Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I am combining CWW with Books From the Backlog hosted by Carole at Carole's Random Life in Books. This will allow me to feature some newly "rediscovered" books, which I plan on reading, alongside a new release.
This week I can't wait for
Name Your Price by Holly James
Published by Dutton on July 30, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
In Holly James's newest rom-com, sparks ignite as a pair of broke exes get locked in a house together on a reality show for a chance to win a million dollars, a second-chance romance that perfectly captures the absurd sincerity of made-for-TV love.
Olivia Martin and Chuck Walsh have chemistry. Too much chemistry, perhaps. Their every interaction as a couple either lights the house up with sexual tension or burns it down with anger. After one huge, very public fight, they finally break up for good. Or so they think. Someone was filming their dramatic argument in the street and—because Olivia’s parents were Hollywood royalty, and because Chuck’s an actor whose star is on the rise—the video goes viral. When Name Your Price, a reality game show, sees the footage, they invite Olivia and Chuck to shoot a very unusual Live locked in a house together for one month and they will be paid a million dollars. Each.
Olivia really needs the money if she's going to keep her beloved grandmother in her nursing home, and Chuck is desperate for any chance to win Olivia back. So the game is on—even as the show tries to pluck every nerve with only one bed, one bathroom, and a set of rules that will lose them money if broken—including no touching. With stakes that have never been higher and their explosive chemistry at a fever pitch, can Chuck and Olivia keep it together (and their hands off each other) for one month? Find out next week on Name Your Price!
I have had great luck with James' past books, so this was an auto-add for me. However, I am also drawn to the story. The word rom-com will always pull me in, and I do believe that James has the chops to pull that off. It's a second chance romance which is among my most favorite tropes. And the reality show angle sounds like so much fun. A Big Brother type locked house gives us that forced proximity and I am interested in seeing how these two work through their past.
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber
Published by Forge Books on July 20, 2021
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism
Goodreads
The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming, delightful story of family, healing, love, and small town Southern charm by USA Today bestselling author Heather Webber.
Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama, since she nearly drowned in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?
Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost died. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted―so why is she so unhappy?
When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.
I have been working through Webber's backlist since I read Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. I am a big fan of her storytelling and love the way she weaves magic into each tale. If this hadn't been written by Webber, I would have been sold on the story after reading the first paragraph of the synopsis. Stories that focus on family, love, and healing that are set in a small town are things I tend to enjoy, and I am sure Webber will delight me in the same way she has in the past.
Let us know in the comments!
I'm really eager to get my hands on Riley Sager's newest book Middle of the Night. The main character is named Ethan, so I almost feel obligated to read it haha
ReplyDeleteI have never read Sager. His books are thrillers, right? I hope the Ethan in the book makes out ok.
DeleteI love reality tv, so books that include that premise always make me take a second look!
ReplyDeleteI have definitely read some great books featuring reality TV. This one sounds promising.
DeleteAgain two very tempting books!
ReplyDeleteWebber's was great. She had quite a twist at the end.
DeleteYou know I don't really jibe with magical/enchanted realism, but oh my goodness does the Webber book have a gorgeous cover. Hopefully the inside is as much of a delight as the outside. :)
ReplyDeleteHer books are on the lighter side, and often feel like a small town tale with a bit more. This one, the big twist at the end was such a beautiful surprise. I loved it.
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