Unnecessary plot twists sink this promising romance.
Two friends become something more after a terrifying car accident puts things into perspective for both of them.
Avery Spark and Declan McCormick have been best friends since college and now live together in a Colorado Springs condo. Avery runs Spark House, an event hotel started by her grandparents, while Declan is a successful financial adviser. Avery is heading to their alma mater for a meeting about hosting events, and Declan is going to drive there with her and watch a soccer game, but after a night of heavy drinking and a one-night stand that hasn't ended by Sunday morning, Declan bails, leaving Avery to make the trip herself. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for heavy rain, and Avery has been an anxious driver since her own parents died in a car accident when she and her sisters were young. History (almost) repeats itself, and Avery is in an accident; she winds up hospitalized, and Declan is wracked with grief. He promises to make it up to her by looking after her recovery once she's released. As Declan cares for Avery, who's healing from many broken bones and bruises, their yearslong friendship gives way to steamy attraction. Things should have ended here, as there is enough material for an emotional and satisfying romantic arc, but Hunting jumps the shark by adding a viral scandal. High on pot brownies, Avery posts a social media rant that jeopardizes Spark House's standing with the public, its sponsors, and its vendors. This wholly unnecessary plot addition weakens Declan and Avery's romantic journey with a large dose of secondhand embarrassment. Still, the cast is lovely; Hunting knows how to throw together a fun group of characters and lay the foundation for potential sequels. Declan is a self-assured man who can admit when he's really messed up. Avery is a wonderful older sister and leader, making those around her feel at ease. The supporting characters—Avery's two sisters and her and Declan's group of friends—make the romance richer. If only the plot were as nuanced.
Unnecessary plot twists sink this promising romance.Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-2506-2470-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
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
PERSPECTIVES
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.
A happily engaged woman is pulled back to her hometown—and her first love—when tragedy strikes.
Billie Wright is living her dream, running a thriving fertility clinic in New York City and engaged to a wonderful trauma surgeon named Dean. Her happily-ever-after meant giving up her life in Wisconsin, where she left behind many friends as well as her high school sweetheart, Mick. Although they’d been deeply in love, when Billie’s ambition pulled her away from home and toward the city, Mick couldn’t handle either the distance or her busy schedule. Billie has finally moved on from that heartbreak—but then she receives a phone call from Mick, the first communication between them in years. Her best friend, Erin, died in a car accident, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter, Phoebe. Now Billie must return home to help sort Erin’s affairs and provide some kind of comfort to Phoebe while grieving the loss of her best friend. Of course, being back home also means being in close contact with Mick. Their feelings for each other may not have ever gone away, and their proximity leads to big decisions for Billie. Can she ever reconcile her current life in Manhattan with her past in Wisconsin? And which one will be her future? Giffin knows how to do drama, and she ratchets up the stakes with every page as she continues to reveal new obstacles for Billie. The ending wraps up quite neatly, but the nostalgia-filled ride is full of twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the pages.
A deliciously dramatic look at how one woman’s past influences her future.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9780593600320
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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