Isn't It Romantic?

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One Month of You by Suzanne Ewart
Published by Sourcebooks Landmark on February 7, 2023
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

When Alec asks Jess out, she knows it won't work. Is Alec charming? Of course. Attractive? Definitely. Can she not stop thinking about him...yes, but that's also the problem. Because Jess has rules. And the first? Don't fall in love.

What no one knows is that Jess has inherited Huntington's disease from the mother that she cares for. And while witnessing her own future play out, Jess has learnt to keep everyone and everything at arm's length. But Alec is determined to break down those barriers. When she finally tells him why they have no future, he proposes a different option—just one month together.

One month to date. One month to live. One month to fall in love.

But as Jess grows closer to Alec, she knows she has to end it. It's better that he is hurt now rather than heartbroken later, isn't it?

Would you take a chance on love if you knew you inherited Huntington’s disease? This was the question Jess kept asking herself. Before meeting Alec, she had resolved to follow nine rules which would keep her from forming any attachments. Once Alec entered her life, she was questioning those rules. Her experiences with him were so different from previous boyfriends, and she was constantly trying to manage the war between her heart and her head.

It amazed me how frustrated I was with Jess while also understanding why she was making the choices she made. Here she had this incredible unicorn man who was so patient and understanding. How could she not surrender her heart to him? But then, I also watched her care for her quickly deteriorating mother. It was painful, and seeing her mother suffer was excruciating for Jess. That’s when my understanding side always kicked in. I couldn’t imagine being in Jess’ position, nor am I sure what choices I would make, but I thought Ewart approached the story with such honesty and gentleness.

I know I am focusing on the romantic aspect of the book because I adored it, but Jess’ story was equally as wonderful. She had so much to work through while also having the weight of the world on her shoulders. She had Debs and Olivia to alleviate some of the weight she carried, but I needed her to have more. I felt Alec supported Jess in a different way and added an aspect to her life that was missing.

This book definitely brought the pain. There were a LOT of tears and tissues, but it also had so much warmth, joy, and hope in it too. I have no regrets picking up this book as it was worthy of every tear I shed.

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Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Published by Kensington on January 24, 2023
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

The acclaimed author of Love Lettering weaves a wise and witty new novel that echoes with timely questions about love, career, reconciling with the past, and finding your path while knowing your true worth.

Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.

But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.

Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.

Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . .

They say you can never go home again, but that is just what Georgie did. When her career came to a halt, she returned home to loving parents and a ride-or-die friend, but also to memories of feeling less-than which amplified her feelings of being untethered. Georgie was seeking clarity about her future, and she believed the answers could be found by revisiting her past via a friend fic she wrote in her teens.

Enter Levi, bad-boy black-sheep of the Fanning clan. Levi was working through his own murky past. In his youth, Levi was not the well adjusted, responsible man Georgie met who was so kind and caring. He loved his dog, owned a business, and was giving. However, he often hid parts of himself due to worries about stepping out of line. Levi’s storyline broke my heart because he really was something special. I was glad he stumbled into Georgie’s world, and it was beautiful watching these two find some clarity together.

This book had the charm, wit, and humor I have grown to expect from Clayborn, but the stars of this story were Levi and Georgie. I adored them. Their romance was one I was terribly invested in, and I was also so invested in Levi and Georgie. I wanted them to figure things out, to see their worth, to heal their wounds. I was excited about what the future held for them, and this was a great and satisfying journey.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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