August is Read-A-Romance Month
Review by: Ally Muterspaw
August is Read-A-Romance Month, which has been celebrated since 2013 for romance readers to celebrate their love of love. While the romance genre is infinite, here are some newer and inclusive romances to read.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang tells the story of Stella Lane, a mathematician with Asperger’s Syndrome, who hires escort Michael Phan to help her gain romantic experiences. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner cannot afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan. Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he’s making her feel.
If you love a Royal Scandal, check out Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston. This international love story is about Alex Clairmont-Diaz, First Son of the U.S. President, and Prince Henry of the United Kingdom, who go from real-life rivals to fake friends to secret lovers.
Believe in love at first happenstance? Maybe The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory is for you! On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend. From the best man’s toast to the bouquet toss, Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible. Right after the wedding, they have to go back to their regular lives. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about the other.
Meet Cute by Helena Hunting tells the story of Kailyn, who runs into her teenage crush, actor Daxton Hughes, as a classmate in her first year of law school. Years after their friendship turns into betrayal, Dax finds himself in Kaylin’s office asking her for legal advice.
Want a big city romance? Taking place in New York City, When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri revolves around traditional Kentucky born and raised Katie. The rug is swept from under Katie when she meets Cassidy after she is suddenly dumped by her fiancé Paul. Cassidy, who wears a man’s suit, enamors Katie, and causes Katie to think about her own truths and the capacities of love.
Do you have a thing for athletes? In Intercepted, by Alexa Martin, Marlee Harper discovers that her NFL star boyfriend of the last ten years has been cheating on her. She vows to never date an athlete again, but there is just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past.
In Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim, Natalie Tan returns home to San Francisco’s Chinatown in the wake of her mother’s death. In the seven years she has been gone, Natalie finds Chinatown’s vibrance to be fading, and has no desire to help after her rough upbringing. Finding support in a new friend and budding romance, Natalie starts to feel fond for her childhood home.