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10 Things That Never Happened
10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall is $1.99! I think this is a Hall’s latest contemporary romance and book one in the Material World series. Given the similar cover designs, I wonder if it’s tangentially related to Boyfriend Material and Husband Material. Let us know in the comments!
Fake amnesia. Real feelings? Real problems.
Sam Becker loves―or, okay, likes―his job. Sure, managing a bed and bath retailer isn’t exactly glamorous, but it’s good work and he gets on well with the band of misfits who keep the store running. He could see himself being content here for the long haul. Too bad, then, that the owner is an infuriating git.
Jonathan Forest should never have hired Sam. It was a sentimental decision, and Jonathan didn’t get where he is by following his heart. Determined to set things right, Jonathan orders Sam down to London for a difficult talk…only for a panicking Sam to trip, bump his head, and maybe accidentally imply he doesn’t remember anything?
Faking amnesia seemed like a good idea when Sam was afraid he was getting sacked, but now he has to deal with the reality of Jonathan’s guilt―as well as the unsettling fact that his surly boss might have a softer side to him. There’s an unexpected freedom in getting a second shot at a first impression…but as Sam and Jonathan grow closer, can Sam really bring himself to tell the truth, or will their future be built entirely on one impulsive lie?
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A Coup of Tea
A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair is $2.49! I mentioned this on Get Rec’d after seeing many of you mention this on the comments. I’m judging a book by its cover, but it seems like this could be a cozy fantasy novel. For those of you who have read it, can you comment on the coziness?
When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves.
In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there’s more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic, and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who’ve helped her make her own way.
Miyara may not be a princess anymore, but with a teapot in hand she’ll risk her newfound freedom to discover a more meaningful kind of power.
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Ten Rules for Faking It
Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan is $2.99! When a radio producer’s break up rant is accidentally live on the air, the station decides to launch a Bachelorette style contest, though the heroine may already be falling for her boss. It sounds like there’s a lot going on here.
What happens when your love life becomes the talk of the town?
As birthdays go, this year’s for radio producer Everly Dean hit rock-bottom.
Worse than the “tonsillectomy birthday.” Worse than the birthday her parents decided to split (the first time). But catching your boyfriend cheating on you with his assistant?
Even clichés sting.
But this is Everly’s year! She won’t let her anxiety hold her back. She’ll pitch her podcast idea to her boss.
There’s just one problem.
Her boss, Chris, is very cute. (Of course). Also, he’s extremely distant (which means he hates her, right? Or is that the anxiety talking)?
And, Stacey the DJ didn’t mute the mic during Everly’s rant about Simon the Snake (syn: Cheating Ex).
That’s three problems.
Suddenly, people are lining up to date her, Bachelorette-style, fans are voting (Reminder: never leave house again), and her interest in Chris might be a two-way street. It’s a lot for a woman who could gold medal in people-avoidance. She’s going to have to fake it ‘till she makes it to get through all of this.
Perhaps she’ll make a list: The Ten Rules for Faking It.
Because sometimes making the rules can find you happiness when you least expect it.
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Top Secret
Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is $2.49 at Amazon! This is a M/M new adult romance. I’m basing this on the lackluster description, but it seems like two opposites or even enemies getting to know each other over text, without realizing who the other person is.
Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male / Male romance in 3 years.
LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.
LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.
SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.
LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?
SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?
LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.
SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?
LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.
SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries…
LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?
SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.
LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing…
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Coup of Tea is definitely a cozy fantasy, very much on Miyara’s journey, and the found family she comes to care for. I read it last year when I really needed a book to curl into and loved it. The second book in the series is also on sale, and there’s a small freebie of shorts in the series.
Ten Things That Never Happened is in the same universe as and tangentially related to Boyfriend/Husband Material but can definitely be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed it though it’s more mellow than the Luc and Oliver books.
Idk if it works to put an IG link in comments, but this graphic from Hall’s IG explains the relationship among the books. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu-BEH8rIK6/
I jumped to click the buy button on TEN THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED. I originally borrowed it from the library and just thinking about the book made me feel happy. Such a delightful read!
10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED was one of my favorite reads of 2023. Highly recommended. I was less enthralled with TOP SECRET, however, which I dubbed “frat boys in love” and which had some plot holes that I just could not overlook.
I fangirled all over 10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED in WAYR recently. It’s peak Alexis Hall. Heartfelt and clever. Run to that one-click button…
Free:
– Candidly Yours: Carnivale Chronicles by Reese Ryan
Ten Rules for Faking It was a fun read. I read a couple others in the series, too.
I seem to be in the minority but I didn’t love 10 Things that Never Happened, even though I’m an Alexis Hall fan.
Here’s my GR review:
B-? M/M rom-com with more com than rom. The plot requires a huge suspension of disbelief, which is kind of the point of the amnesia trope, I guess. I didn’t find the romance to be particularly convincing and the narrator was annoying but I enjoyed the ride.
I did enjoy the emotional growth of both protags. There’s also a lot about grief and family and fathers and sons and what success looks like. And it was laugh out loud funny.
I seem to be in the minority but I didn’t love 10 Things that Never Happened, even though I am an Alexis Hall fan.
Here’s my GR review:
B-? M/M rom-com with more com than rom. The plot requires a huge suspension of disbelief, which is kind of the point of the amnesia trope, I guess. I didn’t find the romance to be particularly convincing and the narrator was annoying but I enjoyed the ride.
I did enjoy the emotional growth of both protags. There’s also a lot about grief and family and fathers and sons and what success looks like. And it was laugh out loud funny.
$1.99:
– It All Comes Back to You by Farah Naz Rishi
– Prince of Air and Darkness (The Darkest Court) by M.A. Grant
10 Things that Never Happened only relates to Boyfriend Material by obliquely mentioning people in that series. BUT it has a similar-but-different character interaction, which I think is just Alexis Hall’s specialty. I recently read one of their older books, & realized that they’ve been working out these variations for a veery long time, & only seem to have flipped some of the characteristics. This one has done more than that though: it’s taken Alexis Hall’s favorite caracter aspects, blenderized them, & come up with a different type of contrast. I liked it.
On another topic: 10 Rules For Faking It was okay. It deals with mid mental illness in a maybe too-selfconscious way? & a lot of the action feels contrived. But the central characters are appealing & the setting is too.
Kobo is denying any knowledge of A Coup of Tea right now, which is annoying.