Sponsored by Carina Adores and The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher.
“A perfectly rendered cast of characters, plenty of mouthwatering moments in the kitchen, and a completely charming smalltown setting.” —Booklist on The Secret Ingredient. Two amazing chefs. Two very different restaurants. One recipe for love. Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
Another month in the books, and speaking of books: this is a serious self-care week, no matter what. Use the Forest app (or your own willpower, if you happen to have any of that) to keep yourself off your phone. Grab a nice book or the ereader of your choice and hang out with some fictional characters.
So let’s talk about those folks.
News and Useful Links
We got news that authors Adrienne Byrd and Rachel Caine have both passed away.
A little birdie indicated there’s some new Bridgerton appearance happening today. So keep an eye out (and don’t do anything else on social media).
More Boyfriend Material pencils!
Reese Ryan and Beverly Jenkins are chatting on November 4. Might be a good palate cleanser.
And there’s another Date Night coming up.
And speaking of events, do you have this calendar bookmarked?
Rioter Carole had a (print) chat with Olivia Dade and Rebekah Weatherspoon for Bookpage.
Deals
It’s a new month, and that means a bunch of new books are on sale!
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
Are you ready to laugh your butt off? Mia Sosa can help you with that. Carolina got the word that her fiancé didn’t want to get married on the day of the wedding…from his brother. Fast forward to now, and Carolina and Max (the brother) find themselves working together on a project, and Carolina still holds…a bit of a grudge. The relationships in this book are great, almost as much as the immediate relationship. Sometimes the pranks feel a little too much, so take that with whatever you like.
Recs!
Over the past several weeks, I’ve happened across books with a similar enough premise to be noticeable, and I was…intrigued. I will eventually read them all, but you know I have to spread out my friends-to-lovers stories.
I give you…friends-who-make-porn-and-catch-feelings:
Press Play by Ash Dylan
I did read this one, though. When Riley asks her roommate Paul to come to the movie she’s reviewing for the paper, her buddy learns something about her: once upon a time, she won an amateur sex video competition. It comes up in conversation later that evening, and for their own individual reasons, they decide to make one together. Both have had crushes on each other since they met, but neither has been courageous about making a move. They have some seriously hot times together as Riley’s directorial vision comes to life, and they realize it might be now or never.
Fans Only by B. Love
When Only Fans comes up in conversation at a gathering of friends, Aries announces that she would be willing to have a page. When Merrick, a music teacher with dreams of producing, suggests that they go in together to reach their own dreams, they come to an agreement. They use the site to make the money they need, and then they’ll go about their own ways. (Merrick’s own way involves a woman he’s been hoping to date for years, and their relationship is…vaguely offputting, just as a heads up.) This is definitely one of the ones where there is something always there between them, but those Feelings happen over the course of the arrangement. You know how it goes.
A Flick Between Friends by Shae Sanders
This particular pair of friends have worked together for ages, and know each other incredibly well. But when both are downsized, Star needs a way to help pay for some family obligations. So she asks Lennox to film a high-quality film with her…and as usual, Feelings. The friends are bound to get confused, especially when lines blur between what’s happening on film and what’s happening behind the scenes.
These are all indie published, but I wonder if the success of The Roommate will bring in more big-ticket romances around sex work and sex workers…and maybe they’ll be less white. Of course, these are all amateur jobs, but range is good, right?
What are you reading this week?
As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!