Searching for your next feel-good read? This month at The Romantic Comedy Book Club, we’ve explored a delightful variety of stories that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even challenge your perspective on love. From small-town romance to unexpected connections and taboo twists, there’s something here for everyone.
We’re diving into standout series like Isla Olsen’s irresistibly funny Kelly Clan and exploring heartwarming tales perfect for the winter season. Plus, our exclusive ARC reviews and post-publish highlights bring you even more stories to add to your list. Whether you're here for the humor, the heart, or the happily-ever-afters, this month’s reviews won’t disappoint.
Ready to discover your next favorite? Let’s get started!
FYI - we are going to switch from using the month to a issue number starting in January!
- The Texan Meets His Match by Lani Blake: While I will say the ending was slightly predictable, the entire story was a lot of fun. Having jumped into Book 2 without reading Book 1,?A Promise of Home, you are exposed to a lot of spoilers – so fair warning if you don’t start from the beginning. That being said, Lani does an excellent job of recapping, so it doesn’t take anything away from the story. If anything, knowing where Jake and Branna are now makes you want to go back to Book #1, where it all began. Simply put, you’ll want to read these books in order, but I didn’t feel displaced having skipped ahead to Book #2. | Read the full review
- Test Me by Neve Wilder: I am already head over heels in love with this series, so being treated to a prequel featuring all our favorites before their stories take place was an absolute delight – especially getting to hang with Jesse again! If you haven’t read the Extracurricular Series, I can’t recommend it enough. | Read the full review
- For the Fans by Nyla K: I can’t even with this book. I don’t know where to begin. First – I absolutely loved it, but that being said, I’m still a bit disturbed by the fact that they were stepbrothers! Yes, I know they’re not blood-related, but somewhere in my mind, I just couldn’t let that one little fact go! If that doesn’t bother you, then I’d say be ready to go all in with this book. I don’t ever yuck on anyone else’s yum, but this book definitely solidified a boundary for me when it comes to character connections – taboo is off the table. With that being said, I’m so glad I forced myself to read this book – it was phenomenal! I laughed, I cried, and I desperately wanted everything to work out despite the havoc it wreaked on my moral compass (that stepbrother element… just no. Just no). You couldn’t have created two more polar-opposite characters if you tried.?| Read the full review
- Virtually Screwed by Isla Olsen: While I absolutely loved Blake and Owen’s story, I will say I am not the biggest fan of huge age gaps or “Daddy” storylines, so while this one was just as great as the others, it wasn’t my favorite. That being said, it was still a very sweet tale about a man trying to figure himself out and find happiness after turning his world upside down, and another Kelly – this time the baby boy, who was always seen as the quiet, shy, timid one, showing a side no one ever expected. | Read the full review
- Fake it ’til You Make Out by Isla Olsen: Every once in a while, I find a series and get completely sucked into it. The last one was Neve Wilder’s Extracurricular Activities series, and the one before that was the Him series by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen. When I started this series, I just knew I was one and done – there was no way I would want to read all nine books. HA! I don’t think I finished the first chapter before realizing I was in trouble. Out of all nine, this one was by far my favorite, solely because of Heath. I absolutely love him! He has zero filter and says exactly what he is thinking (I mean just a straight “id” type brain) with not a care in the world. Even writing this, I find myself laughing out loud at some of the things that came out of his mouth throughout the series (Isla made sure to keep him an active character is subsequent books). Pair him with Declan, and you just can’t help but fall in love with the two of them and the Kelly clan. | Read the full review
- Crazy Little Fling by Isla Olsen: As of Book #3, Isla just started having more fun with the books. While the stories remained just as good, this one, in particular, wasn’t as deep and profound as the rest. In this case, it was more of a tit-for-tat. In Book #2, Shay finds out Blake is dating his little brother, Owen. In this book, we discover that Shay hooks up with a gorgeous redhead at a bar one night, only to find out on a random weekend in the Hamptons that the mystery man was none other than Blake’s son! | Read the full review
- Hopeless Bromantics by Isla Olsen: I love how this book was determined to challenge my mindset and the need for labels. Wade and Brendan, despite falling in love with one another, were adamant that they were still straight – meaning they were not necessarily attracted to men in general, just each other. We are often so convinced that based on someone’s sexual preference, they are categorized as this or that, but these two decided to redefine the bromance and found a connection that is just theirs and no one else’s. | Read the full review
- Two Men and a Baby by Isla Olsen: Connor was just one big goofball, and you couldn’t help but fall for him! The way he is described in previous books makes you think he is going to be this hardcore, Sons of Anarchy kind of guy, but he is such a teddy bear! He is determined to “woo” Josh, who is trying with all his willpower to resist the charm of yet another Kelly man. | Read the full review
- Can’t Get You Out of My Bed by Isla Olsen: To be honest, this one is almost neck and neck as my favorite in the series. If “Fake it ’til You Make Out” had all the humor, this one had all the heart. Ben and Aidan’s story just about gutted me. | Read the full review
- O Come, All Ye Kellys by Isla Olsen: This quick reprieve in the Kelly series is only for those who have read the prior books; otherwise, none of the stories will make any sense. In this quick read, we check in on each couple and how they are enjoying the holidays and upcoming changes in their future – especially for Blake and Owen. We also get a preview of the next book in the series, Ellie and Finn’s story. | Read the full review
- Sex, Tries, and Videotape by Isla Olsen: Out of the nine books, this one was my least favorite. Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely loved Ellie and Finn’s story, but it felt more educational and informational than entertaining. From what I understand, Isla originally intended to write a triad story featuring Finn, Ellie, and Finn’s nonbinary coworker; however, she didn’t like how Finn was portrayed, so she took a different route. The issues between Ellie and Finn seemed forced and somewhat immature. As grown, consenting adults, their desperation for the upper hand led to childish challenges about who wanted the other more. | Read the full review
- Text Me Up by Isla Olsen: If I could squeal with joy to express how much I loved the last book in this series, I would! Callum gave Heath a run for his money in speaking without a filter. I loved how different Callum and Nate were, and how much Callum got under Nate’s skin. | Read the full review
- How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn: The play on How the Grinch Stole Christmas was both creative and charming. If you’re familiar with the original story, you’ll notice clever nods in the names and scenarios. But if you’re not, don’t worry – you don’t need to be familiar to fully enjoy this book. | Read the full review
- ARC | With or Without Vows by Karen Lieversz: There is so much to unpack in this book, I don’t even know where to begin. I have read every book in Karen’s series, and while they normally mix drama, suspense, and laughter, this one delves deeper into the darker aspects of the human psyche. In “With or Without Vows,” we are reminded that while we might believe we can control our minds, we are often powerless against their pull when they decide to drag us under. | Read the full ARC review
- PPR | Accidentally Under Your Tree by Marty Vee: For those seeking the insta-love warm and fuzzies this holiday season, “Accidentally Under Your Tree” is perfect for you. Like your favorite holiday cocktail, it’s a mix of spicy, sweet, sassy, and a whole lot of humor. I’ve truly enjoyed Marty Vee’s writing, and this Christmas treat is another wonderful addition to her collection. Sit back as we revisit new favorites and old friends in Grand Ridge. | Read the full PPR review
- ARC | Somewhere Along the Line by Mallory Thomas: Have you ever read a book that makes you want to mimic the classic swoon scene in a romantic comedy? You know the one: where you throw yourself back, bury your head in a pillow, and kick your feet in excitement. That’s exactly the feeling this book evokes. I could say it is sweet, cute, and adorable, along with a bunch of other adjectives that wouldn’t remotely do it justice. Picture that scene – the overwhelming giddiness, the flood of feel-good endorphins – that’s the best way to describe this book. Before diving into “Somewhere Along the Line,” remember to check your logic at the door. This is fiction, and while the characters are insanely relatable, the plot stretches a bit from reality. I’d hate for readers of this debut novel to get tripped up by something so trivial and miss out on a wonderful story. | Read the full ARC review
- PPR | A Merry Little Christmas Contingency by Brooklyn Dean: Finished just in time for the holidays, Moonshine fans have the chance to head out of town to the local Carmichael Christmas Tree Farm as they gear up for one of the two most talked-about events of the year (you’ll have to read “Meet Me In Moonshine” for the other!). In the fourth book of the series, we jump back in time to finally uncover the story we’ve been waiting for – Breanna and Billy. Get ready to enjoy a new twist on Christmas as Brooklyn brings the heat in more ways than one, along with a little Christmas cheer, in this sweet holiday tale. | Read the full PPR review
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming soon:
- Crossing the Line by Kelly Jamieson
- If The Ring Fits by Camilla Isley
- Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K Wilde
- Fake It Til You Mean It by Megan Murphy
- Sanctuary by Bree M Lewandowski: In the Cloistered City, elite soldiers known as Shivalry walk taller than normal men. Petra Ondise swears on her brother's memory to rise from her role as a clothes-washing maid and join the House of Couriers. Once there, she will learn why her brother, who was a loyal courier to the crown, was killed. As the Festival of the Late Harvest Moon approaches, Petra crosses paths with Third Shivalry Captain Rand Tsenturian, whose dark red eyes haunt her thoughts. He seems to linger in her shadow. Amid the countless rumors that run wild in the royal city, Petra learns her brother and the captain were not strangers. Yet, in the wake of the Festival of the Late Harvest Moon, Rand steps out of the shadows and pulls her to an ancient garden, hidden in the emperor's palace. Eternity lingers there. An ancient incantation tempts and destiny takes over. Now she is Sacred. He is her Sacrifice, and the walls of the Cloistered City will not be able to hold them. An unforgettable fantasy romance about where truth leads and how far love will go.
These books are sponsored content and have not been reviewed The Romantic Comedy Book Club.
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