Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (2018)

I so, so love Christina Lauren. Hazel is a kind of wacky woman, who admits that she's way too much. She gets back in touch with her crush years later, Josh, but is really worried that she'll become too much for him as well. So they try and set each other up with other people, which does not work at all. Because they can't deny their attraction and affection! 

Love it. Slow build, but hot love scenes, plus wonderfully rich characters. Heart heart heart.

"The way Emily describes it: when I meet someone I love, I become an octopus and wind my tentacles around their heart, tighter and tighter until they can't deny they love me just the same." (p. 9)

"Dinner parties at my apartment consist of paper plates, boxed win, and the last three minutes before serving featuring me running around like a maniac because I burned the lasagna, insisting I DON'T NEED ANY HELP JUST SIT DOWN AND RELAX."

Half Past by Victoria Helen Stone (2017)

A little mystery, a little romance, I'm really loving Stone's novels. Plus, this one is about a doomsday cult! I love a good doomsday cult story! 

Also, I love that she writes about 45-year-old women who are looking for answers about their lives AND maybe get a little action as well. Really well done.

Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone (2018)

Surprisingly readable novel about Jane, a woman who takes a leave of absence from her job to exact revenge against the man who broke up with her best friend, which led to her suicide. She seduces this man and plots her revenge, but the part that kept me reading was Jane's internal monologues diagnosing her own sociopathy. 

Absolutely fascinating. AND, the author is Victoria Dahl, who writes terrific romances that include older, non-traditional heroines. So fun!

Ooh, there's a sequel! Problem Child (2020).

Social Creature by Tara Isabelle Burton (2018)

Eminently readable contemporary novel about Louise, a nearly 30-year-old struggling writer in NYC who meets manic pixie party girl Lavinia, with whom she becomes fast friends. Lots of wild parties and reckless spending ensues. 

About halfway through the book, the story takes a dark twist. Pretty fun and interesting.

It's Not Me, It's You by Mhairi McFarlane (2015)

Perfectly enjoyable chick lit about a thirtyish woman who proposes to her boyfriend, finds out he's seeing someone else, and takes off to London to get away. 

She gets a job with a dodgy PR firm, gets involved with an investigative reporter and is being wooed back by her boyfriend. Much drama and delightful British slang ensues. She also writes a graphic novel, but that feels very much like an afterthought.

This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell (2018)

As I've said a million times, I love Jill Mansell because you don't know which of the players will end up together. Plus, such lovely rich characters. 

The book kicks off with Essie having a joke round robin letter sent to her entire address book, which results in her beau ditching her and getting fired (by beau's mother). But she soon finds a home with extravagant character Zillah and finding a job in a nearby bar, run by a very handsome Lucas. Much entanglement and complication ensues until everyone ends up with the right person. V. sweet.

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (2018)

I love Christina Lauren. This is a lovely, multilayered novel that wanders back and forth in time, telling the story of Macy and Elliot, childhood sweethearts who meet again many years after something separated them. Lauren does a beautiful job of keeping the suspense up of what separated them and in telling their story since then. 

Also, ELLIOT IS TOTALLY JASON MANTZOUKAS. He is TOTALLY Mantzoukas. That's all I'm saying. Sweet and romantic and endearing and emotional and complex. Love.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James (2018)

Adore Simone St. James, and this book is wonderful. 

Going back and forth in time between a girl's boarding school in the 50s and the ruins of the school in contemporary times, with a few mysteries involved, this is a lovely, involving novel. 

I love Simone for her excellent characters, relationships, sense of time and place and for not wussing out on the supernatural. She brings it! Love her.

What To Do When I'm Gone by Suzy Hopkins, Hallie Bateman (2018)

Subtitled: A Mother's Wisdom to Her Daughter

This is a slight but lovely graphic novel memoir by a mother and daughter and the step-to-step, day-to-day instructions for the daughter in the event of the mother's death. Sigh.

Once and for All by Sarah Dessen (2017)

I always love Sarah Dessen, despite her pastel covers and completely forgettable titles. 

Louna works for her mother's wedding planning business one last summer before heading off to college. She meets reckless, open-hearted Ambrose at a wedding and has to decide whether she is ready to open her heart again after her first love affair's tragic end. 

As always with Dessen, the characters are SO rich. Louna's mother, her godfather, Ambrose and her best friend--all practically leap off the page. And the fun inside look into wedding planning is also delightful. Beautifully done as always.