Star Shipped
RECOMMENDED: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian is $2.99! Big thank you to everyone who let us know about this sale. Hope it lasts! Lara gave this an A:
This book is exemplary. It can literally be held up as an actual example of what a romance novel should be. I am in awe.
Cat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series.
Simon and Charlie, actors on a long-running sci-fi show, can’t stand one another. Charlie is impetuous, outgoing, and basically feral, and Simon thinks he should have stayed in reality television where he belongs. They’ve spent the better part of a decade quarreling over the spotlight and pretty much everything else, and everybody in the industry knows it. Now that Simon’s contract is finally done, he can move to New York, start fresh with work he actually likes, and get away from Charlie.
Simon’s only problem is that people might assume he’s been pushed off the show due to being impossible to work with. And he is kind of difficult to work with. He doesn’t get along with people—unlike Charlie, who somehow tricked everyone on the show into adoring him despite some outrageously bad on-set behavior during the show’s first season. Simon would rather never have to see Charlie again, but reluctantly agrees to stage a very public friendship during the short time before he moves. When Charlie has to leave town to deal with a family emergency, this means Simon comes along. Their road trip brings Simon to places he would never have willingly chosen to visit—and he finds he’s actually not having a terrible time.
The more he gets to know Charlie, the more Simon suspects he’s underestimated his former coworker. Simon also realizes that after seven years, Charlie might know him better than anyone ever has. Even stranger, Charlie seems to be starting to actually like him, despite knowing him so well. Still, Simon is about to move three thousand miles away, so whatever’s starting between him and Charlie can’t really amount to anything… right?
Romantic Comedy
RECOMMENDED: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld is $1.99! Elyse gave this one an A:
Celebrity romance is one of my favorite tropes, and for me this book stands out. Romantic Comedy features a hero who is not purely defined by celebrity status, gives readers a deep dive into a world I found fascinating, contains an epistolary courtship, and at times is laugh-out-loud funny.
A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamily handsome pop star flips the script on all her assumptions. Romantic Comedy is a hilarious, observant and deeply tender novel from New York Times–bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld.
Sally Milz is a sketch writer for “The Night Owls,” the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather to round out a satisfying life.
But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actor who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the “Danny Horst Rule,” poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman.
Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder whether there might actually be sparks flying. But this isn’t a romantic comedy; it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her…right?
With her keen observations and trademark ability to bring complex women to life on the page, Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.
Evvie Drake Starts Over
RECOMMENDED: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes is $1.99! We have a lovely guest squee for this one:
This is the perfect breezy summer read. It is also the perfect fresh spring read, the perfect crisp fall read, and the perfect cozy winter read. I hope I’ve adequately conveyed that I have so many feelings about this delightful book – and they are all good.
In a small town in Maine, recently widowed Eveleth “Evvie” Drake rarely leaves her house. Everyone in town, including her best friend, Andy, thinks grief keeps her locked inside, and she doesn’t correct them. In New York, Dean Tenney, former major-league pitcher and Andy’s childhood friend, is struggling with a case of the “yips”: he can’t throw straight anymore, and he can’t figure out why. An invitation from Andy to stay in Maine for a few months seems like the perfect chance to hit the reset button.
When Dean moves into an apartment at the back of Evvie’s house, the two make a deal: Dean won’t ask about Evvie’s late husband, and Evvie won’t ask about Dean’s baseball career. Rules, though, have a funny way of being broken–and what starts as an unexpected friendship soon turns into something more. But before they can find out what might lie ahead, they’ll have to wrestle a few demons: the bonds they’ve broken, the plans they’ve changed, and the secrets they’ve kept. They’ll need a lot of help, but in life, as in baseball, there’s always a chance–right up until the last out.
Crochet for Beginners
Crochet for Beginners by Arica Presinal is $2.99! It’s also a Kindle Daily Deal. Right now, I only see the sale price at Amazon. This craft book contains ten beginner friendly projects.
Learn how to crochet with this complete beginner’s guide
With just a little yarn and a crochet hook, you can enjoy a relaxing new hobby while creating beautiful gifts, garments, and decor. This crochet book for beginners shows you how to get started with step-by-step instructions and illustrations for 30 fundamental crochet stitches and techniques—plus a collection of fun projects to help you practice your skills.
What sets Crochet for Beginners apart from other crochet books:
The basics of crochet—Learn the different types of hooks and yarn, essential and nice-to-have tools, and explanations of important crochet terms.
Skill-building stitches—Start with the most basic stitches and work your way up to more intricate ones as you learn techniques like following a pattern, joining pieces, changing colors, and more.
10 beginner projects—Put everything you learn into practice with easy crochet patterns for beginners, including a beanie, a crochet tool holder, a circle bag, and a blanket.
Develop your crochet skills with this beginner-friendly guide to success.
