#AmReading - Library Loans

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The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Published by Gallery Books on May 16, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

Fizzy was a standout in The Soulmate Equation, and therefore, I was not surprised by how much I adored her when she had the spotlight.

Fizzy was a romance author who was experiencing not only writer's block, but also suffering a personal crisis. She just wasn't feeling like herself, and try as she might, she was unable to remember the last time she was truly happy. When Connor approached Fizzy to star in a dating show, she insisted on many stipulations, but also challenged him to rediscover joy with her.

Those joyful excursions were so much fun, and I couldn't help but want Connor and Fizzy to fall in love. Things were obviously complicated with the show, but I have to give CLo a standing ovation for what they did here. I loved how they navigated every part of this story, but especially appreciated where it ended. At about the 93% mark, I had to stop to dry my happy tears. It was wonderful!

Can I also thank CLo for allowing us to revisit this world? Though I did not get to spend time with Jess' grandparents (who were amazing!), Jess, River, and Juno all have plenty of meaningful page-time. It was a pleasure to get to know Fizzy on a whole other level, and Connor and Stevie were wonderful additions to this world. There was talk about a second season of the The True Love Experiment (the show), and dare I hope this could result in another book? CLo - if you write it, I will read. (just saying...)

Overall: Another stupendous opus by Christina Lauren. I can always could on this duo to craft a story with humor and warmth which I can credit with helping me rediscover joy.

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Happy Place by Emily Henry
Published by Berkley on April 25, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?

People, the hype is real.

I have been a long time Emily Henry fan beginning with The Love that Split the World, and I will forever eagerly await her next release. My adoration of her work by no means diminishes how exquisitely beautiful this book was.

Since I knew from the first chapter that Harriet and Wyn were no longer together, I felt as though I was under this blanket of sadness. All the flashbacks where I watched their love story unfold made me cry, and the flashback where I watched it all fall apart made me sob. It was because I wanted them to be each others' "forever". There was something magical about their union, and it caused me physical pain that they were not together.

A great deal of this story was dedicated to Harriet and Wyn's relationship, but there was also a big focus on the love between these six friends. What a wonderful thing to meet people who make such a big impact in your life. I also learned about both Wyn and Harriet's families, and what huge impressions they made on Harriet. I simply adored them all.

I will always love a book that makes me feel so much, and Emily Henry accomplished that with amazing characters, lyrical prose, and a fantastic story of love, friendship, and finding your happy place.

I get so excited when I recognize a place in a book. In Happy Place, they visit Jordan Pond House and have popovers. I thought I would share pictures of Sloth enjoying some popovers there. 

Lobster - yea or nay?
Let us know in the comments!