A quick romance that falls short in substance.
An academic and her brother’s best friend reconnect on a family holiday.
Two years ago, while working on her Ph.D. in English, Florence Greenberg was overtaken by anxiety and imposter syndrome, forcing her into a monthlong hospital stay and a brief medical leave from her studies. But after time and consistent therapy, Flo is ready to stop being treated like glass—she wants to let loose. And what better way to bring her soul to life than by leaving gray Scotland for a two-week family vacation in Greece? Holiday Flo is in full swing, tanning and drinking aperitivos at the villa, and she’s even successfully blocked out her brother’s constant nagging. But Flo’s vacation-induced calm disintegrates when her brother’s best friend—and her own lover turned enemy—joins the group. Unbeknownst to their daughter, Flo’s parents had included Jamie Kramer in their annual Greenberg vacation plans. Shortly after her breakdown, Flo and Jamie almost got together...only for him to abruptly slip a note under her bedroom door dismissing their fling. Now, Flo is forced into close proximity with Jamie for two weeks with nothing to console her still-raw heartbreak except her utter hatred of him. Can Flo make it through the Greenberg summer holiday in one piece? Can closeness actually make the heart grow fonder? Williams’ latest romance is set in an enviable Mediterranean locale, though Flo’s family dynamics and juvenile brothers often disrupt the serene setting. Given an inordinate amount of accidental flashing, fart jokes, TikTok humor, and note passing, it’s hard to believe these men are renowned lawyers, academics, and soon-to-be fathers. Even the title is a bit exaggerated, as Jamie and Flo behave less as enemies and more as petulant teenagers. Their budding relationship offers little in the way of grand romance, but it serves enough drama and spice for a breezy beach read.
A quick romance that falls short in substance.Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593719473
Page Count: -
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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
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
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