Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads blurb: A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis. Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself. Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes. So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water…
my take: 3.75 out of 5. I love an Ali Hazelwood book but this one was not my favorite of her. Its still good, it just will not top the Love Hypothesis for sure. The characters in her book are usually very over accomplished nerds which I love, and that science aspect of her books is always great, I’m all in for the intellectual. But I had to suspend my disbelief to find two super absolutely academically gifted people that are also Olympic athletes and look like underwear models. I mean I am in for the fantasy but at what point is there no way this could be happening in real life? but having suspended the disbelief, their awkward selves were super cute an awkward in defining the relationship which was adorable, however maybe its because I was doing the audiobook, but Lukas felt a bit wooden and lacking in personality. Apart from overprotective it was hard to get some warmth into him given the audiobook performance and the accent. I think he probably reads much better on paper. As for a kinky BDMS type of steam on the page, although it was very spicy, the weird stuff mostly for sure remained on their checklist and not on the book. It was definitely more a dom/sub situation, in case you were wondering.
Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman
Goodreads blurb: From the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask comes an inspiring romance novel about honoring the past, living in the present, and loving for the future.
In her small Montana hometown, Lauren Parker has assumed a few different roles: teenage hellraiser; sister of superstar Gabe Parker; and most recently, tragically widowed single mother. She’s never cared much about labels or what people thought about her, but dealing with her grief has slowly revealed that she’s become adrift in her own life. Then she meets the devilishly handsome actor Ben Walsh on the set of her brother’s new movie. They have instant chemistry, and Lauren realizes that it has been far too long since someone has really and truly seen her. Her rebellious spirit spurs her to dive headfirst into her desire, but when a sexy encounter becomes something more, Lauren finds herself balancing old roles and new possibilities.
There’s still plenty to contend with: small-town rumors, the complications of Ben’s fame, and her daughter’s unpredictable moods. An unexpected fling seemed simple at the time—so when did everything with Ben get so complicated? And is there enough room in her life for the woman Lauren wants to be? Alternating between Lauren’s past with Spencer and her present with Ben, Totally and Completely Fine illuminates what it means to find a life-changing love and be true to oneself in the process.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4.25 out of 5. Yes I will read the phonebook if Elissa Sussman writes it. I also kind of wish i had more of the previous book in my head, because it was great to revisit Gabe in another context. Although there were some absurd moments, in general it is a fabulous love story and very in the moment with all these movies like The Idea of You and A Family Affair. A hot mother getting her grove on with a hot movie star – i was there for it. The characters are mature, the problems are real and the emotions so true.
Maid For Each Other by Lynn Painter
Goodreads blurb: Abi is a professional cleaner, so it’s ironic when she’s forced to move out because of an infestation in her building. Thanks, Apartment 2B! Declan is a busy man, working his way up at Hathaway Holdings. Which is why he’s never met the woman who cleans his penthouse every week. Abi needs a place to stay, and Declan is out of town, so the solution seems simple and, crucially, free. When Declan’s parents tell him they met his girlfriend at his apartment, he’s surprised to say the least. But it is nice to have them off his back about being single for a change. . . Declan finds out who Abi really is, and decides to makes her a pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs. What could go wrong? It’s business, not pleasure. Right?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
My take: 3.5 out of 5. As concepts go, did I love this one, not really. But the execution is quite above expectations and the developing romance was very well done and not as predictable as expected. But also its still a concept that has been done. I have to give it this, if you take the maid that he hires to actually by a Phd student that just does cleaning on the side, isn’t it a bit of a cop out in terms of what the implications are? I did love Declan and hes a hell of a character.
The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest
Goodreads blurb: An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot. Iris Greene used to be a woman with a plan. But all of that changed after she met the love of her life at twenty-four, got pregnant and married…and then became a widow and a single mother all within the span of a year and a half. Now, after years of hustling, Iris is the director of partnerships at a beauty company and raising spunky six-year-old Calla by herself. Despite her busy life, she still can’t help but feel lonely. She just needs to catch her breath—and one night, at her sister’s wedding, when she steps outside to do just that, she sees a certain singer who takes her breath away. . . .
By all accounts, pop R&B singer Angel Harrison has it made. He’s a successful musician and has just scored a brand ambassador deal with an emerging beauty company. But he’s still not fulfilled; he’s not producing songs he’s passionate about, and there’s a gaping hole in his love life. When he visits the Save Face Beauty office to kickstart his campaign, he’s delighted to see Iris, his stylist’s sister—the beautiful woman he’s secretly had a crush on for years.
Despite their obvious attraction to each other, they must stay professional throughout the campaign tour—which doesn’t quite pan out. But when it becomes clear their lives aren’t in sync, can they fall back in step to the same rhythm and beat?
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3 out of 5. I went into this without knowing it was the third in the series, and you can do the same, it is not needed (Although I kind of wish I had read the previous stories as those characters are great but now I know the ending). Sweet musical love story, which im always a sucker for, that is predictable but nice.
Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings
Goodreads blurb: Eva Kitt never expected to be the host of Sausage Talk, interviewing B-list celebrities over lukewarm hot dogs, instead of pursuing the journalism career she dreamed of. But when Eva’s impromptu public call out of her college ex goes viral, she’s thrust into the spotlight. It doesn’t help said ex is Rylie Cooper, a beloved social media personality that has built a platform on deconstructing toxic masculinity and teaching men how to be good partners.
Forced to confront Rylie on a live episode of Sausage Talk, he offers Eva a deal: allow him to take her on a series of dates to make up for his toxic behavior, then debrief them on his channel to show he’s changed. Eva refuses to play nice, but agrees to the scheme to advance her own career and continue defaming Rylie’s good name. When these manufactured dates start to feel real, Eva has to wonder if the boy that broke her heart has become the man that might heal it.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 3.75 out of 5. This was cute and a fast read. I really enjoyed how the enemies to lovers was really well played out. We got great exposition as to all the backstory and I loved how nuanced their relationship is. Both characters were complicated, interesting and real. I absolutely loved the fact that they had one date that was a couple counseling session, romance for the evolved. i also really enjoyed their definition of a hot girl: Hot girl isnt something someone is born as. Hot girl is an armor you put on, An impenetrable fortress of makeup or dyed hair or fake nails or killer clothes or expense perfume or any other bodily adornment that makes you feel fucking good. Powerful. Hot girl isnt a look or style,its a commitment to doing whatever makes you feel unstoppable in the face of lifes fuckery. Also shoutout to Lizzie Blake making a cameo!
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