2 Fun Romance Novels Perfect for Summer Reading

by MK French

If you are still looking for a great romance novel to read this summer, definitely check out these two fun reads.

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Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde

June 2024; Dell; 978-0593722916
audio, ebook, print (304 pages); romantic comedy

Jia Deshpande writes cutesy articles for Mumbai’s top women’s magazine and posts about the messiness of real love on her anonymous blog. She's close to her family and childhood friend Jaiman Patil, whose family had moved away. He spends a lot of time with her family or the pub he owns. Jia must successfully play matchmaker for a coworker for a column to be authorized at the magazine. She sets up meet-cutes, but they go haywire, risking friendships and her relationship with Jaiman. Is love more complicated than she thought?

Jia and Jaiman had crushes on each other for years but pushed that away. Neither believes the other is truly interested romantically, and Jia wants the loving relationship her parents had before her mother died. She has two successful matchmaking attempts, so she's sure she can fix up her coworker. She is absolutely sure she can figure out what love is all about and what people need, but she misses cues and can't believe that she's wrong when it's pointed out to her. Jaiman is just as stubborn in a different way; his pub is failing and he won't let others help him. Both hit their low points with failures and continue to push through alone. It takes outside intervention to see what truly matters and stubbornness isn't it.

I enjoyed seeing the friendship and family relationships that Jaiman and Jia had since the romance affected others as well. Of course, everyone else saw the obvious, and it was not just a single miscommunication. The assumptions about each other and their real fear of losing their friendship made the stakes very real. The two also give a great look into the Mumbai of young singles, and the struggle to balance modern life with traditions, family expectations in Jaiman's case, and trying to have it all. We get an answer to the "will they or won't they" question, and a great happily ever after for everyone involved, not just our main couple. This is a fun rom-com, and worth the read.

Buy Match If You Can at Amazon

All's Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath

May 2024; Griffin; 978-1250896070
audio, ebook. print (384 pages); Regency romance

Harry Kincaid's sister decided to join her husband in Egypt and leave her children in Harry's care. With a busy schedule, he he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies prepared to pay whatever it takes to hire an emergency governess. New governess Georgie Rowe believes childhood should be full of joy, games, and adventure, everything she didn't have as a child herself. While the children embrace that wholeheartedly, Harry does not. The two clash over the children, and sparks fly.

Georgie had been hand-picked to receive one of Miss Prentice's scholarships and was left there on her sixteenth birthday after years of a terribly strict stepfather who never cared about her feelings. Seven years later, in May 1820, she was finally chosen as governess after thirty-three failed interviews because of her outspoken belief that "spare the rod, spoil the child" was a terrible thing to do. She gets this current job with Miss Prentice leading the interview, as well as with Harry's desperation. Working with the Admiralty, he's used to order and following a strict timetable; the one time he followed his heart it was for an engagement to a fickle woman that left him as soon as possible. Being rigid in his work life had earned him promotions, though he continued to have reminders of the "one blemish" on his otherwise spotless record.

Both have their ghosts behind them and share affection for the three children in Harry's care. This leads to continual proximity and hijinks that allow them to see past the surface of each others' lives. It's further complicated by the family dog, an adorable puppy, and Harry's potential promotion even as the two are attracted to each other. The final third has a bit of a farce added to the story, adding even more hilarity to an already fun story. This is a great start for a new series of romance novels.

Buy All's Fair in Love and War at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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