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| You Had Me at Hola by Alexis DariaWhat it's about: Actress Jasmine Lin Rodridguez hopes a starring role in Carmen In Charge, an American adaptation of a popular telenovela, will reset her career following tabloid notoriety. But her relationship with her costar, Ashton Suárez, might be a scandal in the making.
Why you might like it: This romantic comedy by the author of the Dance Off series features unitalicized Spanish, ample on- and off-set drama, and insightful commentary on Latinx representation in media.
For fans of: Jane the Virgin or the short-lived sitcom Telenovela. |
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| Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne ParkWhat it's about: As an Asian American woman working in the video game industry, Melody Joo is accustomed to doing her job in challenge mode. And that's before she's put in charge of a high-profile project alongside white company intern Nolan MacKenzie, the boss' nephew.
Is it for you? Melody's workplace is a toxic stew of racism and misogyny; she's also on the receiving end of online harassment that makes Gamergate look tame.
You might also like: Alisha Rai's The Right Swipe, Farrah Rochon's The Boyfriend Project. |
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| The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia WaiteWhat happens: When a colony of bees takes up residence in Agatha Griffin's print shop, she enlists the aid of beekeeper Penelope Flood.
Why you might like it: This 2nd Feminine Pursuits novel, after The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, features a slow-burn romance between mature leads, well-researched 19th-century politics, and period-appropriate beekeeping details.
Want a taste? "She only missed love when she took the time to remember it. That was the only thing that had never disappointed her." |
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| Mostly Sunny by Jamie PopeStarring: Manhattan social worker Sunshine "Sunny" Gibson and high-profile attorney Julian King.
What happens: Sunny seeks Julian's help in fighting a legal challenge to a foster child's pending adoption. In the process, they discover that they have more in common than they thought.
Is it for you? This emotionally intense series opener deals with issues of mental illness, child abuse, and abandonment. Although sensitively addressed, the subject matter may not be for all readers. |
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| The Takeover Effect by Nisha SharmaStarring: prodigal son Hemdeep Singh, who reluctantly returns to the fold to help his brothers fend off a hostile takeover of the family business; lawyer Mina Kohli, whose job is to assess whether or not the company should accept a buyout.
Read it for: an intense romance between second-generation South Asian professionals, family drama, and corporate espionage.
Series alert: The Takeover Effect is 1st book in the Singh Family trilogy, about a Punjabi Sikh family and their corporate empire. |
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| The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna ShupeWhat happens: Manhattan socialite Marion "Mamie" Greene goes head-to-head with Frank Tripp, her father's lawyer, who's been tasked with keeping her out of trouble until her family can marry her off.
Secret lives: Mamie is a Gilded Age Robin Hood, robbing the rich to feed the city's poor, while Frank is far from the blue-blooded Yale alum he pretends to be.
Series alert: The Rogue of Fifth Avenue is the steamy opening installment of the Uptown Girls series, which continues with The Prince of Broadway and The Devil of Downtown. |
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| Hold Me In Contempt by Wendy WilliamsStarring: New Yorker Kimberly "Kim" Kind, the assistant DA whose complicated personal life threatens her professional success, and the man she can't resist, Rig "King" O'Donnell, a brooding bad boy with ties to the Irish mob.
Read it for: a flawed heroine with a take-no-prisoners narrative voice, a steamy romance between two wounded souls, and a well-drawn supporting cast that infuses humor into the drama.
Author alert: American media personality Wendy Williams is the host of The Wendy Williams Show. |
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Secrets of My Heart
by Tracie Peterson
What happens: Reuniting with childhood friend and lawyer Seth Carpenter, recently widowed Nancy Pritchard reevaluates her loveless marriage for clues about her husband’s dark secrets before her quest for answers is complicated by her growing attraction to Seth.
Read it for: the historical details of life in 1879 Portland, Oregon and the exploration of the theme of faith tested in the face of tragedy.
Series Alert: This is the first book in Peterson's new Willamette Brides series. Follow it up with The Way of Love!
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If I Never Met You
by Mhairi McFarlane
Meet: attorney Laurie Watkinson, recently dumped by her long-term partner but still forced to see him every day at work -- and hear all about his new girlfriend's pregnancy.
Her accomplice: Jamie Carter, Laurie's womanizing colleague, who's willing to use his marketing savvy to make their fake relationship look Instagram-perfect.
Is it for you? More Marian Keyes than Sophie Kinsella, this British romance pairs a fun and flirty office fauxmance with serious themes such as racism, workplace discrimination, and overcoming childhood trauma.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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