Isn't It Romantic?

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The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Published by Berkley on July 16,2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance.

Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.

With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.

What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.

As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new.

Her best friend Adam's wedding was cursed, and Georgia heeded the call to get the wedding back on track. Little did she know the curse could be the blessing that reunites her and her Ex.

This book opened with a flashback to when Georgia first met her ex, Eli. It was beautiful and dreamy and my heart was pitter pattering. Right then and there, I was fully invested in Georgia and Eli reconciling. I just knew deep, deep in my soul that they belonged to one another.

I had so MANY feelings as I watched these two tip toe around their past and put on their game faces for the sake of their mutual best friend, but they were both still dealing with the fallout from their broken relationship. While they were spending time together, it reminded them of why they fell for each other in the first place though they weren't exactly who they were before. They both grew and changed over the years, partially as a result of their failed relationship and also with the passage of time. 

I was especially impressed by the changes Eli made. The contrast between Eli then and now was incredible, and he really put himself out there for Georgia. Being with them during the wedding week was a roller coaster ride, but I could not argue with the results.

This was another one of those love stories where it was the right person but the wrong time. They were so young and needed to figure out who they were individually before they could really settle into who they were together. I love that they got their second change. It was lovely and emotional and satisfying. Joyce did an incredible job helping me understand who they were then and now and why they still belonged to each other.

I also adored the friendships that were highlighted in this story. The typical adult friendship struggles were highlighted, but the bigger focus was on how much they loved and cared for each other. How they all really stepped up when necessary and made time in their lives for one another because they valued their relationships so much. 

I hope I am not making this sound all melodramatic because it wasn't. This book was packed with humor, and a majority of the humor came from all the wedding disasters. Poor Adam! His loss was our gain in terms of laughter, as well as a great way to push our exes together.

Overall, this was a touching second chance romance which had my emotions all over the place in the best way. My heart ached, warmed, and exploded, and I loved it all!

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Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on July 15, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Callum Flannelly would rather dive into an open grave than take a stranger to dinner and a movie. But he can only inherit the family undertaking business and carry on their legacy under one condition: He must marry before his 35th birthday. So it’s out of the mortuary and into the dating scene.

Lark Thompson would rather get crushed by a falling anvil than stay next to a funeral home during her stay in Galway, Ireland. The vivacious American cartoon creator and animator came here to embrace life, not be reminded of losing her husband.

When Lark learns of Callum’s dilemma and aversion to marrying out of necessity rather than love, she agrees to help the introverted mortician. Although sworn off love herself, she is optimistic that Callum can find The One and secure his inheritance.

But as the dating project progresses and their friendship grows, so does a mutual attraction. The more time she spends with serious, sarcastic Callum, the more she dreads finding him a match. And the more disastrous dates he endures, the more he dreads Lark’s imminent return to the states.

If they think it’s possible to ignore their connection, they’re dead wrong.

Seeking a fresh start from the grief that surrounded her, Lark fled Texas for Ireland. One of the first people she met was Callum, the local mortician who must marry by his birthday or forfeit the family business. Unfortunately, Callum suffered from social anxiety, and struggled when speaking with and connecting with women. Well, that was until Lark came barreling into his world.

I was drawn to this book because of its rom-com label and setting, but I truly fell in love with the story because of Callum and Lark.

Lark was a young widow who really never came to terms with her husband's death. She had been drowning in her grief for about two years. When she was offered an art director position with an indy animation studio, she jumped at the opportunity to relocate to Ireland leaving her past behind. But everyone knows you can't outrun your past, and Lark had to confront it in order to be able to open her heart and love again.

I adored Lark. She was the personification of bright colors. I swear, sunshine followed her wherever she went. I know this seems quite at odds with her grief, but she did a good job of burying her pain when necessary. Her cheerfulness was contagious, and I loved that she infected Callum with it. He needed more light in his world.

Callum grew up surrounded by death. As the third generation to run the family funeral home, he dealt with death on a daily basis, but was also bullied for where he lived and due to his stuttering. Rejected by his parents, he was raised by his grandparents and with his granda's recent passing, he was alone and at risk of losing the only home and the only world he had know.

Being a mortician cannot be easy, but Callum was a positive part of the death industry. He showed respect for the dead and their families as he attempted to ease some of their pain with thoughtful final farewells for their loved ones. I think the universe knew he needed some warmth and levity in his life, and that came in the form of Lark. She did such a magnificent job pulling him out of his shell and encouraging him to be a little more foot-loose and fancy free. Though Lark appeared super vocal, she was a people pleaser who often put her needs last. Callum helped her find a way to voice her desires and advocate for herself.

Callum was such a mush who was all about finding the one and making real connections. I loved him! When he whispered Irish endearments into Lark's ear or waxed poetic about her in his head, he brought the swoon. There were also some great supporting characters who brought something special to this story. I have a feeling Lark's cousin will be featured in future installments of this series, and I am very much looking forward to returning to Galway.

Overall, this was a heartwarming tale of healing and love that was filled with fun rom-com moments and quirky characters who won my heart.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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