Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and a wonderfully unique forced proximity debut romance, perfect for fans of Elena Armas’s The American Roommate Experiment and Drew Barrymore’s classic rom-com Fifty First Dates.
Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her, as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s progressing fast, it’s Elle’s turn to step up.
Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler—in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.
Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there’s a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer’s riddled mind, Lovie’s convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love.
Certain she’ll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She doesn’t forget.
Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real…so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he’s not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?
Fake It Like You Mean It is the perfect blend of romance, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heartbreaking beautiful moments.
“The fake dating trope takes on unexpected emotional depth in Murphy’s utterly endearing debut . . . [With] perfect pacing and chemistry that leaps off the page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Elle and Adam have so much chemistry . . . A moving romance that balances the heartbreak of slowly losing a relative to Alzheimer’s with the thrill of falling in love.” —Kirkus Reviews
This is a heartwarming yet emotionally charged romance that balances laughter, sizzle, and poignant moments. The story follows Elle, who returns home to care for her grandmother, Lovie, as Alzheimer’s takes its toll. Elle’s life is complicated by Adam, Lovie’s live-in nurse, with whom she shares a dynamic that evolves from sharp banter to a deep connection. When Lovie mistakenly believes they are a couple, they play along, leading to an intimate and tension-filled fake relationship.
As they care for Lovie together, their bond grows naturally through shared vulnerability, humor, and care. The novel compassionately portrays Alzheimer’s, making Lovie a central figure in the narrative. Beyond romance, it explores the pain of losing a loved one and Elle’s journey of self-discovery amidst grief and family responsibilities. This book is a gem for fans of fake dating and slow-burn romances, offering a blend of light-hearted moments and emotional depth.
This was the first romance I’ve listened to in a while with only one narrator, and Picard does a great job with it. Murphy’s debut is a winner, and I’m looking forward to her next book!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FAKE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT by Megan Murphy.Narrator: Alex Picard. Dreamscape Media; March 18, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours.
Rekindle your belief in the magic of first love and the charm of small towns with Annie England Noblin’s delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Sarah Adams.
Spring is in the air and Myliehas everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.
After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.
Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.
Told with Annie England Noblin’s signature wit, cozy charm, and a dash of spice, Spring Fling is the perfect friends-to-lovers read.
This is a small-town, second-chance romance that follows Mylie and Ben. They grew up together and were good friends through high school, but after graduation, Ben and his mom moved to Chicago, where he attended college, and he and Mylie lost touch.
Mylie is a big deal in the small town of Clay Creek, Arkansas. She owns a company that creates fishing lures and is probably the town’s largest employer. Her company is also the largest sponsor of the town’s biggest event, a fishing tournament that brings in people from all over to compete for a cash prize.
When they meet, Ben and Mylie quickly find they have something in common; both their fathers have passed away and a friendship is formed. But at least Ben has his mom; Mylie’s mom is a flake and basically dumps her and her much younger sister on their grandmother, who everyone in town calls Granny. Mylie becomes a mother-substitute to her baby sister Cassie, and even though Cassie is in high school now, they all still live together and are very close.
It’s been ten years since Ben has been in Clay Creek. His grandfather had retired there, but instead of staying retired, he opened a small clinic and saw to the medical needs of the town. When he passed away, Ben’s mom moved them into his home. Before his mom passed away, she made him promise he would return to Clay Creek before he sells the family home there. Despite their prolonged separation, Mylie and Ben swiftly rekindle their friendship and seize the opportunity to explore their relationship in ways they previously hadn’t.
I found the narrative somewhat lacking and ultimately underwhelming. The plot itself is not fundamentally flawed, but beyond the engaging characters and the charming town setting, the romance feels rushed and underdeveloped. Although Mylie and Ben were endearing together, their relationship progressed too quickly. Where was the emotional connection, tension, and build-up typically associated with second-chance romances? Not here.
Overall, while the small-town charm was present, the romance was overshadowed by secondary characters and subplots, leaving me desiring more depth and development in the central relationship. It is still an enjoyable read, a testament to Noblin’s skills as an author, but I really wanted more.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
SPRING FLING by Annie England Noblin.Avon (March 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063427587. 304p.
“Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner
Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone…literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.
Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.
Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.
“The Golden Girls of murder are back—bickering Natalie and Mary Alice, classy Helen, and, of course, ruthless Billie . . . In between the action scenes, they also snipe at each other in a way only lifelong friends can while also admitting their fears, such as pursuing relationships as a widow or the looming guilt of a mission gone wrong. Fans of the first book will be eager to return to this gang of kick-butt ladies.” —Booklist
“Fans of Killers of a Certain Age will enjoy the return of the four senior assassins whose escapades from the past and present are intermixed in a fast-paced, humorous adventure. The books stand out for their wit and unlikely friendships.”—Library Journal
“Four talented assassins combine their skills in order to survive what they’d expected to be a peaceful retirement . . . Delighted to be back at their old job despite their bickering and squabbling, they relive past cases as they travel to several unsavory European and Egyptian spots . . . and end up involved in an art theft case that dates back to the Third Reich. A nonstop-action thriller that’s often disconcertingly funny in posing moral questions about the murder of horrible people.”—Kirkus Reviews
I was excited to dive into the second installment of Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age series. This thriller is the perfect blend of friendship, humor, tension, risk, and nonstop action. The story follows Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie, retired assassins who are pulled back into their former careers by the Museum’s new director, Naomi Ndiaye. The Museum is the name of this shadow international spy agency. A mole has leaked critical information, and the quartet must stop a killer targeting Museum employees linked to an Eastern European gangster. Former Nazis make an appearance as art theft is still a leftover issue from World War II that the Museum is keenly focused on, much like the Monuments Men.
The novel, largely told from Billie’s perspective, includes flashbacks to their past missions. Raybourn skillfully crafts dynamic, relatable characters with complex backgrounds. While there isn’t quite as much humor as was in the first book, the narrative remains captivating with its global settings, engaging characters, and unpredictable twists. The story explores themes beyond assassination, focusing on friendship, age, trust, and ethics, which add a lot of depth to the story.
Overall, Kills Well with Others is a compelling, fast-paced thriller that combines mature characters with plenty of action and humor. If you enjoy unique series with strong characters, this is definitely worth reading. I loved it.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS by Deanna Raybourn.Berkley (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638514. 368p.
A swoony, steamy, STEM romance in which two curators at a science museum—a handsome but grumpy astronomer and an anxious but sunshine-y entomologist—realize they are the perfect match. Now with exclusive bonus content!
Millie has never taken the expected path. Her childhood love for bugs and science led her to entomology, and her role as a curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. It’s her dream to run her own department—so when a rare director position opens, she is determined nothing will distract her from her goal. Especially not Finn, her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, electric blue eyes, and endless supply of astronomy ties.
. . . Not that she’s spent time noticing any of those things.
Finn doesn’t mean to glare at everyone, but he’s juggling his role at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and trying not to ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row. He can’t afford to let anything slip, and certainly doesn’t need more to deal with—especially not Millie literally stumbling into him, with her bright smile and sunny optimism.
He bugs her. She’s too starry-eyed for him. They want nothing to do with each other. But with Finn on the interview committee, avoidance is impossible. And Millie soon realizes it’s one thing when a job is on the line. It’s quite another when it’s her heart.
Give Me Butterflies is a sweet and sexy STEM romance, featuring:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Heroine in STEM
Slow burn
Open door spice
Found family
Nerdy banter
“Meadows wows with a contemporary that’s funny, sexy, sweet, and deliciously nerdy all at the same time…Fans of Ali Hazelwood’s STEMinist series should snap this up.” — Publishers Weekly *STARRED* review
“Collectors of perfectly executed grumpy sunshine love stories will want to snare a copy of Meadows’ superbly written romance in their reading nets. With an intriguing STEM-centered storyline, an abundance of steamy sexual chemistry, and plenty of sharp wit, the start of Meadows’ ‘Oak Sisters’ series is a rare specimen indeed.” — Booklist *STARRED* review
“A companionable romance that emphasizes family and friends, support and mental wellbeing, and building a happy life.” —Library Journal
“Narrators Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke enchant listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance . . . Both narrators use authentic-sounding voices in the delivery of dialogue, making this a memorable audio experience that will leave listeners smiling.” — AudioFile Reviews
This was such a fun, nerdy read! Millie and Finn both work at a science museum; she’s a curator of the entomology department and he’s the director of astronomy. Finn’s face is permanently etched with a scowl, and Millie is all sunshine and rainbows, at least in public. Turns out Finn has good reason for his unhappy face – his only sister died a few months earlier, and he is now guardian to her twin girls. He loves the girls, but it is a lot and it cost him his last relationship when his girlfriend didn’t want to deal with kids.
Millie was in a long-term relationship with Kyle, a man who was manipulative and cruel to her. Eventually, she ends things but is still recovering and certainly not looking to start anything new. But then she runs into Finn, literally, and spills coffee all over him. Then she hits his car. This is a very damaging meet cute, but he is so kind about it all that it really surprises her.
Millie has applied for the open director position in her department, and Finn is on the hiring committee. She works hard to ace her first interview, and it goes really well. But the more she runs into Finn, the more she sees the man behind the scowl, and when he brings his nieces in for a week-long camp program, it totally changes her opinion of him. She adores the girls, and they love her, too. Next thing you know Finn and Millie are hanging out, usually with the girls, and they start developing feelings for one another. This is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I was completely drawn into their story.
There is a lot of humor and some sizzling sex once they get together. I loved the way they dealt with their respective families – Millie’s is the type of family most people wish for, loving, caring, and close, while Finn’s parents are stuffy and incredibly rude, even to their grandchildren. They are pissed that their daughter left Finn her daughters to raise, but it is easy to understand once they enter the story.
The narrators were great, and I was very excited to recognize Jason Clarke’s voice from another book I listened to. They both do a great job drawing me in and more importantly, keeping my attention. This is a dual narration, with each of them reading their respective chapters as the story moves between Finn and Millie’s viewpoints. There is some added drama with a second candidate vying for the director position, and I loved how Finn handled all that. I couldn’t wait for their happy ending, but the epilogues (plural!) went on too long. The first epilogue was great, but the second one was like a sex scene had been cut from the book and added back on at the end. There are also recipes – well, at least one for Snickerdoodles, but I stopped listening at that point, so there may be more.
All in all, this was a really good story, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, which, going by the title of the series, will be based on one of Millie’s sisters.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES by Jillian Meadows.Narrators: Jason Clarke & Victoria Connolly. HarperAudio; January 21, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours and 45 minutes.
I lost my beloved cat, Loki, on March 11. I am beyond heartbroken. I’ve been crying for days, and sleep eludes me. I miss him so much. Please allow me this space to grieve. It helps me to work through my feelings by writing about them.
Loki was sixteen years old and, until the last year, was in perfect health. Last year, he started having seizures, at first tiny seizures, but then a couple of grand mal seizures. It appeared to be something called Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures, or FARS, a type of epilepsy that usually occurs in older cats where seizures are triggered by specific sounds. There’s not a whole lot known about it, but we could see it. The sound of a metal spoon hitting the ceramic bowl when I fed him made him flinch; a tiny seizure. Ice coming out of the refrigerator into a metal cup made him cower and shake. I bought silicon spoons to use when I fed him, and we put a plastic cup next to the ice maker; it was still noisy but not troublesome. I was never sure what caused the grand mal seizures, but it never appeared to be sound-related. He hadn’t had a seizure since late last year; then, a few weeks ago, it appeared he had another full seizure. He had peed on the rug, and he only ever did that during a grand mal seizure. But it turns out the seizures weren’t the problem; it was his heart.
A few weeks ago I started noticing he wasn’t eating very much, and he was sleeping even more. Cats typically sleep 12-16 hours a day, and he was probably hitting 20. Then he started getting these episodes where he was breathing heavily with his mouth open. Dogs pant, cats do not, so I started researching. It’s a well-kept secret that there is a lot of good information on animals on the National Institutes of Health website. The lethargy, loss of appetite, and panting fit the symptoms of congenital heart failure, which is not uncommon in older cats.
I had been in touch with his breeder when he started having seizures, and she told me that she had never had a cat with that issue. She also told me his mother had passed away at 17 of what she called natural causes; she was getting older, slower, wasn’t eating as much, and eventually passed away. That seemed like maybe what was happening with Loki. We kept a close eye on him. I had read that some cats can live for a while with this heart issue, anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years. My husband and I discussed it, but he seemed to think if we took him to the vet, the only option would be to put him to sleep. So we didn’t take him.
Truly a gift
Then the episodes of heavy breathing started becoming more frequent, at least once a day, that we saw, then a few times a day. He didn’t like being held anymore; we thought he might be in pain. He wasn’t moving around much, either, and didn’t jump up on the furniture to hang out with us anymore. He didn’t come to bed with us anymore. He was sleeping on a rug in the dining room or near his food. He went to the litter box, but that was about it.
I was getting more concerned as his breathing seemed to worsen, and at his loss of appetite. I weighed him, and he had lost over a pound since November. Alarmed, I again suggested we talk to the vet. My husband was afraid that the stress of taking him there would kill him – cats, as a rule, hate getting into the carrier, hate car rides, and hate going to strange places with strange smells, and Loki hated all three of those stressors. But I thought if there was any way the vet could help him, any kind of medication, maybe it was worth a shot.
Twisty!
It turned out that my husband was right. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong other than his heart was racing. We hung out there for a while, discussing options, but Loki seemed to be getting worse, instead of calming down. He could go on Lasix, but the longer we stayed, the more the vet was convinced it wouldn’t help. He couldn’t hear any fluid in his lungs. He said we could take him to a veterinary cardiologist for scans and more sophisticated testing, but he didn’t think he would even make it there. He pointed out that it is a horrible feeling to not be able to breathe normally and he was right. It was an agonizing decision, but we all agreed he was in too much distress at this point, and we were going to put him to sleep.
Loki & the 5 lb lobster
The vet said he would sedate him first, then give him something to stop his heart. I couldn’t bear the thought of watching that, and neither could my husband. We held him to say goodbye, and his beautiful blue eyes were just solid black, all pupil. He didn’t appear to be cognizant of what was happening or even who we were. The vet took him from us, and we left. We had barely left the parking lot when he texted us that Loki had died before he could even sedate him.
My heart broke. I spent the day crying and looking at pictures of him.
He brought so much joy into my life! We had another cat, Edgar, who we adopted from the shelter, as we had all the cats in my life. But Edgar had some issues; he was hearing and visually impaired, and startled easily. He was an orphan, a specific term for kittens taken from their mothers too young, before being socialized. And worst of all, he was a biter. Not little nips, we are talking teeth sunk into the skin, drawing blood. Cat bites are much more dangerous than dog bites and almost always cause serious infections. My husband was nearly hospitalized a few times, and my daughter was hospitalized once. The morning I woke up with him biting my ankle and blood all over the bed, I’d had it. He moved out onto my back porch and never even tried to get into the house again.
I became afraid of cats. I’ve always had cats, but he really freaked me out. One day, my husband came home from helping one of his customers – he helped people with their computer issues. This particular customer had a couple of Birman cats, which I had never heard of, and he said they were the sweetest, friendliest cats he’d ever seen. While he was working on the computer, they just hung out with him. He got the name of a couple of breeders, and suggested we look into it. She had told us that this one breeder was very particular about where she placed her cats, and in fact, she hadn’t been able to get one and instead used a different breeder. We visited both, and it was no contest. If the breeder approved, we would get a kitten from her. I sat down with her and told her about my experiences with cats, and how Edgar had made me afraid of them. She had half a dozen Birmans roaming around, and they were all so calm and so sweet. She agreed we could have a kitten from her next litter. This was a first-time mom, so she only had two kittens.
I never had any experience dealing with a breeder. We were animal shelter people all the way. These cats were also very expensive, which made me uncomfortable. My husband argued that we could afford it (sort of) and then stipulated that Loki would be my fiftieth birthday present. He knows how to play me, and that worked. The timing was perfect; Loki was born on November 1, and a few weeks later, I turned fifty.
Left to right: Loki, his mom, and his brother
We started visiting the breeder when the kittens were just a few days old and had just opened their eyes. We visited regularly, at least once a week. She gave them temporary names, Lewis & Clark, and originally, I was going to take Clark, I thought he was cuter. But as they got older, he got a little more rambunctious, and I got scared because of the horrible experience we had with Edgar. Kittens are very playful! The breeder told us to take Lewis, that he had a very sweet nature. I’m not sure how on earth she knew that about kittens that were just a few weeks old, but she was right. Lewis became Loki, and we lived happily ever after.
Loki was the sweetest, most loving cat I’ve ever had. He wasn’t a lap cat, but he loved to sleep on the hassock with his head on my ankle, or on the arm of the chair cuddled up with my husband. He slept in our bed for most of his life until the very end.
He would be waiting by the front door when I got home from work and would follow me all over the house, often getting underfoot while I was cooking. He always seemed to know when I was sad, and he would come sit with me. Loki was also a talker – he always had something to say. Birmans were bred from Siamese cats a long time ago, but if you look up the breed, it says they are quiet. We used to kid around and say guess he never read the book on Birmans. Their fur is also supposed to be easy to maintain because they don’t have an undercoat, so they are not supposed to be prone to matting. But he was – another instance of him not reading the book.
Bring out the turkey, I’m ready!
I was able to teach him to ‘give me five!’ When I brushed him, I would say, “put your keppe back” (keppe is Yiddish for head) and he would throw his head back so I could brush his neck. The funniest thing was that he never really liked playing with toys, and we tried them all! He would play for thirty seconds, then just walk away. He liked these little crunchy-sounding foil balls, and he would swat them around and chase them, but after a few swats, he was done. Laser? No reaction. He was scared of this fish toy that moved if he touched it, so he avoided it. The dangly toys didn’t interest him; really, nothing did. He just wanted to hang out with us, and he was happy.
The day we lost Loki, the New York Times ran this article:
I miss him so much, my heart hurts. We are talking about retiring to Portugal in a couple of years, and my husband said once we get settled, we can get another cat. But I can’t imagine wanting another cat. I don’t think any other cat would ever measure up to Loki, and that would break my heart all over again.
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.
Irishas never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it’s suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.
Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless… Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romance with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
This is such a fun series, and I love that each book stands alone. This story centers around Archie, a renowned chef, who discovers he is the father of a five-year-old girl named Olive after her mother’s untimely passing. To secure full custody, Archie relinquishes his prestigious career in Paris and relocates to Dream Harbor, where he takes a position at a local diner. His goal is to demonstrate his ability to provide a stable environment for Olive.
However, Archie faces numerous challenges as he adjusts to his new life. The townspeople resist the changes he makes to the diner’s menu, Olive initially refuses to talk to him, and the elderly ladies of the town frequently visit – daily – to assess his parenting skills. Overwhelmed, Archie desperately needs assistance.
Enter Iris, who is struggling to maintain employment, is facing financial difficulties, and is about to be evicted. Becoming Olive’s nanny seems like an ideal opportunity for her, despite the challenges of working with Archie, who is both gruff and captivating, and the fact she’s never worked with or really been around children; Iris figures her experience dealing with senior citizens is close enough. Iris has never had a serious relationship, or really any kind of relationship, past a couple of weekends of sex. Archie has been so focused on his career that he, too, has never been in a relationship.
As Iris navigates her role, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Archie, but both are aware that pursuing a romantic relationship could jeopardize their goals. Archie is committed to being a good father and securing full custody, while Iris cannot afford to lose another job, especially one that offers stability. However, a purely physical relationship could be an option…
As time passes, the attraction between them intensifies despite the promise of trouble if they continue. The question arises whether this connection could evolve into something more meaningful, potentially forming the kind of family neither had envisioned nor really ever wanted. Could these two individuals, each facing their own struggles, come together to create a lasting and fulfilling family unit?
The story incorporates the forced proximity, grumpy meets sunshine, and opposites attract tropes. Additionally, the themes of a single dad, found family and slow-burn romance are skillfully woven throughout, making it incredibly engaging and impossible to put down – I read it on a Sunday, and it was the highlight of my weekend! (To be fair, the bar was set pretty low; my usual highlights are cooking, cleaning, and laundry.) If you haven’t read this series, this is a good place to start, although reading the first book that introduces the town, the element that ties these books together, is also a good idea. If you like small-town romances with a bit of heat, give this series a look. I love it!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE STRAWBERRY PATCH PANCAKE HOUSE by Laurie Gilmore. HarperCollins (March 13, 2025). ASIN: B0DDSVS6MY. 345p.
Paperback (note: paperback doesn’t come out until 3/18/25)
Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.
Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.
Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash everyone’s hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.
To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder: What if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?
“From a meet-cute that crackles with wit and humor to pages upon pages of scorching tension, Liese has crafted a warm, delightful novel that emphasizes acceptance, communication, and the self-worth we can discover by both daring to love and letting ourselves be loved…An effervescent reimagining of the Bard packaged in an opposites-attract romance.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“In this lighthearted rom-com riff on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from Liese… the banter is easy and the heat level is high.”—Publishers Weekly
“In this exceptionally smart and charming romance… Liese’s writing is crisp and funny, the characters are fully engaging, and the story is delightful.”—Booklist
“Liese (Everything for You) nods to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing here, and readers will enjoy the snarky banter and other similarities to the play, along with the enemies-to-lovers plot, solid character development, and a little heat. Perfect for fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.”—Library Journal
I actually read the third book in this series, Once Smitten, Twice Shy, and loved it, so I hunted down the first book, and I’m very glad I did. This is a contemporary retelling of “Much Ado About Nothing,” with inclusiveness, which I loved. The female main character, Bea, is neurodivergent, and the male main character, Ben, has anxiety issues. We get the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, the witty banter, and the happy ending – not to mention a super fun read! The narrators were wonderful and really helped draw me into the story.
The premise is that Bea’s sister and her boyfriend set up Bea and Ben without telling them. Their first meeting is a disaster; it’s hate at first sight. Their second meeting is a disaster; more hate. But once they figure out they are being set up, they decide the best way to handle it is to get revenge by fake dating and then breaking up. If you’ve ever read a romance, or Shakespeare, you know that they fall in love while fake dating and live happily ever after.
The fake dating did seem forced at times, but not in a good way. They were obviously attracted to one another and understood each other’s social anxiety, which was heartwarming. I reached the point where I wanted to shout at them, enough already. Just admit you have feelings and move on. But it took many, many pages until that finally happened. Luckily, that witty banter helped move the story along anyway.
This was a fun, sexy read with a lot of humor. I’m hunting down book two next.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese.Narrators: Charlotte North & Stephen Dexter. Penguin Audio; November 22, 2022. Listening Length: 11 hours and 30 minutes
A Police Officer Falls for a Bad Boy Criminal in this Spicy Romance Novel from the Series That Inspired the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“
Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.
Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.
Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.
A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.
“Crownover wraps up her Marked Men series in safe mode, giving Asa Cross—maybe the baddest of her bad-boy heroes—a convenient redemption plot . . . What might have been an edgy plot with spiky sex is instead predicable and tame.” –Publishers Weekly
“The final book in Crownover’s popular Marked Men series tells the story of the cop and the criminal . . . Crownover has created a well-developed cast of strong and realistic characters who are living interesting lives and dealing with compelling contemporary issues.” –Booklist
This is the last book of the Marked Men series, and I’m sorry to say it ended with a whimper. “The Marked Men” series is based around a group of friends, most of whom work in a tattoo shop in the Denver area and have various body modifications. This book centers around Asa and Royal.
Royal is a cop so that automatically makes her of no interest to Asa. Asa’s sister, Ayden, is married to one of the Marked Men, Jet, but Asa and Ayden had a terrible childhood that carried over to adulthood. Asa had spent most of his adult life as a con man and crook, and his past finally catches up with him when he steals from a drug cartel. They beat him senseless and leave him for dead, but somehow, he survives. He moves to Denver to recuperate, and Ayden’s friend hires him to bartend. He’s good at it and finally realizes he needs to change, or he will die. It’s not easy, but Asa becomes a straight-up good citizen, despite all the drama thrown in his direction.
Royal has issues of her own. Her best friend/partner was hurt on the job, and she is trying to deal with her feelings of guilt about it. She doesn’t really have any other friends until she befriends her neighbor’s girlfriend, or rather, she is befriended. Royal has the hots for Asa, but after she arrests him for fighting, he is just not interested. Turns out the charges against him were phony and were dropped. Royal starts hanging out in the bar where he works, and the more time they spend together, the more difficult it becomes for Asa to resist the gorgeous woman in uniform.
This book felt drawn out and somewhat repetitive to me. There wasn’t enough drama here, and what there was just felt manufactured rather than real. I loved this series, but if this is the way it ended, I’m glad it did. I’m hoping that the next series, The Saints of Denver, will be more in line with the first several books of this series.
A witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly told novel that offers compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family
Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time . . .
As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.
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“Knight’s gorgeously intimate, cleverly insightful wordsmithing will certainly impress and entertain.”—Booklist
Two friends from Toronto, Pen and Alice, begin their first year at the University of Edinburgh. Over the course of the year, the novel explores their journey as they grow both together and apart, forming new friendships and navigating romantic relationships. Pen also delves into her family’s past by tracing one of her father’s old university friends in Scotland from the 1980s, seeking answers about her parents’ divorce and her unusual middle name.
This book is a nostalgic read, filled with themes of female friendship, empowerment, first love, and family secrets. Both Pen and Alice’s storylines showcase their development as young women in the early 2000s. The author tackles complex issues such as sexual misconduct through a student-professor affair, infidelity, single motherhood, and more, weaving these narratives into a rich tapestry of life and relationships.
Unfortunately, the book really dragged for me. I kept picking it up and putting it down, and that’s never a good sign. It was very slow, but because it was a book recommended by Jenna Bush and was published by Pamela Dorman, whose books I usually adore, I plodded on, but it wasn’t worth it.
Finally, the title kinda pissed me off – it made me think of the fabulous Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which I’m sure was a deliberate choice, and trust me, it had nothing in common with that book. The octopus doesn’t even show up until almost the end, and it is no Marcellus! The octopus is used as a metaphor over the course of a page or two, and that’s it. So, if you are looking for charm, look elsewhere.
Normally, I wouldn’t even have finished this book and I should have trusted my instincts. I really hate to pan a first novel, but with all the marketing and buzz this book has gotten, I’m going to live with it. I know some people love it, but I am not one of them.
1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight. Pamela Dorman Books (January 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593830451. 384p.
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, Elle
Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.
Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.
Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
“Accidental pregnancy is a love-it-or-hate-it construct for most romance fans, which could leave Cara Bastone’s friends-to-lovers entry in a tough position. But for those willing to jive with that particular plot twist—and trust me, it’s worth it—Ready or Not is an absolutely buoyant read. Vivacious and funny, Bastone’s first-person perspective through protagonist Eve traces the tricky threads of single parenthood, long-term friendship, infertility, grief, and (yes) sex with skill.”—Elle
“I’ve never read a contemporary romance novel quite like this one. This friends-to-lovers trope centers on a surprise pregnancy that’s filled with heartfelt dialogue, unexpected love and a slow burn. It’s incredible and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This story is endearing, life-affirming, and left me feeling buoyed and hopeful.”—New York Post, “The 15 Best Books We Read in February”
“Sure, this is a love story. But it’s also about all the ways love shows up. . . . And at the end of the day, that’s the ideal family, right? Never perfect but always trying.”—NPR
“This pitch-perfect rom-com . . . could be the guidebook on how to successfully execute the ‘friends-to-lovers’ trope. Bastone carefully captures the slow-burning magic of seeing someone familiar in a new light, and Shep is so wonderful he deserves a place in the Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame.”—The Washington Post
I have to start this review by saying I loved the narrator – Alex Finke made me understand why audiobook readers often follow narrators even more than authors. I am looking forward to listening to more Finke!
Eve is a young woman in her twenties with a crappy job but living her dream in New York City. She’s trying to find her path forward when she gets a sharp dose of reality; her one night stand has left her pregnant. Her best friend, Willa, is not happy with her, but Willa’s brother, Shep, becomes someone she can lean on.
I often wonder about these romances that begin in pregnancy because, let’s face it, most women are not always themselves while pregnant; those hormones are no joke! But Shep is such a sweet, supportive guy that I couldn’t help but root for them. The baby daddy, Ethan, turns out to be more than just a one night stand, too, so lucky Eve in that regard.
This is a slow-burn, sweet romance, and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes, you just want to feel good escaping into a book, and this certainly filled that need for me. As the world around me is burning to the ground, books remain my escape, and I am most grateful for it.
*Dial Delights is a series put together by Random House. All the books are contemporary romances but written by different authors, so they do not need to be read in any order. There are a few more books coming out later this year, including Promise Me Sunshine (3/3/2025),also by Cara Bastone and read by Alex Finke. I am especially looking forward to that one!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone.Narrator: Alex Finke. Random House Audio; February 13, 2024. Listening Length: 10 hours and 50 minutes
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