contemporary romance

a man standing at the bottom of a staircase, holding the hand of a woman who stands a few steps above, both of them facing each other, smiling

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – Time-Travelling Meets Cozy, Chick-lit Romance

While the first few chapters might give you the feeling that this is a slow-burn romance novel, filled with pain and grief, it quickly picks up pace from the moment Clementine meets Iwan, which is where the magical realism element also begins. As the shy, grieving woman with no purpose other than her work finds Iwan, a handsome, charismatic, sweet young man in her aunt’s magical apartment, travelling through time, she experiences shock, attraction, and awe. Meeting Iwan changes her life. While magical realism forms the main foundation of the story, it also normalizes homosexual relationships, breaks gender stereotypes, reminds the reader of their favourite person they look up to, and makes one’s thoughts wander about in fantasy, thereby serving as a good escapist break.

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a blonde-haired woman and a tall, dark-haired man walking down the corridor of an expensive apartment

Fake It ‘Til You Make It by Laura Carter – Hilarious, Pleasant, and Sweet!

Abbey Mitchell and Ted Thomas end up as neighbours, and they both put up a brave face each, trying to hide their own heartbreak and career problems. As they get to know each other better, they truly empathize and show support – Abbey needs a fake date for her parents’ vow renewal ceremony and Ted agrees to be her fake new boyfriend. Fake It ‘Til You Make It is a pleasant and funny rom-com novel that begins with a fast-paced first part, then has a slow-burn middle, but there is a high-stakes climax. For contemporary romance readers, this book would make a good weekend read.

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A man and a woman are seen writing letters

Evidence of The Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid – A Short Story About Love, Betrayal, and Second Chances

Carrie Allsop, the wife of Ken Allsop, has figured out that Ken has been cheating on her with a woman named Janet Mayer. While still not having confronted Ken about it, she writes to Janet’s husband David Mayer, informing him of the secret affair their partners have been having. David is shocked, but he writes back. Carrie and david realise that neither has the strength to confront their spouses, neither can trust anyone else, so they have only each other to talk or rather write to. While sharing their pain and grieving together, they also develop a beautiful, intimate bond. If their spouses come back, will they take them back? This is a warm, romantic short story with bittersweet thoughts and a beautiful narrative.

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