Romance Wrap-up April 2026

Under One Roof - Sophie Andrews

This read scratched a very particular itch I had to read something with a very competent MMC and I had a great time.  This has the same vibe as The Sound of Music - a singing nanny, grumpy father, kids who prank their nannies to try and scare them away.  And I think it really delivers on all those fronts.  I do personally wish the romance was a little more of a slow burn with more of the hidden glances and accidental hand touching.  But that's just a personal wish, I think the romance pacing was overall well executed and I'll most likely continue on in the series.

Thanks to the author for the ARC.  Publication date was May 1, 2025

Tropes: Single Dad/Nanny, Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine

Series: Stone Family #1

The Cupid Dilemma - April Asher

I don't read a ton of paranormal/supernatural romances, but April Asher is always a hit.  Her books always feel so grounded with the characters and setting with the little bit of magic sprinkled on top and this was no exception.  The premise of this one was so fun with the Anti-Aphrodite paired up with a rockstar in search of a muse. I loved our FMC and her complexity as the down-to-earth, no-nonsense business woman in a lovey-dovey industry that she still tries her best to give her clients what they want.  I did want more from our MMC in terms of depth.  We get little glimpses of his background and we're told about how he's feeling in regards to his rockstar status, but I felt like a lot of the internal churning and deliberation were being done off-page and then we just get to see the final results. I'm not a big reader of rockstar or fame romances so I did appreciate that his fame and the complications that came with that weren't really the focus of the story. I did love the world building and I'm hoping we get a second book following two particular characters next.  

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.  Publication date is May 12, 2026

Tropes: Paranormal, Fake Dating, Rockstar MMC

Standalone 

 

Mistakes Were Made - Lucy Score 

I read somewhere (I could not find whatever little article or snippet I think I read) that this series is a "coming home", of sorts, for Score's most beloved tropes and I 100% agree.  We're in a quirky small town, following a set of brothers who will inevitably fall in love with chaotic women.  And I loved every minute of it.  Score does an incredible job building up our MCs differences at the same time as their attraction.  I loved the amount of communication in the book and that they were both on the same page as far as their undeniable chemistry but also wildly different life goals. I also always appreciate the lengths Score goes through to flesh out her setting and I enjoyed that the first book in the series and this one both have very strong subplots that have to do with the town and other people living there. I absolutely cannot wait for the final book in the series. 

Tropes: Opposites Attract, Friends With Benefits, Small Town, ADHD rep

Series: Story Lake #2