Well, we’ve made it past the halfway point in our 2018 adventure, and we’ve read a lot of great books. Here are our romance recs for the best that January-June had to offer.
It’s hard to believe it’s already July, right? Time is flying by as we just keep reading and reading. There are so many good books every month that we don’t always get to review everything, even some that end up being our absolute faves of the year.
Sonya and Kristen decided that we needed to do a little progress report on some of our best reads so far this year before we get swept up in all the good books that Fall 2018 has waiting for us. So, some of these you may recognize from our reviews. Some may be brand new mentions for us. We hope that this romance recs list may help you find your next new favorite book.
January
Kristen: ‘Escape’ by Jay Crownover
So, I may have picked Escape for my January pick for a few reasons. One, I didn’t get to read Retreat or Shelter when they first came out, so I didn’t review them and it is basically a tragedy because I LOVE this series so much. I didn’t get to formally review Escape either because January was a very busy month, but I have so much love for the Warner Brothers and their ranch that it was an easy choice for this list.
These books are everything I love about Jay Crownover books. They are chock full of heart, heat, and hope, which, when combined, are the perfect recipe for a romance novel. I also MUST take the time to mention Recovered here. Escape paired with Recovered in the early months of 2018 meant that I started the year with a double dose of badass. If you love Jay’s books, then all of her heroes and heroines are held in the special “Reserved for Jay” area of your heart, and these two books definitely made that area even more crowded.
Sonya: ‘Man Card’ by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby
If you’re in the mood for a fun read, look no further than Man Card! It’s no secret that I love Sarina Bowen, and I’ll read any co-authorship she goes into. But her new series with Tanya Eby has been something special. Tanya seems to drag Sarina into a much more fun, silly, and out-of-the-box type of mind frame. It feels like they have a great time working together, and that makes it great for the reader in return.
My favorite thing about Man Card is that they completely scrapped the idea that a romance hero has to check off certain aspects in order for readers to fall in love with him.
Braht is unlike any other romance hero that I’ve read before. He’s very into his looks, but not in a douchey way. He just loves being well groomed, well manicured, and dressed his best. And he doesn’t care if anyone looks down on him for not meeting their stereotypes of what a man should be, because he’s totally comfortable with who he is.
Despite the fact that Braht initially drives his heroine Ash a little crazy, it’s not surprising that she ends up falling for him!
February
Kristen: ‘Fresh Catch’ by Kate Canterbary
My first Kate Canterbary review, since I lived under a rock and didn’t discover the Walshes until Christmas 2017 (Shannon and Will are #relationshipgoals), is definitely my favorite February book. Owen and Cole kicked things off in Talbot’s Cove and got me all sorts of excited for more books about the quirky, intense little coastal town in Maine. I love me a grumpy hero, and Owen is one of the grumpiest I’ve ever read. It was such a delight to watch as Owen’s heart melted for Cole, while the tech genius found himself a true home. I loved everything about this series starter, and that love only multiplied a few months later when Hard Pressed popped onto my kindle and I disappeared back into the charming world of Talbot’s Cove.
Sonya: ‘Brooklynaire’ by Sarina Bowen
Yes, another Sarina Bowen book because I just love her writing so much! And honestly, Brooklynaire is my favorite book by her to this date.
First of all, readers had been following along with Rebecca and Nate’s love story behind the scenes in the Brooklyn Bruisers series for some time. Their adorable moments together, in which they both seemed oblivious to how perfect they were for one another, was constantly in the background of the other books in this series. It left myself and others aching to get to know more about what was going on between them. Finally, Sarina gave us just what we wanted with Brooklynaire.
Secondly, Nate is basically the perfect hero in the #MeToo movement. He’s Rebecca’s boss which naturally gives him the advantage in the relationship – but he never makes her feel that way. Rebecca is always respected and her feelings really matter to Nate, which is why they take so long to figure out how to make things work for them both.
I dare anyone to read this and not swoon over Nate! It just can’t be done!
March
Kristen: ‘Long Shot’ by Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan has quickly cemented her place in my reading repertoire. Some authors you read for wit or laughs. Some you read when you need a good cry. I pick up a Kennedy Ryan story when I need to be moved. When the world around me feels bigger than I could ever hope to overcome, I pick up one of her books and am instantly drawn into a world with characters that are entrenched in situations I would never imagine a romance would tackle.
And yet, by the end, it seems so glaringly obvious that life’s toughest battles lead to some of the most rewarding and incredible happily-ever-afters you could ever hope for. Long Shot is definitely a tough read, but well worth all the tears and turmoil when you see August and Iris get everything they deserve.
Sonya: ‘Thirsty’ by Mia Hopkins
When I first read the description for Thirsty, I just knew I had to read it. Even though I had never read anything by Mia Hopkins before, my enthusiasm for the novel was a bit over the top and I was slightly worried that I was setting myself up for failure with such high expectations. However, Mia Hopkins simply blew me away with the beauty in which she writes her novels. Even when her characters are being downright dirty, her writing is stunning.
Though the central character of Thirsty is a former gangster, his everyday struggles are something any reader can connect with. The strain in his family, the struggle to rise above his situation, and the crippling anxiety that’s always just beneath the surface.
I loved every sentence of this novel and months later I’m still desperate for the next one!
April
Kristen: ‘Chaser’ by Kylie Scott
There are few things more dependable in this world than how much I’m going to love a Kylie Scott book. Whether it’s about the Stage Dive boys, the Dive Bar crew, or anything in between, I just absolutely DEVOUR her books. Chaser was no different. I was definitely excited to get Eric’s story, as the events of Twist and Dirty have been leading toward us understanding him better. It was a huge relief to finally get in his head and see how he thinks and feels about everything.
And his love for Jean and Ada could endear him to even the staunchest hold outs. I mean, who isn’t absolutely slain by the way he dotes on little Ada? Especially since he definitely isn’t a kids guy at the start of Chaser. I hope that somewhere down the line we get to check in on Eric and his perfect little family, because I’m definitely attached.
Sonya: ‘Love and Other Words’ by Christina Lauren
Though Love and Other Words is marketed at Christina Lauren’s first women’s fiction novel, it really didn’t feel any different than any other CLo book I’ve read in the past. The central focus of the novel is a love story, after all, they just toned down the sexy a bit.
The novel actually takes place across many years, with Macy meeting Elliot as just a kid. Readers follow along as the pair grow up alongside each other, their friendship evolving into something much deeper the more time goes along. But Macy’s story is also riddled with sadness, and readers are brought along an emotional rollercoaster as Macy and Elliot’s full history is unraveled.
This novel just proves that writing duo Christina Lauren can tackle any type of novel with perfection.
May
Kristen: ‘Royals’ by Rachel Hawkins
This. Book. Slayed. Me. I laughed so freaking hard reading this book. Daisy is such a unique, individual spirit, I could not help but love the way she sees the world. I didn’t know what to expect from a Rachel Hawkins book, but you can rest assured that I am counting down the days til the next Royals book. There are so, so many great characters in this story that I can’t wait to see be gobsmacked by love.
It’s one thing to read YA romance, but when you get a story that is so well balanced between family drama, friendship, romance, and personal growth, you know you’ve found a truly special book. I will be recommending Royals to just about everyone I know, and I am so glad this book found me. It was the perfect way to start May.
Sonya: Savage Trilogy by Meghan March
Much like the Mount series, the Savage Trilogy is both ultra-dark and ultra-sexy – but somehow manages to take everything up a notch. Savage Prince, Iron Princess, and Rogue Royalty revolve around Temperance Ransom and her mystery lover who ends up impacting her life in much bigger ways than she could ever have imagined.
Temperance is used to living a life on the edge and isn’t afraid of much. But Temperance gets much more than she ever bargained for when she starts a tryst with her hero who isn’t who he seems.
I really can’t say much about the plot without giving away the secrets that make this Trilogy so great. But what I will say is that if you’re a fan of dark novels with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, you definitely want to check out the Savage Trilogy.
June
Kristen: ‘The Fragile Ordinary’ by Samantha Young
It seems like so many of my favorite reads are YA stories written by my favorite romance authors. Samantha Young has done it again. Last summer, I fell in love with The Impossible Vastness of Us, and this summer it’s all about The Fragile Ordinary. I freaking ADORE Comet. She’s so different and relatable and just… special.
This story didn’t pull its punches, and some of the turns that this story took in the later parts of the book surprised the hell out of me. But that’s one of the reasons I love The Fragile Ordinary so much. Real life doesn’t pull punches either, and this book definitely takes its cue from reality. I hope that generations of young people find this story and it inspires them to live their best life.
Sonya: ‘Wicked and the Wallflower’ by Sarah MacLean
I’m admittedly not a big reader of historical romance, but when a copy of Wicked and the Wallflower came my way I decided to give it a shot. And I’m really glad that I did! Sarah MacLean’s writing really stands out from others’. Each word seems specially crafted to create a story that demands the reader’s full attention.
In addition to Sarah MacLean’s prowess with words, her characters are easy to fall in love with. Especially her heroines, who, despite living in oppressive times, do not put up with anyone trying to put them down.
Wicked and the Wallflower is no different, with its heroine Felicity trying to overcome the scandals that she has brought to her family. It causes her to make a deal with Devil, who is the king of London’s dark streets. Devil himself has his own plans to use Felicity to get revenge on his half-brother, but he wasn’t expecting to fall for Felicity instead.
Their story is twisty, daring, and sexy all wrapped up in one amazing novel!
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