in the shadow of his disappearance.

I whip around, wild eyes darting.

Nothing there.

And even though I strain my eyes and ears, I can’t hear anything except my own shallow breathing, and even that’s drummed out by the violent ticking in my ears. Blood rushes to the tips of my fingers, and just like that, I’m not cold anymore.

Somehow, I always expect coming here to be easier, but it still takes all my courage to step beyond the tree line that stands as the gateway between the Tennessee mountain town of Prior’s End and the Longing Woods. I’m about two miles in today, according to the last trail marker I passed. The way has been uneven in parts but nowhere near as rocky and rambling as it will get if I go deeper.

As much as I want to, I don’t have the gear to keep going. Hiking and camping equipment is expensive, and besides, I have nowhere to hide it at home.

Can’t ask my friends to hang on to it for me, either. Austin and Caroline would rightfully flip out if they knew what I was doing; they wouldn’t find it easy to keep my ­stuff . . . or my secret. And my forays into the woods have to be a secret, which means I have to be back before sunset. Before Mom wonders where I am or what I’m doing.

So tonight, this is as far as I go.

Guilt surges in my belly. I was wrong. Two miles is nothing. If Dad was this close to civilization, he would have made it back to us. He would have come across other hikers who could have helped him. Wherever he is, it’s nowhere close.

And on my own, I’m no closer to finding him.

Even if it’s hopeless, I need answers. I need to know his fate. Not to move on, because that’s one thing I will never do. I will love and miss him forever. But I do need to reshape myself around his absence. And I can’t do that if I don’t know what happened out there.

My father, Jules Marwood, was a wilderness survival specialist. He took groups out for overnight excursions, long weekends, even tailored weeklong corporate training designed to promote team building, problem-solving, and leadership. He and Shane, Austin’s dad, practically spent their childhood in the woods. The two best friends knew every stump, stone, and stem. They were the ones who went looking for unprepared folks, not the ones who got lost.

Which is why it’s never made sense to me how Austin’s dad got swallowed up in the Longing Woods, and so, too, did my dad when he went after him. My rational mind knows that park rangers and volunteer search parties made it deeper than I ever have before they gave up, but my wounded heart fights it like a wild thing in a trap, fierce and doomed.

As I turn back, for a half second, I think I see a dark silhouette moving between the trees.

I don’t dare blink, but it’s gone anyway. If it was ever there at all.

It doesn’t stop me from imagining a flash of a blue backpack, sleeping bag rolled tight and snug at the top. A man’s dimple sinking into his beard when he catches sight of me, kind eyes crinkling at the corners. His favorite ­olive-​­green belt that had lost so much color over the years. Socks pulled up high against tanned calves. The same weathered down jacket he’s had for years, a birthday present from Mom the year they began dating. He’s the way I remember him, early thirties and a little scruffy. His smile overtaking his whole face, like he can’t believe it’s really his little Nova, all grown up.

A Super Nova, he’d joke, or at least I think he would. The passage of time is unforgiving, and memory is dicey. Austin and I didn’t have our own phones when we were ten to record goofy videos with our dads, to immortalize the grins and ­good-​­natured protests when they’d catch us. Unlike our friend Caroline, all we have are the faded memories that crumble a little more with every year that passes.

What I can be absolutely sure of, however, is that I’m just a girl alone in the woods.

No backup, no true bushcraft supplies. The almost-empty water bottle and trail mix that’s more sugar than nutrition would earn me one of Dad’s expressive eye rolls, a bad habit I inherited along with, evidently, a penchant for bad ideas. I can almost hear his voice whisper on the wind, What’s the first lesson of wilderness survival that I always tell my students before we head out on the trail, Nova?

My answer is swift, instinctive:

Trust your team. Your partners are your best rescuers in case of any injury, misfortune, or calamity.

The anger is unexpected and immediate.

It was your lesson, Dad. Why did you ignore it?

Silence.

The thorny spikes in my chest snip away one by one. Being pissed at my dad and missing him are the same thing. I can never gauge which emotion will hit me first because it’s never considerate enough to face me head‑­on. It prefers to assault at all angles, burrowing into the soft parts of me that still hope, and stab that same hope right out of me. I can’t control it any more than I can control the wetness building behind my eyes. It’s nonsensical. It’s also normal, according to the grief therapist my mom insisted we go to after that first year of waiting and waiting and waiting.

I do my breathing exercises and wait it out. I’m good at that. After, I survey my surroundings, digging in my pocket for peanut M&M’s and dried fruit. It’s been long minutes since the last chirp or a squawk. It’s an eerie sort of quiet, broken only by the crinkly sounds of my rifling through a Ziploc bag.

Thirty minutes of brisk walking later, I can see a hint of the parking lot peeking through the gaps between tree trunks. The usual rush of relief is dampened by heavy steps crashing through the woods and some annoyed noises that suggest an argument. From the left, four hikers join up with the main trail and are about to overtake me, but then they slow instead. I note that their expressions are grim, lacking the usual triumphant exhilaration hikers wear when they make it out of the Longing Woods.

“Hey,” says a girl with flushed cheeks and blond Heidi braids. There’s a breathless note of relief in her voice. “Oh my god, you have no idea how good it is to see you.”

I don’t know her. Confused, I stand there awkwardly.

“You’re the first person we’ve come across,” explains the boy she’s with, the one holding the map. He’s wearing a hoodie with the mascot of our rival high school. No wonder I don’t know them.

“Today?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Since we set out.”

The other girl offers me a smile. “At least we didn’t miss the carnival. Right, Ahsan?”

She’s speaking to a boy who must be her brother. They share the same dark hair and soulful eyes. Where everyone else’s gear stands out with stiff newness, Ahsan’s is broken in. I glance at his footwear with approval; his hiking boots are rugged and beat ­up like Dad’s used to be. I subtly check him out, but he seems too sullen to even notice.

My gaze darts to his backpack. It, too, is the same kind as Dad’s.

Is this the flash of blue I thought I saw?

Ahsan scowls. “Our turnaround time wasn’t scheduled for days, Aaliyah. It wouldn’t surprise me if you did this on purpose so you wouldn’t miss the stupid carnival.”

Aaliyah’s face pinches. I get the feeling it isn’t the first time she’s heard that accusation.

Quickly, the other boy asks, “Are we close to the trailhead?”

“Yeah.” I point ahead of us, where light pokes through the trees. “Half a mile back to town.”

Ahsan stalks past, walking at such a rapid clip that the blond girl has to run after him. With a nod of thanks, the other boy takes off after them.

“Everything okay?” I ask Aaliyah. She’s lingering, adjusting the straps of her backpack. “Your group, uh, seems pretty tense.”

She looks miserable. “My brother loves hiking, and he finally convinced us all to join him. He wanted to find the wishing well.” She glances at me as if making sure I know what she’s talking about.

My chest tightens. Of course I do. Every child in Prior’s End grows up with the legend of the well where you can wish for any of your regrets to be undone.

If you can find it.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Hit Me With Your Best Charm’ by Lillie Vale appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Lillie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi Nerd Daily readers! I’m Lillie Vale, author of adult rom-coms The Shaadi Set-Up, The Decoy Girlfriend, and the forthcoming Wrapped with a Beau. I also write young adult romance, but no matter what, across all ages I write, you can expect escapism, spunky girls, swoony guys, wonder, and charming settings you’ll love getting wandering around in.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Probably when I was two and I confidently read picture books to anyone who would listen! I couldn’t read yet, but I was able to memorize most of the book from storytime, and what I didn’t remember, I made up using the pictures as a guide. I impressed a lot of people who thought I could read for real until my mom caught on to my con! Soon after, even though I could barely write, I began “publishing” my own construction-paper books.

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

The first book I remember reading: I think it was The Poky Little Puppy from Little Golden Books. The cover brings back so many memories!

The book that made me want to be an author: Oh, this is so hard to be definitive about! I do remember that the illustrated hardcover American Girl keepsake editions were the most beautiful books I had ever seen: gold edges, ribbon bookmark, glossy pages, frosted dust jacket. I was lucky enough to have a few to call my own, and I returned to Samantha and Kit’s story collections over and over again. The historic periods invited me in and the quaint slice-of-life pace had me deeply invested in the hopes and dreams of these characters. It was a treat to hold something that special, to savor each page and turn it with care. They were so enchanting and I still aspire to that level of luxe for my books one day!

The book I can’t stop thinking about: I’m currently reading Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. A superb blend of genres with gorgeous prose in a chilling atmosphere.

Your latest novel, Wrapped with a Beau, is out September 26^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Grumpy-sunshine opposites-attract small-town Christmas romance (HA, thank you hyphenated words!)

What can readers expect?

Wrapped with a Beau starts off with go-getter Elisha Rowe, who has returned to her hometown to be closer to family after spending a few years as a successful film liaison. She sees the potential for magic in everything, and she’s hoping to use her skillset to coax more productions to film in Piney Peaks, which was once the stage for a beloved holiday movie many years ago. Even though there are naysayers who don’t think she put the small town back on the map, she’s undeterred and continues doing her job with conviction. She gets the break she’s looking for when the sequel is greenlit, but only on the condition that she can secure permission to film at a historic home that was central to the original film. But the unexpected death of the owner means she now has to get the new heir’s permission.

Ves Hollins doesn’t want to get tied down, romantically or otherwise. And he certainly doesn’t want to get involved with a movie production. He just wants to see what he’s dealing with, sell the house, and head back to New York before the holidays. He thinks of himself as being unsentimental, when in actuality he cares—and cares a lot—about everything. He enjoyed one unforgettable, magical Christmas in Piney Peaks as a child, and has then spent the next twenty-three lonely years trying to forget how much it meant to him.

Readers can expect a heroine with conviction and a hero who learns to let love in. A town you’ll want to book a flight to ASAP, populated with adorable friends, family, and felines. The most heartwarming happily-ever-after I’ve ever written.

And above all, I hope readers take away that everything is possible with grace and gumption, and that family is whoever you decide it is.

Where did the inspiration for Wrapped with a Beau come from?

The short answer would be my love of Christmas shops devoted to the “most wonderful time of year” all year! I keep a list of cool settings I’d love to bring to life, and honestly, there’s few things more magical than a store where you feel like you’re walking into an experience. Would a character who had grown up in such a place still love it as an adult? I knew from the first moment I met Elisha that she would be 100% wholehearted and unapologetic about anything and anyone she chose to love.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Sooooo many. I believe in showcasing friendships that are as important as the romantic relationship, and Solana and Arun, Elisha and Ves’s respective best friends, stole every scene they were in. Vivacious and dramatic, they were the perfect foils to driven Elisha and guarded Ves, but they balanced their fun side with fierce love and loyalty. Throughout the book, they encourage Elisha and Ves to step outside their comfort zones.

In one of my favorite scenes, Hallmark-fan Arun exclaims, ““Meet‐cutes are everywhere you look. Save a local business, protect a landmark, fall in love with a wholesome small‐town girl. Maybe she’s the hot lumberjane daughter of a tree farmer! Kiss under a blanket fort! Break your rule about holiday romance! Do everything different. The opportunities are endless.”

Naturally, Ves recoils at the very thought.

Later, when Ves’s heart has started to melt, our dogged Arun can’t resist asking, ““Plot twist! Did you, the most city person to ever city, decide to settle down and get closer to your homespun roots, falling for the girl next door, saving a local business, ideally one owned by her mom and pop, and then, cherry on top, save some kittens from a tree?”

We all recognize those tropes, right? Ves’s dry reply always makes me grin. “Arun, small tourist towns are not my roots. And I keep telling you, there’s no falling happening. Her parents’ business is probably the most profitable one in this whole town. Have you been watching Hallmark again?”

Ah, he knows his BFF so well. I’m a huge sucker for book-bestie banter!

This is your fifth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?

Nothing is ever wasted. Shelved manuscripts and discarded ideas can be revived. A character or a subplot can be transplanted. Sometimes the old stuff just needs to bide its time. Sometimes the new stuff just isn’t ready yet. And yes, maybe some things do just need to be trashed! But discovering what doesn’t work helps you figure out what does. Don’t hold on too tight to early concepts of what you think a story should be. The magic happens in development, in revision. The thing about ideas is they’re dime a dozen. There will always be more to write.

What’s next for you?

More books! My next YA novel is with my editor, and while it’s too early to share details, I’m very excited about my future Adult work.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

A ton! This is the perfect time of year for spine-tingling reads, of both the romantic and the spooky variety! I gobbled up The Family Game by Catherine Steadman, The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger, Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, and after I finish Vampires of El Norte I’m excited to start This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez.

You can find Lillie on Instagram. Twitter, and at her website.

Will you be picking up Wrapped With A Beau? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Lillie Vale, Author of ‘Wrapped with a Beau’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover a few of our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be picking up any of them!

This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Fake dating gets a magical twist in this enchanting queer romantic comedy where a witch worries that the real feelings brewing between her and her crush were sparked by an accidental love potion, and the only way out of the disastrous spell is a healthy dose of the truth–drink up, witches.

The Long Game by Elena Armas
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A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception.

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author KJ Charles.

Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A feelgood, sunshine-filled, friends-to-lovers romcom, Love Me Do is a dreamy summer love story, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.

Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Gillian Armstead-Bancroft—Pride of the East Side and once-perfect bruja, wife, and mother—is going to spend her summer getting good at being bad.

A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee
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An emotionally powerful romance novel about two people finding love after struggling with addiction–ultimately discovering what it means to be completely and unapologetically themselves.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A witchy rom-com from New York Times bestseller Meg Cabot about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force–but will she be able to protect her heart?

My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley
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The riotous Wynchester family has taken on a new case to expose a forger, but the prime suspect isn’t at all what he seems in this captivating Regency romp from a New York Times bestselling author.

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary
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Two hotel receptionists—and arch-rivals—find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.

Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher
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When a relationship therapist gets dumped right before her new dating handbook hits shelves, she fake dates to save face in this spicy romantic comedy.

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Lucy Score returns to spicy-sweet Knockemout, Virginia with Lucian and Sloane’s story.

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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From Jennifer L. Armentrout, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Blood and Ash, comes the beginning of a searing fantasy romance series for adults, Fall of Ruin and Wrath.

The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A delightful enemies-to-lovers holiday rom com set in the quaint mountain town of Maple Falls, Colorado, about a city girl and a small-town boy who compete in the town’s annual holiday games in order to win the right price for a charming, local Christmas shop, perfect for fans of The Hating Game and The Twelve Dates of Christmas.

Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon
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Featuring family drama, a juicy romance subplot, and some publishing behind-the-scenes, Main Character Energy is ultimately like getting a pep talk from your best friends

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
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Juggling newfound witchy powers, a house full of ghosts, and verbal battles with the handsome local librarian is almost too much for a new witch to manage. A new witch with a coven, however, can get so much more done…

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch
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Brain meets Beauty in this sparkling, fresh take on the classic Bringing Up Baby – if Jane Austen had written it! A romantic comedy with a dash of chaos featuring the most ill-behaved poodle in Regency London, by New York Times bestseller Suzanne Enoch.

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman
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From bookfluencer and host of the BAD ON PAPER podcast, a riotous holiday rom-com about four friends in NYC who hold onto their unconventional Christmas tradition even when their paths diverge—but the changes they fear might be exactly what they need…

Along Came Holly by Codi Hall
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Holly Winters is not about to let her grumpy neighbor Declan steal her holiday joy…even if he does look rather handsome under the mistletoe.

Thank You For Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz
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A chemistry-filled childhood friends to enemies to lovers debut romance about two people forced to confront their pasts to save both their relationship and careers.

Fling by Joseph Murray
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At once heartfelt and hilarious, this story of a fateful—and faithful—affair reminds us that sometimes, what we’re looking for might just be closer than we think . . . 

Wrapped with a Beau by Lillie Vale
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In its heyday, Piney Peaks and its beloved Christmas house were made famous by Sleighbells under Starlight, a romantic holiday movie. Fifty years later, the small town is ready for a new love story.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A commitment-phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again—until heartbreak and unexpected chemistry bring them together in this clever enemies-to-friends-to-lovers debut romance.

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

An irresistible friends-to-lovers novel of resilience, hope, and new beginnings from the author of The Bookshop of Second Chances.

What September romance reads are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2023 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover Bridget’s five favourite second chance romance books!

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin-Siegemund Broka

I am not someone who rereads books very often, but I have already revisited The Roughest Draft. That’s how much I love it! It’s a compelling, emotional, and deeply romantic look at two bestselling authors who reluctantly reunite to complete the final book in their contract. This is a story about cowriters written by cowriters, so the meditations on what it means to create art with someone else are incredibly poignant. And the romance is truly top tier.

I’m So Not Over You by Kosoko Jackson

I was laughing out loud from page one of I’m So Not Over You. Because of that sparkling voice, it’s so easy to fall for this story of two ex-boyriends who end up fake dating through a wedding. Very few authors do humor and swoon as well as Kosoko does. A dynamic cast of supporting characters round out this world, balancing the romcom hijinks with a perfect amount of tenderness and heart.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

You can’t do a second chance romance without including People We Meet On Vacation. That’s got to be a law by now. And if not, it should be! Emily writes with incredible depth and precision, capturing the wide range of emotions between two estranged friends going on one last vacation together. The history between them is ever-present and intense, making for one epic, heart-squeezing journey.

The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale

For me, there are few tropes as sweet as high school sweethearts finding their way back to each other. In The Shaadi Set-Up, we have high school exes who’ve been brought together again six years later by the main character’s mother in hopes of rekindling their love, despite the fact that the main character already has a boyfriend. It’s exactly as fraught as you’d expect, while also full of yearning and a healthy dose of complicated emotions. And there are cute DOGS! Need I say more?

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

You Deserve Each Other is witty and charming in the best of ways, as an engaged couple on the verge of breakup begrudgingly finds their way back to loving one another through a series of escalating shenanigans. A romance about a couple that kind of hates each other is not something you’d immediately assume would be funny, but that’s the Sarah Hogle charm! Their hilarious spite for one another sets up a perfectly delicious second chance at love, as the humor lays the groundwork for some genuinely heartstopping romance.

The post Favourite Second Chance Romances appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to them!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

Witch Please by Ann Aguirre
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls in this adorable witchy rom-com with a bisexual virgin baker with a curse, a witch looking to avoid romantic entanglements, and a chemistry between them that causes literal sparks.

The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this witty and heartfelt rom-com debut for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Emily Henry, and Tessa Bailey, an Indian-American woman signs herself and her boyfriend up for a matchmaking site to prove they’re a perfect match, only to be paired with her ex instead.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Helena Hunting makes sparks fly with the best-friends-to-lovers trope! When an unexpected car accident renders event planner Avery immobile, her best friend offers to become her caretaker, and the lines between the two friends start to blur.

The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this delightfully modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, love is a goal, marriage is a distant option, and self-discovery is a sure thing.

First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An Indian-American doctor finds herself sharing an apartment with her ex, and realises that Mr. Right might just be the one who got away in this rom-com that will make you laugh and make you cry. Perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory!

A Spot of Trouble by Teri Wilson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Get ready to laugh out loud with this hilarious romantic comedy featuring a grumpy firefighter who thinks his way is the only way, a bubbly cupcake vendor who thinks her pup can do no wrong, adorable Dalmatians who swap places—and the chaos that ensues, and an opposites-attract romance that’ll warm your heart.

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Going toe-to-toe with a brooding Scotsman is rather bold for a respectable suffragist, but when he happens to be one’s unexpected husband, what else is an unwilling bride to do?

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A laugh-out-loud romcom about a Jewish woman who is secretly a bestselling Christmas romance author.

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend’s phone holds the directions to true love? Come on this five star journey to love, laughter and back again, perfect for fans of Mhairi Mcfarlane, Josie Silver and Sally Thorne.

On Location by Sarah Echavarre Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing like a rocky start between enemy coworkers stuck together on location to prove that love isn’t just a ploy for ratings—it’s a force of nature.

The Happy Accidents by Jamie Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Three women wake up to the consequences of one impulsive pact in an insightful novel about friendship, love, and fulfilment by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.

It Started with a Dog by Julia London
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Thanks to an accidental phone swap, two adorable rescue pups, and a coffeehouse clash, a holiday flirtation goes to the dogs and hilarity ensues, from New York Times bestselling author Julia London.

The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never knew, she meets her extravagant family for the first time, a new and inspiring love interest, and discovers parts of herself she didn’t know were missing, from Jane Igharo, the acclaimed author of Ties That Tether.

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of The Longest Ride and The Return comes a novel about the enduring legacy of first love, and the decisions that haunt us forever.

What September 2021 romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and the first chapter from Lillie Vale’s The Shaadi Set-Up, which releases on September 7th 2021!

High school sweethearts Rita Chitniss and Milan Rao were the golden couple, until the day he broke her heart. Now, six years later, Rita has turned her passion for furniture restoration into a career and has an almost-perfect boyfriend, Neil. The last thing she needs is for Milan to re-enter her life, but that’s exactly what happens when her mother, an unfailing believer in second chances, sets them up. Milan is just as charming, cocky, and confident as he was back in school. Only this time, he actually needs her business expertise, not her heart, to flip a hard-to-sell house for his realty agency.

While Rita begrudgingly agrees to help, she’s not taking any risks. To prove she’s definitely over him, she signs herself and Neil up on MyShaadi.com, a Desi matchmaking site famous for its success stories and trustworthy enough to convince everyone that she and Neil are the new and improved couple. Instead, she’s shocked when MyShaadi’s perfect match for her isn’t Neil…it’s Milan. Ignoring the website and her mother is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves much more difficult, especially when she promises to help him renovate the beach house of her dreams. And as the two of them dive deeper into work—and their pasts—Rita begins to wonder if maybe her match wasn’t so wrong after all….

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Shaadi Set-Up’ by Lillie Vale appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Releasing a debut book could be a massive struggle and nerve-wracking. It’s a long process that required continuous effort and hard work! We believe every new author deserve an opportunity to get recognised in this community. If you agree with us and want to give more support for new authors, in today’s post, we’re going to feature a selection of debut books from a range of genres with under 100 ratings on Goodreads that we believe deserve more recognition!

All the Walls of Belfast by Sarah Carlson (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a story of Fiona and Danny, who were born in the same hospital yet separated for fourteen years after that. Their love of the band Fading Stars, big dreams, and desire to run away from their families unite them. They must help one another overcome the burden of their parents’ pasts. But one ugly truth might shatter what they have.

Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A high-school fresh graduate, Babe Vogel, couldn’t be more excited to spend her summer living in her lighthouse home and work as a barista at Busy Bean. But then her two best friends ready to leave for college and suddenly her ex-girlfriend is back in town, while she also started to notice Levi Keller, a cute artist that spend all of his free time at her coffee shop. How’s Babe going to handle these and will she break the one rule she’s always had – to never fall for a summer boy?

Meet Me in Outer Space by Melinda Grace (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Edie Kits, an ambitious college student, refuses to be defined by her central auditory processing disorder. Edie thinks she has her disability under control until she meets her match with a French 102 course and a professor unwilling to help her out. This is a story of college and love through Edie’s lens and the journey to achieve her dreams.

The Next to Last Mistake by Amalie Jahn (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is Tess Goodwin’s journey of getting out of her comfort zone and planning strategies, just like how she played chess with her best friend Zander, in order to get acceptance in her new life.

The Parting Glass by Gina Marie Guadagnino (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Devoted maid Mary Ballard’s world is built on secrets, and it’s about to be ripped apart at the seams, in this lush and evocative debut set in 19th century New York, perfect for fans of Sarah Waters’s Fingersmith and Emma Donoghue’s Slammerkin.

The Perfect Assassin (The Chronicles of Ghadid #1) by K.A. Doore (March 19)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As a new assassin in the Basbowen family, Amastan already having second thoughts about taking a life. Until, unexpectedly, Amastan finds the body of a very important drum chief. Until, impossibly, Basbowen’s finest start showing up dead, with their murderous jaan running wild in the dusty streets of Ghadid. Until, inevitably, Amastan is ordered to solve these murders, before the family gets blamed. Every life has its price, but when the tables are turned, Amastan must find this perfect assassin or be their next target.

The Pioneer (The Pioneer #1) by Bridget Tyler (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jo’s biggest dream is to leave Earth with her family and live happily ever after on a new planet. But that’s before the terrible accident that nearly destroyed their craft, that set their voyage back years, that killed her brother, that left her unable to fly. Yet, she falls in love with her new world that offered adventures and lifetime beauty. But just when she starts to feel like her old self again, she uncovers a devastating secret her mother has been keeping from her people. A secret that could destroy her family’s pioneering dreams…if they survive that long.

The Women’s War (Women’s War #1) by Jenna Glass (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core. This new and revolutionary magic—which only women can wield—threatens to tear down what is left of the patriarchy. And the men who currently hold power will do anything to fight back.

Making Friends with Alice Dyson by Poppy Nwosu (March 1)
Goodreads | Book Depository

Alice Dyson’s ultimate goal is to focus on her future. But that’s before a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling center of attention and her life into one enormous complication. And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.

How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sets in 1944, this is a story of 12-year-old Ella who spends her time by having fun with best friend Henry and cousin Myrna. Until one day, she spent Christmas with her away mother and discovered truths about her mother, the father she never knew and her family’s most unlikely history. And after being away for a month, she came back to her town only to discover that her schoolmate, George, has been arrested for the murder of two local white girls.

The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen (March 5)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Max is 14, and anorexic. His eating disorder has pretty much taken over his whole life. In the midst of a family crisis, Max’s eating disorder quickly deteriorates. Anorexia pulls him further and further away from his family and friends until he feels totally alone. Can anyone help him find a way out?

The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman (March 12)
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sharp, relevant novel that speaks to the ambitions and desires of modern women, The DNA of You and Me explores the evergreen question of career versus family, the irrational sensibility of love, and whether one can be a loner without a diagnostic label.

Will you be reading any of these debut novels? Tell us in the comments below!

The post March Debut Novels That Should Be On Your Radar appeared first on The Nerd Daily.