Hello and welcome (back) to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.
It’s the start of Pride Month y’all!! *confetti* I’m super excited for it this month because I am going to try to actually go to at least one event. Who knows how my Cancerian homebody self will feel when the time comes! The goal is just to try so there’s that.
Are you looking for more in-depth insight into the bookish world from various professionals who are immersed in it? If so, then be sure to check out the Deep Dive. You can currently check out Sharifah’s The Power Reader’s Guide to Reading Logs & Trackers on us to get an idea of the content included, then head here to choose a membership level.
Bookish Goods
Queer Romance Book Club Decal by CalypsoBelleDesigns
Let’s kick off Pride Month with this awesome multipurpose decal that can be used to showcase your love for all queer romance. Since it is a download, you get to pick where and how to display it and there are options for multiple swag upgrades. That is what you call a win/win situation. $3
New Releases
Even If the Sky is Falling edited by Taj McCoy
In this anthology that features some popular names in romance, the possible end of the world is the perfect setup for romance to bloom between six couples who think that this may be their last night. Featuring rivals to lovers, second chances, and other popular tropes, there is sure to be something for everyone in this one!
That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey
Recently divorced Garland and her sister decide to do go to an adult sleepaway camp both to help Garland settle into her single life and to have an experience they didn’t as children. There she runs into Mason, a man she had a premonition about years ago after her wedding and wonders if the stars are setting her up for a new romance. However, despite what her earlier vision seemed to indicate, she finds herself being more drawn to Stevie, Mason’s sister and her bunkmate, and wonders if she misunderstood what she saw all those years ago.
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera
Manuela happily accepts an invitation to show her paintings at the 1889 Exposition Universelle, determined to have one final fun summer before being locked in a loveless marriage. Duchess Cora is equally determined to convince Manuela to sell her some property she is owner of. Manuela counters her offer with one of her own; she’ll sell if Cora will spend the summer with her in Paris. As the two women spend more time together, they connect over their love of art and find themselves falling for each other. The end of summer is fast approaching though which could prove to be the end of the affair, even though neither really wants it to.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
In addition to being Pride Month, June also marks the almost halfway point between the year. Notice I said almost since I know that, counting by days, that July 2nd is the actual halfway mark. But in terms of months, a solid argument could be made for June.
Getting back on track, this is the month that some readers revaluate their reading goals for the year and/or check their progress on challenges, such as Book Riot’s own Read Harder. I haven’t really dedicated recommendations to this yet mainly due to the fact that it’s sometimes hard to find a romance novel that fits the prompt. But I did some digging and was able to find some possible candidates if you’re still looking to fill some of those slots!
The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor; narrated by Ariyan Kassam
Read Harder Task 7: Listen to an audiobook performed by a person of color of a book written by an author of color.
Ved is a closeted gay man as well the unmarried heir to his father’s business empire. When he is still unmarried at 38, he agrees to let his mother set up an arranged marriage for him. Of course that is also when he meets handsome American traveler, Carlos, and has to struggle with either giving into the expectations of his family or staying true to what he really wants.
An Acquired Taste by Kelly Cain
Read Harder Task 13: Read an author local to you
In this first book of the Everheart Brothers of Texas trilogy, we meet Knox and Rowan, culinary school rivals who are now competitors on a reality cooking competition. However, there is more than just the kitchen heating up as they work through the various competitions and recipes, leaving them wondering if love is also on the menu. I may be cheating a bit since this only works for those in Central Texas, but it still sounds like an engaging read!
Pick a song and get your soulmate’s first initial. This was another surprisingly accurate one for me.
Here are some “stuck together” romances if that is your preference.
And that’s all I have for y’all this week. It’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week, which means you can expect to hear from me again on Monday. In the meantime, I can be found on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated!