Overdue by Stephanie Perkins

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Saturday Books/St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in mind: her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she’s secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they’re not ready to resume their relationship—and Ingrid’s harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.
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Fifteen years ago, I was bonding with a group of women over a shared love of books on an internet message board and swooning over Stephanie Perkins's young adult romance novels. When she moved on to thrillers, I went along with her. And when her adult romance debut appeared, I was very excited because I knew that I was in for a treat. I spent most of my day off reading this lovely, lovely book, and I have no notes. It was so good. Ingrid is the kind of relatable protagonist that you can't help but root for. Macon is her perfectly imperfect crush. The slow burn between them was so satisfying, and the supporting cast of characters just rounded things out perfectly. This is not just some fluffy romance either, mind you (not that there is not a place for fluffy romance on my bookshelves). This book had some real depth to it and tackled some serious topics with grace and thoughtfulness, while also providing some laugh out loud moments. I hope we can look forward to more books for adult readers from this author.

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Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (read in 2024)

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart.
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I have long been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews and her summer additions to southern women's fiction. Whether we find ourselves on the Outer Banks or in Savannah or somewhere in Florida, we can always count on a fast-paced story filled with relatable female characters that celebrate the relationships among women with a touch of romance often thrown in. In this book, we are treated to some rich, detailed characters at the flagging St. Cecelia, a grand dame of an old resort, and they find themselves in some fixes. The ultimate fix is the mystery that is at the heart of this book, a tragedy that challenges owner Traci as she tries one last time to turn things around. As we follow her throughout what might be the last season at "The Saint," we are treated to some twists and turns as we join Traci on her quest to get some answers and hopefully save her beloved hotel. This is a perfect beach read, but with a little more depth, and it represents classic "MKA" at her finest.

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A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?
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This was one of those books that just makes you feel good. There's plenty of holiday cheer. There are some complex characters, but they are all just...nice people. It is filled with some of my favorite romance novel tropes - fake dating, friends-to-lovers, only one bed - and they are well-executed. Was it a particularly challenging book to read? No. Did I need it to be? Also no. I spent the entire day smiling and laughing and truly enjoying myself as I read about these lovely people from this beautiful family enjoying a loud, chaotic, and joyful holiday together on the British seaside. I can't think of anything I would have rather done with my day today, and since this is only the second of Sarah Morgan's books I have read, I am excited to check out more of her back catalog.

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