Flipping the Script by Danice Mae P. Sison

So now what? Are we a thing? Do I want us to be a thing? Would it be so wrong if I say that I do? What do I do with these feelings, exactly?

Synopsis

Miri dela Merced’s film director grandfather and Pabs Paglinauan’s studio head grandmother had a huge falling out that ended Lolo Ikong’s career. At seventeen, Miri finds herself in the same summer film internship program as the down-to-earth film studio heir Pabs, whom she’s decided to automatically write off, just because of his lineage. As Miri gets a crash course in her expectations vs the reality of what it's like to work on a real movie, her true feelings for Pabs become harder and harder to ignore. In between attending outdoor screenings of classic Pinoy movies and battling monster production assistants together, can flipping the script on a decades-old grudge be only a few sequences away?

My Review

Title: Flipping the Script

Author: Danice Mae P. Sison

Genre: YA/Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 2019

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Omg the cuteness! In Danice Mae P. Sison's debut YA contemporary romance Flipping the Script, we meet Miri, a film nerd who is just about to start a potentially life-changing film internship the summer before her final year at high school. Miri comes from a long line of filmmaking royalty; her mother was a beautiful actress in her prime, and her grandfather was a director who made fantastical adventures that, due to a falling out with the production company, have sadly been lost and Miri hasn't even been able to see the films. Still, she wants to follow in her Lolo's footsteps and learn everything she can from this internship to help her further her film career. She is shocked to find out that the host for the internship is none other than the company that she believes tanked her Lolo's career.

Over the summer, Miri bonds with her fellow interns, gets yelled at a lot by their intern supervisor, and, despite her resistance, starts to warm up to a fellow intern, Pabs. Pabs and Miri have a cringeworthy but so good meet-cute that I won't spoil here, but it nonetheless causes her a lot of anxiety having to work alongside him all summer. Add to this the fact that he happens to be the heir to the production company that has caused her family so much grief, and she decides it's better to play it cool with him and not get too close. In spite of all this, Pabs is still super sweet to her and understands why she low key hates his family, and the trials of the internship and their mutual love for film starts to bring them together.

I loved the shared interests between Pabs and Miri, and the respect they both have for each other and what they want to do with their future film careers. It was adorable to read about them nerd out over film restoration equipment, squee over classic films, and go to outdoor film screenings together. As a fellow movie nerd, I immediately connected with all of the movie magic throughout the book, and the whole time I was reading their story I just had a huge smile on my face. This is the perfect story to read when you're looking for a sweet, summer love story that is cool, funny, and charming all at the same time. It will definitely want to re-watch your favorite movies and maybe see them in a new light.

I also appreciated the growth of the main characters throughout the book. I love Miri, but she is definitely not perfect and has a lot of growing up to do before she's ready to really become a filmmaker. Pabs, meanwhile, needs to learn how to stand up for himself and be his own person apart from his family. I thought the journey they went on was realistic and I would love to read more about these characters. Their fellow interns were a great example of supportive friendship and forming bonds with people who are completely different from you but who share a passion for the same thing. Overall, I recommend Flipping the Script if you love contemporary stories with strong setting, funny, relatable characters, and nerding about movies. Plus, if these types of books are your jam (they're definitely mine), check out other #romanceclass books here.

Get your copy of Flipping the Script here (PH version), here (International Version), or here (Kindle version).

Happy reading!

About the Author

Danice Mae P. Sison realized she wanted to be Harriet the Spy when she was very young. Since then, she has been digging out from real life experiences, pop culture obsessions, and her growing TBR pile of young adult and romance books for inspiration. She works in pay television as a channel manager, and has previously contributed as an author on the anthology Start Here. Flipping the Script is her first book.

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and participation in the Flipping the Script Blog Tour.

Review: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Title: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 2018
Rating: 4/5 Stars

This book was such a cute, fun way to start off my 2019 reading life! I really enjoyed Roomies by this author duo, and after finishing that one I knew I had to  give Josh and Hazel a try. Living in Portland, our leading lady is Hazel, an elementary teacher who is quirky and funny and unapologetic about her unique personality. She describes herself as "undateable", due to the fact that so many guys expect her to change who she is in order to be more palatable, but ever since she remembers her father calling her mother "embarrassing", she knows she'll never change who she is for a guy. This leads her to instead focus mostly on her friendships, all the while having an aversion to long-term relationships. 

Our hero, meanwhile, is Josh Im, who is practical and steady, but also very non-judgmental and is one of the few people who will go along with Hazel's bits or at least doesn't get embarrassed by them. They met in college, and college-Hazel dreamed of making Josh her best friend; when they reconnect later in life, they decide that they don't want to date each other (for some reason!!!), but instead set each other up on blind double dates (yes this is as hilarious as it sounds), until they figure out why they should be together instead.

I loved every minute of Hazel and her unique world-view (and collection of pets), and the banter between she and Josh felt so real. Watching their relationship grow and evolve was one of my favorite parts of the novel. Meanwhile, I also appreciate how this author duo always works diversity into their books, as they simply present the modern world as many people move through it, which means characters of different cultures, sexual orientations, and economic backgrounds. Friend groups are diverse and side characters feel fully three-dimensional, which to me just makes the couple seem more real and makes me want to root for them more. Christina Lauren books are becoming my go-to for upbeat contemporary romance with a good mix of humor and drama. 

If you like light romances that read quickly but feature unique characters, definitely check this one out!

Confession: I am low-key obsessed with Holiday Romance

I think because I live in L.A. and there are palm trees everywhere and we all don our winter coats as soon as the temperature dips below 65 degrees, I love reading holiday romances during December. My favorites are ones set in small towns where there is actual snow, so I can really live vicariously through these characters who have seasons. I'm not even a Christian person (raised Catholic, grew up to be more "spiritual" than religious), but Christmas is fun and holiday romances give me warm, fuzzy feelings. Sometimes this means skipping ahead in a series I've never read so I can get to the holiday novella, or branching out to authors I don't normally reach for, and it usually means reading a lot more contemporaries than usual, but that is just how I get into the wintery mood. Keep reading for a few of the holiday romances on my Currently Reading and To Be Read lists! 

The Dance Before Christmas by Victoria Alexander (Lady Traveler's Series)

I stan so hard for this series, it's honestly one of my favorites. These are books that are so rich with setting, historical detail, and unique characters that Alexander's books are insta-buys for me. I pre-ordered A Dance Before Christmas and was super stoked to see it magically appear on my Kindle. In this novella, heroine Anabel Snelling needs a fiancé by Christmas or else she'll have to marry the man her father has selected for her, and marrying him is the last thing she wants. Like any reasonable romance heroine, she hires an American actor, Wesley Grant, to play the role of her future husband. This has everything I love: first of all, it's a Victoria Alexander novel. Second of all, fake relationship. Third of all, Christmas. And it's only 113 pages long so it's a perfect quick read to finish in one sitting.


The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan 

Set in Scotland? Check. Three sisters with secrets and complicated lives? Check. Christmas magic and a sparkly cover? Check. Once again, I pre-ordered this one (hi, I have issues), but this time on Audible. This seems like a good read for listening to while cooking or baking (I do these things occasionally). The Christmas Sisters features a coming home story for sisters Hannah, a workaholic who hasn't been home in years, Beth, a stay at home mom who wants a new life, and Posy, who takes care of her parents but is also looking for a change, possibly with her hot neighbor. This strikes me as more a clean, wholesome read with elements of romance but a greater focus on family dynamics and I can't wait to get into it.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber

Believe it or not, I've never read a book by Debbie Macomber! She always seemed a bit too wholesome for me, but I saw the cover of this book (hello, Aurora Borealis realness) and read the description and I knew I had to give this prolific author a try. First of all, the heroine, Josie, is a chef (hot job) and the hero, Palmer, is a freaking swordcraftsman (also a hot job), so that is the first element that drew me to this book. Plus, it's set in Alaska at a romantic snowy lodge, and I'm hyped up on Alaska still after reading The Simple Wild last month. So wish me luck on my first foray into Ms. Macomber's works! Also, look at those cute dogs on the cover.



Holiday Temptation by Donna Hill, Farrah Rochon, and K.M. Jackson 

It's not a holiday romance round-up without a few short story collections! In Holiday Temptation, Donna Hill's story A Gift of Love features a drama professor (her) and a sexy barista (him); Farrah Rochon's Holiday Spice is all about holiday travel and features jetsetting photographer Miranda falling for Christmas-enthusiast Kyle; and, lastly, K.M. Jackson's From Here to Serenity, which is more of a New Year's tale that follows a successful CEO as he goes on a cruise to relax during the holidays, and where he meets a beautiful personal chef, Essie. I love the range of settings and characters in these contemporary romances, written by some of the best of the best of the genre. Plus, my library had a copy which is always a plus! Preparing to curl up with this one whenever I'm looking for a short, sweet story in between longer books.


How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe

Now on to the historical anthology! This one just came out this year and features short stories by some of the powerhouse authors of the genre. Admittedly, Sarah MacLean books haven't really worked for me, but I love Tessa Dare (mostly) and I've liked all the Sophie Jordan books I've read. Joanna Shupe is another author that's always on my TBR but haven't gotten to yet, so now is my chance! All of the stories in this collection feature Duke heroes (duh), but each author takes a different approach to this common trope. The story by Sophie Jordan appeals to me the most, as it features a hermit duke (love a broody dude), and she writes a bit steamier that most of the authors on this list so it will be a good change of pace for all of the wholesome holiday-ness. 



Dance All Night by Alexis Daria (Dance Off series)

Love the addition of New Year's holiday romances! In this novella, ballroom champion Jess and Broadway star Nik have a past history of New Year's kisses that went nowhere, despite their mutual attraction. Jess hates the holidays, but Nik can't stop thinking about the one that got a way, so when the holidays roll around again, he plans to finally make her his. Daria's series is full of humor and diverse characters who share a common love of dance and artistry. If you haven't checked out the series yet, definitely pick it up and then dive into this short holiday story.

A Wedding One Christmas by Theresa Beharrie

Once again, my favorite trope: a fake romance, and during the holidays no less! A comedy of errors leads Angie to be in a wedding in South Africa while she's on her way home to Capetown; a handsome stranger agrees to play her date, and he hates weddings as much as she does (same). But their feelings may go beyond fake, and this hero might be the one to help Angie heal after the death of her father as she deals with spending her first holiday without him. I love everything about this! And contemporaries set somewhere else than the typical fake small town in the U.S. are always a refreshing change of pace.


That's all for this year's holiday round-up! We'll see if I make it to all these books on my list before the holidays are officially over and I have to start planning for my 2019 reading goals. For now, I look forward to sipping cocoa, enjoying some holiday romances, and pretending it's not glaringly sunny outside.

Happy reading!

Is It Worth It: The Audible Romance Package

As someone who lives in L.A. and commutes about 2 hours round trip every day, I love a good audiobook. Since I spend so much time at work/driving to work, sometimes reading an audiobook is the only way I can get my reading in. As an audiobook lover, I of course have an Audible subscription (plus: shoutout to Libby for free audiobooks from the library!!!) and have heard tales of the famed Romance Package that Audible recently introduced. At the basic level, an Audible subscription, which is like $14, includes one free book a month and a discount on the library of audiobooks. The advantage of this service is that, if a book is on audio, it is usually on Audible. Although I love Libby, it is limited to whatever titles a library owns, and some popular titles have enormous waitlists, so I usually read new releases and popular titles on Audible. There are also so Audible-exclusive podcasts that I haven't listened to much, but they seem to be good quality and address a range of interests.

So that's the basics of Audible-- now, you may ask, what is the Romance Package??? For an extra $6.95 a month, subscribers get access to a huge selection of romance titles that are categorized in really user friendly ways. You can browse by Romance Category (historical, urban fantasy, etc.), Character Types (viscounts, vampires, etc.), Story Themes (pick your trope catnip), and, ahem, Steaminess (self-explanatory, right?). Disclaimer: not every romance title available on Audible is part of the package. Nonetheless, there are a ton of options and, get this, you can listen to unlimited titles within the package. Say what??? Romance readers have put other subscription services out of business, so I have no idea how Audible is making this happen but I'm not one to question a good thing. Still, paying for an extra service can be annoying so I decided to do the one month free trial to see if it's worth it. Here's what I've found out.

Navigating the Romance Package
At first glance, it seems like there aren't that many books that are part of the package, especially through the Audible app. However, there are a ton of books available and you just have to dig a little to find them. I think browsing the website version is a little easier than the app version, or even just searching authors I like, sometimes I'm surprised to find that they have books that I can listen to as part of the subscription. Sometimes entire series are available, or almost every book except one or two is part of the package. So if at first it seems like there aren't a lot of choices, don't be discouraged. This isn't one of those situations where only the books that you wouldn't read anyway are available for free, there are actually solid titles to borrow. Admittedly, you do have to do some searching to find titles if you don't have a specific one in mind, as the curated lists aren't very long. This is kind of a draw-back, but there are literally thousands of choices so I can see why they can't all fit on a list.

Romance Nerd Features
I love that the website seems to have been put together with a true romance nerd in mind! You can search by trope, by steaminess, and more; I personally love a friends to lovers romance or (even better) a fake relationship, and I love that I can search for books this way. The designers who put together the content really did their research into what romance readers are looking for when it comes to browsing books.

Recommended Romance Package Titles

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang; narrated by Carly Robins

One of my favorite reads of 2018, The Kiss Quotient is a must-listen available through the Romance Package. Data-minded math whiz Stella Lane loves her work but is ready to take the next step in her personal life: practice romance until she's competent enough to ask out her co-worker, who seems like a logical choice. Stella's Asberger's has always gotten in the way of her past relationships, so she figures hiring a professional - a male escort - will help her sort out some of her hang-ups with making out and sex. Turns out, her male escort is super hot, super patient Michael Phan, and her carefully laid plans are turned upside down. I loved the relationship between Stella and Michael, but also Michael's big family and learning about his troubled past. This book was equal parts funny and romantic. The steaminess level is rated Hot Damn and I found the narration to be well-acted and engaging.

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan; narrated by Rosalyn Landor

To be honest, I recommend this entire series and lucky for you it's all available in the Romance Package, but this just happens to be my favorite in the series. Miss Jane Fairfield wears what society views to be unfortunate gowns (they sound kind of awesome) and always says embarrassing things, and hopes to avoid marriage at all costs to protect her sister. The hero, Mr. Oliver Marshall, is a bastard who must maintain a facade of perfect despite his inner disdain for the social injustices in English society. When they come together, they are both flawed but also they are the first people to really see each other in a long time. I love their story, and the narrator does an excellent job with the humor of Milan's writing. Rated as Sizzling.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder; narrated by Gabra Zackman

If fantasy romance is more your thing and you're like me and are 10 years behind reading books on your TBR, I recommend the Study series starting with Poison Study. Most of the series is available through the Romance Package as well. In the first book of the series, Yelena, a prisoner, is offered an exchange of her death sentence for a new death sentence, that of a poison taster for the Commander of Ixia. Set in a land where everyone has a role, a uniform, and a part to play in society, and where magic is outlawed, Yelena learns the art of poison tasting from Valek, an infamous assassin, and becomes entangled in political plots, confronts an old enemy, and has a little time for romance in between. I liked Gabra Zackman's narration, especially how she differentiated each characters voices.

So . . . is it worth it?
If you're a hardcore romance reader, definitely, yes. For me, whenever a book I'm waiting on from the library isn't available or if I just want a quick read without spending hours agonizing over my TBR, having the option to just see what's new in the Romance Package and start a new book is really convenient. As far as the costs, I think if you are are a regular reader of audiobooks and you already subscribe to Audible, it's worth it. With the regular membership, you only get one free book a month and this package is half the price but you get way more free books so to me it's a win. I don't see myself canceling my subscription anytime soon. So if you're on the fence but you find yourself buying romance audiobooks beyond your free credits, I would recommend this add-on.

Happy reading (and listening)!

Review: No One But You by Brenda Novak

Title: No One But You
Author: Brenda Novak
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 2017
RITA Category: Contemporary Romance - Long
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Okay, so you see that sweet-looking cover with the rain boots and the lavender and the cute font and the blurb from Debbie Macomber? Doesn't that make you think this will be a feel-good, small-town romance? Well. You're in for a bit of a surprise. I know I definitely was, because this book centers around spousal abuse, stalking, and a murder. I typically do not read summaries of books before I read them, so needless to say I was a little shocked when I started this one and the first chapter is describing the heroine going to an apparent murder house for a job interview so that she can support herself and finally escape her loveless marriage to a man who emotionally abuses her. No One But You is kind of like the most bananas Lifetime movie in book form but to be honest I enjoyed it and all of the out-of-control drama.

In No One But You, Sadie is doing everything she can to make a new life for her and her young son, Jayden, in an attempt to finally move on from a marriage to a man she no longer loves and whom she is growing to fear. The man in question is Sly (yes his name is really Sly), who is a local cop who abuses his power in order to keep Sadie under his thumb and convince the townspeople of Silver Springs that he's a stand-up guy. He does everything he can to assert his dominance over Sadie and shows almost no love to his son Jayden; in short, he's the literal worst. Meanwhile, Sadie is so desperate for her own money that she decides to apply for a job posted by the town Boo Radley, Dawson Reed, who like a year before was acquitted for the murder of his adoptive parents, who owned a farm in Silver Springs. Although innocent, the entire town thinks he's guilty anyway (fyi I hate all these townspeople) and everyone thinks Sadie is better off with her abusive ex (who they don't believe is abusive because enablers) than working for Dawson.

Warning: once you start reading you won't be able to stop if only to see how this bananas book ends

Except...Dawson is super hot! And he just wants to take care of his mentally disabled adoptive sister! And he actually likes Jayden! Unsure of who to believe, Sadie decides to have an open mind and get to know Dawson while helping him get his farm in working order and plans to help care for his sister once she can be released from the facility that cares for her. Novak does an excellent job getting the reader invested in these characters; all I wanted throughout this book was for Dawson and Sadie to get together, be happy, and for everyone else to just leave them alone. However, that wouldn't make for a very long novel, so there is quite a bit of intense drama, especially with the ex-husband. It was a pretty fun ride, but I did find some sections a little repetitive and had to stretch my suspension of disbelief for some parts of the plot, which is what prevented this read from being a solid four stars.

The preferred approach to reading this book.

Still, I really like Novak's writing and I like that the theme of this series seems to be recovering from past traumas and still being able to find a happy ending. So despite my jaw dropping for the majority of this book and the totally misleading cover, I will definitely be reading every single other book in the Silver Springs series ASAP. Recommended if you like complicated romances featuring imperfect leads and, let's face it, a bit of juicy melodrama.

Review: Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai

Title: Hate to Want You
Author: Alisha Rai
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 2017
Rating: 5/5 Glowing Stars

Why oh why did it take me so long to finally pick up this book?!?! I added it to my TBR when it came out, then I picked up a copy at The Ripped Bodice bookshop when Alisha Rai happened to be there and was kind enough to sign it for me and then I put it on my shelf reverently and haven't cracked it open since. But, I decided it was time and I'm so glad I did. After reading a few lack luster and overly tropey romances lately (reviews to come), Hate to Want You was like a breath of fresh air. 

So the premise is a juicy second chance situation between Olivia, or Livvy, Kane, who had a youthful romance with Nicholas Chandler that ended abruptly and resulted in meeting each other once a year, for the past nine years, for a one-night tryst on her birthday. Except this year, the tenth year, Nicholas, who lives for Livvy's annual text messages, doesn't hear from her. He also doesn't hear from her when she shows up back in the town where they both grew up and where he still lives, helping his family run their massively successful business-- a business which Livvy's family also used to run, until Nicholas' father cut her mother out of the partnership following a tragedy that killed Livvy's father and Nicholas' mother. There has been bad blood between the two families since, but Nicholas can't stop himself from showing back up in Livvy's life and the two become entangled once again.

The plot alone was enough to keep me reading, but beyond that, I love the characters that Rai has created. Every character has a past that impacts their present behavior, and everyone is recovering from something, some more successfully than others. Livvy and Nicholas both have histories that make communication almost impossible, and Rai touches upon both mental illness and the emotional work that women are expected to put into relationships in sensitive and intelligent ways. Both Livvy and Nicholas have a lot of growing up to do, including working on themselves before they are ready to bring each other into it. I found this incredibly realistic of actual relationships, so while Hate to Want You may feature a dramatic-sounding plot, the characters are so well-drawn that it was easy for me to become invested in their growth and their story.

Oh, and the love scenes are rated wided eyed blushing emoji for steaminess.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes complex characters in their contemporaries, plus teenage romances given a second chance. I already have book two in the series and book two was just released last month, so I know what I'll be reading for the next few weekends. I can't recommend this series enough!

Review: Tell Me by Abigail Strom

Title: Tell Me
Author: Abigail Strom
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 2017
RITA Category: Contemporary Romance - Mid Length
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Heroine: Jane, a nerdy bookstore owner who hasn't dated in awhile and spends most of her time working, reading, and working on her secret novel. Hero: Caleb, a tough, outdoorsy type who is also her sister's best friend and business partner, and crazy handsome. Um, yes to this all of this! I went into this book not knowing much about the set-up, but was instantly drawn into the story. Jane is shy yet sarcastic and doesn't have a ton of dating experience, and thinks she meets the perfect man until she finds out she's not his idea of a perfect woman. Meanwhile, Caleb hates staying in one place and has a hard time finding a reason to commit to one woman (or city, or country) for an extended period of time. Still, the fact that Caleb works with Jane's beautiful, adventurous sister means they get thrown together and, though their interests clash, they find (to their surprise) that they have great chemistry together. All of this taking place largely in a bookstore only added to how much this book spoke to me.

However, I went into Tell Me without knowing much about the plot, so I was not prepared for the sudden shift in tone about halfway through the story. This was in the description, so not a spoiler, but I hardly ever read the descriptions before I start a book, because I like to be surprised. Suddenly the plot totally changed, and it was a little jarring to go from cutesy romance to tragedy and grief. However, I really enjoyed Strom's writing style and I was already super invested in Jane and Caleb, so I powered through the sad bits and I'm glad I did. The shift in plot definitely contributed to the growth of the main characters, and I really liked that the length of time it took for them to (finally!) get together was realistically long and that they didn't fall in love over night. Even the side characters had inner lives and personal growth, which I appreciated.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like quirky heroines, opposites-attract romances, and who don't mind a bit of tragedy combined with their romance. 

Reading Diversely in Romance

In my last post, I talked about attempting to read all of the 2018 RITA nominees, and to be honest it did stick out to me that this was probably the biggest swathe of white authors I've ever attempted to read in my life. While there are a few authors of color on the list, the absence of black authors was definitely striking. RWA addressed this in a blog post about needing to do better, which has sparked an inspiring (and, at times, enraging) discussion on Twitter amongst romance readers, writers, and booksellers; discussion is 100% necessary for change, and I thought I would be remiss to not mention all of this going on while also posting reviews of the RITA nominees as I read them.

As someone who is not 100% white (I'm half white, half Filipina), I already try to read diversely because I don't like reading about straight white people all of the time. I get incredibly excited when a heroine is Asian or if an author is Filipina, and I love supporting other authors of color besides those who write about characters who reflect my culture and heritage. That's because I just want to read good books, and often good books are written by authors of color and perspectives that are underrepresented in traditional publishing. So for every RITA nominee written by a white author, I'll be reading another romance book by an author of color. I have a ton on my TBR, so this will give me the excuse to work my way through them, and I'll be reviewing them alongside the RITA nominees. My hope is that next year the list of nominees will be more representative of the diversity of romance authors that are writing and being widely read and loved by romance readers. Until then, I think it's essential to keep discussing, keep dialog going, and to keep reading good books, books that happen to be written by black women.

How do you discover authors you love who may not be as widely promoted as most mainstream white authors whose covers feature white models? Are you more likely to use your purchasing power on books written by authors whose work is often pushed to the side in award nominations? I know that I often do; if an author that I know is excellent isn't being recognized by mainstream organizations, I make an effort to buy their books, pre-order their books, and promote them online. I'm also more likely to purchase them for my library; although I don't select our adult romances, I do get to purchase young adult, and contemporary romance is hugely popular amongst the teens at my library, so I'm always making an effort to purchase YA romance written by black authors and authors of color or LGBTQ authors because...dun dun DUN! Teens love reading them! Anyway, I don't know how this will all pan out in regards to the RITAs and the nomination process moving forward, but if there is a positive it's that the bubbles of many are bursting and hopefully that will lead to progress.

We shall see.

RITA 2018 Read-Along

Well this is probably a terrible idea.

Even so, I've decided to challenge myself to read all of the RITA 2018 nominees before the award winners are announced in July. With categories ranging from contemporary to historical to erotica and more, this will definitely push me outside my reading comfort zone; which is why I wanted to try to read all of the nominees in the first place. I'm relatively new to reading romance, having started as a 30-something instead of in my teens, but I've so far fallen in love with the genre. I've always loved character-driven fiction, and no one does well-rounded characters like a really good romance. I especially love historical, being a history major, and have discovered a few of my favorite authors (overall, not just genre) by reading romance. However, I pretty much stay in my lane when it comes to the titles I read; I don't really read erotica, and I definitely do not do Christian romance. But I ask myself: why? Why limit myself when there could be some awesome reads out there? So here I am. Challenging myself to read some 81 books in the next four months. Sure, there may be some duds in there, or books that are just not for me (I'm afraid to read the one about the millionaire's baby), but I figure I should try something new and maybe it will help me grow as a reader.

Reading Plan

To check out the nominees for each category, visit the RITA website. The list is long and I'm not going to reproduce it here. I did, however, create a RITA 2018 Goodreads shelf to help me keep track of the long list of nominees, as well as my opinions on them. In order to make a dent in reading all of the nominees, I'm planning to do a combination of reading and listening to books. I'm eternally thankful to the Libby app to help me get eBook editions from my local library for as many of the books as possible, otherwise this would be an incredibly expensive reading challenge. A few of the books I already own and haven't read yet, or are available through Kindle Unlimited. I'm a nerd and I made a spreadsheet to keep track of all the different formats and where I'm borrowing or buying them from.

Currently Reading

     

What I'm Reading Next

     

For my fellow romance readers, does an award nomination make you more inclined to pick up a book? Or do the RITA awards not make much difference to your TBR? Also, if for some reason you are also reading along with the RITA nominee list, let me know and link your reviews here on my blog! I'll be posting regular updates as I make my way through the list. We'll see how this goes....

Happy reading!

Review: The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Title: The Way You Make Me Feel
Author: Maurene Goo
Genre: Contemporary YA
Release Date: May 2018
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Maurene Goo is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary YA authors! I loved I Believe in a Thing Called Love and, to be honest, when I first started this book, I wasn't sure if it would live up to my expectations. Our main character is Clara, whose best friends are two prankster guys, and she loves joking around, playing pranks, and basically distancing herself from emotions and just having a good time. When one of her pranks goes too far, she's sentenced to work on her dad's Brazilian-Korean fusion food truck all summer long with her apparent enemy, Rose, who is a high achiever that Clara can't relate to at all. Meanwhile, a cute boy who frequents the food truck may make the summer a little more interesting.

At the start of the book, I straight up could not stand Clara. She was so obnoxious!!! And why didn't she have any female friends? But then, as I kept reading, I got to experience Clara's growth and see how she evolved throughout the story, and her relationships changed and grew, I found that I related to her quite a bit. I don't want to spoil the story so I won't elaborate much more, but basically this book has all the feels, and has a good balance of a romance but also focuses on friendships and family relationships, too. I always get a little annoyed in YA books when the parents are basically non-characters and the teens just live their lives-- it's so unrealistic! Goo does an excellent job including the familial relationships and giving depth to her characters, even to minor ones. Also, this book will make you incredibly hungry so make sure you have snacks handy while reading.

All the feels

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of contemporary YA, readers who love stories about characters finding their identities, and lovers of feel-good romances with a good dose of comedy and emotional moments. Ahh it was so good! I can't wait to read more books by Maurene Goo. These are 100% books that I wish I could give to teenage me.

Me as I finished this book

Note: this ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Haven by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Title: Haven
Author: Rebekah Weatherspoon
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Erotica
Release Date: April 2017
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

This book, y'all. This. Book. Okay, to start, for some reason this is my first Rebekah Weatherspoon, and after reading it I realize I need to get caught up and read her backlist. I read it really quickly, I was super invested, and I'm really hoping for another book in this series which, awesomely, is named Beards & Bondage. Let me back up and give a quick summary of what Haven is about before I fangirl too much. At the same time, I don't want to give too much away because the first few chapters really draw the reader in and if you know too much going in, it might spoil that feeling for you. So basically, there is a hot, bearded, introverted nature photographer named Shep who lives in a cabin in the woods in Northern California. Shep is into BDSM, and hasn't been able to find a partner in his tiny town who shares his interests, so he has to travel to a BDSM club for an annual sex vacation. Then, we have Claudia, who is a successful New Yorker by way of the Caribbean working in the fashion industry. They meet during a traumatic event and, both finding it difficult to recover, turn to each other for comfort.

Accurate depiction of how you'll feel reading this book

Now, what I liked about the book: first of all, Shep. He is one of my favorite heroes I've read in a long time. I like that he is introverted and thoughtful, but still really strong. He's just an overall good person, and exactly the kind of partner you would want if you had something major happen in your life that you were trying to navigate. I also really liked Claudia; she's funny and she has a backbone without being the tropey version of an independent woman. Their relationship feels very real, as a lot of their day that isn't filled with steamy sex is just like them watching Netflix and stuff.

Side note: this book is really funny. One of my favorite scenes is when a box of sex toys and floggers and stuff arrives in the mail and Claudia is like, "Should we do a haul video?" and Shep just says, "What?"; I died. Other stuff I liked about the book: um. This book is like off the charts in the steaminess department. Definitely not a book I would recommend reading at work or on a train or something.

But, unlike some erotica books I've read, the writing is really solid and the plot and the characters are so well done that it isn't just like smuttiness surrounded by a few pages of story. It's actually a really lovely story about recovery and finding the right person after you've already done some work on yourself, and the timeline for their relationship is appropriate so you don't have to read about people saying I love you within the first few chapters. Instead, I felt really invested in the characters and really enjoyed watching them grow and evolve throughout the book.

It's just so good, you guys. So if you are looking for a steamy contemporary romance that is funny and well-written and a little kinkier than your average read, definitely read Haven. It will have you daydreaming of meeting a sensitive mountain man of your own, for sure. Now, excuse me while I go find all of Rebekah Weatherspoon's other books and read them all.

Unboxing: March Ever After Box

I started subscribing to Ever After Box in February, and was very excited about this month's theme: Sexy Shifters! I haven't read a ton of paranormal or shifter romance, so I figured my odds were good for not receiving a book I already owned. Ever After Box is always romance-centric with a new theme every month. Each box contains at least two books, ebook download codes, and cute accessories that match the monthly theme. Details about what I received below the jump!

Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Title: Bet Me

Author: Jennifer Crusie

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 2004

Rating: 4/5 Stars

 

Yes, I realize that this book is older than most book bloggers, and that everyone my age read this ages ago. Nonetheless, I finally just read Bet Me and, you guys, I get it. I get why so many women cite this as the book that got them into romance, and I get why it’s often referenced when it comes to book recs. It’s even aged pretty well, considering it came out before social media really took off (sorry, Friendster). So, in case you are like me and incredibly late to this party, Bet Me centers on the lives of Minerva, or Min, Dobbs, an actuary who doesn’t want to find the one but may be forced into discovering him anyway, and Cal Morrissey, a super handsome, successful so-called womanizer with a penchant for making ten dollar bets with his friends. They are both fresh from break ups when their paths cross, and their lives and the lives of their friends and families become instantly intertwined. Min thinks she overhears Cal accepting a bet that he can get her into bed for ten dollars, and she decides to mess with him and accept his offer to dinner, and hopefully at least scoring an instant wedding date out of the arrangement. Hilarity ensues and romance abounds. There’s Italian food, there’s a stray cat, and lots of descriptions of shoes that would have been considered very fashionable in the early 2000’s.

Shout out to my fellow olds who know where this is from!

Since this is a pretty well-known book, I won’t delve too deep into the minutiae of the story line, but will mention what appealed to me most. This book struck a balance between being funny, and being emotionally poignant, but not in a cheesy way. Even though some out-there things happen (it is a romance novel, after all), I still found the characters to be believable and their actions made sense throughout the course of the story. When they messed up, they realized it and figured out how to make it better. Even the ‘bad guys’ of the story: the exes, both Min’s ex David and Cal’s ex Cynthie are not portrayed as evil and the other characters don’t hate them, even though they plot and do terrible things to keep Min and Cal apart. They aren’t completely villainous, which is so easy to do in romance-landia. At times when Cynthie and David are plotting I may have yelled “Give it a rest!” out loud at my Kindle, but it’s a good sign when you talk to your books, right?

How I felt whenever Cynthie would insist she was about to win Cal back

 The only thing that I don’t think aged very well is how Min’s weight is treated. It kind of reminded me of Love Actually, a film I despise btw, wherein an average-sized woman is constantly referred to as "the fat one" and Hugh Grant's character falls in love with her anyway. Now, Min isn't treated quite that abysmally and overall she learns how to feel comfortable in her body, but the focus on her weight was kind of hard for me to read. It honestly sounded like she was maybe a size 10 and that was considered some kind of travesty. However, this was mostly coming from flawed characters, like her mother, who is basically a terrible person throughout the book. On the positive side, it was nice to read about her going shopping and picking out clothes that made her happy instead of trying to look thinner. Still, major eye roll that a man inspires this change in her. I do realize that this book was written during peak Atkins obsession, so the whole no carb-obsession that Min has makes some sense. Even so, I think if this book was written today, the way that Min's weight is described and discussed would be more sensitive (I hope).

It was also a little strange that Min was so adamant about not taking Cal seriously. Most of the conflict stems from her not believing someone who looks like him could like someone who looks like her, and she doesn't want to get emotionally invested (and hurt). She calls him the devil so many times, I lost count. Luckily the fates were on their side, otherwise who knows whether she'd get her HEA. She really needed therapy, or maybe a yoga class or something, because emotionally she was all over the place. Actually, Cal was also emotionally damaged because surprise surprise he also has awful parents, so pretty much both of these people needed to do some work on themselves before participating in a fully functional relationship. But I digress.

Despite its' flaws, this book still makes me feel like cheering

Overall, this book is kind of like contemporary romance junk food. It’s got the impossibly handsome hero falling for the notably average heroine, lots of inane conflict that could have been resolved if people communicated better, awesome female friendships, and choosing to be with someone who deserves you and treats you right instead of whoever is there. Even the frustrating aspects of the story don’t take away from it being a fun, feel-good read. If you like rom-coms like 27 Dresses and that one movie where Deborah Messing hires a prostitute as a wedding date, this book will feel very familiar and comforting. I would say this is an awesome sick day read.