Five Happy Things

Love Stories

Valentine’s Day is coming up in just a few weeks, so this week I’m sharing five favorite love stories. I’ve been on a bit of a romance kick for the last year (for reasons to be revealed soon), so I had a lot to choose from!

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1. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan - I loved this book so much! The main character is a screenwriter for The Romance Channel. When her husband leaves her and her two kids, she turns that story into the best script she’s ever written. So big that her agent decides to sell it to a major motion picture company. They film at her home, and sparks fly (in the loveliest way imaginable) with the leading man who plays her ex-husband. What none of this conveys is the very fun voice of the main character. She’s just terrific. I think the author must have named her main character Nora as a nod to Nora Ephron, because she gets that style of banter just right. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

2. Book Lovers by Emily Henry - If you like witty banter and lots of book talk, this is the story for you. It’s a love story between an agent and an editor, and it plays with lots of classic romance tropes in a very fun way. The main character, for example, is the “cold” city woman left behind by not one, but two former boyfriends who found love in small town romances. 😂 I’ve read - and enjoyed - other books by Emily Henry, but this is my favorite. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

3. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - Every woman Justin dates finds her soulmate immediately after they break up. It’s a curse. Emma has the same curse! When they meet in a Reddit thread, they decide to cancel out their curses by dating each other, so that they’ll each find their soulmates after they break up. Of course they fall in love! This is a fun, slightly silly premise - and the love story that unfolds is richer and more satisfying than I ever expected. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

4. The Stand-In by Lily Chu - I heard this author speak at the Portland Book Festival this fall and she was loads of fun. This is the book I decided to start with, and I really enjoyed it! Gracie recently lost her job, and when she gets mistaken for a famous actress, the frazzled movie star makes her a fantastic offer: be her stand-in at all the publicity events surrounding her new movie release. That means being squired around town by her handsome leading man. . . (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

5. Float Plan by Trish Doller - The main character is heartbroken when her fiancé commits suicide. They had been fixing up a sailboat and planned to sail across the Caribbean, and she decides to make the trip alone. After one harrowing crossing, she realizes she needs help and hires a professional sailor who’s recovering from his own wounds. This one is all about learning to start over without burying or pushing away your past. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

What are your favorite romance novels? Tell us in the comments!

You can find past newsletters with book recommendations here.

Enjoy!

Best,
Wendi
❤️

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A note about links. . .

Both the Bookshop and Amazon links are affiliate links. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase from those links, at no extra cost to you. Bookshop’s profits are shared among a large group of independent bookstores. If you have an indie bookstore in your area, please shop from them. They’re awesome!

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In an effort to have fewer email providers chop my emails in half because they’re so dang long, I’ve moved my inspirations (book recommendations, favorite recipes, and awesome artists) to their own newsletter every Wednesday. Think of it as a quick way to fill your cup in the middle of the week. 🥰

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