So you’ve finished Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life and are already in mourning. Maybe you’ve got a wicked book hangover from crying your eyes out over the turbulent entanglement between main characters Alice and Hayden; maybe you’re still reeling from the twist at the end (no spoilers!)
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Or maybe you’re just looking to round out your TBR with other great contemporary romance reads so there’s something to salve your soul as soon as you’ve reached the last page. Whatever your particular situation, we’ve got some great books from the likes of Kennedy Ryan, Abby Jimenez, Jesse Q. Sutanto and more.
‘And They Had a Great Fall’ by Shelby Saville
Jake and Kat had a steamy, secret affair during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, almost exactly one year later, they’ve reunited in Copenhagen. Jake is dealing with the pressure of his rising celebrity status, and Kat is working hard to maintain a good life for her child, even while getting crushed under the weight of her carefully constructed world. Now, something threatens to rob her of her security, and Jake must decide if he’ll continue to keep his relationship with Kat a secret — even if it’s at the expense of his own fame.
‘Say You’ll Remember Me’ by Abby Jimenez
Xavier Rush comes as close to perfect as one can get — that is, until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even he can say the absolute wrong thing. And there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving a jerk wrong … unless he can admit he made a mistake. After one incredible date, Samantha confesses that her family life won’t allow for a relationship, and they part ways. Time and distance, however, don’t seem to be enough to make them forget each other.
‘No Ordinary Love’ by Myah Ariel
Ella has the life most budding pop stars can only dream of, but she’s grown tired of her producer husband’s infidelities and has decided to divorce him. Despite the ironclad prenup that threatens all she’s built, she decides to fight for her independence. When an awards show snafu results in a rescue from MLB’s most eligible player, Miles, the tabloids explode with speculation. As they both attempt to save their reputations with the PR performance of a lifetime, the line between fake dating and catching feelings begins to blur.
‘Along Came Amor’ by Alexis Daria
Ava is on a new path since her husband left her. She’s not overthinking things and will just have fun. At least, that’s the plan when the wealthy hotelier Roman offers her a chance at a no-strings-attached fling. The more they meet, however, the harder it gets to keep it casual — especially when he shows up at her cousin’s wedding as the groom’s best man and doesn’t seem interested in being Ava’s dirty little secret.
‘It’s a Love Story’ by Annabel Monaghan
Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as an actress on a sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood producer. “Fake it till you make it” is her motto. But when she lies, saying she can get a famous pop star to perform for her new project, she’s forced to rely on pompous cinematographer (and her one-time crush_ Dan Finnegan. He has an in — but will likely make her life hell as they attend a festival that could save Jane from her own lie. Or could he possibly be the first true thing in her life for quite some time?
‘Shooting Stars Above’ by Patricia Leavy
Tess is a bestselling author whose inspirational books don’t quite translate to her own life. Jack Miller is a federal agent who has spent decades immersed in a violent world. The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is the first real glimmer of happiness for either of them. As they both face the trauma of their past, they’ll have to decide if love is enough to heal their hearts.
‘Can’t Get Enough’ by Kennedy Ryan
Hendrix Barry’s life is picture-perfect. Other than the strain of caring for an aging parent, she’s got all that she needs … and a relationship isn’t on that list. That is, until tech mogul Maverick Bell enters the scene and she feels like she’s met her match. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen, but he’s forbidden fruit. So, when Maverick starts to pursue her, Hendrix begins to wonder if it’s finally time to have something for herself.
‘Sounds Like Love’ by Ashley Poston
Joni Lark is one of the most coveted songwriters in L.A., but at the moment, she can’t write a single note. She returns to her hometown in search of inspiration but finds it in shambles. Her best friend is hiding something, her mother’s memories are slipping and her family’s music venue is closing. A faint melody, however, is calling to her — and it’s attached to a vision of a man. A man who rolls into town hearing the same song and wants nothing more than to get it out and move on with his life. But perhaps this song that binds them isn’t the only way they are connected.
‘Worth Fighting For’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto
In this modern take on a Disney classic, Fa Mulan is her father’s right hand in business. When her father falls ill, she’s ready to step in on a big deal, but the family only wants to deal with her father. So, Mulan is forced to play the part of a man — easy enough over email, but when she’s forced to meet in person, the act gets harder to maintain. Not to mention, she can feel a spark forming with Shang, the overworked head of the family she’s doing business with.
‘One Golden Summer’ by Carley Fortune
Alice spent just one summer at a lakeside cottage with Nan when she was 17 and took a photo that would change her life. Now, Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines. Charlie Florek was 19 when a teenage Alice took his photo. Now he’s a giant flirt who makes Nan laugh and reverts Alice into her teenage self. Alice feels healed by her lake days with Charlie, but she also feels seen for the first time.
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