A fun reality-show romance slightly hindered by a quirky whodunit.
A woman joins a reality show for couples, but winds up needing to fake date her former high school rival to keep her dream of winning the prize money alive.
Teacher Alice Chen is struggling to keep up with her student debt and her mother’s medical bills. Her sweet but somewhat absentminded fiancé, Chase De Lancey, has a plan, though. All they have to do is go on Dawn Tay’s Inferno: Love Is Hell, a reality competition show for couples. If they can make it through a litany of challenges and come out on top, they’ll be awarded $1 million. Of course, Chase has put in their application before even telling Alice about it, but when they get accepted, she decides his plan isn’t so crazy after all. Then everything comes crashing down when Chase is caught on camera making out with another contestant, Selena. If Alice still wants to play the game and win the prize money, she’ll have to find a new boyfriend—and the producers mention that she seems to have chemistry with Selena’s partner. Unfortunately, the chemistry isn’t positive, since that partner happens to be Daniel Cho, Alice’s old high school rival. The former enemies, who still have plenty of baggage between them, have to ham it up and pretend to date for the cameras to stay in the game. The reality TV and fake-dating aspects of Loo and Young’s book would be enough to make this a compelling romance, with extra tension provided by Alice and Daniel’s fear that their act will be exposed. About halfway through the story, however, a dead body turns up on set, and now Alice and Daniel have to fake date, win $1 million, and solve a murder. The mystery is an element too far, sending the story careening toward the over-the-top end of the spectrum. Up until that point, though, Alice made for a wonderful protagonist with a lively, competitive streak, and Daniel complemented her whip-smart, problem-solving attitude. It’s unfortunate that a dead body had to throw a wrench into the works, in more ways than one.
A fun reality-show romance slightly hindered by a quirky whodunit.Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781683694779
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.
A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-stakes romantasy.
Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe. Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.
A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781649378514
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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