The winter months are long and cold we all need some happy. Check out these three heart racing, delightful, laugh out loud, contemporary romances novels. Because YOU deserve ALL THE HAPPY.
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
This is Williams debut novel and it is AMAZING. This contemporary romance tells the story of Naya and Jake and it really is a story of growth for both characters. We learn more about Naya’s growth most as the book is told from her point of view.
Naya has an abusive ex who is very much a part of this story, so this is a trigger warning for those who need one. Trust me, you will hate this man.
Naya is a complex, loveable character who had very bad luck in love. She has decided to take her friends’ advice to put herself out there. Not an easy thing to do. You want to cheer “You Go Girl!” when she talks to the guy at the bar. Fortunately for Jake and all of us, Naya fails at her one-night stand quest and instead meets the love of her life.
Jake is a good man who deserves a woman like Naya and he’s smart enough to see how wonderful she is from the start, which makes us love him all the more.
There were many obstacles to their happily ever after, including Naya’s ex but in the end, all is wonderful! I could not put this book down.
I loved Naya and Jake and I also loved their awesome friends! Good secondary characters really do make me love a book.
It’s also worth noting this book felt very grounded in the real world – this is not a criticism. The characters had real jobs and friends and at the end of the day that only cements the belief in love and happily ever after for us all. This book left me feeling hopeful and happy.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
This contemporary romance came out last July to all kinds of good buzz. This buzz was warranted and then some.
This the story of Luc and Oliver and I love everything about these two characters and watching them fall in love and be PERFECT for each other was a true delight. I could not stop smiling as I was reading this book – except when I was laughing out loud. So much happy to be found in this book!
It truly shows how someone can love all of you – including your idiosyncrasies you think no one could. Yep, I cried too. While these two men are very different, they need one another and bring out the best in each other and this was shown in so many different ways, both big and small throughout the book.
On top of of this truly amazing love story, sigh, it really was that wonderful, this book is freaking hilarious!! Most rom-coms I enjoy are funny but Hall has a talent for thinking of everyday things or inserting things that just bring the funny. LOVED IT.
The Roommate by Rosie Danan
This was another contemporary romance that got a lot of talk when it came out in September of last year – and the talk was it was HOT. The talk was NOT wrong. This book was different than anything I’ve ever read and that my friend, is a fabulous thing.
Recent art history doctoral graduate, blue blood Clara moves from New York City to Los Angeles in this story. She’s taking the plunge to finally, she hopes, have a relationship with long time childhood crush, Everett. Instead, upon arrival, she will be living with Josh, a porn star. Yep. People this is where the happy begins!!
This book is sex-positive and inspiring. It celebrates the female gaze and everything wonderful in-between. We see how both Josh and Clara make each other better people.
You were definitely rooting for this friends to lovers romance from the start but I also love what Clara and Josh build together. You will see when you read the book!
Female sexual empowerment was front and centre in this book and I never knew how much I needed that. Makes you want to stand up and clap. Well done.
All three of these books contain amazing characters, wonderful love stories and bring their own originality to romance. These books will make you feel protective, bring you joy, make you laugh out loud and make you root for the people as individuals and as a couple. And right now, happy and joy is needed more than ever.
