The Improbable Meet cute Collection, the New Valentines day offering from Prime and Amazon, for their original stories where great. 6 short stories from some of my favorite authors. I highly recommend them and here they are ranked in order of my preferences. They are also the perfect short read or hear when you need something quick – I heard two of these whilst I was getting my nails done, it was a great combination! I’m going to give star rankings here as they compare to themselves and other short stories (and my level of enjoyment) because clearly there is no comparing with a full fledged novel
- The Exception to the Rule Christina Lauren
Goodreads blurb: On February 14, an accidental email to a stranger opens the door to an unexpected relationship in a captivating short story by the New York Times bestselling authors of The Unhoneymooners. One typo, and a boy and girl connect by chance. Wishing each other a happy Valentine’s Day isn’t the end. In fact, it becomes a friendly annual tradition—with rules: no pics, no real names, nothing too personal. As years pass, the rules for their email “dates” are breaking, and they’re sharing more than they imagined—including the urge to ask…what if we actually met? Christina Lauren’s The Exception to the Rule is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.
my take: 5 out of 5. I loved this little story. IT was everything I wanted in a quick book. I’m kind of obsessed with this whole story and wanted a full blown book about it not something so quick. It had improbable meet cute x2, there are two wonderful meet cutes in the book, but they don’t feel far fetched, they are natural and too adorable. Flash forwarding to the future – a perfect ending. If you only read one of this stories, make it this one
My only recommendation is that this one would be one that I might have preffered to read and not do in audiobook. The reading of the emails in audio is a bit longer and tedious (the read out the whole email every time), where as i think maybe having done it in print would have flowed more.
2. The Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
Goodreads blurb: They’re falling in love, yet they’ve never met. Maybe fate can intervene in a heartwarming “what-if” short story about new beginnings by the New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly. Holly is dealing with the impending death of her grandmother and still reeling from a bad breakup. One bright spot: a Valentine’s Day card on Holly’s windshield—even if it wasn’t meant for her. An amusing mistake soon turns into a lovely exchange of anonymous notes, little acts of kindness, and a growing affection between two strangers. What happens when one of them has to say goodbye?
my take: 4.25 out of 5. Abby Jimenez can do no wrong in my book, she always delivers and here she does again. This is cute and sweet and the Meet cute is adorable. It’s also not saccharine cute, it deals with every day shit (dying family members, grief, personal problems,) but in a life affirming way. I like the quote: Take responsibility for your own unhappiness – you don’t like your life change it. My big qualm for this book, She says that all people who don’t like dogs are terrible. As a card carrying member of the terrified of Dogs club, I took some offense to this, I’m a nice person, Dogs just scare the shit out of me.
3. Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne
Goodreads blurb: For a hopeful and hopeless romantic, it’s love at first sight—with a little twist. Rosie Whittaker and her sister are up for some Galentine’s pampering at a day spa. Getting locked inside a flotation tank is so Rosie. Enter a firefighter hero determined to pry this luckless pearl out of her high-tech shell. All Rosie has to go on is a dreamy voice and a flirty sense of humor. Remain calm, Rosie. This could be what you’ve been waiting for. Is this the man she’s waited for her whole life?
My take: 4 out of 5. As someone who has refused to close the flotation tank fully because I’ve been too claustrophobic to do so, this book hit a nerve. Although it might seem an absurd and as the name calls it Improbably meet cute, I could totally see it happening, those things are scary inside. The banter between the two characters is adorable.
4. Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
Goodreads blurb: Valentine’s Day becomes a Roman holiday for a princess in disguise in a dizzyingly romantic short story about making wishes come true by the USA Today bestselling author of The Chemistry of Love. Princess Ilaria has had it up to her tiara with the paparazzi, her own wild reputation, and the public eye. Trading places with her assistant, Ilaria wants just one blissfully ordinary weekend. Then a handsome photographer with a sexy Scottish burr offers to be her guide. Sparks fly, but how long can they last? Ilaria’s secret has to come out—and it could ruin a perfectly serendipitous romance.
my take: 3.75 out of 5. a roman Holiday Reincarnation will get high points from me always. I am obsessed with that movie and it holds a special place in my heart. However maybe to make it more originally and not so on the nose, could we have done another European city? The ending was adorable. The meet cute on this one has to be one of the best – accidentally ambien oneself and crashing into a hot guy is a way to go. I have never read a Sariah Wilson book but this made me maybe want to go and check out her Royal stories (that make some cameos here)
5. Drop, Cover, and Hold on by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads Blurb: It takes nothing less than a fateful natural disaster to throw two opposites together in a ground-shakingly charming short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Drunk on Love. This Valentine’s Day, Daisy Murray has her heart set on binge-watching rom-coms. Instead, an earthquake traps her inside a bakery with its impossibly rude and insufferably handsome owner and head baker. They already have a history: she’s always smiled, he’s always scowled. Where better to finally get to know each other than amid the disaster? Then again, they have no choice. Besides, it could have its sweet, undeniable, and unpredictable perks. Jasmine Guillory’s Drop, Cover, and Hold On is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s make a date of it.
my take: 3.25 out of 5. Two thumbs up for the body positivity and the ample amount of carbs (you will be hungry whilst reading this book). The earthquake, although improbably meet cute felt more far fetched than the others, and not in a quirky that is so weird way but in a that would never happen. This is definitely the steamier of the 6 stories, the others are pretty PG.
6. With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
Goodreads blurb: Every person she kisses finds their true love, and it’s never her—until now, in this funny and magically romantic short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics. Audrey Love is cursed to be the person before you find your soulmate, the girl you dump for your true love. So when her best friend disappears hours before his Valentine’s Day wedding, Audrey fears that she did the unthinkable and kissed him at last night’s bachelor party. With help from the best man, she retraces her steps to find the missing groom and, with any luck, a true love of her own. Ashley Poston’s With Any Luck is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute, irresistibly romantic stories about finding love when and where you least expect it. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s make a date of it.
my take: 3 out of 5. I was very surprised that Ashley Poston book came last in my little internal ranking as I’ve been obsessed with her books recently. I think its because its a great little story but not as improbable meet cute maybe. It was also maybe a bit of too much story for such a short book. The character were great though and ILoved the shoutout to the Royal Valentine Character.
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