Helen Hoang
[isbn]
Every novel Helen Hoang writes is powerful, but The Heart Principle left me incoherent with emotion. I giggled, sighed, and cried ugly tears throughout. The story of Anna and Quan is all about falling in love, but especially falling in love with yourself. Plus, swoony kisses, motorcycle rides, and a mischievous octopus.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Jasmine Guillory
[isbn]
Jasmine Guillory delivers all the humor, drama, and sex that you could ask for in a summer rom-com! Ben and Anna are the perfect pair as they turn from coworkers to lovers to fake-for-the-cameras boyfriend and girlfriend. But their lovebird act starts to feel real, even when no one is watching. While We Were Dating is fun and flirty, perfect for holiday reading.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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William Goldman
[isbn]
Like so many people, I fell in love with the film first. It’s like the grandfather says: “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles.” There’s something for everyone, and it taps into something so magically, extraordinarily human. Also like so many people, I found a battered paperback with a broken spine on my shelf that I couldn’t remember buying, and then I fell in love all over again. Goldman’s... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Casey McQuiston
[isbn]
If you haven’t read Casey McQuiston’s debut, Red, White, and Royal Blue, then stop what you’re doing and go read that book. It’s a beautiful, hilarious, sexy, coming-of-age romance and it’s easily one of my favorite reads of all time. But now Casey McQuiston has a new book coming out in June that is arguably EVEN BETTER than RW&RB. The love story of August — a 23-year-old cynic — and Jane — a ’70s punk who is stuck in modern day... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Rivers Solomon
[isbn]
Sorrowland is the beautifully written, suspenseful story of Vern, a teen escapee from an all-Black utopian commune where the powers that be may have been colluding with the Feds to experiment on Black bodies. A genre-defying blend of Gothic, hard sci-fi, literary fiction, and social justice, Sorrowland is dizzying, bold, and completely gripping.
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
[isbn]
One of the most achingly beautiful and intensely romantic books I've ever read — totally unexpected and deeply, lyrically human, right in the middle of a science fiction story about two far-future agents on opposing sides — one a technotopia, the other an organic hive. If these two opposites can fall in love, then there is hope for all of us.
Recommended by Warren B.
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Sonali Dev
[isbn]
When Sonali Dev’s upcoming book was teased as “Jane Austen meets West Wing,” I perked right up! If any author can write a politician who is honest, vulnerable, compassionate, and SEXY then it’s Sonali Dev. Her contemporary series follows the Raje family, but you can jump in and read any book in the series. Each novel is a highly entertaining twist on a favorite Jane Austen story.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Talia Hibbert
[isbn]
Eve Brown is too old for her antics and Jacob Wayne is too uptight to have any fun. Romance Rules say they’re perfect for each other! Talia Hibbert is my definition of a one-click, must-read author. Her books are always witty, flirty, sexy, and optimistic. Earlier books in this series are terrific and can be read as standalone novels, though reading them all is highly recommended.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
In an underground labyrinth of books reminiscent of the Neitherlands library in Lev Grossman's The Magicians trilogy, Zachary Ezra Rawlins sifts through story after story, searching for his own. After stumbling across an odd anecdote from his childhood in an authorless book, Zachary seeks answers in the subterranean library, through painted doors and overlapping realities. There, he finds stories barely contained by their pages, riddles of Fate... (read more)
Recommended by Alice G.
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Alexis Hall
[isbn]
Luc and Oliver are absolutely charming as we follow their fake dating antics, and the side characters all truly stand out with hilarious banter that make every part of this romance feel real. I still think about jokes and moments from this book months later, and I can't wait for others to fall for it as much as I did. If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, you will love Boyfriend Material!
Recommended by Bethany O.
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Talia Hibbert
[isbn]
This was my first-ever romance read and it did not disappoint. In fact, it converted me into a romance reader for life. Talia Hibbert writes characters who are real and flawed, and you just can't help rooting for them to succeed not just in the romance, but in every facet of their lives. Get a Life, Chloe Brown is funny and charming, with hilarious banter and very steamy! I loved seeing Chloe and Red's relationship grow and can't wait to... (read more)
Recommended by Bethany O.
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Alyssa Cole
[isbn]
It doesn't sound very sexy to call How to Catch a Queen the perfect romance for 2020, but honestly this is the exactly right book for the world right now. Our heroine is an activist and feminist who agrees to marry the king of a failing kingdom in order to bring positive change to his small country and the people who live there. This story proves that a quiet voice can still be powerful, that ignorance is not a valid excuse, and that you... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Hendrik Groen, Hester Velmans
[isbn]
If you've ever been curious about how life continues for your elderly relatives in an extended care facility, Hendrik Groen is just the person to shed some light. He is quite frank about his fears and anxieties concerning the health and well-being of himself and his friends as they age, but there is a prominently positive air to the whole tale. I found myself grinning from ear to ear at their antics one minute, somberly pondering my own aging in... (read more)
Recommended by Corey S.
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Lisa Kleypas
[isbn]
The last in The Ravenels series! Cassandra Ravenel and Tom Severin finally get their story, and with their fiery chemistry and emotional journey (and prioritization of consent!) it was absolutely worth the wait. Lisa Kleypas's books are the kind you can't help but read over and over again (I read Devil in Spring, uh, five times last year) and Chasing Cassandra is no exception.
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Hester Fox
[isbn]
The Witch of Willow Hall is a well-written, old-fashioned ghostly suspense tale made all the more enjoyable by a slow-build romance that doesn’t overtake the plot but only deepens it. A strong, smart protagonist with believable flaws, buried secrets, sisterly rivalry, lies and tragedy, all set in the misty countryside of colonial New England, had me devouring pages long after my bedtime.
Recommended by Steph C.
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Shelly Laurenston
[isbn]
Shelly Laurenston/G. A. Aiken consistently produces paranormal romance that manages to be both heartwarming and totally bonkers. ZeZe' Vargas doesn't know he's a cat until he kidnaps Max, but after seeing her shred a team of henchmen, he realizes that the world he once knew was only a facade. In fact, Max and her family are honey badgers. Aggressively loyal and nearly unkillable, the MacKilligan sisters are some of my favorite characters of all... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Jessie Mihalik
[isbn]
For when you want your political thriller space opera to have a (large) dash of some of the very best romance tropes. This series is an absolute delight.
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Joan Lindsay, Maile Meloy
[isbn]
An Australian girls' school plans an afternoon picnic at Hanging Rock, but events take an unexpected turn, and life will never be the same. The dreamy atmosphere in this novel translated perfectly to the subsequent film, but read the book first — it's so much lusher, richer, and gorgeous.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Midge Raymond
[isbn]
Raymond's story of a scientist who falls in love with the South Pole and the penguins she studies there is so well researched, it almost reads like nonfiction at times. Combining serious study of climate change, the effect it has on animal life, high-seas adventure, the minute-to-minute changing dangers of water and ice, shipwreck, survival in a hostile climate, with a bit of romance thrown in, Raymond delivers an engaging story with a terrific,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Joanna Shupe
[isbn]
For when you want a delicious historical romance, but you want something that breaks out of Regency England, Joanna Shupe's Gilded Age romances set in the United States are delightful and gorgeous and sexy. The Prince of Broadway is the excellent newest book by Shupe in her Uptown Girls series, with a great mix of off-the-charts chemistry, a striking heroine, and a gruff (but secretly soft) hero. One of my favorite things about this book... (read more)
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Sonali Dev
[isbn]
I'm late to the party, but gosh I loved this book! Just like everyone said I would! This is a beautiful, faithful retelling of one of the most beloved romances of all time. Do yourself a favor and get your Indian takeout delivered before you read Chapter 13.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Kate Clayborn
[isbn]
I have to say, I fell in love with NYC as much as I did Reid and Meg. They're a great couple and I absolutely believed in their love story. The walks, the games they made up, the love letter... I've fallen down a deep hole of hand-lettering Instagram accounts and bought another journal that I'll never use, but I have no regrets!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Rachel Ingalls and Rivka Galchen
[isbn]
Dorothy is not the least bit prepared to hear the urgent news on the radio: a monster has escaped a research facility in her town. She is definitely unprepared to see the monster walk through her door. A celebration of female sexual liberation, Mrs. Caliban is one of the strangest books I've ever read, but it is so well done, you can't help but root for the monster. One of the oddest love stories out there, it brought out sharp pains of... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Ernesto Quiñonez
[isbn]
Set in Spanish Harlem, Taína is a 15-year-old pregnant virgin. Julio believes her and has
liked her from afar, though she never notices him. Many Puerto Rican food and music references. I was so delighted by this endearing and enchanting story! This is a perfect Christmas-time read.
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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GA Aiken
[isbn]
Demon wolves, centaurs with fangs, and zombie mules! G. A. Aiken's newest novel is a hilarious, rollicking adventure that will be catnip for fantasy readers.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Jen DeLuca
[isbn]
Well Met is a lighthearted and highly enjoyable romance in the style of a Hallmark channel movie. I recommend this for fans of romantic comedy who might enjoy a coming-of-age novel with some adult content! Gift this book to your friends who cosplay and attend fancons.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Christina Lauren
[isbn]
When I visit my parents — who still pay for cable — we watch marathons on HGTV. I suspect that Christina Lauren do too! Chip and Joanna Gaines are clearly the inspiration behind Melly and Rusty Tripp, but Lauren puts a hilarious and disastrous spin on the two design stars. Carey and James have their hands full dealing with the spiteful pair, who are touring for their new book and premiering a new TV show. As always, Christina Lauren writes a... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Kit Rocha
[isbn]
Kit Rocha delivers an addictive, apocalyptic thriller with lots of action, intrigue, and sexual tension. Knox leads a group of rogue super-soldiers and Nina is a "librarian" with ninja skills and lots of secrets. A mission to retrieve a lost archive goes haywire when Nina finds out about Knox's hidden agenda. Bullets fly, bodies pile up, and our characters have to choose between old friends and new ones, between doing what's easy and doing what's... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Kerrigan Byrne
[isbn]
As always, Kerrigan Byrne has wrung me out! I love her books and this one may be her best yet. I laughed and cried and immediately reread chapters... Read this for yourself and thank me later.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Casey McQuiston
[isbn]
Casey McQuiston’s debut novel is electrifying. I fell in love with Alex and Henry (those emails!), but I was completely overwhelmed by the sweetness, the humor, and the absolute hopefulness of Red, White, and Royal Blue. I’m still piecing my heart back together.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Rebekah Weatherspoon
[isbn]
With wit, emotion, and a whole lot of sexiness, Rebekah Weatherspoon's Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny immediately joins the ranks of my go-to reads and recommendations. Because honestly? Reading this book is self-care.
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Nina Allan
[isbn]
A beautiful, yet painful, read, The Dollmaker tells the story of two unique people trying to find their ways to each other. Set on Cornwall's moors, this moody, compelling story is interwoven with several short stories, each of which packs a powerful punch on their own. Untangling themes of art, longing, misfits, taking chances, and healing from childhood trauma, Nina Allan writes a tale that both tugs at your heart and satisfies your... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Sarah Perry
[isbn]
Sarah Perry’s beautiful novels richly reward the patient reader. Her world building is lavish and precise; though her prose often tilts into poetry, her characters are crystalline, giving the writing a paradoxical quality that is both ornate and bare. This confusion between what is exposed and what only imagined drives the wonderfully creepy Melmoth, in which a fabled wanderer combs the world for human wickedness, doling out consolation... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
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Liane Moriarty
[isbn]
Nine strangers meet at a health spa in a remote part of Australia. Moriarty works her magic once again, with empathetic characterization, taut narrative, and heart-pounding suspense. Meet the washed-up romance novelist, the family of three, and the rest of this disparate group.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
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Elly Griffiths
[isbn]
Elly Griffiths writes a spooky ghost story and a chilling murder mystery tangled into one creepy novel. Set in a school on the moors of rural England, with a haunted mansion and plenty of intrigue, The Stranger Diaries is framed by a sinister horror story, and absolutely every character is hiding something. Peppered throughout with literary references and — surprisingly — some spot-on humor, this is the brilliant gothic/ghost/school... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Cynthia Hand and Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows
[isbn]
My favorite retelling of Jane Eyre! In My Plain Jane, Charlotte Brontë goes to school with Jane, there are ghosts (and a pre-Victorian Ghostbusters-esque society), and Jane's best friend is a dead girl who gives snarky, feminist critiques of Rochester's somewhat problematic approach to romance. This dynamic trio of authors — Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows — brilliantly handles this beloved classic with... (read more)
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
I loved this impressive, totally immersive tale of a magical library. Morgenstern follows Night Circus with a tour de force of opulent fantasy and compelling adventure.
Recommended by Kathi K.
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Sarah Maclean
[isbn]
The Bareknuckle Bastards are back with Whit "Beast" at the helm alongside the incomparable, curvaceous Hattie Sedley. Full of intrigue, witty banter, and sizzling chemistry (with a few naughty nautical knots thrown in for fun). The Year of Hattie is here and she's taking no prisoners in her quest to rule her world.
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Lorraine Heath
[isbn]
Beyond Scandal and Desire is the first book in the A Sin for All Seasons series. The whole series revolves around the Trewlove siblings. They are not related to each other but all have a fierce love for the widow who took them in as babies and an incredible loyalty to their makeshift family. With three books out so far and the fourth about to arrive in August, Mick and Aslyn's story from Beyond Scandal is still my favorite of... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Beverly Jenkins
[isbn]
I love historical romances, but I'm guilty of picking up books that cover obscure parts of English history and ignoring excellent authors writing about American history. My new favorite author is Beverly Jenkins and her books about powerful African American men and women after the Civil War. Rebel has one of her strongest leads yet with the story of Valinda Lacy and her quest for independence from her family. Her growing relationship... (read more)
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Maria Vale
[isbn]
I devoured the three books in the Maria Vale series The Legend of All Wolves. The third book, Forever Wolf, came out this year and it was the most wild of the pack. These books have the most natural and untamed account of a pack that is trying to survive living with humans and other shifters. I've enjoyed Vale's unique Wolf world and hunger for more books about the Great North Pack.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series is one of my all-time favorites. The first book, The Duke and I, introduces a family saga so heartwarming, funny, romantic, and sexy that I find myself coming back again and again. Don't sleep on these books — especially because Shonda Rhimes is adapting the series for Netflix. Looking for queer historical romance as good as Julia Quinn? Try Cat Sebastian!
Recommended by Joanna S.
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Lisa Kleypas
[isbn]
Kleypas's Wallflowers books are the perfect Regency romance novels. A group of friends, dubbed this season's "wallflowers," are determined to find great husbands... "trap" is probably a better word. The first book in the series starts with Annabelle — she looks the part of a noble, except that she isn't one. And she's determined to find a rich aristocrat to save her family from the streets. Simon, rich but without a title, ruins everything...
Recommended by Rose H.
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Kresley Cole
[isbn]
Werewolves and vampires hate each other. Everyone knows that. So when Lachlain finds the woman destined to be his mate, he is more than a little disappointed to find that she's a vampire. Emma wants nothing to do with him — in fact, she's terrified of the crazed werewolf. This book is full of sass and excitement. I love the world Kresley Cole has created.
Recommended by Rose H.
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Alix Nathan
[isbn]
"Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true." That old adage certainly applies to Alix Nathan's terrific tale of the rampant abuses inherent in the days before ethics committees existed. Rich, intellectual, science-loving Herbert Powyss can have anything he wants, and does, but it's not enough. He devises an experiment wherein a man will live sequestered for seven years in the cellar apartment Powyss has meticulously furnished with books,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Antoine Laurain, Gallic Books
[isbn]
Antoine Laurain writes another incredibly charming tale, with themes on friendship, miracles, love, and dogs. The four main characters drink a bottle of wine one evening, and then find themselves transported back in time to the year the wine was made, 1954. But, once they've been transported, how on earth will they get back to their own time? Laurain has a writing style that makes you want to cuddle up with his books — they are so sweet. Dive in... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Autumn Christian
[isbn]
This is a story of sex worker as superhero and saint, and of sex as both superpower and sacrament. Girl Like a Bomb follows Beverly Sykes — a teenage girl bursting with desire who finds everyone she has slept with profoundly changed for the better — and her journey takes us everywhere from church orgies with depressed housewives to covert missions to sleep with a terrorist. Here, Autumn Christian has woven together an unapologetic fairy... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Leigh Bardugo
[isbn]
Civil war left the country of Ravka scarred — quite literally in the case of its king, Nikolai Lantsov. But scars are the least of his worries: there are monsters lurking in Nikolai’s past, and if he wants to save his country, he’ll need to vanquish his demons. Bardugo is in fine form in this return to her compelling Grishaverse!
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Cecelia Ahern
[isbn]
What if you found the place where all missing things and people go? What if you found yourself there? Just go ahead and embrace the magical realism in this intriguing novel — it's worth it! It is original and charming.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Jill Ciment
[isbn]
No one knows why the defendant murdered her younger brother. And juror C-2 isn't sure why she is so drawn to juror F-17, she isn't looking for anything outside her marriage. But as they go back and forth between the courtroom and the budget motel where they are sequestered, it isn't long before they start having an affair. It should be jarring, all the competing elements of the story: the gruesome trial details, the painfully sterile locales, the... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Diane Setterfield
[isbn]
A carefully executed fairy tale about lost girls, found girls, and society’s relationship to the science and magic of these things, Once Upon a River is rife with symbolism that embraces tradition as it simultaneously breathes new and unexpected bodies of life into it. What exactly are the messages we carry about women’s roles in society, and are we able to change those without disrupting the familiar and sacrosanct? If so, Diane... (read more)
Recommended by Aubrey W.
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Thompson Walker, Karen
[isbn]
The narrator in this dystopian story is sweet but knowing, an introverted middle school girl having to navigate a world slowly falling apart. It is her voice that carried me through, that drew me in and made it all real. There are no false notes in this book, just the genuine life of a girl trying to get by and grow up.
Recommended by Doug C.
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Lisa Kleypas
[isbn]
I used to be a snob and refused to read romance novels. A friend saw me as a challenge and handed me this novel to read. I was hooked. It starts off with Beatrix writing letters to a soldier away at war. He thinks it's Beatrix's friend writing the letters and when he finds out the truth upon his return home, it's both emotional and hilarious. I loved this one so much that I ended up going back and reading the rest of the series after finishing... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
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Kevin Hearne
[isbn]
This urban fantasy series is hilarious and full of magic. Atticus O'Sullivan is a druid. He is, in fact, the last druid to walk the earth. And all he wants is to live in peace in Arizona, running his occult bookshop. That peace is interrupted when he is discovered by a Celtic god who has held a grudge against him for about 2,000 years. This series has gods, faeries, and all kinds of other magical creatures. A super fun read. Great for fans of The... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
I typically hate the "lying to an amnesiac" trope and have a hard time imagining a HEA for someone who starts a relationship with a lie, but this book has turned my bias upside down. Julia Quinn found a masterful way to make me fall in love with Cecilia — despite her deception — and especially with Edward. Edward's essential goodness and good humor, even when he felt betrayed by the woman he loves, puts him in the running for Hero of the Year.... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Julia Quinn
[isbn]
The Other Miss Bridgerton has everything I want in a romance: smugglers and/or pirates, jigsaw puzzles, fried dough dipped in sugar, references to Titanic (the movie, not the tragedy), and a lightning storm that sparks a proposal. Totally swoony.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
[isbn]
YA greats Albertalli and Silvera’s collaboration is more than a love story: it’s an ode to the people whose edges line up with ours like puzzle pieces, who shape our lives and bring out the best in us. A summer — a life — can change in a single moment, if we open our hearts and let it.
Recommended by Madeline S.
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Deborah Harkness
[isbn]
Harkness’s newest novel is a love story full of magic and the supernatural. It follows vampire Marcus and soon-to-be vampire Phoebe through their pasts and present. Fans will recognize the characters from the All Souls Trilogy, but this book stands on its own.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Theodore Dreiser
[isbn]
At the turn of the century, a country girl leaves home for the big city. At a time when the only option for women was to marry well, Carrie shows us a different road. While her rabid ambition and vanity indicate her true nature, the society in which she navigates is harsh and unforgiving. Dreiser's portrait of the ugliness of human nature is stunning.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Mackenzi Lee
[isbn]
Mackenzi Lee’s The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is stuffed with sarcasm, wit, and so many feels! I was amazed by Felicity’s ingenuity and bravery, her refusal to be anything less than the woman she is. Both thrilling and thoughtful, this is an incredible coming-of-age adventure for YA readers of all ages.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Eloisa James
[isbn]
Eloisa James always delivers, but Born to Be Wilde is my favorite from her. It's the third book in the Wildes series, so we've already been introduced to Parth and Lavinia, but the complete story of their relationship is one of the best I've ever read. Lavinia is one of the most complex and rewarding characters I've come to care about. A true delight!!
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Alice Clayton
[isbn]
I am a total sucker for amusing romance book titles and so I couldn't resist reading Wallbanger. Luckily, Clayton's writing lives up to the fun and raunchy title. This is the first in the series and was a hot and amusing way to spend my time.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Kristen Callihan
[isbn]
Moonglow has everything I love about romance books: a brooding, tortured male lead matched with a strong, independent-minded woman. You also get to enter the world of steampunk Victorian werewolves!!! I wish I had read this series when it first came out, because I was missing out. Funny and emotional and just plain hot!!
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Alyssa Cole
[isbn]
Let's start with what matters most: a gruff, sexy Scottish sword maker. Now for the heart of the story — the emotional growth of our heroine and her fight to be taken seriously by those closest to her. And let's not forget, she gets to fall in love with a gruff, sexy Scottish sword maker. Delightfully inspiring.
Recommended by Jennifer V.
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Gail Honeyman
[isbn]
Touching and darkly hilarious, this story follows Eleanor, an offbeat office worker seemingly content with her life but whose eccentricities and complete lack of social skills have kept her from the friendships and relationships every person needs. After a string of unexpected encounters, she finds herself on a journey of self-discovery in which she finally comes to terms with herself and her past. I laughed, cried, and felt everything in... (read more)
Recommended by Michelle L.
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Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
[isbn]
Alexander McCall Smith delivers a sweet story here, but it is not without some angst. Clover has loved James all of her life, but she feels him drifting away from her as they both leave their home in the Cayman Islands for boarding school in England. At the same time, Clover's parents seem to be drifting apart as well. McCall Smith's clean, straightforward prose and his subtle, sly wit give this story both happiness and heartbreak. If you love... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Sarah Maclean
[isbn]
I absolutely, thoroughly, endlessly love this book. I thought I adored Sarah MacLean already, but now I'm ride-or-die devoted! Felicity and Devil have apocalyptic chemistry and their journey is dark, scandalous, passionate, and wonderful. I can't recommend Wicked and the Wallflower enough.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Sabaa Tahir
[isbn]
The third installment in the An Ember in the Ashes series is action-packed from start to finish. As war approaches, our heroes attempt to save the people of the Empire, stop the Nightbringer, and keep the ghosts at bay. Great characters and excellent world-building make this a must-read.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Victoria Aveyard
[isbn]
If you’ve been longing for the romance, magic, war, romance, politics, and romance that is the Red Queen series, be still your readerly heart! Also, clear your schedule, because Aveyard’s series finale runs at breakneck speed; you’ll find yourself turning the pages long after you promised to do something more (ahem) productive.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Alexander McCall Smith, Alexander McCall Smith
[isbn]
This standalone novel by Alexander McCall Smith is a slight departure from his usual fare. It lacks the charm and lightness of his other offerings, but gives, instead, a truly heartfelt dissertation on love. Melancholy, poignant, and bittersweet, Trains and Lovers has four tales of romance — warts and all. Four strangers take a long train ride, sharing their personal stories along the way. Andrew tells his own love story, Kay tells the... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Karen Thompson Walker
[isbn]
This story takes place within a world identical to ours, except for the eerie fact that the days and nights start to grow longer and longer as time passes. What happens when you can no longer be sure that the sun will rise at the same time each morning? More about the small moments than the big ones, The Age of Miracles is a gentle apocalypse that gives you the time you need to think and breathe.
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Shelly Laurenston
[isbn]
I don't think I have ever laughed so hard while reading a book, EVER! I was expecting your typical shifter romance and was wonderfully surprised by the craziness that is the MacKilligan honey badger sisters. Their deadbeat conniving father gets them into such insane situations, and then the lengths they have to go to get out of them is pure chaos. This book has a higher body count than sex scenes. The heart of the story does come down to family,... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Jamie Quatro
[isbn]
A powerful, poetic meditation on love and faith, God and sex, and the parts of ourselves we compromise in order to maintain our relationships.
Recommended by Tim B.
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Andre Aciman
[isbn]
Set in a tiny town in northern Italy, this glorious love story will completely invade you. Aciman writes his lovers with both a deeply felt interior life and razor-sharp intelligence. Elio is in a haze of hormones and teenage angst, yet he is absolutely clear in stating his objective. Oliver is a buttoned-down man who lives strictly inside his head — not his heart. He wears his brusque, curt "American" persona like a suit of armor, and is utterly... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Dubow, Charles
[isbn]
How did this gem of a novel slip under the radar? Gorgeously rendered descriptions of
New York City, the Hamptons, Paris, and Rome. Deliciously infused scenes of intimate parties,
restaurants, picnics, food, and drink. A fun and sexy yet heartbreaking story of love, marriage, and friendships, I absolutely loved this unfolding tale!
Recommended by Adrienne C.
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Jojo Moyes
[isbn]
If you’ve missed the sweet and cheerful voice of irrepressible Louisa Parks, grieve no more! Instead, join her in Manhattan, where she’s taken a job with the ultrawealthy Gopniks. There she meets the handsome Joshua Ryan, who upsets her carefully constructed new life. Cue romantic hijinks and Bridget Jones-esque hilarity.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Holly Black
[isbn]
I couldn’t put this down and I don’t feel a spot of guilt about it. Holly Black’s world of faerie folk will get under your skin. Just beware that you’ll find yourself in deeper than you expected, indulging in every betrayal and savoring each intrigue.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Gail Godwin
[isbn]
Grief Cottage: on a tiny island off the coast of South Carolina sits a ruined beach house, which is such a perfect metaphor for grief, it couldn't be more aptly named. Marcus has lost his mother — the only parent he's ever known — and is now living with his great aunt, just down the beach from Grief Cottage. A quirky array of neighbors help Marcus navigate his new life, but he is most drawn to the cottage — and what's inside of it. A combination... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Scott Baron
[isbn]
What a fun weekend/beach/winter storm read. Is the protagonist a madwoman or is she Death? Well-balanced writing kept me going back and forth between the two concepts until the book's ending. I laughed — I cried! I even love the cover. If you like the cover as well, you'll probably like the book.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Shirley Jackson
[isbn]
Everyone wears a mask, a public self that conceals the inner, true self. Shirley Jackson is the master of capturing the subtle horror of the moment when the mask slips. She sets her stories in harmless places — cheerful suburbs, beloved vacation spots, well-known cities — and skillfully peels back the layers of ordinary life to expose the hypocrisy, cruelty, and pure evil underneath. Her talent lies in taking everything that is familiar and... (read more)
Recommended by Lauren P.
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Mackenzi Lee
[isbn]
I picked up this book on a whim, but then it sucked me in! I did not expect to become so attached to each of these characters, but by the end of the story I was desperately invested in all of them. The biggest accomplishment of this book is that it manages to grapple with subjects like racism, disability, abuse, and sexuality in a delicate manner, all the while remaining a fun adventure story. Plus, there are pirates.
Recommended by Junix S
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Eloisa James
[isbn]
Wilde in Love ranks among the best stories I've read this year. The chemistry between the characters is electric. There's humor, banter, and whimsy. The female friendships are so positive and real, and the Wilde family dynamics are thoroughly charming. I can't wait for the next book in this series!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Nora Roberts
[isbn]
Nora Roberts steps away from romance to give us an absolutely devastating story of global cataclysm. A new disease has rapidly infected most of the world, leaving behind survivors who exhibit mysterious — and dangerous — new abilities. I read this in one sitting, constantly on the edge of tears as I swung through every emotion. Although Year One chronicles the near extinction of mankind, the story is one of rebirth and the persistence of... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Daniel Handler
[isbn]
I'll admit that I am almost guaranteed to love anything Daniel Handler writes, whether it's as himself or as Lemony Snicket. I love his offbeat humor and the slanted way he has of looking at the world. At first glance, All the Dirty Parts might seem like something born of a late night conversation between Tom Wolfe and Tucker Max, but there's so much more here than a raunchy coming-of-age story. Like Handler's other novels, All the... (read more)
Recommended by Emily F.
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Tessa Dare
[isbn]
Tessa Dare brings on the heat and the hilarity in her new series, starting with The Duchess Deal, a Beauty and the Beast tale of a scarred duke and a clever seamstress. As usual, Dare had me laughing out loud and reading passages to anyone who was foolish enough to be near me!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Ian McEwan
[isbn]
Ian McEwan's Cold War-era spy tale is not what it appears to be. After suffering through a couple of bad love affairs, Serena, a beautiful 20-something university graduate, stumbles into a job with MI5 and is thrilled...until she realizes women only hold clerical positions. Still suffering the effects of a demoralizing breakup, she takes the job anyway. And soon, she does get an undercover assignment. "Sweet Tooth" is the code name for a loosely... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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N K Jemisin
[isbn]
This is a satisfying, thoughtful story that explores the themes of gender and relationship roles while staying within what could be considered the traditional fantasy genre. Each of the main characters is flawed and real. I'm glad to have spent time with each of them.
Recommended by Doug C.
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André Aciman
[isbn]
I'm not sure why it took me 10 years to read this book. I'd always heard it was great, but never actually picked it up until earlier this year. But when I did? I was stunned.
Few books capture the power of obsessive, overpowering first love and lust like Aciman does here. And with a movie adaptation coming out later this year, there isn't a better time to read (or reread!) this incredible book.
Recommended by Adam P.
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Kylie Scott
[isbn]
I'm ready to drive to Coeur d'Alene and meet the gorgeous, tattooed friends-with-benefits that Kylie Scott has so perfectly created. I just loved the idea that these two people found each other by total accident in the moment that they most needed a best-friend-in-bed. Dirty is hilarious and sexy and memorable, Scott's best novel yet and the start of an amazing new series.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Kristen Ashley
[isbn]
As much as I love Kristen Ashley, I didn't think I would like her first erotic novel: a beautiful dominatrix, tired of playing games, finds an alpha-submissive who may finally be the life partner she has been searching for. I should have known that Kristen Ashley can write whatever she wants and I will absolutely love it. The Deep End is intensely erotic, romantic, feminist, and so very positive. I can't wait to read more in this series!
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Nora Roberts
[isbn]
The Bodine family has it all — love, money, beauty, success — but under it all is a horrible crime, one that slowly emerges and upends the entire family. Come Sundown is a terrific contemporary Western romance as well as a suspenseful thriller, one that will have you rethinking your dream to hitchhike the Rockies.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Jill Shalvis
[isbn]
Recovering troublemaker Elle Wheaton has her life on lockdown, spending all her time at work or studying, but Archer Hunt — former police officer, now professional bad-ass — is finally ready to take Elle on and find a happily-ever-after for them both. As in every Jill Shalvis story, the entire cast of characters is so well drawn, they're fun and real and totally believable. Plus, the chemistry between Elle and Archer might be the best she's ever... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
The prose in this book is rich with vivid imagery. Even if you aren't usually interested in plots forwarded by romance, this story is worth picking up. The interplay of the circus setting and the actual magic is enchanting.
Recommended by Junix S.
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Amanda Bouchet
[isbn]
A Promise of Fire is a fiery, action-packed cocktail of mythology, fantasy, and romance. You'll love this intricate world, but the characters will really steal your heart. I read A Promise of Fire twice last year and recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and fierce heroines.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
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Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
[isbn]
Set in the same inexplicable town as the podcast that spawned it, Welcome to Night Vale is Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor’s debut novel in the Night Vale universe. While remaining firmly grounded in the mythos of the podcast, the novel reaches further to provide a glimpse at daily life in an exceptionally unsettling town.
Recommended by Ashleigh B.
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Esquivel, Laura
[isbn]
"Like water for chocolate" refers to the desired temperature for the perfect cup of hot chocolate. And that is: just at the point of bursting into a rolling boil. So, too, is the steamy love affair between Tita and Pedro: just about to boil over. Blistering, indeed!
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Samantha Hunt
[isbn]
Mr. Splitfoot is one of those rare books in which both the language and the story take center stage. I was hooked by the remarkable prose and then compelled by the inventive plot and the (somewhat literally) fantastic characters. It is a beautiful, funny, bizarre, and wholly original tale that manages to incorporate love, death, motherhood, séances, and ghost activism.
Recommended by Jill O.
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Nina George
[isbn]
A powerfully romantic, vivid tale, The Little Paris Bookshop is the story of a floating bookstore, unlikely shipmates, and an unforgettable love.
In this delightful novel, the right book can treat most any ailment. Read The Little Paris Bookshop, and I guarantee you'll feel revived.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Shirley Jackson
[isbn]
When a book so poetically written as The Haunting of Hill House can so deeply disturb, unsettle, and live inside of you like an invading yet welcome organism, you know true literary magic has been created. Such is the case with Hill House. You will not soon forget its odd angled walls and ill-fitting door frames, those ghastly noises that wake you, the malicious presence next to you. Not to mention that such a novel was written... (read more)
Recommended by Heather A.
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Jess Walter
[isbn]
How to describe Beautiful Ruins? It's such an odd yet enchanting book. The characters are a quirky mix of the commonplace and the extraordinary: a befuddled innkeeper from a tiny Italian town, a haunted ex-military wannabe novelist, a beautiful but sick young starlet, a hideously nipped-and-tucked aging movie producer, a stranded, strung-out musician, a screenwriter pitching a movie on the Donner Party, and Richard Burton. What? Yes,... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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