A fun and nostalgic ode to our favorite teen dramas (with a welcome dose of reality).
When a birthday wish goes wrong, a 30-year-old woman finds herself transported into the world of her favorite teen soap opera.
Brynn Smothers thought she’d found her happily-ever-after, but instead she finds herself celebrating her 30th birthday divorced, miserable, and living with Josh, a roommate she barely knows. Her one constant is Carson’s Cove, a Dawson’s Creek–like teen drama from the 2000s. Every problem in Carson’s Cove has a way of working itself out by the end of the episode—it’s a place where, as Brynn puts it, “the worst fight can always be fixed with a grand romantic gesture.” That’s nothing like real life, and Brynn longs for things to be that easy. Which is why, when she blows out the candle on the birthday cake that mysteriously gets delivered to her front door, she wishes to finally get her own happy ending. The next thing she knows, she and Josh are waking up in Carson’s Cove…but they’re no longer Brynn and Josh. Brynn is Sloan, the good girl who loves sundresses and bike rides and should have ended up with the town heartthrob, Spencer. Josh is Fletch, the quintessential town bad boy who works at a bar. And they’re stuck in Carson’s Cove until Brynn makes sure that Spencer and Sloan get a happy ending instead of the cliffhanger the show ended on. But now that Brynn’s living inside her comfort watch, she can’t help noticing that things in Carson’s Cove aren’t as perfect as they seemed on TV. As she and Josh try to find their way out of the show and back into the real world, their feelings for each other develop into something that could wreck the entire town…or, maybe, change it for the better. Anyone who watched the teen shows of the 2000s will find much to appreciate here, including lots of easter eggs from Robb, who's clearly a devotee of the genre. The magic that brings Brynn and Josh to the Carson’s Cove universe gets a little confusing if you think about it too hard, so it’s best to simply enjoy the ride. Brynn and Josh have smoldering chemistry and plenty of heart, making this an incredibly entertaining and smart romance.
A fun and nostalgic ode to our favorite teen dramas (with a welcome dose of reality).Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9780593596555
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Dial Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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