Tag: contemporary

Mini-Reviews: Red, Rom-Com, Garden

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Mary Roberts Rinehart, The Red Lamp

Professor William Porter has recently inherited a seaside house from his Uncle Horace. He decides to stay there during his summer vacation, along with his wife Jane, niece Edith, and Edith’s beau Warren Halliday. When they arrive, they immediately learn that the house is reputed to be haunted, and they soon witness strange occurrences themselves, such as a red light shining from the supposedly empty house. Then sheep start dying with their throats cut, and a police deputy goes missing. Are evil spirits responsible for these tragedies, or is human malice at work? This is my first book by Rinehart, and I wasn’t terribly impressed. The novel tries hard to create an atmosphere of eerie suspense, but I never fully felt that; instead, William’s constant musings on possible supernatural explanations just irritated me. In terms of moving the mystery plot forward, not much happens till almost the end of the book. I felt like there weren’t enough clues for readers to grab hold of, and I’m not quite sure the solution all hangs together. Still, Rinehart’s writing is good, and I’m interested to try more of her work; maybe this one is an uncharacteristic dud.

Jayne Denker, The Rom-Com Agenda

Eli has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Victoria, but he’s convinced she’s the one. While she’s on sabbatical in Europe, he and his friends devise a plan to win her back: He’ll give himself a makeover, basing his new look and personality on the heroes of classic romantic comedies. When he meets Leah, a lonely young woman who quickly gets absorbed into his friend group, they immediately hit it off and begin watching the rom-coms together. But as Eli and Leah grow closer, he must decide where his heart truly lies. This contemporary romance is predictable but sweet, and I enjoyed the allusions to some of my favorite movies, like Better Off Dead and The Princess Bride. I liked Leah’s quiet strength and Eli’s exuberant, genuine nature. The book also has a low steam factor with no explicit sex scenes, which is a plus for me. Overall, though, this is a fun read but not a standout, and I don’t feel particularly compelled to seek out more by the author.

Lauren Willig, The Garden Intrigue

Augustus Whittlesby is widely regarded as the worst poet in Paris, but he’s also secretly a British agent working with — and infatuated by — the Pink Carnation, a.k.a. Miss Jane Wooliston. Jane’s friend, Emma Delagardie, constantly ridicules Augustus’s terrible poetry but is also maybe a tiny bit attracted to him. When Augustus and Emma are thrown together to write a masque for Bonaparte and his court, they develop a deeper relationship. But Augustus is conflicted, both because of his feelings for Jane and because he’s using Emma to learn more about Bonaparte’s plans for invading England. Augustus has been a frequently recurring character throughout this series, so I’m glad he finally got his own story. I liked that both he and Emma ultimately have the same conflict: they have to choose between guarding their (relatively) safe, self-protective lives and taking a chance on real love. This book isn’t quite as light and fun as earlier installments of the series, and it isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s still an enjoyable read.

Mini-Reviews: Charming, Fortune, Practice

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Lucy Parker, Codename Charming

This sequel to Battle Royal focuses on Pet De Vere, publicist to Johnny Marchmont, the sweet but accident-prone husband of Princess Rosie. After one too many photos is published of Johnny falling atop Pet at a public event, the tabloids insinuate they must be having an affair. This rumor is of course false, yet it could seriously damage Pet’s career, so the royals suggest that Pet fake a relationship with Johnny’s bodyguard, Matthias, to give the tabloids a different story to focus on. Matthias is Pet’s total opposite — grumpy and reserved where she’s bubbly and cheerful — but they’re also powerfully attracted to each other. As their fake relationship intensifies, they must finally deal with their real feelings. Lucy Parker is an auto-buy author for me, and I really enjoyed this book, though I think it suffers a bit in comparison to Battle Royal. Both books center around an emotionally stunted hero and an outgoing heroine who nevertheless craves love, so many of this book’s scenes and beats felt repetitive. Matthias also feels like a second draft of the character Mick from Parker’s first novel, Artistic License (published under a pen name). It’s still a very enjoyable read, but it’s not one of my favorites by this author.

Diane Farr, The Fortune Hunter

Lord Rival desperately needs to marry a rich woman, but his options are limited due to his rakish ways and bad reputation. He sets his sights on Lady Olivia Fairfax, an heiress who shuns society to focus on charitable work. But when he first approaches her, he mistakes her for a servant and impulsively confides his entire mercenary plan to her. Olivia has no intention of succumbing to Lord Rival’s considerable charms; she doesn’t want to marry at all, especially not someone who only wants her fortune. But as they continue to tease and flirt with one another, they both develop deeper feelings. I was interested in reading Lord Rival’s story, since he was a compelling antagonist in Falling for Chloe. But while I enjoyed the book overall, it didn’t grab me as much as its predecessor did. Even though Lord Rival has good reasons for needing a fortune, I still felt he was cruel to Olivia and manipulated her into loving him. He also falls in love eventually, and the solution to the love-or-money conundrum is satisfying, but I wanted a stronger apology from him in the end. I did still like the book, though, and will continue to seek out more by Farr.

Sarah Adams, Practice Makes Perfect

Annie Walker, known as “Angel Annie” in her small town of Rome, Kentucky, is looking for love and marriage. But her introversion and social anxiety make her a disaster on dates, so her friends decide she needs some practice. Enter Will Griffin, a tattooed adventure seeker who’s just passing through town and has no interest in any type of commitment. He agrees to be Annie’s dating coach, but their mutual crushes on each other threaten to derail their plans. This is a cute sequel to When in Rome, but I don’t think it particularly works as a romance. Both Annie and Will are smitten from the beginning, so the only question is when they’ll finally admit their feelings. I did like the characters’ individual conflicts, though: Annie realizes that she doesn’t have to let her sisters and her town define her, while Will learns that he’s capable of love despite his dysfunctional upbringing. Overall, I wasn’t wowed by the book, but I’m interested enough to read the next one whenever it comes out.

Mini-Reviews: Phillip, Private, Do-Over

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Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, with Love

This installment of the Bridgerton series features Eloise, a lively and opinionated young woman who has never lacked suitors, but who somehow finds herself still unmarried at 28. She strikes up a correspondence with Sir Phillip Crane, who was married to her distant cousin Marina until the latter’s death, and is intrigued when he asks her to visit and see whether they might be well suited for marriage. But when Eloise meets Sir Phillip, he’s nothing like she imagined — he’s gruff and taciturn and distant, even from his two children, who are clearly desperate for his attention. Can such a man be a good match for the talkative, affectionate Eloise? The Bridgerton books have been hit or miss for me, but I really liked this one. Phillip’s backstory is difficult, and his reactions (especially to the death of his first wife) are not always sympathetic, but they are understandable. I loved him and Eloise together, and I think they bring out the best in each other. I also liked the brief appearance of several of the Bridgerton brothers; it was nice to be reminded of Eloise’s close relationships with her siblings. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series thus far!

Darcie Wilde, A Purely Private Matter

Rosalind Thorne once again finds herself embroiled in mystery and scandal when Margaretta Seymore appeals to her for help. Her husband is convinced she’s having an affair with the famous actor Fletcher Cavendish — and he’s planning to sue Cavendish to get monetary damages for the harm caused by the alleged adultery. Margaretta denies the affair and wants Rosalind to stop the accusation from causing a public scandal. But things get more complicated when Cavendish is murdered and suspicion inevitably falls on the Seymores. I liked book one in this series, but I think my enthusiasm is already starting to wane a bit. The mystery plot felt too cluttered, and the book needed a better editor — I noticed not only typos but a few significant continuity errors. Still, I like Rosalind and am curious to see how her personal life will unfold, so I’ll continue with the series for now.

Lynn Painter, The Do-Over

Emilie has planned the perfect Valentine’s Day, but things go wrong almost immediately when she gets into a car accident with Nick, her surly chemistry lab partner. Then she gets passed over for an internship she was counting on, and worst of all, she spies her boyfriend kissing his ex. Emilie is relieved when the awful day is done — but when she wakes up the next morning, it’s February 14 again, and she ends up reliving her awful Valentine’s Day over and over. As she tries to escape the time loop, she learns some important things about herself — and about Nick, who always seems to be along for the ride. I’ve enjoyed all of Lynn Painter’s books, and this YA romance is no exception. I especially liked the banter between Emilie and Nick, although he’s a bit too dreamy to be a realistic teenage boy. The book touches on some serious topics like divorce and grief, but the overall tone is upbeat and fun. Recommended if you just want to read something that puts a smile on your face!

Mini-Reviews: Orchid, Leopard, Between

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Lauren Willig, The Orchid Affair

After spending the past 16 years as a governess, Laura Grey is eager to be sent on her first mission for the Pink Carnation. To her dismay, she’ll be posing as a governess — but her real job will be to spy on her pupils’ father, André Jaouen, who works for Bonaparte’s ministry of police. André is keeping many secrets, and as Laura discovers where his loyalties truly lie, she also finds herself increasingly drawn to him. This is another enjoyable installment of the Pink Carnation series. I liked seeing how the French Revolution and rise of Napoleon affected the people who were experiencing it firsthand. I also enjoyed the romance between Laura and André, who have both experienced hardship and gained wisdom from it. The book’s pacing is a bit slow, though, and I just didn’t love it quite as much as some others in the series. Still, I’m glad to have revisited this one!

Andre Norton and Rosemary Edghill, Leopard in Exile

This sequel to The Shadow of Albion finds most of the principal characters in America, known in this universe as New Albion. Sarah, now the Duchess of Wessex, travels to Baltimore to help her friend Meriel, whose husband Louis (the lost dauphin of France) has gone missing. The Duke of Wessex follows his wife, but he’s also been given a spy mission he may or may not choose to complete. And the evil sorcerer the Marquis de Sade is seeking the Holy Grail, rumored to be in the French colony of Louisianne, which will give him unimaginable demonic power. After I loved the previous book so much, it’s not surprising that this one was a bit of a letdown. While the setting is unique and fascinating, I got weary of all the world-building, especially when it slowed down the narrative. Also, I wanted more character interaction and development; I particularly felt the lack thereof in Sarah and Wessex’s relationship. That said, I’m still glad to have read the book and sorry the series won’t continue.

Mhairi McFarlane, Between Us

Roisin has been dating Joe, a successful TV writer, for nearly a decade, but lately she’s been thinking about breaking up. The problem is that they’re both part of a tight-knit friend group, and she doesn’t feel like she has a good enough reason to dump him. But things come to a head when the friend group gathers to watch Joe’s new TV show, which contains scenes straight from Roisin’s life, including private details about her dysfunctional family. After this betrayal, Roisin begins to wonder if she ever really knew Joe at all. I’m a McFarlane fan and enjoyed this latest book very much, but those expecting a light contemporary romance will be disappointed. Though there is a very sweet love story, the vast majority of the plot centers around Roisin’s relationship with Joe and her growing knowledge of his true character. McFarlane likes to explore the ways men can abuse and exploit women, so the focus on Joe is not surprising, but I would have liked a little more emphasis on Roisin’s new romance and her complicated family dynamics.

Mini-Reviews: Wedding, Healer, Falling

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Mary Simses, The Wedding Thief

Sara and her younger sister, Mariel, have never really gotten along. They haven’t even spoken for the past year and a half — ever since Mariel stole Sara’s boyfriend, Carter. Now Mariel and Carter are getting married, and when her mom tricks her into coming home for the wedding, Sara seizes the opportunity for a little sabotage. But as she reluctantly reconnects with Mariel, she begins to see her life and relationships in a new light. I liked the premise of this book, but the execution was lacking. Sara is 38 but acts like an immature teenager for most of the book, switching up the seating chart, giving the caterer the wrong order, and so on. But Mariel is even worse, and I didn’t buy the book’s attempts to redeem her in the end. I did like Sara’s new love interest, though I couldn’t quite figure out what he saw in her. Overall, I was disappointed in this book and won’t seek out more by the author.

Claudia J. Edwards, Eldrie the Healer

Eldrie is the illegitimate daughter of a king, but she left home at 16 to get away from her indifferent father, odious half-brothers, and the burdens of royalty. She’s much happier traveling alone from place to place, practicing her craft as a healer. When she teams up with Huard, a skilled hunter and loyal companion, Eldrie finds she enjoys his company. But as they meet new people and encounter various perils, she reluctantly realizes that her destiny lies in her home country. This is a book I really enjoyed for about the first half, when Eldrie and Huard are having adventures and getting to know each other better. But the plot (OK, the romance) takes a turn I didn’t expect or particularly like. And in the end, almost nothing is resolved; it’s clear that this book was intended to be the first in a series, but the author sadly passed away before writing any further installments. So while this book had a lot of promise, it ultimately left me disappointed.

Diane Farr, Falling for Chloe

Chloe and Gil grew up together and are the best of friends, but neither considers the other a romantic prospect. When a chance thunderstorm forces them to take shelter in a cottage together overnight, however, they are forced into an engagement. Though not actually intending to marry Gil, Chloe uses the opportunity to visit his sister, Tish, in London, and help repair her shaky marriage. The biggest problem seems to be Tish’s infatuation with the rakish and charming Lord Rival, but Chloe’s attempt to divert his attention goes awry when she is drawn to him herself. After a few lackluster reads, this light Regency romance was such a breath of fresh air! I adored Chloe and Gil and found their journey from friends to lovers both believable and satisfying. The bits from Lord Rival’s POV made me roll my eyes a little — clearly he’ll have his own book — but overall, I really enjoyed this one! Definitely recommend, especially for fans of steamless historicals.

Mini-Reviews: Sounded, Only, Wed

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Nina Kenwood, It Sounded Better in My Head

Eighteen-year-old Natalie is having a rough time: She’s waiting to find out whether she’s been accepted to university. Her best friends, Zach and Lucy, have recently begun dating each other, making her feel like a third wheel. Worst of all, her parents have just told her they’re breaking up, and she never suspected a thing. As she deals with these challenges and her overwhelming feelings about them, she also develops an unexpected crush on Zach’s older brother, Alex. But her insecurities and lack of experience threaten to derail their romance before it begins. This YA novel, told from Natalie’s POV, really captures the big and urgent and sometimes painful feelings of adolescence. It’s also quite funny, and I both liked and related to Natalie. So if you enjoy the occasional young adult book with a bit of romance, I’d recommend this one.

Lacie Waldon, The Only Game in Town

The idyllic town of Redford, Georgia, gets a shake-up when its eccentric benefactor, Jasper Wilhelm, dies. His will leaves $10 million to an unspecified Redford resident, and the townspeople must compete in a series of bizarre challenges to win the fortune. Freelance editor Jess Reid has big plans for that money, but she’s dismayed to be teamed up with her longtime nemesis, Nikki. Meanwhile, Jasper’s grandson, Carter, is visiting from Atlanta and gets roped into the game also. Jess and Carter are drawn to each other, but the competition, plus the fact that Carter will eventually leave town, may prevent their romance. This novel really goes all in on small-town charm and quirky-yet-lovable townspeople. I thought it was cute (caveat, I’ve never lived in a small town), but others may find it too saccharine or too unrealistic. I liked that the book jumps between several points of view, including that of seemingly villainous Nikki. And the Jess/Carter romance is sweet, though a bit sidelined for all the Westing Game-esque hijinks. Overall, I liked this one and may try another book by the author.

Susanna Craig, Better Off Wed

Outraged by men who sexually harass and rape their female servants, Laura Hopkins has decided to fight back. Using the alias Lady Sterling, she infiltrates the lives of these men and learns their blackmail-worthy secrets so that they’ll never repeat their crimes. En route to her latest target, Laura meets British intelligence officer Jeremy Addison — who also happens to be Lord Sterling. His assignment is to find out what she’s up to and possibly offer her a job. As the two work together, they’re forced to pretend to be married, but their fake relationship soon becomes all too real. I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series, and I liked this one too, but nothing about it really stands out to me. Fans of historical romance who want a light, undemanding read they can finish in an afternoon will probably enjoy the book, but I’m not feeling particularly enthusiastic about it.

Mini-Reviews: Scandal, French, Murder

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Sophie Irwin, A Lady’s Guide to Scandal

Ten years ago, Eliza Courtenay married the wealthy Earl of Somerset out of duty to her family, even though she was in love with Somerset’s nephew at the time. The marriage was restrictive and unhappy, but now the earl has died and left Eliza unexpectedly rich. She decides to take control of her life and set up her own household in Bath. But her newfound independence comes with complications, especially when she’s torn between her old love (who is now the earl) and the charming yet scandalous Lord Melville. I greatly enjoyed Irwin’s debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, so I had high hopes for this one, but it never quite grabbed me. I liked the development of the love triangle, where Eliza’s choice of man reflects her choice about what kind of life she really wants. But at the same time, that conflict feels very modern; with historical romance, I want to be transported to a different time, and I didn’t feel that here. Overall, I’d call this one good but not great.

Sarah Ready, French Holiday

After watching her sister marry her best friend, with whom she’s been desperately in love for the past four years, Merry DeLuca needs an escape. Her godmother offers to let her stay in her French chateau, and Merry jumps at the chance. But she’s shocked to discover that Noah Wright, the best man at her sister’s wedding, is also staying at the chateau to work on a travel documentary. Merry and Noah have always disliked each other, but now their close proximity causes them to reevaluate their relationship. I enjoyed this contemporary romance, though it feels a little unpolished (which makes sense, as I believe it’s self-published). At times the prose gets a bit overwrought, and some of the humor veers toward cringey, but the romantic/sexual tension is well done, with excellent use of the “only one bed” trope. Definitely worth a read if the premise interests you!

E.C.R. Lorac, Murder by Matchlight

In the opening chapter of this World War II-era mystery, a young man witnesses a murder—but because of the wartime blackout, he doesn’t actually see anything except a face that’s briefly revealed when the victim lights a match in the seconds before his death. Scotland Yard Inspector Macdonald is on the case and soon learns that the key to the truth lies in the dead man’s mysterious identity and background. This vintage mystery was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved the wartime setting and its subtle but important effects on the plot — for example, one of Macdonald’s suspect interviews is interrupted by an air raid. The cast of characters is interesting, and Macdonald is a likable sleuth. But I think the mystery itself is a bit weak, and the plot is mostly just Macdonald interviewing people, which gets boring. Overall, though, I’d be interested in reading more by Lorac.

Mini-Reviews: Temporary, Beautiful, Battle

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Sarah Adams, The Temporary Roomie

This sequel to The Off Limits Rule features Lucy’s brother, Drew, and her best friend, Jessie. They’ve never gotten along, but right now Drew needs a fake girlfriend for a fancy work event, and Jessie needs somewhere to live while her house gets treated for mold. They reluctantly agree to help each other out, but they can’t resist arguing and playing increasingly elaborate pranks on each other. But when their “fights” start feeling less hostile and more flirty, neither is quite sure how to redefine their relationship. This book is another cute, undemanding contemporary romance. I liked it more than The Off Limits Rule because the obstacles to the romance are grounded in the characters, particularly Jessie’s fears of abandonment and intimacy due to her past. This book isn’t necessarily a must-read, but if you just want to be entertained for an afternoon, it’s a solid choice.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Beautiful Ones

Ten years ago, penniless 19-year-old Hector fell in love with the beautiful but equally penniless Valérie. He left to make his fortune, she promised to wait, but within a year she married a wealthy man. Now Hector has returned, rich and successful, and he’s determined to see Valérie again. She’s acting as chaperone for her husband’s young cousin, Nina, whom Hector decides to court as a way to get closer to Valérie. But as he and Nina spend more time together, his scheme becomes much more complicated. I loved Velvet Was the Night, so I had high hopes for this book, which is much more in my wheelhouse (pseudo-historical romance with magic!). I really liked the complexity of the three main characters; there are chapters from each person’s point of view, so even the villain is three-dimensional. But something about the book’s writing style kept me at a distance and prevented me from getting emotionally invested in the story. It’s still a good book, and I would recommend it, but I didn’t LOVE it like I wanted to.

Lucy Parker, Battle Royal

Sylvie Fairchild and Dominic De Vere are total opposites in terms of personality and taste: “He went in for elegant minimalism. She rarely saw an object that couldn’t be improved with sequins. She was, aesthetically, his worst nightmare.” They’re also rival bakers competing for the chance to make the wedding cake for a member of the British royal family. But when they’re forced to team up as judges on a reality baking show, Sylvie and Dominic find common ground and a surprising attraction. I adore Lucy Parker’s contemporary romances, and this one is no exception. It’s the kind of book you sink into and lose track of time while reading. The romance is a delicious slow burn that more than compensates for the slightly too cluttered plot. Now I’m even more excited for the sequel coming out next month!

Mini-Reviews: Web, Kiss, Again

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Mary Balogh, The Gilded Web

When Alexandra Purnell steps outside a crowded ballroom to get some air, she is kidnapped and locked in the Earl of Amberley’s house overnight. The incident is a total misunderstanding — the kidnappers are friends of Amberley’s younger brother, and they thought they were kidnapping his sister as a prank. But now Alex has been compromised, so Amberley (as head of the family) feels obligated to marry her. As a Balogh fan, I was expecting to enjoy this book more than I did. It’s a perfectly fine read, but I wanted it to focus more on the main couple. Instead, a lot of space is given to Amberley’s brother (who feels he should marry Alex himself, since he’s the one who arranged the kidnapping) and sister (who is both annoyed by and attracted to Alex’s brother). The obvious sequel bait was distracting and made the central romance less compelling. Still not a bad book by any means, but it’s not one of my favorites by Balogh.

Erin Beaty, The Traitor’s Kiss

Sixteen-year-old Sage Fowler is excited to start her adult life as an apprentice but dismayed to learn she’s been hired by the local matchmaker. Sage disapproves of the whole concept of matching, but her observational skills are undeniably useful in pairing people off. Meanwhile, Captain Alex Quinn of the royal army is gathering intelligence on a potential rebellion. When he encounters Sage, he and his soldiers enlist her help, but their need for secrecy means they can’t be fully honest with her. This novel has a lot of my catnip — fantasy world plus political intrigue plus romance — and I was surprised by a late-game plot twist that made me reconsider all that had gone before. But I didn’t fully connect with the book; Sage is a bit too much “not like other girls,” and some of the plot threads didn’t quite make sense to me. Overall, this is a good read, but I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series.

Kathleen Gilles Seidel, Again

Jenny Cotton is the creator and head writer of a popular historical soap opera. Her longtime boyfriend, Brian, is an actor on the show, but he has only a minor part because he won’t commit to a contract longer than six months. When veteran soap actor Alec Cameron joins the cast, Jenny is shocked to realize that he’s basing his character’s speech and mannerisms on Brian — and in doing so, he’s revealed the character as cold, distant, and unlikable. But Alec himself is kind and talented, and he seems to understand Jenny in a way no one else does, including Brian. I quite enjoyed this one, especially the behind-the-scenes aspects of producing a soap opera set in the Regency era! I also liked how Jenny works through her feelings about Brian and Alec through the soap’s characters. Alec’s feelings seem to escalate really quickly, and everyone except the three main characters is pretty one-note. But those quibbles aside, I liked this one a lot and am glad I stumbled across it!

Mini-Reviews: Rule, Violets, Theoretically

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Sarah Adams, The Off Limits Rule

After losing her job and her boyfriend pretty much simultaneously, Lucy temporarily moves in with her overprotective big brother, Drew. That becomes a problem when Lucy meets — and is immediately smitten with — Drew’s best friend, Cooper. The attraction is mutual, but they’re hesitant to pursue a relationship for fear of Drew’s reaction. This is a cute, quick read, but because Lucy and Cooper are into each other almost immediately, there’s very little romantic tension. The obstacle of Drew’s disapproval seems silly to me; these people are adults and should be beyond the “eww, no dating my sister!” stage. And a lot of the “humor” comes from Lucy’s embarrassment over her cringeworthy behavior, which makes her seem incompetent and immature. All that said, there is something appealing about the novel’s cutesy style and the banter between the main characters, but it’s definitely not destined to be a favorite.

Baynard Kendrick, The Odor of Violets

Duncan Maclain lost his sight in the First World War. Now, at the beginning of the second, he works as a private investigator and does the occasional job for U.S. intelligence. When a fellow spy is murdered, Maclain’s investigation leads him to the prominent Treadwill family, which includes a famous theater producer, an engineer working on secret military equipment, and the dead spy’s ex-wife. This is an odd book that tries to combine a traditional mystery with a spy thriller, and the result is a little half-baked. Because of the book’s split focus, there’s not enough time to flesh out the various suspects or provide meaningful clues. However, I did enjoy the depiction of a blind detective who relies on hearing, touch, and smell to observe the world. Kendrick apparently did a lot of research and tried to make Maclain’s abilities as realistic as possible. Overall, I liked some elements of this novel, but it didn’t quite gel for me.

Ali Hazelwood, Love, Theoretically

Elsie is a theoretical physicist who’s desperate to find a research position, but for now she’s stuck as a poorly paid adjunct professor. To supplement her income, she works for a fake-dating app. While on a “date” with her favorite client, she meets Jack, the client’s brother, who seems disapproving and suspicious of her. Disastrously, she meets him again while interviewing for her dream job at MIT, where Jack—an experimental physicist with a well-known grudge against theorists—is on the search committee. But as Elsie spends more time with Jack, she revises her first impression of him and learns his true feelings for her. The thing about Ali Hazelwood is that I’m often irritated by her books, but I still devour them in one sitting! As with her previous novels, I thought the hero’s level of devotion to the heroine was pretty implausible, and the overabundant science references were clumsily inserted. But I did find Elsie relatable in her need to be liked, though she takes people-pleasing to an unhealthy extreme. This is a flawed but compelling read, and I’ll doubtless continue to read Hazelwood’s work.