The all-new renovated edition with expanded scenes and bonus content!
They say love and construction don’t mix. By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned.
LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens―certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they’re thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces.
LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties.
Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it’s easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they’ll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team.
Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It’s about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.
“DeWitt delivers a sensitive marriage of convenience romance…[tackling] tough issues without ever losing sight of the fun. This satisfies.” – Publishers Weekly
“An atmospheric tale of second chances.. Fans of slow-burn, emotionally charged romances, such as those by Kate Clayborn, Yulin Kuang, and Emily Henry, will enjoy DeWitt’s novel immensely.” – Library Journal
The fake marriage is a standard in romance tropes, and this one is handled quite matter-of-factly. LaRynn and Deacon’s grandmothers were married and left them equal shares of the beachfront home they shared. They also left them with a house in shambles and no money to fix it.
LaRynn was devasted when her grandmother passed, and hasn’t been back, not even when her wife passed. But Deacon has been sending stressed-out emails, hoping to get some response, and finally, LaRynn shows up. She’s dropped out of school, her father has turned off all the money she was used to, and she’s had to sell everything she owns to just stay afloat. She can access her trust fund if she’s married, so that’s what they do in order to get enough money to fix up the house. They figure they’ll stay married until it’s done, then sell it and split the very hefty profits. Deacon has other irons in the fire, but he can’t finish the house himself so it works for both of them.
Having had a fling one summer when they were teens has left them both with some baggage, and they have to work through it to find their way back to one another. It’s the journey to get there that is so much fun, and working and living together speeds it up just a bit.
This wasn’t as fast-paced as I expected, and there was a pretty major hole in the story that irked me, but all in all, I enjoyed this novel, and I’m looking forward to DeWitt’s next.
12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CO-OP by Tarah DeWitt.St. Martin’s Griffin (November 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250329387. 352p.
In a close-knit English village, Chrissy and Alice were once best friends. So were their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until the night Leo killed Robbie with a single, devastating punch. Now Leo has gone to prison, Chrissy has lost her pub, and Alice has been pouring her anger into a twisted project . . .
As Leo’s parole date approaches, the villagers are incensed and fearful about the prospect of his return. But when Chrissy arrives to collect Leo from prison, he isn’t there. The staff tell her he has already been released, but nobody knows where he’s gone.
As the village closes ranks, Chrissy realizes her former friends are suspects in her son’s disappearance, not the least of which is still-bitter Alice. Is Leo being punished for what happened that terrible night? Or do the answers lie further back, in a dark past none of them wants to revisit?
Helen Cooper’s latest thriller after The Couple in the Photo gets off to a slow start. Alice and Chrissy have been best friends for years, and their sons are also best friends. Chrissy’s son, Leo, and Alice’s son, Robbie, play music together in the pub that Chrissy owns until the fateful night when they get into a fight. In a freak accident, Leo punches Robbie, landing a blow that kills him. Convicted of manslaughter, Leo goes to prison while everyone in this small English village shuns Chrissy. As Leo’s release date approaches, a woman moves to town and befriends Alice, but even Alice doesn’t know why. Feeling very much alone, Chrissy, a widow, is counting down the days until Leo will be released from prison, but when she goes to pick him up, she learns he left earlier, and no one knows where he is. Told in turn by the various characters, their disparate viewpoints offer tantalizing misdirection. Eventually, secrets start to come out, further complicating these relationships and turning the story of Leo gone missing into something much darker.
Verdict: Readers who like the slow burn of a mystery will enjoy this atmospheric novel. Recommend to fans of Tana French or Kate Morton.
Eliza Moss’s intoxicating debut novel is a dark, intense, and compelling account of what happens when a young woman falls in love with the wrong kind of man.
Enola is approaching 30 and everything feels like a lot. The boxes aren’t ticked and she feels adrift in a way she thought she would have beaten by now. She wants to be a writer but can’t finish a first draft; she romanticizes her childhood but won’t speak to her mother; she has never been in a serious relationship but yearns to be one half of a couple that DIYs together at the weekends.
Enter: enigmatic writer. Enola falls in love and starts to dream about their perfect future: the wedding, the publishing deals, the house in Stoke Newington. But the reality is far from perfect. He’s distant. But she’s a Cool Girl, she doesn’t need to hear from him every day. He hangs out with his ex. But she’s a Cool Girl, she’s not insecure. Is she? He has dark moods. But he’s a creative, that’s part of his ‘process’. Her best friend begs her to end it, but Enola can’t. She’s a Cool Girl.
She might feel like she’s going crazy at times, but she wants him. She needs him. She would die without him…That’s what love is, isn’t it? Over the next twenty-four hours (and two years), everything that Enola thinks she knows is about to unravel, and she has to think again about how she sees love, family, and friendship and―most importantly―herself.
With notes of Fleabag & I May Destroy You but with the sparseness and emotional accuracy of writers like Ali Smith and Lily King, What It’s Like in Words is a close examination of what it means to experience the intense emotional uncertainty of first love.
“It’s an arresting portrait of manipulation.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Dynamic debut … A searing novel about why we love people who are bad for us.”―Kirkus
This debut novel is about a young woman so desperate for love that she falls into a dysfunctional relationship. Enola works as a barista by day with her best friend, Sarah, and is an aspiring writer by night. She is having difficulty with the actual writing process, and when she meets B at her writer’s group, there is an instant attraction. Enola becomes obsessed with him, but what she doesn’t realize is that B is a master manipulator. Enola lost her father when she was young, and her relationship with her mother is fragile at best. B’s constant cutting remarks cut deep and while Sarah tries to be supportive, she can’t help reminding Enola that she deserves more. Eventually, Enola manages to extricate herself and immediately falls for someone else. But B isn’t letting her go that easily, and it takes more courage than Enola thinks she has to move on.
Verdict: Obsessive love is at the heart of this compulsively readable debut novel, and should appeal to fans of Colleen Hoover.
Another year coming to a close! I am so grateful to all my readers. Thanks for reading and sharing, and for your comments and emails. Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2025! Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and joyful New Year filled with great books!
I was so thrilled to have my family coming home for Thanksgiving, but you know what they say about best laid plans? I understand how difficult it is to juggle the holidays when my son and his family live in New York, we live in Florida, and my daughter-in-law’s family lives in Chicago. It’s impossible to be in so many places at once! The onus seems to be on my son and his family to make all the grandparents happy, and they are incredibly thoughtful about it. They were all set to come to Florida for Thanksgiving but my husband and daughter came down with Covid! My granddaughter is only seven months old, and just got her first Covid vaccine. It just seemed too risky to visit right now. Luckily, they were able to get a credit for their airfare, and we hope to see them soon.
I love the idea of this, but with just three of us having Christmas Eve dinner, I rarely make it to 7. I usually make Baked Clams Oreganata, Caesar Salad (with anchovies!), and Seafood Risotto with shrimp, mussels, lobster, and scallops. Close enough – how much can three people eat!
Other News
My husband retired this year. Well, he was laid off from a job he had for twenty years where he survived numerous layoffs over many years. The timing wasn’t bad – he was planning on retiring in another year or so, and this just accelerated the timeline. I am not quite there yet – I hope to work for at least another year.
We are planning on retiring to Portugal where the cost of living is so much lower, health care is more affordable, and gun deaths are a rarity, not a way of life. My husband and I visited last April and loved it. Last month, my husband and daughter visited, and she loved it. We may be retiring, but our daughter lives at home and will come with us so it was very important that she be happy about the move as well.
It is a time-consuming and somewhat expensive process to move to another country, but we are excited about the prospect of what will surely be our last big adventure. Once I retire, the plan is to move to a less expensive state for about a year while we work through the immigration process to Portugal. Florida has gotten insanely expensive – if we hadn’t bought our house when we did 38 years ago, and paid off our mortgage, we wouldn’t be able to afford to live here. The cost of insurance – homeowners and auto – is crazy expensive, like another mortgage payment. If I had to do that on top of an actual mortgage payment, we’d both be working two jobs to afford it.
We are thinking about moving to Delaware or New Hampshire, two states with lower costs of living, no state income tax, and a tiny bit closer to my kids in New York. If I could afford to live in NY, that would be ideal, but it is prohibitively expensive. I haven’t lived in winter since I was a kid. One of my closest friends lives in Maine, and I have never even been there! It would be nice to be able to see her more often, and NH would allow for that. On the other hand, a New Hampshire winter is a bit scary for me! Delaware has slightly milder and shorter winters than NH.
Honestly, I’d love to move to Orlando for a year. Our South Florida friends would be able to visit. The housing costs are lower there, but insurance is still a nightmare. I love Disneyworld, and if we lived there, we could get annual passes. I always thought that would be my ideal place to retire. It’s a long shot though. Any thoughts on where to retire? Please share!
Clockwise from top left: Douro River, 2023; Porto, 2024; Coimbra, 2023; Bom de Jesus, 2024
As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.
Thanks to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.
Comments Off on BookBitch Diary: December 1, 2024 | Ramblings | Permalink Posted by Stacy Alesi
From USA TODAY bestselling author of The Book Club Hotel, Sarah Morgan returns with a heartfelt story of friendship, finding yourself, and the surprising ties that bring us together. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Jennifer Weiner.
To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.
Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?
For Dorothy, helping Imogen offers a longed-for chance to make reparations for her own past. But as her daughter Sara keeps reminding her, it brings risks, too. Yet Dorothy knows that only a leap of courage will allow her family to grow and heal. And perhaps this Christmas, with Dorothy’s help, the new life that Imogen is slowly piecing together could be better than anything either of them could imagine…
Perfect for fans of: Rebecca Serle and Jojo Moyes The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan Strong, hardworking women Complex family relationships Christmas Hallmark movies
“Morgan’s latest is sure to serve up some holiday cheer as Imogen learns the meaning of family and friendship and finds her own love story. This delightful Christmas tale is the perfect antidote to loneliness and feeling overwhelmed over the busy holiday season.”—Booklist Reviews
“Imogen will find that there’s much more to life than work and that perhaps she’s able to have love and family after all . . . Though the pacing is a bit uneven, this latest from Morgan is a poignant holiday novel with a touch of romance.”—Library Journal
Imogen is all about her work. She has no other life outside of work, although she does have a couple of photos on her desk of a fake family and a fake dog, neither of which is hers. As an event planner, she excels, but she keeps taking on more and more clients until the unthinkable happens and an important event implodes. Imogen’s boss isn’t mad about that so much as she fears Imogen is going to burn out in flames, so she orders her to take the month of December off, and suggests she spend it with her family.
Unfortunately, that’s not an option. Imogen was raised by a single mother who was extremely abusive and unstable, and she avoids her as much as possible. But when her favorite client, Dorothy, offers her the use of her Cotswold country cottage, Imogen decides to take her up on it and get a much-needed rest. Dorothy invites her to lunch, but a visit to the restroom reveals family photos that turn Imogen’s world upside down. Learning about her own family is an eye opening experience, but Imogen is helped along by a neighboring veterinarian. They all spend that month together, and Imogen finally finds the happiness she never knew she was missing.
I found parts of the story confusing at times, but eventually, it all made sense. I liked seeing Imogen come out of her shell and finding family and love was just a bonus. A perfect read for the holidays!
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE by Sarah Morgan.Canary Street Press; Original edition (September 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335499097. 352p.
Lizzie Shane’s Pine Hollow series is a contemporary romance series about the residents of Pine Hollow, Vermont, and their love of animals. The series follows the characters as they adopt rescue dogs and find their happily-ever-afters.
I did a full review of the first book in the series, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, and here are my thoughts on the rest of the series.See my comments below each book.
Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family’s rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he’s far more reasonable – and handsome – than she ever expected.
As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn’t have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town’s gossip is spreading faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays…and the whole year through.]
From the BookBitch: I really enjoyed this romantic romp. If you like your Christmas stories with a side of puppies, as I do, this is your book. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Full review
Opposites attract when a straitlaced lawyer and whimsical party planner must fake-date as co-parents of a rambunctious Irish wolfhound in the second book of this im-paw-ssibly charming small-town romance series.
Once upon a time, an unruly puppy was looking for a place to call home…
Connor Wyeth has a plan for everything. But when he adopts Maximus, an unruly Irish wolfhound mix, he gets more than he bargained for. The only person Max ever listens to is the volunteer who used to walk him at the shelter – a perpetually upbeat woman whose day job is planning princess parties for little kids. Connor can’t believe she’ll be able to tame such a beast as Max, but he’s desperate enough to try anything.
Deenie Mitchell isn’t looking forward to spending more time with uptight, rules-orientated Connor – no matter how attractive he is. But when her sister announces her engagement, Deenie realizes he’s the perfect person to impress her type-A family. When she learns he needs a plus-one for his law firm’s work events, an unlikely alliance is formed. But then playing the perfect couple unexpectedly begins to feel all too…real.
Opposites may attract, but can this rule-maker and rule-breaker find a way to each other’s hearts?
From the BookBitch: I loved this romcom that takes you back to the small town of Pine Hollow, and into the lives of the happy-go-lucky yet sassy Deenie, and the straight-laced yet impassioned Connor, as they find out that opposites do attract. There is definitely more to their relationship than dog training, fake dating, and office politics.
Sometimes a second chance at first love requires a little push…
The last person Elinor Rodriguez wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson. The quietly intense lawman broke Elinor’s heart once before, and she’s determined to never risk trusting him again. Unfortunately, her mischievous rescue dog seems to have other plans. Somehow Dory always manages to escape Elinor at the worst possible moment. And in the small town of Pine Hollow, Levi is the man to call when a dog is disrupting traffic.
As the kid who barely graduated – and still struggles to hide his dyslexia – Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league. Even though he ended their engagement all those years ago, Elinor continues to take Levi’s breath away whenever he sees her. Now, with a little help from a four-legged friend, Levi and Elinor may just get the second chance they deserve.
From the BookBitch: I love a second chance romance, and this was a good one. Levi and Eleanor were engaged, and a couple of weeks before the wedding, he called it off – with no reason. Living in a small town means there is no escape, and finding their way back to one another is a sometimes painful, yet promising journey.
In this fun small-town romance, a Jane Austen fan struggling to find her modern-day Mr. Darcy gets more than she bargained for when she swears off men and adopts an adorable puppy.
Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is single—again—and she blames Jane Austen. She made brooding, aloof men sound oh so dreamy. But after years of failing to find her own Mr. Darcy, Charlotte decides it’s time to swear off dating. She’s going to lavish all her love and affection on someone who actually deserves it: her new puppy, Bingley.
And there’s no one better to give her pet advice than her neighbor and coworker George Leneghan. He’s quiet and patient and, best of all, way too sweet to ever be her type. But as their friendly banter turns flirty, the unimaginable happens—Charlotte starts catching feelings.
Just as Charlotte is trying to untangle what it is she truly wants, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move. Suddenly, Charlotte wonders if she’s kept her soulmate in the friend zone so long that she’s entirely missed her chance at a happily ever after. Dear Reader, could it be possible she’s had it wrong all this time?
From the BookBitch: This contemporary take on Jane Austen goes one step further with a family obsessed with everything Austen, including their names. George is so perfect for Charlotte but it takes them both a while to figure it all out. This was a sweet romance sure to please any Austen fan.
In this uplifting small-town romance, a rambunctious puppy gives two childhood friends a second chance at love.
When her Olympic downhill dreams were crushed by an injury, Kendall Walsh retreated to Pine Hollow to help her parents run the local ski resort—and watched from a distance as her childhood best friend took the winter sports world by storm. Now nearly a decade later, Brody James has suddenly retired and returned to Pine Hollow for his sister’s wedding, but he isn’t the same carefree daredevil Kendall remembers (and had a secret crush on as a teen).
Haunted by the recent death of his fiercest rival, and struggling to regain his footing in a life after sports, Brody finds himself trailing after Kendall at the resort as eagerly as her golden retriever puppy. Kendall had promised herself she wasn’t going to bother with things like romance until she’d proven herself as the ski resort’s new events coordinator, but Brody has always been her kryptonite and maybe they both need to remember how to be a little more daring…
From the BookBitch: Kendall was supposed to follow in her father’s footsteps and become an Olympic champion skier. She was well on her way when she had a terrible accident, and hasn’t been up on skis since. Her childhood best friend, Brody, did make it all the way but when his arch rival dies, it really throws him off kilter. He comes home and tries to figure out his next move, helping Kendall out at the ski resort her family owns. Lots of family drama ensues, but Kendall and Brody find their happy ending.
A small-town baker faces off against her longtime nemesis on a reality TV competition in this delightful romantic comedy.
Magda Miller’s feud with rival baker Mackenzie Newton is so old, folks in tiny Pine Hollow, Vermont forgot how it started. But Magda remembers: Ten years ago, she offered Mac her heart—instead, he ran off with her grandmother’s maple cake recipe. Now, Mac traipses all over Magda’s baking territory, just like his oversized tabby keeps sneaking into her house to claim her dog’s favorite bed. So, when Magda gets the call to compete on The Great American Cake-Off, she’s thrilled to finally shine in a Mac-free zone. But when she arrives on set, her devilishly handsome nemesis is already there . .
It turns out, Mac and Magda’s story has inspired the first ever Arch Rivals edition of Cake-Off, and of course Mac has to raise the stakes with a wager. The winner takes all—the Cake-Off title, the contested recipe, and control of the narrative. Magda is more than ready to kick Mac’s Bundt. But as they spar, on-screen and off, Mac and Magda reveal the best in each other…and the sizzling attraction fueling their rivalry. Only one of them can win, so why does it suddenly feel like they both stand to lose?
From the BookBitch: I think this may be my favorite book in the series, which is really saying something. Set in the world of a competitive baking reality TV show just amped up my interest for sure. Mac and Magda have been sworn enemies in the tiny town of Pine Hollow for years, so when they compete on TV things really take a turn – and then another turn, when they fall in love. This enemies-to-lovers romance was everything I wanted – relatable characters, slow-burn romance, and, of course, the happily ever after.
Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.
If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.
Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?
Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact.
“The great outdoors brings peril and passion in this high-octane rom-com…Rea ramps up the suspense, but never races through the relationship itself, allowing it to develop at a natural pace amid the drama. The characters slowly reveal their hidden depths…igniting an attraction that inspires them to want to save each other. It’s the perfect mix of danger and delight.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Rea takes readers on a delightful adventure that’s packed with action, twists, and humor in this forced-proximity rom-com. Hand to fans of Jo Segura and Sarah Hawley.”—Library Journal
“This hilarious novel doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a quick, fun read.”—Booklist
Emily lost her father over a year ago, but is still feeling guilty that she kept putting off going to national parks with him. Now that he’s gone, she feels it is her mission to spread his ashes at the top park on his bucket list, Isle Royale National Park. Emily much prefers a five star resort to doing anything outdoors, but guilt is a powerful motivator. This particular park requires some outdoor survival skills for sure, and since she doesn’t have any, she invites her boyfriend along. But two weeks before their trip, he dumps her.
Frantic, Emily tries every tour guide she can find until she reaches Fleet Outdoor Adventures, and miraculously, they have a guide available. What they don’t tell her is that her guide, Ryder, is actually the marketing person at this company but since his brother, the actual guide, passed away, the company has sort of fallen apart and is on the verge of going under. This is the last attempt to try and save it, so off Ryder goes into the wilderness on a truly madcap adventure.
Things don’t start off well when he almost misses the ferry that takes them to the park. Emily is not impressed with Ryder, to say the least, and the more they hike the less impressed she is. Ryder can only fake it for so long until he admits he is just as clueless as she is.
Meanwhile, Emily met an archaeology professor from Harvard on the ferry who tells her about a shipwreck he is researching. When they run into him in the woods, he claims his mentor tried to kill him because they found a rare blue diamond on board the wreck. Turns out to be the other way around, and Emily and Ryder realize they are in deep trouble when they witness a murder. And then they become the hunted.
This is more silly than serious, despite the guns and goons. Ryder and Emily slowly find a way to get along, and then more feelings develop. This was a really fun read with a lot of laughs between the murder attempts, and the forced proximity trope works really well here. Rea has become a must-read author for me, if only for the laughter – and what could be better than laughing?
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE by Kerry Rea.Berkley (November 26, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593815649. 336p.
A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.
Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.
From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?
One of Bustle’s Best New Books of Fall 2024 One of BookBub’s Best Books of Fall 2024 One of Nerd Daily’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024 One of SheReads’ Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024 One of LitHub’s Ultimate Fall 2024 Reading List One of theSkimm‘s Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
“Another bright and gratifying love story from Cousens. . . . She tackles the enemies-to-lovers trope with characteristic humor and thoughtfulness, while injecting it with complex characters and realistic situations.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“[Cousens] delivers another refreshing novel that takes readers on an unexpected journey…Through a series of chaotic, charming, and surprising rendezvous, Anna begins to find herself again. . . . Complete with a cast of well-developed and memorable characters, Cousens expertly weaves together themes of self-discovery, romance, motherhood, and friendship, resulting in a rich story that is engrossing to the end with high appeal to women’s lit readers.” —Booklist (starred)
“Cousens has a well-earned reputation for writing delightful love stories, and this one more than delivers. The enemies-to-lovers chemistry between Anna and Will is both believable and steamy, and Cousens deftly plays with rom-com tropes while crafting a journey of self-discovery in the wake of divorce. It’s also refreshing to read a slightly older heroine—Anna is in her late 30s, an age that often seems nonexistent in romances—with an established life, career, and children. A supremely satisfying love story with all the charm readers have come to expect from Cousens.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Cousens writes reliably excellent stories, and this is no exception. Anna is in her late thirties, divorced, a mom of two, and works as a columnist for a local homestyle magazine. Like most print magazines, this one is in trouble, and there is a new owner in town. He wants more clicks, more likes, more social engagement, and Anna fears her column may be cut. Then her work nemesis, Will, offers up his own idea for a column to replace hers, and Anna’s competitive streak blooms. They each commit to writing personal columns about their dating life.
Will is a few years younger than Anna and drop-dead gorgeous. He is known for his regular hookups with a different girl every week. Anna hasn’t been on a date since before she was married. A couple of co-workers help create a profile for her on an online dating app, but the dates are horrible. When she mentions that her son wants to fix her up with a classmate’s divorced dad, her new boss jumps at the idea, and a new column is hatched; Anna’s kids will find her six dates from the local men in their community, and she’ll write about them. While these dates aren’t fabulous, Anna is making new friends at least and trying new things.
Will tries to help, although she doesn’t see it that way. But when he books them a weekend getaway at a camp where phones are banned and they stay in the woods, Anna finds herself falling for Will. The weekend is a big success, until a family emergency calls Anna home.
It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance, with a lot of laughs along the way. The setting in Bath, England adds some interest as well, but it’s the characters that truly drive this story. If you enjoy a fun romp of a romance, don’t miss this one.
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? by Sophie Cousens.G.P. Putnam’s Sons (November 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593718902. 368p.
In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, an estranged couple decide to fake their way through the London season to repair their good name… but neither are prepared for the genuine sparks that begin flying between them.
A blue-blooded beauty bartered to a Beast…
He would pay any price to possess her. But even though Alexandra Bellamy sacrifices herself to save her family’s fortunes, a shocking betrayal sunders her marriage to a taciturn brute of a war hero, Colonel Magnus Brightwall, before it even begins. Five years of icy separation later, a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them, and Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever.
But alone in a suite at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a new battle begins—between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion stirring between them. The danger is real: Magnus rediscovers why Alexandra is the only woman who could ever break him. And even as she lays bare the beautiful heart beating beneath the battered hide of the near-stranger she married, Alexandra knows she may have already lost him—even as she finally falls fatally, irrevocably in love.
“The eighth entry in Long’s wonderful “Palace of Rogues” series (following My Season of Scandal) is another lovely read . . . This latest from Long showcases her sharp skill for character detail, dialogue, pacing, and tone. A book to treasure.”—Library Journal
“A marriage of estrangement becomes real just as it’s ending . . . This “Beauty and the Beast” rewrite is evocative of some of Lisa Kleypas’ and Sherry Thomas’ historical romances, where marriages must be rebuilt by two complicated people healing the wrongs they did to each other and baring their true selves . . . A keeper, fusing the beauties of historical romance with present-day ideas of individual happiness.” —Kirkus Reviews
This is the latest addition to one of my favorite series, and it’s a good one. Heart wrenching, in fact. The “beast” is Colonel Magnus Brightwall, a soldier who has been away for five years, leaving the morning after he got married. His wife is Alexandra Bellamy, whose father basically sold her into marriage. It would have worked out, except that Alexandra had a bit of a crush on another man, and he kisses her goodbye as he is leaving town. Unfortunately, her only kiss was also her last, because it happened shortly after the wedding and was witnessed by her husband.
Magnus never thought he would marry, but something about Alexandra strongly appealed to him. But he is devastated by what he saw, and he returns to war, leaving his bride behind. She makes a life for herself, but when he returns, things have to change. He readies the house for sale, and they move into the Grand Palace on the Thames. Determined to resist the irresistible proves much more difficult than Magnus expected, and as they spend time together, feelings start to emerge. But he is stubborn, and she feels helpless to change anything.
This was such an emotional read for me. These characters and their story were incredibly engaging, and I couldn’t wait for their happy ending, but it didn’t seem like they would get one until the very end. While theoretically these books don’t need to be read in order, I think they make more sense if you have the backstory created in the previous books. Another excellent read from Julie Anne Long.
THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE by Julie Anne Long. Avon (October 22, 2024).ISBN: 978-0063281172. 368p.
A behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing as told by cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, with compelling insights from cast and crew exploring what made the show what it was and how its impassioned commitment to service has made the series and relationships behind it endure.
Step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlet’s Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite the West Wing cast and crew in a lively and colorful “backstage pass” to the timeless series. This intimate, in-depth reflection reveals how The West Wing was conceived, and spotlights the army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it forged, and the service it inspired.
From cast member origin stories to the collective cathartic farewell on the show’s final night of filming, What’s Next will delight readers with on-set and off-camera anecdotes that even West Wing superfans have never heard. Meanwhile, a deeper analysis of the show’s legacy through American culture, service, government, and civic life underscores how the series envisaged an American politics of decency and honor, creating an aspirational White House beyond the bounds of fictional television.
What’s Next revisits beloved episodes with fresh, untold commentary; compiles poignant and hilarious stories from the show’s production; highlights initiatives supported by the cast, crew, and creators; and makes a powerful case for competent, empathetic leadership, hope, and optimism for whatever lies ahead.
“What’s Next pulls back the curtain on the making of the iconic show, just in time for a pre-election rewatch.” –People
“[This] lively, engaging booktakes a deep dive into the series, including its origin, creators, casting, key episodes from its seven seasons, and more… Fans of the series (aka “Wingnuts”) will enjoy these on- and off-camera stories, and those who have never watched an episode will find out what they’ve missed.” –Booklist
“An entertaining history of the show grounded in extensive interviews with its stars, writers, and crew…the insider stories amuse, and meditations on the show’s legacy highlight its influence on real-life politicos.” —Publishers Weekly
“The authors gained excellent access to key figures on the show… plenty of insider trivia… [a] thorough exploration of a prestige-TV standard-bearer.”—Kirkus
The West Wing is one of my favorite TV shows, and I constantly rewatch it. I know it is pure fantasy, but I love the fantasy and want to live in the Aaron Sorkin-created world where politicians work hard to make life better for their constituents.
I received the hardcover from the publisher over the summer. I still have trouble reading print books, so I read it a little at a time, which worked out perfectly because I got to savor it in a way that I don’t always get to do when I read on my Kindle. It is an extraordinary read about an extraordinary show.
The authors are two of the cast members: Melissa Fitzgerald played Carol Fitzpatrick, CJ’s assistant, and was there from the beginning throughout the series. Mary McCormack started during season five, and played Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper. Melissa was so inspired by the episode “In Excelsis Deo” that she ended up as the Director of Justice for Vets, a non-profit organization focused on veterans’ treatment courts that has since been rebranded as All Rise. Many of the cast have helped out with the foundation as well. A TV series that inspires public service is a rarity.
This book is for fans of the show. I am a diehard Wingnut and proud of it. If you love the show, you will love this book. If you don’t understand the popularity of the show – now celebrating its 25th anniversary! – then this book will make it clear why it is still popular so many years later. The West Wing was in the infancy of what is now thought of as prestige television, along with The Sopranos and The Wire, all from the same era. The cast was perfect, the writing incomparable, and the storylines interesting and engaging. The West Wing introduced the “walk and talk,” now a fairly common way of filming. Even the music by W. G. Snuffy Walden was unforgettable.
What’s Next is a must-read for any fan of the show. I loved it.
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WHAT’S NEXT by Melissa Fitzgerald & Mary McCormack.Dutton (August 13, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593184547. 608p.
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