A thought-provoking and satisfying romance for readers who love happy endings.
Sparks fly as two friends searching for peace and stability find each other in Coney’s debut romance novel.
Twenty-two-year-old Grace Allen is in her final year as an English major in college when she walks into a tattoo shop in search of adornment for her ribs. Though she chickens out, she does meet Samuel Callaghan, known as Cal, the tattoo parlor owner and a caring, gentle giant who later intervenes when Grace is accosted by a sleazy guy at a party. Cal and Grace become friends, slowly unveiling their past trauma to each other and inserting themselves into each other’s lives. Four years earlier, Grace was assaulted, and she has been trying to rebuild and cope with her anxiety ever since. Cal grew up with an alcoholic mother and is now acting as a father figure for his little sister, Maddie. The author alternates narrative perspectives between Cal and Grace, exploring their emotions as they begin to feel more for each other than just friendship, making the story well paced and exciting. It’s an archetypical friends-to-lovers romance, but the familiarity of the trope does not mean Coney falls into cliche; instead, through misunderstandings and the complexities of human emotions, the story has the reader yearning for happiness for both of the main characters, who help each other to grow and change while gaining greater independence in their lives. In particular, Coney’s depiction of Grace’s growing confidence—gained through teaching ballet and writing her own children’s book for a college class—makes for a compelling journey, reassuring the character (and any reader who has experienced similar trauma) “that the soil [she has] been planted in is fertile enough to make [her] bloom under any circumstances.” This novel may be a romance at heart, but it is as much about moving on from adversity—without pretending it can be forgotten—as it is a love story.
A thought-provoking and satisfying romance for readers who love happy endings.Pub Date: Dec. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9798987758342
Page Count: 480
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 29, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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