Verdict: A sizzling, low-angst Hamptons romance: Reina Amari, a wealthy, newly divorced mother of two grown children, falls for Belle Rodgers, her pool technician, a single mom who works as an escort a few nights a week. Readers rave about the chemistry, the heat and Reina’s later-in-life coming out; the minority who bounced off it … Read more
Verdict: A cosy, low-angst small-town slow burn: Dani, a busy single mom feeling lonely now that her sister is moving out, joins the library book club run by Zoey, the new librarian with a secret. Readers love the warmth, the honest communication and Angel Pean’s audiobook narration; the most common complaint is that the romance … Read more
Verdict: A witty, steamy age-gap romance: Stella Gilbert, a 41-year-old doctor and divorced mom still wary after her marriage ended, and Aurora Shirley, a 29-year-old temp reeling from a family secret, both swear off love and settle for something casual. Readers love the banter and the heat; critics found the leads’ anti-love attitudes grating and … Read more
Verdict: A light, steamy age-gap nanny romance: broke grad student Cassie Miller takes a live-in job looking after the six-year-old son of shipping heiress Brook Wellington, fourteen years her senior, and the two try to keep things professional. Readers love Brook, little Noah and the heat; the big dividing line is Cassie herself, whose wandering … Read more
Verdict: A warm, low-angst Hollywood romance: guarded paramedic AJ Beckett, single mom to seven-year-old autistic daughter Parker, keeps colliding with burned-out actress Melanie Cooper, who is shooting her last movie. Readers adore Parker and the gentle communication between the leads; the biggest complaint is a chain of convenient coincidences that some found impossible to believe. … Read more
Verdict: A light, charming royal fauxmance: Princess Alice, the first out member of the British royal family, clashes with outspoken anti-monarchist Sara at a school event — then needs her expertise for her nephew, and they end up fake dating. Readers enjoy the humour, the low angst and Sara’s daughter Libby; some found it slow … Read more
Verdict: A cosy, funny small-town romance: heartbroken American teacher Ava takes a job in an English village and ends up teaching six-year-olds — rescued by Hope, the single-mum school receptionist next door whose cat she hates. Readers love the kids, the cat and the warm humour; some found it predictable or felt the late breakup … Read more
Verdict: An angst-heavy workplace romance: closeted single-mom architect Sarah is pushed to be her boss’s plus-one at a gala — and falls for his daughter Carmen, who babysits Sarah’s twelve-year-old that night. Angst lovers enjoy the obstacles and sassy Lily; many others found the constant fighting repetitive and the writing in need of an edit. … Read more
Verdict: A sweet, funny older lesfic romance with a tearjerker premise: commitment-shy composer Casey agrees to her late ex’s dying request to help her grieving partner Liz — who is pregnant and caring for a three-year-old. Readers adore little Skye and the warmth; critics found it unrealistic, rushed and messily told. Best for: Readers who … Read more
Verdict: A polished age-gap political romance: new-in-town paediatric surgeon Emily Lawrence collides with President Connie Calvin, a widowed single mother heading into a re-election fight. Readers enjoy the power-couple chemistry and behind-the-scenes politics; the book’s history — a 2020 version criticised for mirroring The American President, since heavily rewritten — still colours its reviews. Best … Read more