Cara Bastone, Seatmate
Gwen and Sam meet on a discount bus en route from Boston to New York. She’s a freelance journalist and photographer heading to an interview that could make or break her career. He’s on his way home after a visit to his mother, who really wants him to settle down with a nice girl and in fact has arranged a date for him this evening with his high school crush. As Gwen and Sam ride the bus together, sparks fly between them, but will their very different lifestyles put a stop to their potential romance? Cara Bastone has yet to disappoint me, and this light, charming novella is no exception. All three books in this “Love Lines” series are quasi-epistolary, relying heavily on dialogue—which makes sense since they were originally audiobooks. Occasionally I wished for a little more narrative context, but overall I think the snappy dialogue between Gwen and Sam carries the story. They’re both surprisingly complex characters, considering how short the story is (less than 200 pages), and their romance is adorable. Recommended, especially if you love a good road trip romance!
Martha Keyes, A Conspiratorial Courting
Edith Donne swears she will never marry, but even if she were inclined to find a husband, Elias Abram would be the very last man she’d consider. He’s arrogant and argumentative, and they wage a battle of wits every time they meet. Their friends decide to play a trick on them, convincing Edith that Eli is in love with her and vice versa. When they discover their friends’ plot, they retaliate by pretending to be in love and faking an elopement. But when bad weather strands them at an inn for several days, it seems they might have to marry in earnest, and they’re both surprised to discover that their romance isn’t so fake after all. This is a well-written and steamless Regency romance inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, so basically all my catnip. The latter part of the novel is a bit heavier and less humorous than I’d prefer. But I really enjoyed Edith and Eli’s relationship and will definitely try more books by this author!
Ellie Marney, Every Breath
Seventeen-year-old Rachel Watts has recently moved from rural Australia to the big city of Melbourne. She mostly hates city life, but a small group of friends makes it bearable—particularly her neighbor, James Mycroft, a misunderstood genius with a penchant for getting into trouble. When Mycroft and Watts sneak out one night to visit a friend, a local homeless man named Dave, they’re shocked to find his murdered body. And when the police investigation stalls, they know it’s up to them to solve the case. Yes, this is a YA Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and overall it’s pretty good! Mycroft is like Holmes in being both compelling and irritating; he’d be unbearable in real life, but you can see why Watts sticks around. The mystery is interesting enough and showcases the vivid Melbourne setting. The teen angst was probably my least favorite aspect of the book, but it might resonate more with younger readers. Overall, I think I’d recommend this one for the setting more than anything else.
