Wild Love by Elsie Silver (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2024
Short synopsis: Billionaire Ford Grant seeks refuge in Rose Hill to open a recording studio but finds his plans upended when a young girl claims to be his daughter, forcing him to balance new fatherhood with an undeniable attraction to Rosie Belmont, his best friend’s sister.
This was such a sweet romance! I absolutely loved it, even though I wished it were about 100-150 pages shorter. (Romance novels should not be 400+ pages, I will die on this hill!) The rapport between Ford and Rosie was electric right from the start, and I was so happy the author didn’t learn too hard into the “best friend’s sister” trope. (You know, the big brother who gets all toxic masculinity about someone dating his baby sister? Blech.) I was also pleasantly surprised by how the secret daughter plotline was handled. It was different from what I expected, and I adored the way Ford’s family rallied around this young girl. Overall, I thought this was a well-written romance, and while there was one odd plot point near the end I could’ve done without, I’ll give Elsie Silver a pass on that one. I’m excited to read more books in this series!
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (★★★★★)
E-book • Owned (Amazon) • Fiction • 2025
Short synopsis: When astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin discovers NASA is recruiting its first female astronauts in 1980, she embarks on an unexpected journey, finding friendship, love, and a new perspective on her place in the universe, only for her world to be irrevocably altered during a mission in 1984.
Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again—at least for me! I adored this book and not just because I am a sucker for any book about astronomy. There was so much to love here. There was Joan, a character who was so easy to root for. There was her love story with fellow astronaut, Vanessa, and Joan figuring out her sexuality during a time when queerness had to be kept quiet. I was fully invested in their relationship! There were all of the supporting characters—the other astronauts in Joan and Vanessa’s class at NASA as well as Joan’s niece. The bond between Joan and her niece was such a sweet part of the story. And there was so much I learned about NASA and how competitive it is to become an astronaut. I’d never really considered just how few people are selected for missions each year, or how hard it must be on those who don’t make the cut. Most especially, these women were at NASA during a time when they were going to be some of the first women astronauts in space, which adds another layer of complexity.
Throughout the book, chapters from Joan’s early days at NASA are interspersed with scenes from a high-stakes mission in 1984. Those scenes had me on the edge of my seat! While some people have complained that the book is a little predictable, it wasn’t something that bothered me. (Hell, I’m a romance reader; I live for predictability!) The ending had me in tears, which is something that hasn’t happened while reading a book in a long time.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (★★★★☆)
E-book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2022
Short synopsis: Florence Day, a cynical romance ghostwriter who no longer believes in love, returns to her hometown to bury her father—only to discover the ghost of her recently deceased (and very handsome) editor haunting her family’s funeral home.
Ashley Poston is the queen of writing romance novels with a magical twist. In this case, the twist is that Florence can see and communicate with ghosts. She’s still reeling from a breakup when her father dies unexpectedly. What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face with her dead editor while she’s back home helping with funeral preparations.
It’s such a unique story and while I knew from the beginning how all of this was going to end (this was a romance novel, after all), the journey to get there was absolutely delightful. Florence’s family owns a funeral home, so the book talks frankly about death and grief and what happens after you die. I usually find it uncomfortable to think about death, but I really appreciated thow the author handled the subject. It wasn’t heavy-handed or too dark. It felt like a natural part of life, which it is, and something that can be intensely sad but also intensely beautiful. I really, really loved this romance novel!
What are you reading?
I can’t wait to read Atmosphere. It’s our November book club book so I am holding off until closer to the meeting to read it but dang do I wish I could read it sooner (but I don’t trust myself to remember enough…).
I’m almost done w/ The Sicilian Inheritance. I think it’s a fine book, but I am finding that I don’t enjoy historical fiction much anymore. This one has a bit of a mystery aspect to it so it theoretically could have worked for me but I am reading to find out the ending and will be glad when it’s done which isn’t a great way to feel about a book!
I read The Dead Romantics, but the ghost aspect did not work for me so I didn’t care for the book. I think Poston is just not for me since her books tend to have some sort of magical realism.
Yeah, Ashley Poston has definitely cornered the market on magical realism romance! It’s crazy because I don’t enjoy paranormal romances or ghost stories AT ALL, but for some reason, the way she writes about it works for me.
I can’t wait for your thoughts on Atmosphere!
You’ve had some good reading lately! Everyone seems to love the TJR book. I haven’t read anything by her- I guess I should rectify that. This one does have a fascinating premise.
Right now I’m reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, which was a Meredith rec on Currently Reading. It’s really good!
Ooh, there are so many great TJR books to choose from if you haven’t read anything by her yet. I always give The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as a rec. That’s one of her best!
I’m glad you’re enjoying Meredith’s recommendations on Currently Reading! I’m reading one of her recs right now, too: Someone in the Attic!
Again we diverge, my friend! I read The Dead Romantics in 2023 and just checked to see…that I gave it 2 stars. I think it was the idea of a ghost. I’m not good with fantasy I guess! I have liked some TJR, I’m sort of lukewarm on her books. I love that she is a powerhouse though – I just heard that she has a MASSIVE book deal in the works (it’s multiple books and multiple millions! Good for her!) Clearly I’m in the minority here.
Speaking of fantastical novels, I am reading Shark Heart and yes, I know what i just wrote but wow, I am loving this book. I was a hard no on it at first, but a friend said she really thought I would like it, and that friend was right! It’s absolutely stunning.
I CONTAIN MULTITUDES!
Everyone who has read Shark Heart has said something similar. I bought the book at some point so it’s on my bookshelf. I need to read it! The premise is WILD, but everyone raves about it.
I’m sorry The Dead Romantics didn’t work for you! I totally understand. I am not usually one for magical themes, but it worked for me for some reason.
Dead Romantics was also a 4 star read for me. I enjoy Ashley Poston’s books when I need something light to read with a bit of magical realism in between books.
It was such a fun concept – I really enjoyed it!
I want to read _Atmosphere_ (am on the waitlist)… although, like Nicole, TJR can be a hit-or-miss for me.
Currently reading Kristin Hannah’s _The Women_. FML. This is for bookclub, so I guess I’ll have to persevere, but it’s so badly written!
Oh no! I’m sorry you’re not loving The Women. That was my favorite book last year – ha!
I’ve listened to Dead Romantics and really enjoyed that one.
And I just received my copy of Atmosphere yesterday. Lucky me I have a train ride ahead of me and a bit of walking so I should get through it quickly.
The Silverstein novel I put on my TBR.
Oh, I really hope you enjoy Atmosphere!
I was impressed by how Wild Love handled the secret daughter thing too. I thought it would be a major turnoff and it wasn’t. The entire series is all single dads (I think? Am I remembering right?! Maybe…) and I don’t hate it, lol. Could def be shorter though.
Ahh! Atmosphere sounds so good and I can’t wait until I get it from Libby!
I am reading Cat’s People.