Why are the good ones always taken? The last thing Amber wants to think about is engagement rings or anything related to engagement rings, but they're kind of hard to avoid when she makes her living in a jewelry store. Between her job and her last relationship, she's getting more than a little bit jaded about romance. In fact, as her cynicism grows, she's ready to change everything in her life - and a man is the last thing she wants. When gorgeous bartender Jeremy wanders into her store, she's willing to reconsider what she wants right now, but he's off the menu - he's here for an engagement ring. But as Jeremy comes back again and again to look at the ring, Amber suspects it's not just the price that's keeping him from taking it home. She'd never dream of sabotaging someone's relationship, but is Jeremy about to make a huge mistake?
2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST ONE OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' TOP 5 FICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR ONE OF TIME AND SLATE'S TOP 10 BOOKS OF THE YEAR Named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2022 by NPR, Vogue, Vulture, BuzzFeed, Harper's Bazaar, and more “One of the buzziest, most human novels of the year…breathless, dizzying, and completely beautiful.” —Vogue “Dazzling and wholly original...[written] with such mordant wit, insight, and specificity, it feels like watching a new literary star being born in real time.” —Entertainment Weekly From a brilliant new voice comes an electrifying novel of a young immigrant building a life for herself—a warm, dazzling, and profound saga of queer love, friendship, work, and precarity in twenty-first century America Graduating into the long maw of an American recession, Sneha is one of the fortunate ones. She’s moved to Milwaukee for an entry-level corporate job that, grueling as it may be, is the key that unlocks every door: she can pick up the tab at dinner with her new friend Tig, get her college buddy Thom hired alongside her, and send money to her parents back in India. She begins dating women—soon developing a burning crush on Marina, a beguiling and beautiful dancer who always seems just out of reach. But before long, trouble arrives. Painful secrets rear their heads; jobs go off the rails; evictions loom. Sneha struggles to be truly close and open with anybody, even as her friendships deepen, even as she throws herself headlong into a dizzying romance with Marina. It’s then that Tig begins to draw up a radical solution to their problems, hoping to save them all. A beautiful and capacious novel rendered in singular, unforgettable prose, All This Could Be Different is a wise, tender, and riveting group portrait of young people forging love and community amidst struggle, and a moving story of one immigrant’s journey to make her home in the world.
"A beautiful, poised, and thought-provoking debut about love, loss, coming out, and discovering living life on your own terms." —New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Glasgow There are two things that Corinne Parker knows to be true: that she is in love with Maggie Bailey, the captain of the rival high school's cross-country team and her secret girlfriend of a year, and that she isn't ready for anyone to know she's bisexual. But then Maggie dies, and Corinne quickly learns that the only thing worse than losing Maggie is being left heartbroken over a relationship no one knows existed. And to make things even more complicated, the only person she can turn to is Elissa—Maggie's ex, and the single person who understands how Corinne is feeling. As Corinne struggles to make sense of her grief and what she truly wants out of life, she begins to have feelings for the last person she should fall for. But to move forward after losing Maggie, Corinne will have to learn to be honest with the people in her life...starting with herself.
The "New York Times" bestseller called "quietly gripping" by "USA Today" demonstrates how impulses can fracture even the most stable family. Despite her loving family and beautiful home, Jo Becker is restless. Then an old roommate reappears, bringing back Jo's memories of her early 20s. Jo's obsession with that period in her life--and the crime that ended it--draws her back to a horrible secret.
“An utterly satisfying” romance between a widowed single father and a younger school teacher is “one for the keeper shelf” (Jill Shalvis, New York Times–bestselling author of The Sweetheart List). Some people change your life . . . . Others change your heart Newly widowed dad Sebastian Dorner was unraveling at the edges—until his son’s teacher, Via DeRosa, threw him a lifeline. Now, two years later, they reconnect at Matty’s new school, and an inconvenient but unmistakable jolt of attraction crackles between them. But why does the first person to spark with Sebastian in years have to be a millennial? Is twentysomething Via really too young for him or does fortysomething Sebastian just feel too damn old? A former foster kid, Via’s finally forged the stable life she’s always dreamed of—new job, steady income, no drama. The last thing she needs are rumors about her and a single dad at school. But why does she keep being drawn into his capable, worn-flannel orbit? And why does being around Sebastian, Matty and even their dog, Crabby, seem to spark so much want? They’re trying to ignore the tension threatening their friendship. But sometimes what’ll heal you is just a touch—and a heartbeat—away . . . “A beautiful slow burn romance. The chemistry between Sebastian and Via absolutely stole my heart!” —Molly Fader, USA Today–bestselling author of The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season “Emotionally intense and real.” —Christie Craig, New York Times–bestselling author of The Trouble with Exes “A master class in achy breaky yearning.” —Sarina Bowen, USA Today–bestselling author of the True North series
Sarah Genard– Karli’s best friend and fellow blogger. Eight years earlier, she made a rash decision that left her with a tattered heart. While she acts both tough and jaded, she secretly longs to reconnect with that one special man, someone who truly loved her - not just her body, but also her mind, heart, and soul. Tim Fresco - Jordan Baker’s friend and co-worker who has sworn off women after a runaway bride left him standing alone, emotionally gutted, at the altar. The mere thought of Sarah Genard both intrigues and terrifies him. Only he can decide whether to let fear keep him lonely or follow his heart and reach out for her - again. KEYWORDS: Contemporary fiction, contemporary romance, steamy romance, happily ever after, friends-to-lovers, first responder, romance series, romance books in English
My story isn't a love story ... not the typical kind anyway. As a lawyer, I'm used to discovery, but I never saw this one coming. Every day, River gives me ten reasons to stay away, and then eleven reasons why I can't. Our relationship was to remain strictly business, or at least I tried. Four years of marriage, and everything with Cole has changed. I never knew two people who lived together could be so distant. But I'm not ready to give up on him. One man wants to break me. The other is just trying to get even. Both are lying to me.
Quinn Sawyer didn't apply for a temporary job at the remote O'Connor Adventure Retreat all the way in Alaska because he wants a change of scenery. He loves his sunny Florida. He's only heading north so he can get answers from Declan O'Connor, the man who dated Quinn's aunt six years ago. The relationship ended abruptly, and Declan left Sarasota without a word. For Quinn, it had been the beginning of hell, because most of his family suddenly blamed him for the breakup of a relationship he'd had no part of, and they refused to say why. Now it's been six years, and he's done being the black sheep. He deserves to know how it could've possibly been his fault, and he's not going to let the crush he harbored for Declan stand in the way. After finally tracking down Declan, Quinn gets on a plane. Or death machine, as he prefers to call it. But in his quest to find out the truth, he discovers there's a lot more to the Land of the Midnight Sun than seeking answers.
An emotional love story with a thrilling twist from the globally bestselling author of The One Memory of Flora Banks. Ariel's accidental meeting with a handsome stranger called Joe is completely perfect; they have a connection like she's never known before. They exchange numbers and agree to meet when he is back from a trip to France. But when Ariel messages him, the number Joe gave her is disconnected. He's ghosted her. She assumes she will never see him again. Except she does. Again and again. Ariel returns to the place she and Joe met, and is stunned to find him there, not in France as he said he'd be, and behaving as if he has no idea who she is. It turns out that their first meeting has been life-changing for them both, actually it's even more than that for Joe. But what do you do when - with every day that passes - you're literally growing apart from the best person you've ever known . . . ?
"Gilda, a twenty-something, atheist, animal-loving lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she's there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist Grace. In between trying to memorize the lines to Catholic mass, hiding the fact that she has a new girlfriend, and erecting a dirty dish tower in her crumbling apartment, Gilda strikes up an email correspondence with Grace's old friend. She can't bear to ignore the kindly old woman, who has been trying to reach her friend through the church inbox, but she also can't bring herself to break the bad news. Desperate, she begins impersonating Grace via email. But when the police discover suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace's death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth of her mortifying existence."--Amazon.
