HAPPY ENDINGS

A woman with entrepreneurial dreams reunites with the lover who broke her heart.

Two years ago, in her hometown of New Orleans, Trixie Nguyen quit pharmacy school, which she'd chosen to please her traditional Vietnamese parents. Her boyfriend, Andre Walker, encouraged her to come clean with her family and pledged to support her no matter how they responded. The conversation was a disaster, her parents disowned her, and Andre dumped her shortly after. She’s since relocated to Washington, D.C., and has a tightknit group of friends; she’s also found a nontraditional career she loves: selling sex toys and helping people of all ages and genders have healthier, happier sex lives. Then she’s shocked to discover Andre is one of the owners of the soul food restaurant where she's hosting a bachelorette party. Since his mother’s death, Andre and his younger sister have been trying to keep their beloved family restaurant afloat despite the gentrification threatening the neighborhood. Trixie agrees to host a regular pop-up at the restaurant: The extra sales will help her win a company bonus, and the new customers might help keep his restaurant alive. Working together revives their romance, and Andre pledges not to make the same mistakes he did last time. Trixie can’t resist Andre’s charm or their strong physical attraction, but she’s wary of trusting him again. Lam’s debut is full of heat and heart. All of Trixie’s sex toys are put to good use in smoking hot love scenes, but the novel also highlights the strong emotional connections Trixie and Andre have to family and community. Trixie and Andre are both likable, and the sometimes-wobbly characterization reads as a minor misstep from a debut author finding her footing.

A sweet and sexy romance.