Isn't It Romantic?

 

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The Love Wager by Lynn Painter (Mr. Wrong Number #2)
Published by Berkley Books on March 14, 2023
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult.

She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs into the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she’d snuck out of.

Through the app, and after the joint agreement that they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie become partners in their respective searches for The One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don’t go well, the two of them can get tacos afterward.

Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.

Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off.

As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they each struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with.

A one night stand leads to friendship and more.

As soon as I read that sweet and precious dedication, I knew this book would be the blend of humor and tenderhearted romance I yearned for. So many things can follow a one night stand, and for Hallie and Jack, it resulted in a wonderful and supportive friendship.

Both Hallie and Jack had reached a reckoning point in their lives. Jack was unmoored following the passing of his favorite uncle, while Hallie knew it was time to pick herself up, dust herself off, and get her life back on track after a shocking break-up. Part of their plan was finding their soulmates, and Jack and Hallie were there to help each other navigate the search.

My affection for this book centered around Jack and Hallie. Their banter and playfulness kept a smile on my face, but I also reveled in the bond that formed between them. The moment they realized they already found their soulmate in each other was a moment that set my heart atwitter. I was especially thrilled about this union with respect to Hallie. The reasons for her break up angered me and broke my heart, but she traded up for Jack who delighted in all parts of Hallie and loved her as-is. And that trip to Colorado!!!! One of my favorite parts of the book.

A fat cat, a wacky roommate, and appearances by Liv and Colin put this one over the top for me. Painter’s streak of hits continues, and I am grateful for all the warmth and laughter she brings to me via her stories.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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You Again by Lauren Layne
Published by Headline Eternal on July 19, 2022
Age/Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

They have to stop meeting like this.

After a disastrous meet-cute turns into repeated meetings, a flighty free-spirit and a stodgy rule-follower come to realize that one they can't get away from ... is the one they can't live without.

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Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Austin just wants what any modern, commitment-phobic woman in New York wants: a no-strings-attached hook-up, steamy enough to brag about over mimosas the next morning. What she doesn’t want is her dating app’s latest suggestion: preppy, corporate Thomas Decker. So, obviously, she rejects the guy without a second thought. There’s just one snag: he’s sitting next to her, so he witnessed her do it. And now he’s calling her out.

After the initial embarrassment, Mac is determined not to let it bother her, but Fate has other plans – and Thomas isn’t going anywhere. First, he pops up as her new boss. And then he reappears as her best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law.

As the not-so meet cutes add up, Mac is sure that uptight Thomas is the last man that a free-spirit like her should want. Only the more time she spends with him, the more Mac realizes that the man she can’t get away from has become the same one that she wants to keep close…

It’s another hit from LL for me! I consider myself a fan of Layne’s work. I mean, I have read thirty-two books from her catalog. You Again is a perfect example of why I will always pick up a book by this author.

The premise of this book was so fun! It took a few meetings, but then I finally realized why it was titled You Again. A man and a woman who appeared to be total ill suited and constantly at odds with each other, kept being thrown together. That’s the thing! It was the universe doing its magic to push these soulmates towards their future union, and I was rooting for them. Keep an eye out for all the path crossings because they were delightful.

What are the odds in a city this big that I’d encounter the same man three times in a single week?

And there was also something special about Mac and Thomas together. Their initial meeting was hilarious. They both protested that the other was the opposite of what they wanted in a partner, but there were undeniable sparks and heat between them. The banter, the verbal sparring — it had me grinning from ear to ear. I adored watching their feelings evolve and loved that they were able to push each other out of their comfort zones. They were simply perfection together.

The universe was really never going to settle for us not being together.

All I know is that I smiled my face off as I read this book. And then I cried, then I cried some more because that closing sentence made my heart explode! Simply put, this story made me so happy. Another fun, fantastic, and fabulous romance from Layne!

Do you like tacos?
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