A complex tale of forbidden passion that’s likely to engage genre fans.
Warren’s erotic romance novel about a college sophomore and a mysterious professor explores themes of identity and agency.
Anne Hill, a scholarship student at Tanglewood University, struggles financially and is convinced by her roommate, Daisy, to go to a local high-end bar in Tanglewood City to make money by flirting with wealthy men. Anne meets a man named Will, who’s captivated by her. He buys her an expensive drink and propositions her for an hour of her time in exchange for money. Despite her initial hesitation, Anne agrees to go with him to his hotel suite for $1,000. Their interaction is intense, with Will displaying a dominant demeanor; they have sex, and Anne’s inexperience surprises Will, who asks her, “Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin?” Later, she finds out that Will Stratford is, in fact, a comparative literature professor at her school. As Anne and Will have further encounters, their relationship becomes more complex; Anne is drawn to Will’s confidence, and he feels conflicted by his feelings for her as he deals with his own personal struggles. The author contrasts Anne’s difficult childhood and financial difficulties with his troubled history involving a mysterious and possibly dangerous group known as the Shakespeare Society. The tension between Anne and Will reaches a peak when they must decide whether their relationship can be more than just transactional. Over the course of the novel, Warren shows notable skill at character development; Anne’s need for financial stability clashes with her growing attachment to a man she barely knows, and he grapples with his need for control. Anne’s growth from an insecure student to a confident, self-assured person is compelling, and the author ably articulates her protagonist’s turmoil through first-person narration, making her relatable and sympathetic. The story occasionally lingers a bit too long on such ruminations, however, which can slow the pace, and the subplot involving the Shakespeare Society, while intriguing, feels somewhat underexplored. Nonetheless, fans of romance and dark academic settings will likely enjoy this steamy story.
A complex tale of forbidden passion that’s likely to engage genre fans.Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9798884343320
Page Count: 364
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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