Without a Clue - Review

Without a Clue

By: Melissa Ferguson

Publication: February 17, 2026 by Thomas Nelson

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When a mystery writer mysteriously dies on a cruise filled with rabid fans, his protégé (and personal assistant) teams up with a rugged cowboy and fellow writer to crack the case. One part Only Murders in the Building, one part Book Lovers, and a whole lot of laughs, Without a Clue will keep readers guessing and swooning until the very end.

If there's one thing Penelope Mae Dupont prizes most, it's her composure--her ability to stay calm in the face of stress. It's a vital trait in her job as a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven--seven celebrated authors from different genres who have supported each other through thick and thin--her famed composure is in danger of sailing away. One boat, hundreds of devoted readers, and seven Big Personalities. What could possibly go wrong?

Disaster strikes when, on the second day of the cruise, Hugh is found murdered. And, in the face of gross incompetence by the on-board security force, Pip realizes she'll need to be the one to discover who did it. With the ship stranded in the middle of the Atlantic and no help on the horizon, it's up to her to unravel the mystery. Along with her friend Nash--a dreamy Western author who's just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about. As Pip's composure starts to sink faster than a leaky dinghy, Nash becomes her anchor in a storm of clues and red herrings.

With Nash at her side, Penelope dives into the murky depths of the mystery, navigating treacherous waters filled with unexpected twists and turns. No one, not even a desperately hopeful mystery sleuth named Pip, could anticipate the wild ride ahead. Whether she likes it or not, she is on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and maybe, just maybe, she'll find love along the way.

In this laugh-out-loud funny Clue-meets-Emily-Henry rom-com, Penelope Mae Dupont is about to find out that in the world of mystery and romance, you have to risk going overboard to find the truth.

I've had an up and down relationship with Melissa Ferguson's books. Yet I've found that the ones I've loved the most have been the books that she writes about books. Meet Me in the Margins and The Perfect Rom-Com were two that stood out to me in the past. But I'm not a big fan of mysteries, so I put off reading Without a Clue for longer than I intended, and I also started it and put it back down due to a slower beginning. But once I get into the heart of the book, I found it easy to keep going.

I really feel like Melissa Ferguson has written these books about books, about stories, as a way of venting her love for each of the genres. I could be reaching, but that's how it appears to me. As I already said, I'm not the biggest fan of mysteries, and I find that when they are mixed with romance, the plot can overtake the relationships. Or the mystery becomes the major conflict instead of relational conflict. One I appreciate, and the other I don't. Without a Clue was enough romance to suit my preferences there.

Penelope has been a writing assistant for an author for years. She also organizes and keeps things together for a group of seven famous authors. Hugh, the author she's an assistant for, keeps trying to get her to write her own book. She's also developed a crush on one of the other authors who she has a close working relationship with. Yet they never associate outside of work. When Penelope's long-term boyfriend breaks up with her in a public way, she's feeling herself on the verge of an emotional breakdown. This vacation (a celebrity cruise) is just what she thinks she needs. Only Hugh ends up murdered, and Penelope is the only one who can solve the murder.

I can't say more due to spoilers.

Without a Clue was an enjoyable read, and I got into it once I made it about 20%. There was mystery-genre plotting, and romance. I wasn't always sure who I could trust. At the same time, I wasn't surprised by the outcome or ending of the book at all. Without a Clue gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Without a Clue? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Trust Issues

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Trust Issues

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: April 27, 2027 by Saturday Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The perfect follow up to Kasie West’s duo of adult rom-coms, We Met Like This and Stranger Things Have Happened, Trust Issues will appeal to readers of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood.

While out of town on a work trip, Parker begins to question her boyfriend’s fidelity when she receives an anonymous text with a link to his profile on a dating app. Desperate to be proven wrong Parker hires a food delivery driver to deliver both food and information. But the driver, upon learning what he’s been hired for, ruins the surveillance mission by ratting her out to her boyfriend, effectively ending her 2-year relationship with one ten-piece wing order. Parker is angry at herself…and at the asshole food delivery driver. Too bad three months later he becomes the new hire at the newspaper where she writes.

Not only has he invaded her daily happy place, they are put on an assignment together, against both of their wills, investigating a local fire. Parker finds that he’s just as arrogant, condescending, and utterly infuriating as she initially thought. But he also has stunning blue eyes. And an annoyingly cute smirk. Are his mouth and intense stare starting to cloud her judgement? Crumble her well-earned trust issues?

Or is she discovering that loathing and lust aren’t actually as different as they seem and that maybe she wants to see which one of those emotions will come out on top.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

The Best I Never Had - Review

The Best I Never Had

By: Amy Buchanana

Expected Publication: August 18, 2026 by St. Martin's Griffin

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.

Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.

But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression.

Owen's life has always been about control—managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a "heart-destroying" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.

But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.

The Goodreads book description tells us a lot. Thea once fake-dated Owen for cash she desperately needed, and he needed to get his mom off his back about dating. Little does she know that he's been milking a fake-broken heart ever since. But truth be told, he was interested in staying in touch with Thea, and maybe even making a go at something real, but Thea deleted her number from his phone in hopes of a clean break. Now Thea's little sister is marrying Owen's brother. I find it hard to believe that even without knowing his last name, Thea wouldn't have been tipped off about Addy dating his brother, but I didn't want to question it too much. When Thea shows up and realizes that Owen is her sister's soon-to-be new brother-in-law, they decide to continue the charade. They aren't fake-dating again, but they are pretending to be exes. Except this time, Addy specifically asks Thea to stay away from Owen, all the while his mother is constantly trying to throw them together in hopes of getting them back together.

The Best I Never Had has some pet peeves of mine. We've got a pregnant lesbian couple. And there's also a gay male couple that isn't as prominent. Oh, and we have the trifecta with the bisexual (I think) best friend. Diversity for diversity's sake...CHECK! The language was a lot. And the on-page spice was more than my preference. You can skip ahead if this isn't your cup of tea, like me.

Favorite quotes:

-"I like to know what pain I'm getting into before it hits."

-"I--I lash out. When I'm feeling vulnerable. Always have. It's easier to hurt other people than face my own [stuff], but I don't want to do that to you. I don't want to be someone who hurts you. So I'm sorry."

-"I ask for your help trying to connect with the family, then resent you for becoming close with them. I worship you, then get jealous of the things I idolize."

This entire book was a study in how different people handle trauma. For Owen, his dad died, and his mom pushed him to succeed with the company to carry on his father's legacy. He also had to step up and take care of his younger brother. He sacrificed his own wants and needs to take care of others until that became his default, and he rarely ever sought after anything he wanted for himself. Owen's mom was so heartbroken over her husband's death that she couldn't cope and do all of the things she needed to do as a mother. She ended up trying to micromanage and control her sons, at least Owen, to the point of alienating them both and becoming manipulative. Thea was always fiery. Her mom died from a drug overdose. And Thea and Addy went into the foster care system. Thea had a habit of lashing out in anger over everything when she felt vulnerable, and this pushed many people away. Addy grew up with such a complex over moving from place to place that she could barely be herself for fear of constant rejection from others, at least until Harrison. These are all messed-up people that sound exactly like real people with flaws, messed-up backstories, and childlike coping mechanisms.

I ended up enjoying the overall story of The Best I Never Had. I felt like some pieces didn't make a lot of sense. Owen's mom went from being Team Thea to Anti-Thea pretty easily. I was annoyed with Addy for wanting Thea to get close to the family and then getting mad at her for doing exactly that, but all of that was at least addressed. Owen and Thea had a good relationship development, and I liked that they mostly handled their situation with maturity. Until the forced conflict, anyway. The Best I Never Had did check a bunch of the diversity checkboxes. Diversity for diversity's sake has always annoyed me. But in the end, I'm giving The Best I Never Had 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Best I Never Had? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Peculiar Stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Peculiar Stars

By: Rebecca Yarros

Expected Publication: November 17, 2026 by Montlake

653 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Survival

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a slow-burn romance about love, family, and what it means to become the truest version of yourself.

Callista Moran has spent a lifetime putting her own plans aside to care for other people. Once she and Darren Knight announce their engagement, she thinks her future is finally set. But when a routine sailing trip goes tragically wrong, a cyclone blows those carefully made plans away.

Stranded on an island for the next eighteen months alongside the crew and her fiancé’s cousin, Callista discovers a strength she never knew she had. And begins to question the life she always thought she wanted. With Dominic, an ex–army medic, she finds true peace―and a version of herself that she doesn’t need to explain. They resist their connection at first, but as months wear on, and the hope of rescue fades, something real starts taking shape, built on who they are when everything else is stripped away.

When they’re finally found, the world hasn’t changed. But they have. In the height of a modern media frenzy, learning to live as the people they’ve become will challenge not only their definition of survival, but love.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for The Christmas Yes List

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Christmas Yes List

By: Melissa Ferguson

Expected Publication: October 6, 2026 by Thomas Nelson

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Get ready for a laugh-out-loud holiday romance that's brimming with witty banter and heartwarming cheer by the bestselling author of Meet Me in the Margins, Melissa Ferguson.

Chronic people-pleaser Chloe Hollis is determined to finally learn how to get over her fear of rejection. Her unconventional solution? She must collect ten "nos" before Christmas Day by asking strangers for the most ridiculous favors she can dream up. But her plan goes hilariously off-track when she meets James Dutton.

James, a rule-following workaholic, has decided to do the exact opposite of he's saying "yes" to every opportunity that comes his way in hopes of finally embracing life--and maybe a little Christmas spirit.

As they continue to get tangled up in each other's wild experiment, Chloe and James find themselves in a whirlwind of festive, awkward, and delightful situations. But no one is more surprised than they are to realize they're falling in love.

With sparkling humor and swoon-worthy heart, this delightful Christmas rom-com is a feel-good story about facing fear head-on, choosing growth over comfort, and finding the courage to say "yes" to the things--and the people--that truly matter.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Twined Fates

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Twined Fates (Tangled Hearts, # 3)

By: K Bromberg

Expected Publication: October 20, 2026 by Bramble

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The explosive conclusion to the Tangled Hearts trilogy from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg!

Holden
She’s my rival. My obsession. My ruin.
I told myself Rowan Rothschild was nothing more than the enemy across the boardroom table.
But the longer our worlds collide, the harder it is to remember which battles are worth winning.
Now she’s the woman I can’t stay away from, even when the cost might be everything I’ve worked years for.

Rowan
The company. The inheritance. The family name.
I’ve fought to protect it all from Holden Knight, but nothing prepared me to face him again.
Every look, every touch, every ruthless move he makes drags me deeper back into him.
The line between love and hate has never been thinner.
And this time, falling for him could destroy us both.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Igniting Lies - Review

Igniting Lies (Burning, # 1)

By: Rebecca Donovan

Expected Publication: June 16, 2026 by Rebecca Donovan

? pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary,

Source: Author (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Sadie, Collin and Jonathan have been best friends since childhood. Sadie's the bleeding heart, always seeking a cause. Collin's the comedic peacemaker of the trio. And Jonathan's the protector of them all.

The summer before their senior year of high school, Sadie and Jonathan finally admit to having feelings for each other, putting their lifelong friendship at risk.

Jonathan’s notorious for getting into fights, a reputation Sadie’s chosen to ignore. Collin’s always been the one to smooth things over and de-escalate Jonathan’s rage.

After witnessing a dispute she wasn’t meant to see, Sadie suspects there’s more to the cuts and bruises than Jonathan's troublemaker reputation. Maybe she doesn’t know him as well as she thought. And this time, Collin’s words can’t twist what she saw with her own eyes.

All Jonathan wants is to be believed. To be known as something other than the monster he’s been labeled. There’s one person in his life who wants to see the truth, even his darker side. Except believing him may cost Sadie everyone she loves, including Jonathan.

Man, I read Barely Breathing about 14 years ago. I don't remember much, but I do vaguely remember hating Jonathan. I remember loving the series overall, but I really didn't remember a lot. Do you even know how many books I've read in between Barely Breathing and Igniting Lies?

Sadie has a group of friends that check all of the diversity boxes. Normally, this really annoys me. At least, diversity just to check a box. But in this case, the diversity actually fits into the story in a way that I didn't get frustrated with. Sadie's father is running for district attorney. You'd think that would make her being friends with a couple of kids who are constantly in trouble would be a problem and point of conflict, but overall it wasn't. Her mother does help her father's campaign by hosting a lot of events and dinners for him, but she apparently has her own business as well. This makes Sadie have a pretty stable family life. She has a best female friend. And then she also has a special trio friendship with Jonathan and Collin. It just so happens that Sadie has had a crush on Jonathan for years.

Well, it turns out that Jonathan returns her feelings. But things with Jonathan's family aren't as smooth as Sadie's. If you know anything about the previous series or Emma's story, then you will be able to guess what secrets are being hidden. And hey, things aren't perfect with Sadie. She has anxiety or panic attacks that seem to be particularly triggered by violence. Jonathan and Sadie aren't the best communicators. This is always a frustration for me in books. So much could be solved with a simple conversation, but where's the conflict for the plot if that happens?

I was particularly frustrated with one point. Sadie doesn't drink. Her friends have never made a big deal out of this and just accepted her. There is a mean girl who makes it out like Sadie doesn't drink because she's too uptight. But I appreciate someone who chooses to go against the norm. So I was disappointed to see that when conflict and tension were reaching a peak for Sadie, she decided to get drunk. I don't know if authors write this because they think this is what normal teenagers do, or if teenagers often seek alcohol as a coping mechanism when things get hard because this is what they're told over and over in books and movies is what they're supposed to do. Getting drunk when you're faced with heavy problems as a means to escape dealing with them is a terrible strategy, and I wish authors would find another solution or even another plot device that would move characters along in a healthier way. This isn't just about writing a story. People are actually influenced by what they read. And I, for one, would appreciate it if authors offered teens, especially, another action to relieve some of their tension.

The only quotes I highlighted were things that kind of annoyed me. Not necessarily an agenda, but comments made that I disagreed with on a personal level.

I will say that I well and truly forgot that this was the first book in a new series. I was just thinking that it was a one-off novel about Jonathan. So that ending cliffhanger really got me. The ending is jarring either way. I do want to finish the series, but I also expect that things don't exactly end happily ever after given where we see Jonathan in the Breathing series. That being said Igniting Lies gets 4 Stars. I read it quickly, which is always a bonus. Have you read Igniting Lies? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Light Up My Life

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Light Up My Life

By: Kasie West

Expected Publication: October 20, 2026 by Scholastic Press

336 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Christmas, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beloved YA romance author Kasie West (P.S. I Like You) returns with a charming, hilarious modern-day Romeo & Juliet story about two rival families, one Christmas house decorating competition, and a blossoming forbidden relationship. Perfect for fans of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and the forthcoming Mint To Be!

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Costas is a sensitive, shy artist who has spent her entire life going out of her way to avoid the bane of her existence, Ryan Moreno. On top of being an arrogant jerk, Ryan hails from the Moreno family, the Costas's next-door neighboors and longtime enemies. But this is Jasmine's older brother's last year of high school, so she's determined to make it the Best Christmas Ever. When it's announced that their town is holding an actual contest for Best Decorated House, Jasmine and her family are ready to wage an all-out war to claim the trophy. Until Jasmine and Ryan are accidentally locked in a pantry together during a holiday party, and she's forced to wonder if there's actually more to Ryan Moreno than meets the eye. And unfortunately, their chemistry is undeniable.A secret relationship blooms that threatens to completely upend the lives of their families as the Christmas decoration schemes and rivalries get wilder and more chaotic.

Jasmine and Ryan want to be together. Can they convince their families to patch things up and embrace the holiday spirit? This charming story from the master of romantic-comedy, beloved author Kasie West, is a spirited exploration of the chaos of change, and the enduring magic of Christmas.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Forever is the Sweetest Con - Review

Forever is the Sweetest Con

By: Joanna Thurlow

Expected Publication: June 16, 2026 by Sugar Shack Books

292 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Cleo Des Rochelles doesn’t believe in love—not after being swindled by her ex and left to repay his debts or risk losing her home and her mother’s safety. Desperate for cash, she signs up for Camp Couple-Up, a reality dating show with a $250k prize.

But instead of a glamorous retreat, Cleo finds herself in the wilds of Canada’s Northern Ontario, scrubbing toilets and faking romance with Kei, a charming musician with lofty dreams of stardom. Their pact is play pretend, win big, and never catch feelings.

Then the crew vanishes. With no food, no phones, and no refill of Kei’s insulin, the stakes skyrocket from love and money to sheer survival. As danger closes in, Cleo discovers a strength she never knew she had—and a love too real to fake.

Poor Cleo. Her sorry, ex-boyfriend scammed her. Not only did she come home one day to an eviction notice, but the dude took all of their stuff and ghosted her. And on top of that, he left her with a mountain of debt in the form of a loan she co-signed for him. She's been bartending, and not that I approve of her methods, but she's been charging customers extra and pocketing it to pay her bills. Unfortunately, her mom isn't in great health, and her childhood home has been deeded to Cleo, which will be taken as collateral if she can't start making some payments on this loan that her ex defaulted on. One night at the bar, she gets a card for a guy recommending her to his friend's dating show. Cleo isn't interested until she finds out that she's about to lose the home her mother lives in. Desperate, she decides to ignore some red flags to join this dating show in hopes that she can act her tail off and win the $250,000 prize.

Camp Couple-Up is the name of the TV show. And Cleo is one of 8 contestants. There are 4 girls and 4 guys. Two producers. One host. Camermen, as well as hidden cameras everywhere. The contestants are taken to this camp on an island in Canada. The camp seems a bit run-down, and all of the contestants are assigned chores like cleaning, cooking, and trash. They have some challenges and various tasks they have to do. Cleo is determined to win through acting, so she zooms in on Isaias, whom she thinks will be her best shot at winning with. Only, he also has eyes for Sue-Ellen, whom Cleo takes an instant dislike to. But Kei zeroes in on Cleo. They've met before, both in the bar that Cleo used to work at and on the airplane. Kei and Cleo decide they might actually be able to win the competition if they stick together.

One thing about Cleo that annoyed me early on in this book is how judgmental she is. She's had horrible taste in men. She's made poor financial decisions. She has no problem with stealing from customers or her job. She is willing to borrow another woman's lingerie. Yet she's immediately turned off by a guy's long hair, a guy traveling with a guitar, and a guy giving a thumbs up. Not to mention her immediate dislike and competitive attitude toward Sue-Ellen. I really couldn't tell if this was character-specific about Cleo or if this was a case of the author inserting her own "icks" into the story. And if I can't tell the difference between the character and the author, I often take that as a negative thing.

Ultimately, Cleo grows as a character. She learns not to take everything at face value. She has to face challenges and come out the other side. She has to face surviving or not to save someone else, multiple people actually.

Forever is the Sweetest Con did not go in the direction that I really expected it to. And despite Cleo being an annoying character to start with, I did really enjoy this story. And I'm happy to give Forever is the Sweetest Con 4 Stars. It does have language and a little spice, but nothing too drastic. Have you read Forever is the Sweetest Con? What did you think? Let me know!

First and Forever - Review

First and Forever

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Berkley

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A football star and a diehard fan entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—might be the right play in this new romantic comedy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter.

Duffy Distefano loves three things: her dad, the family cat, and Minneapolis Coyotes football. So when she gets booed out of a game and becomes the internet’s villain, she is distraught—and disgruntled. All she did was shove Coyote Carl away when he made a move on her, but everyone else just saw a woman attacking their team’s beloved mascot. Eager to clear the air, Duffy agrees to an interview on a hit morning show. She doesn’t expect a co-guest to join her—especially not the Coyotes’ star tight end.

When MVP Connor Cunningham gets tasked with damage control to help his team out of their PR nightmare, he thought that meant saying a few words on the team’s behalf. Instead, he finds himself in a highly amusing verbal sparring match with a recently wronged fan on live TV. Duffy pelts him with fiery jabs but is also clearly diehard about the Coyotes—color him intrigued…and attracted.

The interview instantly goes viral, and the public is obsessed with them. A strong push from the Coyotes’ PR team to ride the wave results in Connor asking Duffy out. Despite his distaste for PR stunts, he’s surprised to discover being with Duffy is much easier than he thought, and somehow it doesn’t feel fake to him. Harboring this secret can only blow up, but all he knows is that if he messes things up with Duffy, it’ll be the greatest fumble of his life.

First and Forever feels like it's inspired by T. Swift and T. Kelce. I'm not a fan of either by the way. And I will say that I liked First and Forever more than what I know of the other two. For one, Duffy is just a football fan, not a celebrity. Yet she has an incident with the team mascot that makes her a viral celebrity. Connor is a football player celebrity. The two have a brief encounter on a talk show and have a flirty banter. Connor and his team's PR people push him to ask Duffy out on a date. He does. And he finds that he's enjoying himself.

Duffy is a non-celebrity, and she is intimidated by the negative attention she's gotten from the mascot incident. And so she is hesitant to accept a first date with Connor. Yet she goes and does enjoy herself as well. The two keep getting deterred from a second date. And I have to say that I never understood the point of the fake dating for her father's sake, given they were already headed in the direction of real dating. It was just an unnecessary plot point if you ask me.

First and Forever was a fun book that didn't feel high-stakes to me. Most of the spicy action was off-page, which I did appreciate. Language, however, was very much on-page. So many unnecessary f-bombs. I just don't understand why this is present.

First and Forever was a sweet read without much required from me in the form of investment. It was fine. I read it quickly. But I don't think it'll be a book I remember very well in the coming months. First and Forever gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read First and Forever? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Trust Fall

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Trust Fall

By: Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: September 29, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, Lynn Painter, comes a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.

Julia is just a small-town girl from Nebraska who loves her peaceful life. But when her elderly next-door neighbor—who just happens to be a secret multi-millionaire—leaves everything to Julia and her family after his passing, Julia is swept away to live in a historic brownstone in New York City and attend an elite private school for the super-rich.

It should be a dream come true. Wrong. Julia doesn’t fit in at her new school; worse, she’s failing. Enter Damion, the mysterious and handsome tutor who will get Julia back on track. Except Damion has a secret. He is the great-nephew of the man who left everything to Julia’s family. Damion doesn’t buy for a second that the person who was like a father to him would leave his home to strangers. And he’s determined to prove it.

To uncover the truth, Damion schemes to earn Julia’s trust. Not an easy task with Julia unsure about this rich boy with a rebellious personality. But the more time Damion spends with Julia, the more his plan begins to backfire. Because he is falling for the enemy—and the enemy is falling for him.

As Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

DNF Review - The Last Page

The Last Page

By: Katie Holt

Expected Publication: May 12, 2026 by Alcove Press

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A bookseller with a dream of running her beloved bookstore vs. the owner’s out-of-touch grandson who inherits everything. Game on.

From the author of Not in My Book comes another irresistible, bookish contemporary romance.

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated.

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them.

Fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood will adore this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers bookish romance!

I loved Katie Holt's last book. Not in My Book was so much more than I expected, and I have been looking forward to her next book ever since. No lie, The Last Page was probably one of my most anticipated books of 2026. Unfortunately as you can tell from the title of my review, I ended up DNFing this book at 45%. Since my review policy allows me to review books that I've read 25% or more, here's a brief breakdown of why The Last Page didn't work for me.

Ella is one of those characters that think New York City is the best city in the world. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with loving where you come from, loving where you live or any of that. But it can be alienating to readers who don't come from the same location. I have never visited New York City so I can't say that I would love or hate it, but I know that I don't love big cities in general. Too many people in one place makes me anxious. And so I really have no desire to visit New York City. If the opportunity presented itself to me, I probably wouldn't turn it down because I'm open to having my mind changed on something like that. But it would probably not even be in my list of top ten cities or places to visit should I have my choice of locations. And it isn't even Ella's love of New York City that bothered me. It was her disdain for any place that isn't New York City. It was her put down of other places that bugged me.

Henry originally lived in New York but he grew up in Memphis. Sure the size of these cities doesn't really compare, but it isn't like he grew up in the corn fields of Kansas...or let's say the cotton fields of Alabama where I very much live. And so Ella's disdain for Henry's upbringing and all things that makes Henry a non-New Yorker was annoying to me.

Typical of New York and bigger cities in general, the left woke idealogoy permeated this book. Mentions of Bill Clinton in a positive light, George Washington as a fascist, Henry is a fascist, one side character is they/them, discussing people who wear tails and dress in speedos as normal, a new boss coming in and making changes in hopes of helping the store survive were mindblowing to all of the side characters and could only be a way of asserting himself in the most "toxic masculinity" way, anti-JK Rowling, anti-capitalism, anti-anything rural America, anti-anything non-New York, anti-anyone who disagrees with the main character's thoughts, but the ultimate dealbreaker for me was the pro-drag queen story time. None of this is surprising for anyone who comes from New York. This is the exact image in my head of a typical New Yorker and thus only serves to confirm that New York is not in fact for me.

As much as I was looking forward to The Last Page I was so let down. Ella wasn't a likeable character to me at all. And I assume she grows as a character and learns some lessons throughout this book, but I just had no desire to continue to force myself to read a book where the character (and potentially the author?) holds such disdain for things I value and places that aren't New York City. I wouldn't go as far as Henry when he says that "everyone" is automatically patient and kind, quick to smile and slow to judge" here in the South. That is a broad generalization that just blanketly isn't true. But you definitely will get a "bless your heart" before you get a much harsher cursing out. Having recently been on the tail end of a definitely f-you "bless your heart" I can say that it stings no less even if it is coated in sticky sour sweetness. Regardless, I'd rather be from po-dunk broke down, backwoods Alabama than stuck up, upside down New York freaking City. End rant. DNF'd The Last Page at 45% immediately after the positive inclusion of drag queen story time.

Stranger Things Have Happened - Review

Stranger Things Have Happened

By: Kasie West

Publication: April 14, 2026 by Saturday Books

352 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West's next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.

Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.

What [...] is Sutton doing?

Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart.

Kasie West has been a mostly auto-read author for me. Up until this year, she has written only for young adults. But within the last year, she's released two adult novels, and I'm here for it.

Sutton starts off the novel on her way to meet her boyfriend for a date since she's been out of town taking care of her mom. But her boyfriend decides to dump her over the phone instead. On top of that, she's recently opened a new restaurant with a friend and business partner that isn't getting great reviews from critics. She's not in the best place, but she's keeping it together. She runs into her high school best friend, who is engaged, the fiancé, and his brother.

Tara is trying to talk her fiancé into doing premarital counseling before the wedding, but he thinks therapy is pointless. Sutton gets pulled into a bet of sorts that a therapist couldn't even tell if two random strangers were actually in a relationship or not. But Sutton and Elijah (fiancé's brother) are the only strangers who could attempt this for Tara and fiance. Of course, Sutton and Elijah are forced to spend some time together and have some homework given to them by the therapist. They agree to do the homework to the best of their abilities to ensure they don't need to lie in their sessions and remain as truthful as possible to see if the therapist can figure things out. And of course, feelings begin to develop.

Elijah and Sutton were great. Everything about their relationship was enjoyable. Even though things kept getting thwarted. They were easy to root for. There is a little on-page spice, but there are not too many scenes if that's an issue for you.

What was a struggle was DB fiance who I haven't dignified with even a name in this review. He was easy to root against. And then Sutton's mom was so difficult as well. She was often downright mean to Sutton. I suppose there's resentment towards Sutton and thoughts that her husband wouldn't have left, but she was just so awful to her that it was hard to read. Caregiving is hard work, but compound that with trying to care for someone who degrades you, and that's what she was facing.

Overall, Stranger Things Have Happened was a fun, fast read for me. I am actually giving Stranger Things Have Happened 4.5 Stars because of how real and connected I felt to the story. Have you read Stranger Things Have Happened? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for North Country

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

North Country

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: June 16, 2026 by K.A. Tucker Books Ltd.

398 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Second Chance

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the USA Today and international bestselling author of the Simple Wild comes a sweeping second-chance, forbidden romance set against the rugged beauty of northern Canada.

Emery McAllister once dreamed of leaving Cold River with the boy next door, but one devastating night destroyed their future and left her heart carefully guarded. Twenty years later, she’s built a life of control: running the town’s police detachment, raising her daughter, and keeping a fragile peace with her ex-husband, the mayor.

She’s certain she has moved on until the day she has dreaded—and secretly hoped for—finally arrives.

Logan Landry is home.

After two decades behind bars for being in the wrong place at the wrong time—and the choices that haunted him ever since—Logan returns to his family’s bison ranch carrying the weight of everything he lost, but especially Emery. Friendship is all he dares hope for now, but seeing her ignites a fire he thought long extinguished.

When a teenage girl disappears and old wounds reopen, Logan becomes Cold River’s favorite suspect, despite his airtight alibi. As distrust closes in, Emery must choose between the life she’s built … and the love she can’t let go.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for No Match Found

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

No Match Found

By: Martha Keyes

Expected Publication: June 3, 2026

? pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She built the perfect algorithm for love, but it didn’t predict him.

Vivian Hale has spent her adult life proving that love isn’t luck—it’s data. As the CEO of Matchify, the world’s most advanced matchmaking app, she’s built an empire on the science of compatibility. Love isn’t about fate; it’s about probability.

Grant Wilder doesn’t believe in perfect matches. The investigative journalist has spent his career exposing scams, and Matchify is next on his list. People want to believe love can be calculated, but he knows better. His instincts have never failed him—except, maybe, when it comes to Vivian.

She trusts the numbers. He trusts his gut. And the more they clash, the more undeniable their chemistry becomes. But according to Matchify’s algorithm, they’re completely incompatible. And numbers don’t lie… right?

No Match Found is a closed-door romantic comedy full of wit, office antics, and toe-curling romance.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Ruling Out Robyn

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Ruling Out Robyn (Men of the Isles, # 3)

By: Deborah M. Hathaway

Expected Publication: April 10, 2026 by Draft Horse Publishing

? pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Robyn Lane is sunshine embodied. Or so her fans call her. She really has it all—loving parents, protective older brothers, unfailing optimism, and millions of subscribers on YouTube. She also has a dream job that is about to become even dreamier.

Having fallen into the unpredictable world of crowdfunding, Robyn has found her calling in life by filming herself partaking in whatever her millions of fans wish her to do, whether that be skydiving, attempting to repair a 1933 Ford Roaster, or auditioning for every singing competition in America—all without being a singer.

And now? Well, now, she’s about to pack up all her belongings and live out an entire year on a dilapidated sheep farm in Snowdonia, Wales to see if she can revive the farm from the ground up. Does she know one thing about sheep or farming? Not even a lick. Is she even aware if Snowdonia is a real place? Well, she is now, thanks to Google. (It is real, BTW.) But she’s not concerned. She’s thrilled. Everything is going to be amazing. It always is for her.

And yet, running the farm is nothing like she expects. She finds herself falling short in every way—including fitting in with the locals, particularly with her neighbor on the adjoining sheep the surly, impatient, and insanely attractive Cedric Davies. Apparently, the guy used to be some famous soccer—oh, sorry, football—player for England, but after an injury, he chose live out the remainder of his days on this rainy, windy land like some crazy recluse. A recluse who isn’t afraid to express his disapproval with her filming her life from sun-up to sun-down.

Robyn can handle anything life throws at her—even this frigid sheep farm. And yet, when Cedric’s wind-tossed hair and scruff-covered jawline become more appealing than anything else, including her job…she isn’t sure what she can handle anymore.

This is the third book in the clean and sweet romcom Men of the Isles series by Deborah M. Hathaway. Although this dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, sports, and celebrity romance is a stand-alone novel, the books are best enjoyed when read in order as minor spoilers are given about previous characters.

Don't miss the other novels in this series!

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Next Level Love - Review

Next Level Love

By: Shameez Patel

Narrated By: Shahjehan Khan; Jensen Olaya

Publication: January 20, 2026 by Forever

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Multicultural

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When your favorite player turns out to be your very real boss, the rules are a lot more complicated.

Elizabeth Gordon-Bettencourt is rebuilding her life on her own terms, starting with a new internship, a shot at her dream job as a civil engineer, and a whole lot of distance from her family’s drama. With her life full of change, the one constant is @theanswerisno, a charming gamer who seems to just . . . get her. Even if he has no interest in meeting her in real life.

Elizabeth would feel a lot more confident about her job if her new boss wasn’t so hard to read. Lincoln Carden is quiet, demanding, and adamant about avoiding small talk—especially in the office. What she doesn’t know is that online, he’s someone else entirely: quick, confident, and a little bit flirty. And his favorite player to team up with is @pancakesareelite, the one person who never makes him feel like he has to try so hard. As their two worlds start to collide, Elizabeth and Lincoln start to wonder: with their careers on the line and their online friendship at risk, is a romance IRL worth it?

I listened to Next Level Love when my family was hit with a fever virus. Everyone was down for the count, including me. Having something to listen to helped me pass the time when I felt like I didn't want to move and didn't have the energy to watch TV or hold my Kindle. Of course, I find that my enjoyment of a story tends to go up the faster I finish it. That being said, I finished Next Level Love in one day.

Lincoln is an engineer and gamer. His dad died when he was young, about eight, I think, when he was hit by a car as he was walking down the road. The road had no sidewalks. So, Lincoln has focused his engineering career on roads. He also has ADHD, so he struggles with distractions and has developed coping mechanisms to help him through his work. But he's always struggled to connect with other people. He has a group of friends, but he has always felt a little bit like an outsider with them. His mother is remarrying and moving out of his childhood home. She is expecting him to pack his father's office. Lincoln is being offered a trial run as a supervisor at his company, but he has to figure out how to manage people, specifically an intern.

Elizabeth is the stepdaughter of a famous guy. Yet she's escaped him and his influence and is trying to make her way in the engineering field. She's landed an internship that she's not sure she earned. Everyone treats her a specific way due to her last name (her stepfather's name). In her free time, she loves to play online games. Only she's beginning to suspect that the Link she's been chatting with online for years might actually be her boss.

I really appreciated that Next Level Love didn't have any on-page spice. Things "fade to black," so to speak. I can't remember any cursing, but if there was any, it would have been minimal. To be fair, I wasn't in my top brain while listening, so I might have missed it. But I love it when a story can prove that those things aren't needed to make a good and enjoyable book.

My eight-year-old son has, I believe, undiagnosed ADHD, so seeing an adult character with a rewarding and complicated career, with a friend group, and a love life. It helps my mama heart to see that some of the struggles we are having now might be able to be overcome because some days it feels hopeless, which I know isn't true.

The dual narrators, Shahjehan Khan and Jensen Olaya, did a great job. I felt their performances, and they never pulled me out of the story. That's the note of a good narration job.

Next Level Love was a really enjoyable book for me. I liked the ADHD representation. You could tell that Lincoln isn't white, but his race wasn't harped on, which I also appreciated. The relationship and all of the side pieces of the story came together very well, and every piece of the puzzle popped off the page feeling real and well-rounded. Next Level Love gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Next Level Love? What did you think? Let me know!

Nothing Like the Movies - Review

Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies, # 2)

By: Lynn Painter

Publication: September 24, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Better than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student.

For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA to start their freshman year together, tragedy struck. Wes was left dealing with the fallout, which ultimately meant losing Liz in the process.

Flash forward months and months later and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart when he ended things, but he is determined to make her fall back in love with him.

Wes knows Liz better than anyone, and he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only…Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.

Still, Wes won’t give up, adapting his clever plans and going hard to get Liz’s attention and win back her affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, Wes is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.

I requested Nothing Like the Movies for review without really realizing that it was the second book in a series. It took me way too long to get my hands on the first book, but I finally got it read and reviewed (Better Than the Movies). So I finally got around to reading Nothing Like the Movies.

Wes and Liz actually start Nothing Like the Movies broken up. The reader doesn't really know what happened between them. Honestly, Liz doesn't even know why Wes broke up with her. But it's been about two years since they first came to college together. We do know that Wes's dad died, and he returned home to help out for a while. But lo and behold he shows back up at UCLA and a party that Liz's roommates are hosting. Liz panics and tells him that she's dating Clark, her current best friend. Clark goes along with Liz because he has her back.

Not only is Liz still majorly into music, but she's also developed a love of photography and, more specifically, sports photography. She currently has an internship with a great mentor who has her working closely with the baseball team, for which Wes is a pitcher. This puts them in close proximity. Not to mention that Wes is determined to win Liz back, even though he likes Clark. He just doesn't see them as having chemistry, and he knows that Liz is the one for him.

Personally, I thought there was a little unnecessary drama in this book. It fits the typical book patterns that I'm used to. There's a conflict, one character decides to self-sacrifice to save the other character, but only ends up hurting themselves and the other character worse. The truth ends up coming out. I appreciated that Liz didn't just let this slide, and I liked her real-world response in wondering if this behavior would repeat itself should another conflict arise in the future. Yet, I also think that people just aren't this self-sacrificing in real life. We very often don't break up with someone else for their good. A breakup might ultimately benefit the other person, but there has to be a benefit to us as well to actually end a relationship. At least, that's been my experience in observing human nature.

Believe it or not, I didn't highlight hardly anything. This might be due to the fact that I kept switching back and forth between reading this book and listening to it on audio. Both are equally good. I will say that I was negatively impressed with the amount of cursing in Nothing Like the Movies. I don't remember there being as much of this in Better Than the Movies. Maybe that is because the characters are supposed to be older, or maybe I blocked it out in my reading of the first book. Either way, it stood out negatively to me in this book. I tend to skim over language unless it's excessive.

Nothing Like the Movies was a decent wrap-up to Wes and Liz's story. I felt like some of the conflict was forced. I mean, if there was going to be a second book, there would have to be additional conflict. But I didn't exactly find all of it to be plausible, even if I devoured the book. In the end, I'm giving Nothing Like the Movies 3.5 Stars. Have you read Nothing Like the Movies? What did you think? Let me know!

We Met Like This - Review

We Met Like This

By: Kasie West

Publication: September 16, 2025 by Saturday Books

368 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beloved author Kasie West's sparkling adult rom-com debut about a hopeless romantic falling for the one man she never expected

Can a swipe right turn into swept away?

Margot Hart is a hopeless romantic. That’s why she wants to be a literary agent—to help bring romance books to the world. It’s also why she hates dating apps with all her romance loving soul. She wants her own love story to be just as much fun as the books she reads—a mixed up coffee order, a mistaken identity. She’s not going to tell the story that she swiped right on future husband’s shirtless pic for the rest of her life.

The problem is that her most consistent relationship over the last several years is with Oliver, a guy she keeps rematching with on the apps. They’ve only been on one date and it was a disaster…well, until the make out session in the car before parting ways. But, she keeps reminding herself, a make out session does not a relationship make. And so there will not be a date two regardless of how witty their app banter is.

When Margot gets fired from her job on the same day she meets Oliver again, her life becomes a veritable shit show. Her dream career is dying right before her eyes, and Oliver thinks she’s interested in only one a repeat of the hot make out session they had three years ago so she can get him out of her system. And maybe that is all she wants from him, because she and Oliver are definitely not compatible—he doesn’t hit the snooze button, he runs five miles every morning, he reads nonfiction, and worst of all, she didn’t meet him in cute way! But in her scramble to keep her dream career alive, by opening her own agency, Oliver is there with his golden retriever energy, more steady and helpful than any man she’s ever dated. Just when she thinks she’s overcome her app bias, she realizes that maybe it’s not her who’s holding back, but him. And his reasons are more than she bargained for.

Kasie West's romantic adult debut is full of witty banter, meet cutes gone awry and, ultimately, true love.

We Met Like This is Kasie West's first adult book. She usually writes YA books with happily ever afters. I find her to be a consistent author, but when I heard she wrote an adult book, I knew I wanted to check it out. And I am so glad that I did.

I will say that We Met Like This definitely starts out with some spice and shows the reader early that this isn't the young adult they might be expecting from Kasie West. Now, I can do without spice, but I do appreciate adult characters with adult storylines. There weren't too many scenes even if there were innuendos and comments throughout the book. The language was definitely more than you will find in one of her other books. But again, I suppose this is to be expected.

Margot works as an assistant/junior literary agent. She's been at this job for over three years without moving up despite being very good at her job, working beyond the scope of her title, and being verbally promised by her boss that she will advance. She's also been looking for love in all the wrong places. She keeps settling and getting disappointed. She's looking for a meet cute, but she keeps using dating apps to try to meet people. She feels a little bit like a failure compared to her sister who has what Margot considers the perfect life. But Margot is just her own person.

Oliver and Margot start off the book in her car making out after a terrible first date. The date went wrong, but the making out is on point. Oliver wants to slow down and get to know one another, but Margot has already written him off. She decides to leave instead. Through the next three years they match on the dating apps off and on and chat a few times laughing it off that they had such a terrible first date.

For Oliver's part, he was fresh off of a break where his girlfriend cheated on him when he went on that date with Margot. Apparently that girlfriend wasn't the only one to cheat on him either, and that's created some trust issues. I could relate to Oliver in that way. He works for himself in tech. I think software engineer, coder, and maybe some other titles were mentions which could all be quite different. But in my experience, a lot of techy people are pretty well-rounded even if not all of them know how to code. (I can do some coding in the old COBOL and DYL280 languages which were way old even when I was using them. They are pretty much obsolete nowadays. And of course, I use HTML and JavaScript with my blog.) But I'm nowhere on par with my techy brother who has worked his entire career in the field in various positions.

I loved Margot and Oliver's relationship development. I did feel like the secret that was kept was pretty obvious and it was also a little annoying that this was used in the climax of the plot for the thing the characters needed to resolve. Things did resolve fairly easily, so at least there's that.

I thought Kasie West did a wonderful job with all of the side characters. From Sloane, Margot's roommate, to Audrey, Margot's sister, Margot's parents, Sloane's boyfriend, Margot's boss, and even some of her co-workers. They all seemed to be pop-off-the-page characters even when they didn't have much page time.

Favorite quote:

-“Your friends are so lucky to have you,”

We Met Like This was exactly what I needed when I read it. I was having trouble getting into a story before I picked this one up. Margot and Oliver were so fun to read. I really appreciated that the guy was almost more interested in a real relationship than the girl at first. We Met Like This gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read We Met Like This? What did you think? Let me know!

And Then There Was You - Review

And Then There Was You

By: Sophie Cousens

Publication: November 18, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year comes another "what if" romance about a floundering young woman who signs up for an unusual dating service to find The One . . . at a special cost.

Chloe Perfect is thirty-six, and despite her surname, suspects she’s not most men’s idea of the perfect woman. She wears too much corduroy, has an unglamorous job marketing gardening supplies online and her hair refuses to be straightened however much she tries. Between looking after her plants and her bad-tempered grandmother, she finds herself lonely, despairing she will never meet "her person."

So on a whim, she signs up to Perfect Partners, an experimental dating agency with an unusual model. The caveat? There are many, but Chloe must agree not to date anyone else outside of the program for the duration of the trial. Well, she's never had much luck finding someone the "normal" way, anyway.

After a few days, Chloe is matched with Rob, who checks off all her boxes, and she's instantly smitten. But the more seamless the dates, the more seriously she's forced to weigh the moral complexities of their setup.

And when she meets Oliver, another Perfect Partners participant, who quickly takes on the role of her confidante away from Rob, the more Chloe starts to perhaps her person isn’t someone perfect after all. Perhaps it’s someone just as kooky as she is. But is she really prepared to jeopardise the perfect life she's been wanting for so long? And more importantly, can she?

This was not the book I was expecting to read. And I think probably that's why it's received fairly low ratings. I think the publisher has worked hard not to spoil things for the reader. And I haven't read other reviews, so I can't say what other readers took issue with. I don't want to spoil things for future readers because the experience can be part of the journey. But maybe readers going into this book thinking they're getting a mostly contemporary romance and finding themselves thrust into a futuristic, science/realistic fiction book is the cause of the disharmony with readers. At least, that was my issue. And that's spoiler enough, but I will mark other spoilers in the review clearly below.

Chloe went to Oxford. And she had a group of close friends at the time. She is still only in touch with one of them. Her best friend is married and has a baby now. Her writing partner from school, Sean, who expressed feelings for her that she didn't return, has gone on to become a famous Hollywood director. And their other mutual friend, John, she hasn't kept up with because he and Sean were close. Once Sean confessed his feelings and Chloe rejected his advances, Sean got a new girlfriend who wasn't content with his relationship with Chloe. He chose the girlfriend over Chloe. And then moved. Chloe emailed him at some point, and he never replied. Now they are having a class reunion, and Chloe has nothing to show for her last ten years. She still lives at home with her parents. She is single. And she hasn't advanced at her job, meaning she's still a glorified assistant. Her acting career never took off. She hasn't written anything in years. She feels like a loser. So she seeks out a dating service to find someone to take with her to the reunion.

****SPOILERS AHEAD**** (highlight to read) The man that the dating service hooks Chloe up with is actually a BioBot, meaning an AI humanoid robot. He feels like a human. He smells human. And he kisses like a human. So much of Chloe's experience with "Rob" feels real. He reacts to her emotions. He helps her with her goals, professional and fitness. He is designed with Chloe in mind specifically. But he isn't real. He did have a few glitches, which I was thankful for. Otherwise, he seemed too good to be true. And Chloe could feel the draw to him. She could see how someone might choose a BioBot instead of a real human partner. But this isn't what we contemporary romance readers were here for. ****END SPOILER****

I need to proceed on shaking ground here as well, but Sean isn't what Chloe is after either. They were great friends, but for her, it never went past that. She was never drawn to him physically...even if she tried to talk herself into it. Haven't nearly all of us been there? What does happen is that Chloe is reminded of a mysterious person always in the background of all of her college experiences. She thought this mystery person was Sean. And that's why she tried to convince herself that she was in love with him despite feeling nothing physically for him. Yet she comes to discover who this mystery person actually was. And this is the element of the story that I kept reading for. Because, to be honest, once I got to that spoiler paragraph above, I almost bounced. It's one thing for a book to surprise you with a plot twist, but it's another thing for a book to turn into an entirely different genre than you were expecting.

Favorite quotes:

-Was this fiction's fault? Had reading ruined men for her?

I think we've all felt that way at some point.

-"And if you soak too long in nostalgia, you'll drown in it."

-Was there any greater salve for sadness than the cold nose of a friendly dog?

-"I've spent my life not saying the things I should have."

-"Oh, I thought he was trying to hit me in slow motion," Rob said. "My apologies."

-Looking around at people walking through Oxford, she felt a nagging dread about the future, about what the world would look like when everyone had a Rob. But then, seeing the glow of a screen lighting up every face, she wondered if they already did.

-"I don't think I was supposed to be your perfect person," he said, his voice steady. "I think I was meant to show you what it feels like, when it is right. To give you the confidence to trust your instincts again."

-"You're not annoying," he said. "And if you are, I can't wait to be annoyed by you."

-"People are messy and flawed. Unpredictable. Sometimes they get things wrong, do things they can’t explain, articulate themselves poorly. They can be selfish and smelly and irritating.” Chloe grew more animated. “They’ll contradict you, tell you you’re wrong, forget your birthday, and leave their wet towels on the floor however many times you tell them not to. But then— then— they’ll also say something so ridiculous, that will make you cry with laughter until you can’t breathe. They’ll surprise you, disarm you, love you in million tiny ways that you never even thought to imagine. And I love that about us.”

All of that being said, I ended up enjoying And Then There Was You. If you allow yourself to push through a little discomfort of a genre that you weren't expecting, you might find that you enjoy this story, as I did. Mostly, I enjoyed the real story behind the extra stuff I wasn't expecting. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book. And Then There Was You gets 4 Stars. Have you read And Then There Was You? What did you think? Let me know!