Weekly Reads: May 19 to 25, 2025

Love in Focus by Lyla Lee (2025)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I absolutely loved this second chance romance between a recently-dumped magazine writer and her ex-roommate girlfriend photographer who totally disappeared on her eight years ago. The tension between Gemma and Celeste was so good and I loved seeing them interact and talk through what happened all those years ago. Gemma’s besties are absolutely amazing in the face of Gemma’s recent break-up with longtime partner and fiance. And a new work project that brings Gemma and Celeste together built up so much opportunity for communication. I liked the structure of the story being mostly from Gemma’s POV, with bits of Celeste’s POV sprinkled in. Definitely spicy throughout, but with so much emotional work as well. Loved it.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

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Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews (2025)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Crinoline Academy series. Effie is back in England after a stint in France and bartering with her old headmistress for her freedom. She’s being sent off into society to find some dirt to bring down a viscount and crosses paths with betting house owner Gabriel along the way. He’s the one who’s holding dirt over the same viscount, but he’s not trying to bring down the viscount, only blackmailing him for political favor instead. Even though Effie and Gabriel are similar in background and nature, their aims conflict. It’s a complicated story here but with lots of twists and turns and emotional moments for all. Loved the introduction to this world and can’t wait to read more.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Manic Pixie Dream Earl by Jenny Holiday (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Earls Trip series. The chaos continues with this year’s earls trip. Best guy friends Effie, Simon, and Archie are on their way to the annual holiday and Effie is all sorts of flagellating because he’ll be gone for two weeks and might miss his letters from his penpal/magazine editor Julianna. Meanwhile, she’s at a loss for work with a printing delay and decides she’ll crash her penpal friend Effie’s vacation. Except that she thinks that Effie is a woman, and not a viscount and heir to an earl that he really is. They do actually finally meet in the seaside town of Brighton and they get along as fabulously in person as they do in writing. But see, Julianna is the closed-off no-nonsense person in the relationship, and it sets up our soft-hearted Effie for heartbreak. Loved seeing the demisexual representation from Effie, the strong support from his friends, and the bisexual representation from Julianna. As chaotic as Effie seemed to be with his interests, the emotional depth will make you feel all the feels.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Tantor Audio.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson (2023)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Super cute co-worker rivals to lovers romance. Lauren and Asa both work at Cold World, a kitschy Florida winter-themed park, but they have gotten on each other’s nerves for the whole two years that Lauren has worked there. She’s the serious and socially awkward bookkeeper and he’s the jack-of-all-trades jokester of the place. And they pretty much keep getting thrown together with workplace drama and awkward encounters. These two people are such opposites that it’s almost painful to watch them interact and constantly misunderstand each other. However, once we break through and see them actually soften towards each other, it’s full steam ahead. And I mean it with the steam. Loved Asa’s group of housemates and all the delightful side characters too. Watch out for the content warnings because we’ve got baggage on both sides of the relationship. Still, I really enjoyed this book.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

An Unladylike Secret by Amita Murray (2025)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Marleigh Sisters series. Loads of action and mystery in this one. Mira is a secret gossip columnist who may have contributed to a man being accused of murdering his own brother. She’s at the Devonshire coast with her roommate and friend to find out more about the situation from the deceased man’s widow. And of course, she crosses paths with our dear fugitive Finn and maybe kinda sorta falls in love with him. But they’re got a mystery to solve and an innocence to prove, all while Finn does not know that Mira is the writer behind his downfall. Loved all the tangled web of plot in this book.

Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith (2025)

Young adult fantasy romance. Book 1 of a planned duology. I didn’t realize this was going to be a duology when I read it, so I was surprised when I got to the end and the story was still unresolved. Let this be a warning to you! It’s a duology and the second book is due out in 2026. Ivy is the younger daughter of a marquess with no prospects during her first season out due to her sister’s recent disappearance and resulting scandal. Plus her parents are poor and she has no dowry. The queen is actually a faerie in this fantasy world and has set up a competition for the hand of her son Prince Bram. We get a cutthroat competition with all sorts of evil political manipulations. Super entertaining to read, especially when Ivy gets closer to Prince Emmett, the non-faerie brother who is scheming something in the background. Loved it and now I have to wait for the next book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by HarperCollins.