From the publisher:

Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principle and her new hot-shot driver—and former childhood crush—are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.

Can they navigate the twists and turns of love without crashing and burning?

As one of the first female team principles in Formula 1, Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself and transform her failing team from underdogs to champions. Nothing can ruin her strategy—except maybe the surprising new addition of a cocky, top-tier driver who’s lost his edge. And he just so happens to be her estranged childhood crush who still sends her heart racing.

Matt Warner needs a comeback. A former champion, he hasn’t won a race since the disastrous crash that landed his best friend and teammate in the hospital. If there’s a silver lining to this scandalous demotion, it’s his fierce and familiar new boss, Chloe. But as the competition heats up, so does an unexpected spark that turns dangerously and passionately hot. With the world watching and pressures of the season mounting, will their chemistry lead them to victory, or spin them out of control?

One of Bustle’s Most Anticipated Books of Winter 2025-2026

“Dent (Just One Taste) offers an engaging, fast-paced sports romance with well-developed protagonists.” —Library Journal

“A Formula 1 team principal has to work with a struggling driver who also happens to be her childhood crush…There are enough steamy scenes and hijinks along the way to keep readers entertained. A fun and fast-paced racing romance.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The fast-paced world of Formula 1 provides the backdrop for this competent contemporary from Dent (Just One Taste)…Matt’s and Chloe’s ambition and resilience make them admirable heroes…Devoted sports romance fans are sure to have a good time with this.” —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3NfQUQU

I’ll be honest: I was hesitant to pick this up. I am no fan of racing and couldn’t tell you the difference between Formula 1 and NASCAR. But the reviews and the buzz were too tempting to ignore, and I’m so glad I took the chance. Despite the racing backdrop, I was completely swept up in this fast-paced, fun, and sexy read. Lizzy Dent is such a talented writer that she even made the technical details of the sport interesting; I’ll officially read anything she writes from now on.

The story follows Chloe Coleman, one of the first female F1 Team Principles. She’s determined to turn her struggling team around, but her authority is undermined from day one. At her debut press conference, the team owner blindsides her by announcing his latest hire: Matt Warner. Matt is a legendary driver, but he’s been stuck in a downward spiral since a tragic accident injured his best friend. Chloe is furious—not just because her hiring power was usurped, but because she and Matt have a complicated history. They were childhood best friends, Chloe harbored a long-standing crush, and when Matt reached the top tier of racing, he ghosted her completely.

While Matt works with a therapist to overcome his trauma, he isn’t quite back to his former glory. Chloe realizes that if she can help him find his edge again, it won’t just save the team—it will cement her career. Balancing Matt’s needs with the demands of managing the entire team proves challenging, especially as old feelings resurface. As they spend more time together, Chloe’s emotions deepen, and to Matt’s surprise, he finds himself falling for her, too. A relationship, however, would be professionally disastrous, threatening scandal and potentially destroying Chloe’s hard-won credibility. Still, their connection is impossible to ignore. After navigating past mistakes and lingering pain, they must decide whether risking everything is worth their chance at happiness.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this book—even the technical aspects of racing kept me engaged, despite knowing next to nothing about the sport. My only real-life experience with the racing world was a slow-motion parade lap in my husband’s Jeep at the Daytona 500 Speedway during Jeep Beach, yet I found the racing elements fascinating.

If you love second-chance romances, workplace tension, and the forced proximity trope, don’t miss this one. It was a fantastic way to kick off my reading year!

1/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DRIVE ME CRAZY by Lizzy Dent. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. (January 6, 2026). ISBN: 979-8217045204. 368p.

Kindle

Audible

From the publisher:

How do you find yourself after you lose the one you loved the most?

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

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Library Journal, New York Public Library, Seattle Times

Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart.

The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of. . . a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse – he seems to be able to see right through her.

Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.

“A stunning book by Bastone, who delivers another slow-burn and emotional romance that doesn’t shy away from also exploring life’s hardest moments . . . Recommended for readers who also enjoy Abby Jimenez.”—Library Journal, starred review

https://amzn.to/3NfQUQU

This book isn’t just a love story—it’s a powerful exploration of grief, healing, and the unexpected ways love can find us even in the darkest moments. It’s a journey through loss, the struggle to rebuild when grief has turned your world upside down, and the realization that sometimes losing everything is the beginning of finding yourself again. It’s so much more than a romance; it’s about resilience and discovering hope when it feels completely out of reach.

Lenny is devastated after losing her best friend, Lou, to cancer. Even if you haven’t experienced her kind of loss, anyone who has loved someone deeply can imagine the heartbreak of losing them. Every part of her life feels broken, and she has no idea how to start putting the pieces back together. When she takes a babysitting job for a single mom, Reese, and her daughter, Ainsley, she meets Reese’s brother, Miles.

Miles carries his own heavy grief, though it looks different from Lenny’s. He’s lost his mother, his father, and his cousin—an overwhelming amount of pain for one person to bear. Hoping to hold on to what little family he has left, he moves closer to them, searching for connection. But watching how misunderstood he is by his sister and niece is heartbreaking. He tries so hard, yet they never seem to see the depth of who he is, leaving him feeling isolated.

Miles is the kind of person who would do anything for the people he loves. His heart is huge, and his loyalty runs deep. He’s emotionally perceptive in a rare way—he notices the unspoken, understands feelings others might overlook, and cares deeply without expecting anything in return.

He sees Lenny in a way no one else does. He offers to help her work through her grief and complete her “live again” list if she helps him navigate his complicated relationship with his niece. As they spend more time together, Lenny begins to realize that healing doesn’t always come from big, dramatic moments. Sometimes it’s found in the quiet, gentle connections that slowly stitch you back together.

Lenny’s grief feels painfully real—so raw it almost becomes your own. Lou had been there for everything, and now she’s gone. Watching Lenny struggle to let go, to allow herself to live again, is devastating. There’s a quiet, lingering ache that comes with losing someone you love so deeply, and the book captures that ache beautifully. Grief isn’t something you “get over.” It’s something you learn to carry, day by day, and Lenny’s journey reflects that truth with honesty and tenderness. What struck me most was how the book portrays grief as unpredictable, messy, and deeply human.

Lenny and Miles don’t find each other by searching for love—they find each other by surviving the hardest parts of life side by side. Their love grows from friendship, shared pain, and seeing each other at their most vulnerable. The slow burn between them feels natural and unforced. It’s simply two people healing, slowly and quietly, until they realize they’ve found something meaningful in the middle of their grief.

While this isn’t a typical love story, it is so much more. It has a happy ending, which is poignant and so meaningful. These characters will be staying with me for a long time. Don’t miss it.

Note: This is my final review of the year, covering a book released earlier in the year. Publishing used to be very light in December, so it was always my month to catch up on whatever I missed earlier in the year, like this. But these days publishing doesn’t take that holiday break anymore, and frankly, I miss it.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PROMISE ME SUNSHINE by Cara Bastone. Dial Press Trade Paperback. (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593595732. 416p.

Kindle

Audible

From the publisher:

‘Tis the season for second chances in this charming and delightful festive romcom—perfect for fans of Maggie Knox and Jenny Bayliss. 

“Cozy small town charm dominates, with plenty of snowfall, cocoa, and cheer to get readers in the Christmas spirit as the romance heats up between Laney and Connor. It’s adorable.” ―Publishers Weekly 
 
He has one month to make a Christmas miracle happen. 
  
Laney Reynolds knows there’s only one place that can help her heal a broken heart: Cherrywood Creek. The small town where she grew up, with its holiday festivals and snow-covered streets, is exactly where she needs to be this December. It feels good to leave the bustling city, where her husband was too busy climbing the corporate ladder to notice the growing distance between them. But she’s got his attention now … 
 
 Connor received his wake-up call loud and clear when Laney left, and there’s no way he’s giving up on his marriage. If that means dropping everything and trading high-rises for gingerbread houses to sweep his wife off her feet in her hometown, then so be it. This time, he’s listening; but it’ll take more than hot chocolate dates and even hotter nights to win Laney back.  

Can he prove that being a CEO is nowhere near as important as being her husband? 

“Cozy small town charm dominates, with plenty of snowfall, cocoa, and cheer to get readers in the Christmas spirit as the romance heats up between Laney and Connor. It’s adorable.”―Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4s5aake

After nine years of marriage, Laney walks away from a relationship that has left her lonely and unseen. Heartbroken and exhausted from always coming second to her husband’s demanding career, she returns to her hometown of Cherrywood to heal and rediscover herself. What she doesn’t expect is Connor following her there.

What follows is a tender, holiday-infused second-chance romance. Connor proposes a daring plan: for the next 30 days, Laney will date him again, giving him the opportunity to show her that their love is worth saving. With the magic of Christmas as his backdrop, Connor plans heartfelt dates that remind Laney of the joy they once shared, while also confronting the ways his priorities have cost him the woman he loves.

As a photographer, Laney throws herself into documenting Cherrywood’s holiday festival, and in the process, she realizes how deeply she’s missed her family, her community, and the life she once imagined. Cherrywood works its quiet magic, showing her that happiness might look different than she thought—and that choosing where to belong may be the biggest decision of all.

The story drops readers straight into the aftermath of Laney leaving and filing for divorce, allowing Connor’s emotional reckoning to take center stage. The relationship feels layered and immersive, and even the potential “other woman” storyline is handled with nuance and restraint, avoiding tired tropes in favor of realism and respect.

With Christmas cheer, emotional growth, honest communication, and plenty of heat, this marriage-in-crisis, second-chance holiday romance delivers a heartfelt reminder that love isn’t effortless—it’s intentional. A thoughtful, hopeful story about choosing each other again.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DATE NIGHT IN DECEMBER by Jaqueline Snowe. Forever (October 14, 2025). ISBN: 978-1538739853. 304p.

Kindle

Audible

Evergreen Falls, Book 1

From the publisher:

A holiday romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, with spice and fake dating that follows a fiery designer who teams up with her charming billionaire boss for a week-long Christmas competition, and their pretend holiday romance soon starts to feel all too real—now with a never-before-published short story.

“Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.”

To Fable’s surprise, her billionaire boss, Wilder Blaine, is more than willing to take on the challenge of playing her holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one for a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and she’s the maid of honor. With her ex also in the wedding party, the two team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season. Their partnership includes participating in the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.

What starts as late nights crafting the best popcorn balls for the contest soon turns into a passionate night together, where the sparks between them are impossible to ignore. But when the holidays end, can their winter wonderland romance turn into something real back at the office? Or are they destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s Day?

https://amzn.to/4hNkg4g

Fable is the creative director of merchandise for a professional football team. The team’s owner, Wilder, is a billionaire, a single dad, and—unusually—quite young. It’s hard to think of a real-life counterpart, so I suspended my disbelief and rolled with it.

When Wilder invites his staff to Thanksgiving dinner at his home, Fable walks in on her boyfriend in a very compromising position with the caterer. Furious and humiliated, she storms back to the party—only to witness her sister’s boyfriend proposing. Despite the chaos of her own love life, Fable is genuinely thrilled. Her sister wants a Christmas wedding, which means a tight turnaround, but the family will be spending the holidays in Evergreen Falls, a picture-perfect small town with total Hallmark vibes and a week-long series of festive competitions—from karaoke to gingerbread house decorating to snowball fights and more. Wilder owns the property, so he and his family will be there, too.

Wilder’s aunt loves to meddle in his romantic life, but as a single dad who co-parents peacefully with his ex, he feels he doesn’t have time for dating. His twelve-year-old daughter, Mac, is the center of his world, and their relationship is one of the sweetest parts of the story. I also loved how he and his ex got along—no bitterness, no drama, just mutual respect between two parents who’ve moved on.

Fable needs a date for the wedding—her cheating ex is the groom’s cousin and part of the wedding party. Wilder needs a date to keep his aunt’s matchmaking schemes at bay. So they strike a deal: a fake relationship for the holidays. They report it to HR to keep things professional, then meet up to learn enough about each other to make the ruse believable.

To his credit, Wilder tells his daughter the truth, while Fable confides in her sister—though she makes her promise not to tell her fiancé – not exactly the best way to start a marriage. Wilder, it turns out, has had feelings for Fable since she joined the team, and he’s eager to show her what being treated well really looks like—with kindness, attention, and thoughtful, sometimes extravagant, gestures. He is also determined to show up her ex during those holiday competitions.

Naturally, the fake relationship starts to feel very real. The chemistry between Fable and Wilder absolutely sizzles, but what makes the story shine is his tenderness toward his daughter and the genuine emotional growth between all three. Fable’s reactions—especially after being burned by her ex—feel authentic and relatable.

While slow-going at times, this book delivers everything you want in a holiday romance; it’s a festive escape full of heart, humor, and a happily-ever-after ending.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MY FAVORITE HOLIDATE by Lauren Blakely. Atria Books. (October 7, 2025). ISBN: ‎ 978-1668208502. 384p.

Kindle

Audible

Read by Melanie Mendez

From the publisher:

A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase!

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.

Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.

If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

“Narrator Melanie Mendez brings warmth to the holiday romance that develops between Daphne, a baker, and Tristan, an architect . . . Listeners will delight in this holiday romance as Tristan and Daphne find happiness together.” –AudioFile Reviews

https://amzn.to/4inzwF0

This is an enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance that is so much fun to read – or listen to, as I did. Daphne’s dream is to have her own bakery someday, but for now, she has a holiday pop-up bakery in the lobby of an office building. She’s been doing this for years and most of the people who work in the building love having her there. All except one – Scrooge. Not really. His name is Tristan, and he is not a fan. He finds the gingerbread house look of the bakery to be tacky and unbefitting the lobby of his architectural company, and he files a complaint with the landlord. It doesn’t do anything but piss off Daphne, and our enemies are established.

Tristan’s assistant thinks the bakery is great, and she is constantly bringing muffins to the office. Surprisingly, Tristan loves the muffins but still hates the baker. They may be bumping heads, but when he needs a last-minute caterer for his family holiday party and a few work functions, Daphne comes through for him. The more time they spend together, the more Tristan realizes her worth, but he has a long way to go to get past her protective armor.

Daphne is Christmas personified, and surprising even himself, Tristan really falls for her. It takes a lot before Daphne thaws enough to let him in, but their happy ending is just the icing needed on this delicious confection of a read. A wonderful holiday romance!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BAKING IT MERRY by Samantha Chase. Narrator: Melanie Mendez. Dreamscape Media; November 19, 2024. ASIN: B0DH5982GT. Listening Length: 6 hours

Kindle

Paperback

From the publisher:

A Library Reads Pick!

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.

“Incredibly satisfying.” – Kirkus (Starred Review)

“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

https://amzn.to/3ODoA8x

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.

Kindle

Audible