5 Contemporary Romances You Need To Read

One of my new go to genres is contemporary romance. I feel like I just cannot get enough. This is rough because I want to read every other genre too. I suppose it isn’t a bad problem to have – liking to read so many different things that I have so many options. These books below are five contemporary romances that you need to read.

One is from the middle of a series, but trust, the series is fun and you can start from any point. Another kicks off a new series about three women who have been catfished but turn those lemons into lemonade. Two of the books are about writers – one a screenwriter, the other a romance writer both are compulsively readable. Then there’s the lawyer and the child star turned lawyer where sparks fly. If you’re venturing into contemporary romance, you’re sure to find a book that is a fit for you below.

Would Like To Meet by Rachel Winters

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Can you fall in love like they do in the movies?
It's Evie Summers's job to find out. Because if she can't convince her film agency's biggest client, Ezra Chester, to write the romantic-comedy screenplay he owes producers, her career will be over. The catch? He thinks rom-coms are unrealistic--and he'll only put pen to paper if Evie shows him that it's possible to meet a man in real life the way it happens on the big screen.
Cynical Evie might not believe in happily ever after, but she'll do what it takes to save the job that's been her lifeline . . . even if it means reenacting iconic rom-com scenes in public. Spilling orange juice on a cute stranger? No problem. Leaving her number in books all over London to see who calls? Done. With a little help from her well-meaning friends--and Ben and Anette, the adorable father-daughter duo who keep witnessing her humiliations--Evie is determined to prove she can meet a man the way Sally met Harry. But can a workaholic who's given up on love find a meet-cute of her very own?

Would Like To Meet by Rachel Winters is another book that had me itching to watch romantic comedies after reading it (kind of like Waiting For Tom Hanks). I am a sucker for a rom com and a sucker for exploration of many tropes. Plus, reading this book during covid-19 quarantine was ideal. It’s light, quick, and easy to follow.

Evie is an assistant at an agency that represents screenwriters. Her agency’s biggest client has had one big hit script, three years ago. He has promised a new script – a romantic comedy. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have it written. In order to save her job and be promoted, Evie makes a deal with the screenwriter. She will try different methods of meet cutes from the rom coms she loves, and he will get that script written in three months.

You would think that Evie would fall for the screenwriter – Ezra, the NOB. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Rather, there happens to be a father and daughter who seem to keep witnessing Evie’s humiliations. As she goes on the meet cutes, she finds that she makes friends with the dad – Ben, and his daughter – Anette. The actual romance that unfolds is slow and blossoms from friendship and kindness and I loved it.

I also loved the friendship depicted between Evie and her best friends who are in a group chat called JEMS – Jeremy, Evie, Maria, Sara. They’re present for each other. Each friend is a shoulder to lean on. There is forgiveness. There is growth and learning. Also, madcap adventure at one point around Sara’s hen do. FYI – this book is very British and I was okay with that.

Give Would Like To Meet A Shot if you’re looking for a romance that’s ripped from the movies with a really empowering ending.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon

If you are a romance reader, you absolutely MUST read The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon. This book is the perfect set up to Rochon’s new series. I personally swooned and just fell for the characters. And now I am eagerly anticipating book two and book three.

The Boyfriend Project follows Samiah Brooks who faces humiliation on the grand stage of the internet when she discovers via a viral tweet that she’s been catfished by Craig. Samiah meets with the other two women he has cheated on her with and instead of hating each other, they are mad at him. So, they take lemons and make lemonade with the situation and decide to spend the next few months investing in themselves and not dating. They also develop this wonderful friendship AND I THINK I LOVED THIS PART THE BEST. Anyways, this friendship inspires Samiah to pursue developing an app to help other women make friends. Meanwhile, at her job there is this new guy, Daniel Collins. Daniel checks all of Samiah’s boxes, but she’s not about that dating life at the moment – or is she? Also, Daniel might just be too good to be true.

I think this book is spectacular in its portrayal of unabashed Black joy and Black love. Samiah and Daniel are Black. Both are very successful in their jobs and people I absolutely look up to and admire. I loved Samiah’s drive to give back. Her joy at making lifelong friends with Taylor and London and using that inspiration to develop and app is riveting. AND ALSO SAMIAH’S SISTER IS PREGNANT and okay I loved that aspect of the story and kind of teared up a little bit at the end for reasons.

I listened to the audiobook of The Boyfriend Project. You can listen to it through via Libro.FM. Farrah Rochon’s story is narrated by Ja Nie Fleming. It is 9 hours and 41 minutes long and does not miss a single beat. Fleming’s narration is compelling and kept my attention front and center the whole time. This is a book you need to get your hands on -whether it is via the audiobook or physical/ebook. The audiobook is great because you can be like Samiah and be a go getter and get things done (but also read at the same time). Either way, read this book and then let me know what you thought of it!

Beach Read by Emily Henry

It is summer and I want books that I can fly through. Beach Read by Emily Henry is aptly titled, as it does take place in a lake town, it is easy to fly through, and wow was I invested. It truly is a perfect beach read. Or, in my case, a perfect beach listen as I read the audiobook version. By the way, I absolutely recommend you check out the audiobook version if you are so inclined.

Beach Read is about January Andrews who is facing writer’s block. Her father died and so she is spending time at his beach house going through his items. As it turns out, everything she believed about the romance between her parents was a lie. Her dad had this long affair with a woman who lives in the town with the beach house. In fact, he had this double life shacking up with her. Next door is Augustus Everett who is this literary writer and also January’s college rival. He is also facing writer’s block. The two get into an argument and end up making a bet. They switch genres, January will write a literary fiction book and Augustus will write a romance book. Whoever sells the book first wins.

The chemistry between January and Augustus is palpable. Like, you can just tell they have a thing for each other and a long history. Beach Read has a romance that is slow burn, enemy to lovers, and proximity all in one. The combination of tropes is extremely satisfying. I loved seeing January and Gus become friends. I loved seeing them heal from their respective pasts (not with each other by the way). They grow as writers. It’s beautiful to read and listen to. When I pick up a romance book, something similar to Beach Read is what I want.

The audiobook is narrated by the extremely talented Julia Whelan. I’ve listened to a ton of Whelan narrated books and so knew what to expect. Beach Read delivered on my audiobook expectations – with both strong writing and a superb narrator. The audiobook is 10 hours and 13 minutes long. It’s an engaging and absorbing listen. Worth your Libro.fm or Audible credit for sure.

Primrose Lane by Debbie Mason

Primrose Lane by Debbie Mason was a great palate cleanser after reading The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes. Third in the Harmony Harbor series – this book hits all the right notes. I’ll admit the first book from this series that I read was actually the last book in the series and then I read the seventh book. Now I am going even more backwards for book three. Primrose Lane was so charming that I ended up adding all the rest of the books to my TBR and plan to get to them probably in the fall.

Debbie Mason’s Primrose Lane is about Olivia Davenport who was a socialite, but is staying and working in Harmony Harbor under an assumed name. She’s had some major trauma in her past – her young son Connor passed away from leukemia and her husband Nathan died while serving in Doctors Without Borders. As it turns out, Nathan had some secrets, including a second family. Finn Gallagher is back in Harmony Harbor after coming under attack while also serving in Doctors Without Borders. He resents being back in town and would like nothing more than to go back to Kenya. As it turns out, fate has other plans in mind.

You see, Olivia ends up with custody of Georgiana who is Nathan’s daughter with his other wife, his secret daughter. Olivia is a pure hearted person though and rises to the challenge. It is the kind of thing that ends up really showing her mettle. As it turns out, the little girl ends up bringing Olivia and Finn together and they just can’t deny their chemistry.

Primrose Lane has a benevolent ghost. It has a side plot that is somewhat thrilling. I will say that I still don’t know the full motivation behind the bad guy character or maybe I just read through those scenes too quick. The best parts are the ones with Finn and Olivia and how they fight their attraction to each other even though obviously they are a good fit. On the whole, this was a nice happy read and perfect for following up a more heavy book.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting made it crystal clear to me that I need to read ALL the books by Helena Hunting. Imagine if you will a heat wave in upstate NY. You just want to read but don’t know what will hold your attention. It’s so hot and you are so sweaty. Meet Cute transcends all of that and reading it I was transported to California and to the chemistry between Kailyn and Dax.

When Dax was a teenager, he acted on a show that made him a heartthrob. Kailyn is the shows biggest fan. Years later, Kailyn is listening to a podcast when she literally runs into Dax at law school. It’s a meet cute fan girl moment. The two challenge each other and become rivals for the top of the class. Unfortunately, Kailyn ends up feeling betrayed by Dax. Now in present day, Kailyn is a lawyer who works on trusts. Dax is an entertainment lawyer. Through tragedy and circumstance, Kailyn and Dax cross paths again. This time, sparks fly. Kailyn tries, but fails to keep it strictly professional. If she can get Dax to join her firm, she’ll make partner. Meanwhile, Dax is dealing with grief and becoming guardian to his sister who is thirteen.

Helena Hunting’s Meet Cute is such a fast, compelling read. I was instantly invested in both Kailyn and Dax. The side plot of the custody battle between Dax and his aunt Linda was riveting too – even though yes, it’s kind of really shady. I loved that with this book I could just relax into reading it and not feel like every little thing needs analysis. When it is hot outside and I am feeling tapped out, this is the exact kind of thing I want in my hands to read — along with a cold one.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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