King of Pride by Ana Huang is a contemporary romance that is closest to a forbidden romance trope. Kai and Isabella are complete opposites, with Isabella living life to the fullest and Kai tending to put work above all else. Kai has a big vote coming up in his family-run company, and he is worried about being able to rise to the challenge of being CEO. Isabella is a distraction to him, but he could be the answer to all of Isabella’s questions creating quite the conundrum.
King of Wrath by Ana Huang is a fun contemporary romance that has a universally loved trope: billionaire CEO arranged marriage. Vivian Lau is rich, but she is new to money, and therefore has certain social blocks. If she marries Dante Russo, though, she will be catapulted into high society as the elite of the elites. Dante only agrees to marry Vivian because of the fact that if he doesn’t, his younger brother will pay for mafia-related poor decisions.
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins explores the aftermath of being widowed. Josh and Lauren are a couple madly in love, but Lauren is diagnosed with a terminal illness. She spends the last few months of her life writing letters that will have delivered to Josh after her passing. Both the plot and the writing were outstanding. I got so invested in this book. I will admit the three weird popular culture references from this book were a little out of place.
In Kristy Boyce’s novel Dating and Dragons, Quinn Norton moved across Ohio to be closer to her eccentric grandma and to start a fresh chapter in her friendships, but now she has to face entering a brand-new school in the middle of her junior year. Things start looking up for Quinn when she meets and flirts with a cute guy named Logan Weber. Additionally, she is invited to join a D&D party at her new school, perfect since her last one utterly imploded.
I really enjoyed Anatomy and would give it five out of five stars. It is an intriguing story about a young woman trying to make her mark in a male-dominated field. She is attempting to do the impossible and become a medical surgeon in what seems to be Old English society. The main character's complex home life allows her to get an education and explore a somewhat grotesque field. While she studies to become a surgeon, she also balances a complicated love life.
Nothing Like the Movies is a realistic fiction young adult romance novel following the destined pair, Wes and Liz. Wes and Liz weren’t like any other high school couple, they and everyone around them knew that they were absolutely perfect for each other. Unfortunately, at the start of their freshman year of college, Wes’s life turns upside down, forcing him to move back to his hometown, Omaha. After months of long-distance, they grow apart unwillingly.
Of Princes and Promises by Sandhya Menon is a romantic twist on the tale of The Frog Prince. It follows the main character Caterina DeValle who is on top of the social ladder at St. Rosetta’s Academy. However, after an ugly fallout with her boyfriend Alaric, her status is left shaken. Rahul Chopra, the other main character, is a classic nerd — socially awkward and highly intelligent.
Of Dreams and Destiny by Sandhya Menon is a romance-fantasy mix with a thrilling twist on the classic childhood tale of Sleeping Beauty. The plot of this book follows Daphne Elizabeth — DE — as she recovers from past betrayals of her love interest and her family. A snowstorm traps all the students in the school with no communication with the outside world. However, a historic secret unfolds as this storm starts to get very mysterious and people start falling into death-like sleep.
Just for the Summer follows Emma and Justin, two people cursed with bad relationship luck who agree to spend a summer together to break the cycle. What starts as a lighthearted arrangement soon turns into something deeper, forcing them to confront their fears about love and commitment. With witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and emotional depth, their story unfolds in a way that is both heartwarming and engaging.
Twisted Love follows Ava, a photography student with a traumatic past, and Alex, her brother’s best friend, who is cold and driven by his own dark secrets. As their paths intertwine, their intense connection grows, but buried pain and dangerous truths threaten to tear them apart. The story unfolds with unexpected twists, deep emotions, and a love that blurs the line between obsession and devotion.
