About Recommended Reading: In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it . . .

Hi, I’m Bobby Ashton, main character of the young adult rom-com Recommended Reading. I’m known around my town as the Book Whisperer, i.e. the fat, nice, gay boy who can matchmake anyone with their next perfect read and partner. Here are ten romances ranging from the classics to up-and-coming legendary novels that you will match with… and maybe a few extra credit bonus picks thrown in for good measure because you can never make just one (or ten) book suggestions(s).

Emma by Jane Austen

I’ve always felt a certain affinity for Emma Woodhouse. She’s smart, blessed, driven, and accomplished. She gives back to her community and has a knack for matchmaking. We’re very similar. But she’s got a touch of superiority and a few blindspots that make her her own worst enemy and nearly cost her her chance at true love. Maybe we’re too similar.

Speaking of, if you loved the original or the movie Clueless, L.C. Rosen wrote a queer YA contemporary version called Emmett.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

It takes guts and skill to start your debut YA novel with the death of the lovers and still draw the readers in. Bhathena’s got both in spades! You’ll love Zarin, labeled as a bad girl when she is displaced to Saudi Arabia, and Porus, who only has eyes for her despite everyone’s warnings. The talent and depth of thought the author poured into the characters and story is clear from the first page to the last.

Bonus! Bhathena’s sophomore YA is a sweet, cozy rom-com, and her latest novels are fierce, girl power fantasies inspired by medieval Indian mythology with great banter.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë’s (of the famous Brontë  siblings) only published this one novel. The intensity! The passion! The devotion that defies death! The songs by Kate Bush and Céline via Meatloaf! Heathcliff is one of the original brooding bad boys, stomping around the Yorkshire moors as he and Catherine pine for one another. True love has never been so deliciously sadomasochistic. Read the OG classic that inspired both the Twilight and Fifty Shades franchises which, in turn, helped legitimize fanfic.

Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson

Anne Carson reimagines an ancient Greek myth into a contemporary coming-of-age love story. Geryon uncovers the potential of his art when Herakles, the object of Geryon’s affection, leaves at the height of infatuation and reappears years later. Told in verse, Geryon’s monstrosity and journey through heartbreak is gut-wrenching and uplifting at the same time. Readers will ache with Geryon in this romance where maybe the lovers shouldn’t end up together.    

Out of the Blue by Jason June

You can’t go wrong with a Jason June rom-com. I dare you. Double dog dare you. You can’t! Every single one is an absolute delight. OOTB has a familiar Little Mermaid feel with Crest, the merperson, on their mer version of Rumspringa, as they must aid a human before time runs out and they remain stuck on land forever. Enter dual narrator, plus-size swimmer, Sean, who has just been publicly dumped by his boyfriend and is devastated by the unforeseen breakup. Seems like Crest found his human to help and what better way than to pretend to be a couple. Fake lovers to true love trope? Hello! Yes!

Bonus points if you check out the rest of Jason June’s titles. Extra credit super duper bonus points if you also check out the audiobooks because Jason June is a superb voice actor and hearing the author read their work as intended is pretty special.

All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kauffman

Tom is just a normal guy stuck in a world where everyone is a superhero, including his wife, the Perfectionist. When his wife’s ex uses his powers to make the Perfectionist no longer see or hear Tom, he must somehow get her to before she moves on perfectly, as per her name, and forgets him forever. This one is a short novel and makes a perfect gift even for non-readers who don’t have a lot of time to commit. Prepare for your nails to dig into the cover of the book as you flip those pages and hope Tom manages to save his relationship.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Two magicians challenge one another to a magical duel to prove who can raise the best successor, in a battle that will result in death. The venue, a midnight circus that arrives filled with spectacles unlike anyone has ever seen. But it all disappears by the morning. The contenders, Celia and Marco, who fall in love with one another’s spells and then each other even when they know they must win the competition or perish. High stakes much? Lavish descriptions of settings create an unforgettable story of seemingly doomed love.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

What do you get when two writing best friends, one known for her revolutionary body-positive writing and one known for her no-holds-barred romance. A series of Christmas adult romances following former boyband members and unforgettable female leads that are like spicy Hallmark holiday movies in book form. AMLMC is the first book in the series that follows bad boy boyband member, Nolan, who needs to redeem his image through good behaviour and a wholesome holiday film, and Bee, a curvaceous adult film star who accidentally gets cast opposite Nolan, her teen crush and the guy who subscribes to her content. Sex positive and body positive, you will fall in love with the main characters and all the side characters. There are three Christmas Notch Series novels, two novellas, and three bonus chapters to keep you busy from January through December.

Extra credit if you want to delve into either author’s awesome other books that range from warm-your-heart to set-your-loins-on-fire.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples

Imagine if Romeo and Juliet were from two warring, intergalactic species instead of families and not only survived, but had a daughter who decided to tell their story in graphic novel space opera form. The result would be Saga. Better yet, the parent lovers bond over their shared adoration of a romance novel! Books really do bring couples together! A broad spectrum of diversities coupled with positive messaging about acceptance and tolerance provides the perfect balance of heart-melting and kickass moments.

The post The Book Whisperer’s Annotated Recommended Reading (AKA Bobby Ashton’s Brief List of Romances You Don’t Want to Miss) appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Julie and Sierra! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves?

Julie: Hi! I’m Julie Murphy and I like to say that I am the author of books from cradle to grave! I write everything from picture books all the way up to saucy adult romance. I’m probably best known for Dumplin’, which is a film on Netflix with a soundtrack by Dolly Parton. When I’m not writing, I live with my husband in Kansas (down the street from Sierra!) with our three cats who barely tolerate us.

Sierra: Hello, there! I’m Sierra Simone, and I write high-heat romance across multiple subgenres!  In real life, I’m a depressingly uninteresting person, but I try to make up for it by hounding people with trivia about neolithic stone circles and fake Victorian illnesses.

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

Julie: My relationship with reading was very much on and off again until I hit my senior year of college. I fell in love with Twilight series and never looked back.

Sierra: I’ve always been an avid reader, so for me, the line between reading and writing was non-existent. (Which meant the line between reading Jane Eyre and then wanting to write my own problematically Byronic hero was also non-existent.)  After a brief high-school stint thinking I might go into journalism, I jumped into fiction writing and never looked back!

A Jingle Bell Mingle is the final standalone installment in the Christmas Notch series! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Julie: Horny sad boy + sexy sunshine

Sierra: Randy roommates + a Christmas Miracle

What can readers expect?

Julie & Sierra: In every Christmas Notch book, we’re hoping to create the feeling of eating pie at 2 AM with a bestie, making embarrassing TV viewing choices and delirious with giggles. We hope we packed in all the fun, all the quirky details, and all the swoons that we made sure to layer into the first and second Christmas Notch books!

Where did the inspiration for A Jingle Bell Mingle come from?

Julie & Sierra: We’d known since A Merry Little Meet Cute that we wanted Isaac to have an incredibly steamy, incredibly feels-y story.  He’s known grief, he’s known loneliness—but there’s a very tender heart under his grinchy reclusive armor, and we knew that Sunny Palmer would be the perfect character to crack that armor wide open.

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

Julie & Sierra: This is the final Christmas Notch book, and at the end of A Jingle Bell Mingle, there’s a scene where we see everyone in one place—happy and feral and totally goofy—and it was a little sniffle-making to write.  These characters have been inside our hearts for four years, and to see them all existing in their silliness and their happiness felt like a real full circle moment.

How does the co-authoring process work? Do you dare to collab again?

Julie: We typically write on a web based platform like Google Docs so that we can both be in a document at one time. Sierra and I split our books into two POVs, so that’s a pretty equal division of labor, though we are constantly in each other’s chapters. My strength is dialogue and Sierra is the queen of setting a scene, so I’m always yelling at her to march into my chapter and describe upholstery or trees. As far as who writes which character, Sierra typically takes the angstier one and I write whichever one has a cat or a pizza obsession.

Sierra: We are collaborating again—now that we know how much fun it is to write together, there’s no way we can go back!  Our next series won’t be a holiday series, but it will be just as raunchy and just as silly as Christmas Notch (and hopefully with the same number of grumpy pets).

What’s next for you?

Julie: Next year is a busy year! I’m launching Catty Corner, my first chapter book series. I also have a new YA out in the spring, which I can’t quite announce, but I promise that the surprise is worth the wait. Sierra and I plan to release the first book in our new series late 2025. And lastly, I’m putting the finishing touches on a solo adult project that will be out in early 2026.

Sierra: My gothic Thornchapel series has been picked up by a publisher and is re-releasing this coming spring! I’m so excited for that one, because it’s sort of like dark academia meets V.C. Andrews.  And the last book in my Lyonesse trilogy, Bitter Burn, will come out in fall of 2025!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?

Julie: I won’t lie: I have been gobbling up fan fiction this year and it’s really helped me fall in love with reading again after being in a slump for a while. As for books you can go out and support with your dollars, I am obsessed with Julie Soto and her latest, Not Another Love Song. It is so dang good.

Sierra: For swoony contemporary, I’ve adored Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma and I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram!  For singe-your-fingertips-while-you’re-reading, I devoured Our Little Secret by QB Tyler and Well Bred by Adriana Anders.  The book I can’t stop thinking about is The Art of Scandal by Regina Black.

Will you be picking up A Jingle Bell Mingle? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, Author of ‘A Jingle Bell Mingle’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A Holly Jolly Ever After is a spicy Christmas romance and whilst it’s a companion novel to Murphy and Simone’sA Merry Little Meet Cute, but can be read as a standalone. This would be perfect for fans of books like The Roommate by Rosie Danan, Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey, There’s Something about Merry by Codi Hall, A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver, The Nanny by Lana Ferguson, Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon, The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, or Breakaway by Grace Reilly. Tropes in A Holly Jolly Ever After include spice coaching, good girl with bad boy, workplace romance, and accidental pregnancy. Important themes and topics present include religion, reputation, family and parenthood, appearance versus reality, female roles, sexuality, self worth, trust, miscommunication, marriage and divorce, body image, and narcolepsy. Potential trigger warnings to consider are cheating and complications during pregnancy.

A Holly Jolly Ever After is split into two parts. Part one of the book was enjoyable as it focused more on the emerging workplace romance between Kallum and Winnie, and their spicy “research”, whilst filming the movie. I personally thought that part one could have been the plot of the entire book as I found it to be more entertaining and engaging than part two. The second part changes the trajectory of the story and focuses more on the main characters struggling with some major life changes, but some readers may find it drags in comparison to part one. The prologue and epilogue of the book were somewhat odd as they focused on two side characters instead of the main characters and they didn’t feel relevant to the overall plot.

Even though I had some mixed feelings about this book, all of the Christmas and pizza related puns used throughout the book were fantastic as they added a touch of humour. The “Christmassy” film setting was delightful and thought that it was cool that, in part one, we get a a bit of a “behind the scenes look” at what goes into filming a movie. Lastly, there are some swoony and heartwarming moments at the end of the book that I think fellow romance readers will appreciate.

A Holly Jolly Ever After ended up being a lot more explicitly spicy than I was expecting. So, if you’re looking for a Christmas book with lots of steamy scenes, then you should definitely check out A Holly Jolly Ever After! 

A Holly Jolly Ever After is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 10th.

Will you be picking up A Holly Jolly Ever After? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Following the success of A Merry Little Meet Cute, a new holiday rom-com cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—about an actress and a perpetually single former boy-band member reunited as costars on a steamy holiday film.

Kallum Liebermanis the funny one. As the arguably lesser of the three former members of the boy band INK, he enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame and then moved home where he opened a regional pizza chain called Slice, Slice, Baby! He’s living his best dad bod life, hooking up with bridesmaids at all his friends’ weddings. But after an old one-off sex tape is leaked and quickly goes viral, Kallum decides he’s ready to step into the spotlight again, starring in a sexy Santa biopic for the Hope Channel.

Winnie Baker did everything right. She married her childhood sweetheart, avoided the downfalls of adolescent stardom, and transitioned into a stable adult acting career. Hell, she even waited until marriage to have sex. But after her perfect life falls apart, Winnie is ready to redefine herself—and what better way than a steamier-than-a-steaming-hot-mug-of-cider Christmas movie?

With decade old Hollywood history between them, Winnie and Kallum are both feeling hesitant about their new situation as costars…especially Winnie who can’t seem to fake on screen pleasure she’s never experienced in real life. She’s willing to do the pleasure research—for science and artistic authenticity, of course. And there’s no better research partner than her bridesmaid sex tape hall of fame costar, Kallum. But suddenly, Kallum’s teenage crush on Winnie is bubbling to the surface and Winnie might be catching feelings herself.

They say opposites attract, but is this holly jolly ever after really ready for its close-up?

The post Review: A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you thought the first half of 2023 had some swoonworthy, unputdownable romances in store, you ain’t seen nothing yet. July to December is levelling up the romance game even more and we’ve got our eyes on all of them! Check out the hottest contenders for romance of the year below and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them!

Looking for our January to June releases? Check them out here.

JULY

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center comes Hello, Stranger, a novel about finding love, confronting a haunting past, and figuring out what, and who, really matters…

Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson
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It turns out that a fake relationship is the perfect recipe for a love that sizzles hotter than Santa Barbara’s spiciest salsa—when it’s between enemies.…

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
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Internationally bestselling author Sophie Irwin brings us another fresh, witty take on a romantic escape led by a deeply lovable heroine determined to start living on her own terms

You, With A View by Jessica Joyce
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Two high school enemies must reunite for a road trip inspired by their grandparents’ broken engagement in this electric debut romance.

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai
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To exonerate her best friend, one woman must mastermind a jewelry heist during the wedding of the season in this hilarious romantic-comedy caper from the author of The Dating Plan.

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
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An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
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From Cathy Yardley, author of Love, Comment, Subscribe, comes an emotional rom-com about two middle-aged gamers who grow their online connection into an IRL love story.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre
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From New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre comes the magical town of St. Claire, where anything is possible…

The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin
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When the history and character of her Shakespeare-obsessed hometown is threatened, a powerhouse lawyer goes toe to toe with a commercial developer in a hilarious rom-com from the author of For the Love of the Bard.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
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AUGUST

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
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Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus…leaving a trail of broken hearts in their cruel wake.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
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In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
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In the hilarious follow-up to the breakout rom-com Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma adds shakkar and mirch to Shakespeare’s iconic comedy Much Ado About Nothing for one sweet and spicy love story.

The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley
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Perfect for fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, The Roommate Pact follows Claire as she nurses her friend and firefighter Graham back from an injury – and their slippery slope from friends with a FWB pact to possibly something more.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
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A modern tale of unexpectedly falling in love and finding your voice, Kiss the Girl is the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed and best-selling Meant to Be collection.

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
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Fans of Ali Hazelwood, Lana Harper, and Jessica Clare will devour this madcap paranormal romance, replete with fan-favorite tropes like roommates-to-lovers, force proximity, and the hilarious added bonus of a romance between a mortal from the 21^st century and a centuries-old vampire who knows nothing of the modern world.

New Adult by Timothy Janovsky
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Nolan Baker longs to be “thirty, flirty and thriving” in this charmingly quirky LGBTQIA+ romance that’s one part 13 Going on 30 and one part One Last Stop.

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl
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Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O’Leary, in this bright, laugh-out-loud rom-com, the grind of the millennial struggle is a lot more fun when you add falling in love to the mix.

Curves for Days by Laura Moher
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Readers of Olivia Dade and Lucy Score will love this sexy Southern curvy girl romance which follows Rose Barnes, a curvy heroine with an infectious spirit, as she crosses paths with Angus Drummond, a gruff yet undeniably charming contractor.

The Love Plot by Samantha Young
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There’s a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan
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Love is a hex of a thing. Former childhood sweethearts fake a relationship in this charming, witchy romcom.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
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She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it–yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

SEPTEMBER

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles
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Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author KJ Charles.

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
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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.

Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk
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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.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
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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?

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.

Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez
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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.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
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A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.

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.

OCTOBER

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
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Following the success of A Merry Little Meet Cute, a new holiday rom-com cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone–about an actress and a perpetually single former boy-band member reunited as costars on a steamy holiday film.

Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
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Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
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Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along.

A Dish Best Served Hot: A Novel by Natalie Caña
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Santiago “Saint” Vega gets a second shot at love with Lola León, but when duty to his family forces him to do something she’ll never forgive, will everything he’s built come crumbling down?  

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
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Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s sparkling debut, a co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
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Filled with the romance and angst that defines the years you come to know yourself, with a shifting timeline covering two decades and ratcheting up the tension, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a novel of second chances and finding your own way.

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake
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A fake relationship after a horrible one-night stand is anything but an act in this witty and heartfelt new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake.

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Sweeten the Deal by Katie Shepard
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She’s lonely, rich, and ten years too young for him—but she’s also his “sugar daddy,” and they couldn’t have less in common. Opposites attract in this charming new romance by Katie Shepard.

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin
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A talented genetic analyst and a detective who’s haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
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Sparks fly in this delightful novel about two burned out professionals who meet at a ramshackle resort on the British seaside—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Party Crasher.

The Takedown by Carlie Walker
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An undercover CIA agent is sent home to investigate her sister’s criminal fiancé but the last thing she expects is to fall in love with his bodyguard along the way in this sexy romantic comedy.

NOVEMBER

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert
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Sail the magical high seas with this first book in a new sexy fantasy romance series from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash-hit Neon Gods.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
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Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance from “go-to author” Rosie Danan (The New York Times Book Review).

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
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Perfect for fans of romantic comedies with a touch of whimsy, like 13 Going on 30 and Freaky Friday, and authors like Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle, this funny and heartfelt novel follows a downtrodden twenty-six-year-old as she magically wakes up to the life she’s always wanted, but is it really a dream come true?

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath
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Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin
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Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley
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Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?

The Rom Con by Devon Daniels
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A modern battle of the sexes about a journalist who hatches an elaborate plan to take down her industry adversary, from the author of Meet You in the Middle.

Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu
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 Opposites attract when an always-the-bridesmaid florist and a grumpy caterer mix business with pleasure in this swoony romantic comedy in the vein of 27 Dresses from Julie Tieu, author of The Donut Trap and Circling Back to You.

Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa
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A hilarious and spicy romance about romance author Sophie Lyon’s ironic secret going viral: she’s never been in love. Though her debut novel made readers swoon, Sophie’s having trouble getting her new characters to happily-ever-after. To overcome her writer’s block, she’ll reconnect with her exes to figure out what went wrong with the help of her best friend’s brother/reclusive landlord/teen heartthrob and his social media skills. 

Mom Com by Adriana Mather
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From New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes a sweet new romcom about old friends and second chances.

For Never & Always by Helena Greer
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One surprise inheritance, two best friends (now bitter exes), and three months to prove he loves her, forever and always , in this swoony second-chance romance for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Ashley Herring Blake.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
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In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

DECEMBER

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
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Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Technically Yours by Denise Williams
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Seven years ago, he fell in love with a stranger he couldn’t have—today, she’s back in his life and the sparks between them threaten to set her career on fire.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
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Reeling from a recent breakup, a young woman tries to heal heartbreak with a spell–only to wake up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for–in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut rom-com.

On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

What Not to Wear and Queer Eye meet All the Feels in this sparkling romantic comedy by Jenny L. Howe, in which the new guest on a popular plus-size makeover show has her style―and her love life―transformed.

Housebroke by Jaci Burton
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A millionaire and a woman who thinks he’s a house flipper are stuck living in a house together with a menagerie of rescue dogs as roommates, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

Game On by Seressia Glass
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When an unexpected Player Two enters her life, a gamer must decide if their relationship is worth leveling up in this new romance from the author of The Love Con.

Gold by Raven Kennedy
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

‘Find me in another life. Find me in all of them’ It all ends now. Discover the heart-stopping finale to the international and Amazon bestselling fantasy phenomenon.

The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bookish suffragist Catriona Campbell is busy: An ailing estate, academic writer’s block, a tense time for England’s women’s rights campaign—the last thing she needs is to be stuck playing host to her father’s distractingly attractive young colleague.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

What July to December book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2023 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s that magical time of year—October—when Christmas starts its convivial seep into our daily lives. Ornaments and pine boughs appear at Target, Hallmark Channel starts teasing their holiday movie line-up, and ambitious decorators string up lights while the weather is still warm (is that only me?). It’s also the time of year when holiday novels decorate bookstore tables for readers to stockpile in anticipation of cozy bookish nights by the light of the Christmas tree. 

THE HOLIDAY SWITCH by Tif Marcelo

THE HOLIDAY SWITCH taps into some of my favorite tropes—holiday romance, forced proximity due to weather, hate to love, romantic moments involving holiday activities like ice skating and sledding, and coming of age. Marcelo makes sure to add modern twists on the familiar ideas, keeping it as fresh as new fallen snow!

A MERRY LITTLE MEET CUTE by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

Want more steam in your Christmas cocoa? Here it is! An adult film star and former boy-band member star in a wholesome holiday movie, but things get hotter than a roaring yule log off screen. Sassy, saucy, and fun, A MERRY LITTLE MEET CUTE is a sexy, fresh take on holiday reading!

IN A HOLIDAZE by Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren plays with time in this fantastic holiday gem. After a car accident and a Christmas wish, Mae relives the same days over and over, disaster after disaster. Yuletide magic, swoony romance, and snowy mountains will make you want to snuggle up under a blanket until you read the last page!

LET IT SNOW by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle

One blizzard, three stories, infinite holiday swoons. LET IT SNOW seamlessly weaves three short stories by three authors that follows multiple teens over the course of one snowy night. While this is an older book, I promise it will make your heart warm and cozy!

 

CHRISTMAS IN PEACHTREE BLUFF by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Return to Peachtree Bluff with the beloved strong women from Kristy Woodson Harvey’s Peachtree Bluff series. A hurricane and the holidays are approaching, forcing the women to confront family secrets as they prepare for the fierce weather. Southern charm, familial drama, and holiday charm make this the perfect holiday read. 

BONUS—TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

On Christmas Eve, my family always reads Twas the Night Before Christmas as the last thing before we go to bed, even now that the kids are in their teens. It’s the perfect tale to get sugar plums dancing in your head. 

The post Five Cozy Reads for a Cool Yule appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As a huge fan of both authors, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story and what can I say? This co-written novel absolutely delivered. I loved how both authors brought their individual strengths to the table and how their writing styles just seamlessly intertwined. Murphy’s talent for writing confident plus-size characters who take no shit morphed together beautifully with Simone’s gift of writing steamy, intimate encounters that leave you fanning yourself. Not to mention that this romcom had so many elements that worked together perfectly: discussions of fatphobia in the media paired well with Nolan’s goal to keep his image clean so he could provide for his family, Bee’s sex-positive attitude clashed wonderfully with the traditional image of “clean” holiday movies that we all have cringed at before—and yet still can’t get enough of. Overall, all the elements of the novel and different plot strings made for one unputdownable read!

A Merry Little Meet Cute is also trope galore: from forced proximity to celebrity crush to forbidden romance all the way to pining and hidden identity, chances are that there’s a trope in here that you’re a sucker for (god knows I like every single one of them)! Much of what makes these tropes work so well together is the undeniable chemistry between Bee and Noah. They’re incredibly fleshed-out on their own with goals and fears and family to consider but together? Dayuummm. All of their encounters (not just the steamy scenes that were to die for) are filled with tension and so much chemistry that you can’t quite believe these characters are fictional. Meanwhile, they also struggle on their own. Nolan is desperate to find a solution to help his ill mother while being hundreds of miles away and Bee is questioning whether she could ever move over into “clean” movies completely. So whether you’ll keep flipping the pages because you’re desperate to learn more about what incident blacklisted Noah in the media or because you need to know what happens when Bee’s and Noah’s secret inevitably blows up in their faces, I can guarantee that there are some twists and turns no one will see coming.

Really, the only thing that bogged down the pacing a bit was the plethora of secondary characters but I can’t even be mad about it because I would read entire books about Noah’s fellow INK bandmates and Bee’s colleagues from the adult film industry (Sierra and Julie, if you’re reading this, please give us more!!). Honestly, I’m just (im)patiently waiting for these authors to give us more co-written content!

Spicy, sexy and charmingly cheerful with two self-proclaimed bi disasters that you can’t help but fall madly in love with, A Merry Little Meet Cute is the sexy, unputdownable holiday romcom that will make your days (and TBR) merry and bright this holiday season!

A Merry Little Meet Cute is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up A Merry Little Meet Cute? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.

Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.

The post Review: A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

February sees the release of titles such as Good Riddance, a new romantic comedy by Elinor Lipman, Sophie Kinsella’s I Owe You One, and The Rosie Result, the final instalment in Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project.

Read on to discover our romance picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited to check out!

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The delightful new romantic comedy from Elinor Lipman, in which one woman’s trash becomes another woman’s treasure, with deliriously entertaining results.

Boyfriend For Hire by Kendall Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I’m the guy you call when you need to impress your overbearing family, your boss, or your ex. Yeah, I’m a male escort, but not just any escort, I’m the escort. The one with a mile-long waiting list and a pristine reputation that’s very well-deserved. But I’m not the guy who falls for a client. Not once in six years. And then I meet Elle. Her friend has hired me to escort her to a wedding, but Elle doesn’t know we’re just pretending.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One devoted modern girl + a meddlesome, traditional grandmother = a heartwarming multicultural romantic comedy about finding love where you least expect it.

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

Tomboy by Avery Flynn
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For the first time in her life, Ireland Mills is happy with her body. Caleb Carpenter and Ben Weber are everything Ireland and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce dreamed of when conceptualising the “Real Kansas” promotional campaign. They’re handsome, young, educated, and totally dedicated to their small prairie town. When Ireland’s Prius gets stuck on a Kansas dirt road and a massive storm rips through town, she’s left stranded with nowhere to turn but to Caleb and Ben. These two hunky country boys are impossible to ignore, but could they ever be interested in her as well?

The Risk by Elle Kennedy
Goodreads | Amazon

Waiting For Willa by Kristen Proby
Goodreads | Amazon

Max Hull left Cunningham Falls a long time ago. Thanks to his killer instincts and business smarts, he’s come back to town richer than anyone’s wildest imagination. Now he’s closer to his family, living in his dream home, and at the top of his career—it sure looks like he has it all. All but one thing. And she’s not interested. Willa Monroe and Max were childhood sweethearts, but she’s moved on. Once he makes friends with her son and turns his attention on her, how long will she be able to resist him?

Dear George, Dear Mary: A Novel of George Washington’s First Love by Mary Calvi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A novel about heiress Mary Philipse’s relationship with George Washington, based on historical accounts, letters, and personal journals by nine-time New York Emmy award-winning journalist Mary Calvi.

Tumble by Adriana Locke
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After being burned by her dream job in New York City, sports journalist Neely Kimber suddenly finds herself jobless and paying a long-overdue visit to her hometown in Tennessee. Her plan? Relax, reset, and head back up the corporate ladder. There’s just one unexpected step. Neely’s back in Dogwood Lane for barely a day when she sees the man she ran from nine years ago: the bad boy next door who was her first kiss, her first love, and her first heartbreak.

Beautifully Broken Pieces by Catherine Cowles
Goodreads | Amazon

Taylor is looking for peace and quiet away from the memories of all she’s lost. A small mountain town where no one knows her seems like the perfect escape. Walker loves his life just the way it is. His town, his family, his brothers in blue. Everything simple and easy—until a chance encounter changes it all. When Taylor’s solitude is interrupted by the rugged cop, they find that the very thing they were avoiding might be just what they both need. As their iron wills clash and passion flares…a killer lurks. And you never know who might be caught in the crosshairs.

Which February 2019 book are you most excited to read? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.