The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huang (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2018
Short synopsis: Stella, a brilliant econometrician with Asperger’s, hires Michael, an escort, to teach her about relationships, only to discover that their practical arrangement blossoms into an unexpected love story.
This book has lived on my “favorite romances” shelf for years, and I decided it was time for a reread. What I remembered most was how this novel made me feel—how much I loved Stella and Michael and watching their relationship blossom. Thankfully, that feeling held true on this reread. While the reader I am today wouldn’t give it five stars (as you can see, I bumped it down to four), I completely understand why I loved this novel so much. Stella is such a wonderful character. She’s unapologetically herself while also understanding that the world doesn’t always appreciate how blunt and literal she can be. Michael is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and has chosen sex work to help pay his mom’s medical bills. It’s a sweet romance with a lot of heart, and the neurodivergent representation is fantastic.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Fantasy/Romance • 2025
Short synopsis: After losing her magic, a grumpy witch joins forces with a handsome historian to restore her powers.
I adored Mandanna’s 2022 release, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so I was excited to discover she’d already written another witchy fantasy in the same vein. (The books aren’t connected, but they exist in the same magical world.) While this one didn’t quite capture the magic (heh) of her earlier novel, I still had a wonderful time with it and am now desperate for another book from this author! The story follows Sera, who lost her magic after resurrecting her great-aunt and now runs an eccentric inn with an unforgettable cast of characters, including a talking fox and a man who works as a knight at the local medieval fair and never takes off his armor. Desperate to get her powers back, Sera’s fortunes begin to change when Luke, a magical historian, books a stay at the inn with his autistic sister and may finally be able to help her reclaim her magic. I fell in love with almost every character in this story (okay, maybe not the talking fox because she’s rather annoying) and thoroughly enjoyed stepping into this magical world.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 6 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2022
Short synopsis: The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way.
I don’t know what I will do with myself when I finish the last book in the Emma M. Lion series. At least there are more coming? I just adore Emma and this found family she has collected. After learning that some readers are shipping Emma and Hawkes, I am watching their interactions much more closely. I’m still on Team Pierce, but I can see the appeal with Hawkes. Once again, this book made me giggle and sigh with happiness and get really, really sad when the audiobook was over. Beth Brower, you have done this world a service with this series.
What are you reading?
Hmm! If you told me I had to read a romance this year, I would pick The Kiss Quotient. I’m always interested in people with Asperger’s, and how they navigate relationships.
Emma M. Lion… I will read these books, EVENTUALLY.
Give it a try! It’s a bit on the spicy side, but you can skip over those parts if they don’t work for you.
I need the Emma M Lion books to be available in print here! I know you would enjoy these books so much!
I haven’t read any of these books! I’ve read the 2nd book in that Kiss Quotient series and remembered liking it, though, so I should read that first one. I heard the 2nd book discussed somewhere recently – maybe Currently Reading? It sounded good!
I am reading “The One Day You Were My Husband” which I am enjoying so far. The last book I finished was “Heather” which I really liked! It’s sort of a literaryish mystery. I heard about it on SBL.
You might have heard the magical innkeeping book on Sarah’s Bookshelves! I was just listening to a recent episode where one of the hosts discussed it, and definitely concurred with her opinion!
I was surprised to see you reading a domestic thriller! I hope it’s been a good one for you.
I am intrigued by the Emma M. Lion books. Partly because they sound like they would appeal to a friend of mine, who is writing a novel set in the same time period.
The Kiss Quotient is a book I’ve seen for years, but haven’t ever tried it… maybe it’s time!
Do you ever get nervous about rereading old favorites? Sometimes I worry that I won’t love them as much as I once did, and I don’t know what I would DO with that feeling! I like how you understand why Previous Stephany enjoyed the book so much; I don’t know if I could be as kind to my past self.
I don’t think I get too nervous about reading old favorites. I think it depends on the favorite. Like, when I was rereading Anne of Green Gables as an adult for the first time, I was definitely nervous. For this book, I was mostly curious if it would hold up! It didn’t have the same level of impact for me as Anne, so I would have been okay if I hated it. (While kinda wondering what Previous Stephany had been thinking!)
I read (and enjoyed) the Emma Lion books with my eyes, and was thinking as I read this entry that I really would like to listen to the audios, but my library doesn’t carry them, and the cost to buy is just oof. But then! I’m signed up for audiobook deals through Chirp, and guess what today’s deals included! I got the whole set for under $26. I’m so happy! My ears will be full for a long time.
Oh, yay! You are in for a TREAT! The narrator is SO GOOD. I want her to read all of my audiobooks.
An econometrician??? *I* am an econometrician!!!! Boy, you don’t see that in books that often, so I think I will put this on hold. OMG. Is there talk about running regressions? I AM SO EXCITED, ECONOMETRICIANS DO NOT GET ANY LOVE
Right now I am reading Flashlight, which is excellent so far and was recommended by a woman in my writing group. I just finished Laundry Love, thanks for the nudge to take it off my TBR!
I did not know you were an econometrician! She does talk a bit about her job and some of the data she’s running, so maybe??? I kinda glazed over all that, haha.
I’m so pleased you liked Laundry Love as much as I did! Yay!
I just read my review of The Kiss Quotient because I remember being very down on the book: I just…can’t. There’s nothing memorable about these characters and they’re just caricatures of what members of the opposite sex want, rather than well-developed characters who seem real. So in the end I don’t really know what to say about this book. It’s not for me, but it may very well be for you. Lots of people love it.
Ha! Hoang’s books really irritate me because they’re full of people keeping secrets or not just having a simple conversation. I’d really be interested in a full-throated defense of Helen Hoang because I think her popularity is mysterious. But she is popular, so it must be a *me* problem.
I suspect the mystery is simply that books hit readers differently. *shrugs* She works for me and I haven’t really investigated why. I just enjoy her writing and characters, especially since she focuses on neuodivergent characters.
I’ve read none of these books. I am a pokey reader so I have yet to opt to reread a book. Seems like there are always more books I want to read. I just finished Lake Effect. It was really good. I plan to get to the library tonight. Time to get my next book for book club. I do t remember what it is.
Yay, I’m so glad you loved Lake Effect! That’s going to be one of my favorites of the year, I think.
Aww! I just finished a romance with a character named Stella! 👯♀️😆 (that Fly With Me one I think you may like). I love that you still got the warm fuzzies from the re-read, while acknowledging you’re also in a different reading mindset now!
LOL at the very specific review of being annoyed by a talking fox. Here for it. Princess Donut’s lunch money is SAFE!
I started that other book (Love at First Flight) I got at Steamy Lit and am only in chapter 2 but digging it!
Princess Donut 4ever!
I’m glad you’re loving Love at First Flight. I was worried BOTH books you picked up weren’t going to be winners. Fingers crossed!