An ambitious romance that fails to conquer the couple’s many obstacles.
A self-conscious, disaster-prone baker develops a crush on one of his fellow contestants on a famous British reality show.
Paris Daillencourt and self-confidence don't usually belong in the same sentence. While he may have grown up rather well-off, his wealthy background only seems to isolate him from his peers. His sole friend is his roommate, Morag, who strong-armed him into a friendship. It's because of her that he's showcasing his baking talents on Britain's favorite reality show, Bake Expectations. His first day on set turns into a disaster when he hits fellow contestant Tariq Hassan in the face with a refrigerator door, giving the man a bloody nose and interrupting the chocolate chip cookie challenge for both of them. Paris naturally feels gutted, though Tariq reassures him things are completely fine—no hard feelings. This back and forth, with Paris radiating anxiety and other characters trying to soothe him, sets up a cycle that occurs throughout the book. Paris will make a mistake (perceived or otherwise), agonize, and mentally beat himself up to the point of an anxiety attack until someone talks him down. Living with and treating an anxiety disorder is the bulk of Paris' journey. While it’s wonderful to see more mental health representation in romance, especially with a character who's on a journey to diagnosis, the level of attention Hall pays to Paris' anxiety can drown out the struggles faced by other characters. Tariq has his own challenges with Islamophobia and microaggressions, which don't get nearly as much attention. Several secondary characters are needlessly unpleasant, from Jennifer Hallet, the Bake Expectations producer, to Morag, Paris' roommate, who often undermines Paris' feelings and concerns. Hall has lofty aspirations in this romance that fail to fully rise. The complexity of the issues facing Paris and Tariq both separately and as a couple are explored unevenly and with resolutions that feel shaky at best.
An ambitious romance that fails to conquer the couple’s many obstacles.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5387-0333-5
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.
A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown.
Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story.
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593853979
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.
Best friends confront feelings for each other when they take a honeymoon trip together.
Francesca Gardiner and George Saint James have always been best friends—just like Jo and Laurie from Little Women, which they both love. Frankie has a big, complicated family and George was the boy next door who’d moved in with his eccentric grandmother. Their friendship survived childhood, awkward teenage years, and living together as young adults without ever venturing into the romantic—well, except for one kiss, but they don’t talk about that. When Frankie gets engaged to an older professor named Nate, George isn’t happy and a huge fight ensues. Despite his misgivings, George shows up to be her best man, but Nate leaves Frankie right before the wedding with only a cryptic letter. Devastated, Frankie goes to a friend’s house to recuperate, but her honeymoon is already planned and paid for—so she decides to travel to Tofino, a picturesque town on the coast of Vancouver Island, with George taking Nate’s place. Frankie wants to fix her friendship with George, but now that they’re in a romantic suite in a beautiful location, things are more complicated than ever. She’d always thought a relationship would be a bad idea, but she’s slowly beginning to realize they’ll never be able to go back to being kids. Maybe the only way forward involves forging a new kind of relationship. Fortune, the author of romances like This Summer Will Be Different (2024), returns with another love story full of longing and intense angst. The many allusions to Little Women are charming, and Frankie is a delightfully headstrong, feisty character. She and George have explosive chemistry, and Fortune manages to make the “will-they-or-won’t-they” nature of their relationship feel like life-or-death stakes.
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9780593953242
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
