Published by Gallery Books on October 28, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Jane Austen’s Persuasion meets the Big Apple in this swoon-worthy holiday romance from the authors of the “charming” (Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author) Elizabeth of East Hampton and Emma of 83rd Street.
Eight years ago, Anne Elliot broke Freddie Wentworth’s heart when she refused to give up her five-year plan for the sake of adventure. But despite big dreams, Anne, now thirty, is still living at home with hardly a plan in sight. Anne tries to be optimistic—she knows better than anyone that regret will get you nowhere—but that goes out when the window when, thanks to her father’s bad spending habits, her childhood apartment in is rented out to the very man still living in her head rent-free.
Freddie Wentworth never thought he would see Anne Elliot again after she dumped him for accepting a job overseas. He spent years trying to forget her, and he’s been mostly successful. So when a job opportunity takes him back to New York, he’s shocked to find out that Anne is not only his new neighbor, but also the former resident of his new Greenwich Village penthouse.
Nearly a decade after Anne and Freddie’s fateful romance, the only thing they still have in common is a desire to leave their relationship firmly in the past. But between a disastrous off-Broadway show and a drunken Thanksgiving dinner, nosey neighbors, and flirtatious friends, Anne and Freddie suddenly find their lives more intertwined than ever before. When old feelings start rising to the surface, they must decide whether to put their hearts on the line or walk away all over again.
It had been eight years since Anne broke up with her one true love, and now he's back and living in her former home. Try as she might to avoid him, she found their worlds overlapping and it was becoming more and more difficult to keep their shared past behind her.
I am such a fan of this series, and Bellezza and Harding did it again! Another hit for me! I will disclose, as I always do in these cases, that I am not a Jane Austen reader. I have never read one of her books, but I am grateful for all the inspiration she has provided to so many authors over the years as it has resulted in gems Like Anne of Avenue A.
I am trash for second chance romances, and my heart soared and ached as I (im)patiently waited for Anne and Freddie to reunite. They shared something very special in college, and Anne made a choice which she believed was right at the time that ended their love story. Freddie went to Argentina and flourished. He was now a very wealthy man. Anne's path had not been as smooth and had been riddled with professional and personal bumps. Anne was a giver. She always gave so much of herself to others but they never seemed to reciprocate and this resulted in less than optimal outcomes for Anne.
THIS! This was a sign from the universe. How else could you explain Freddie not only returning to New York but inhabiting her old apartment? In my heart, I believed the space and years would prove to be a positive thing for these two. Those years apart gave them a chance to grow, make mistakes, and gather experiences on their own. And still, after all that, there were sparks and feelings. *heart explosion*
For me, this was a meant-to-be love story, and this story was made even better with some quirky residents as well as appearances by characters from the other For the Love of Austen books. It was filled with warmth, humor, and lots of NYC flair. I had such a wonderful time rooting for Anne and Freddie, and of course, I shed some happy tears for them. My research finds that Austen is credited with six novels, and I sure hope this writing duo will grace us with just as many retellings.
Published by Forever on November 4, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Fans suspect that the bad boy of hockey has a few skeletons in his closet. They have no idea he also has a sparkly bodysuit… #toepick! When they met at figure skating camp ten years ago, Chase Merritt was a scrappy hockey player from the wrong part of town, and Zoe Carson was the up-and-coming ice princess. They fell in love faster than you can say triple toe loop, until Zoe makes a fateful error that ends up costing Chase dearly.
Almost a decade later, their fortunes are reversed. Chase is the MVP of the New York Legends hockey team, while Zoe—their new skating coach—has years’ worth of personal and professional bruises. It’s hard to face him again—all six feet and two hundred pounds of muscle and swagger.
And anger. Chase is in hot water with management, and refusing to work with Coach Zoe no matter how badly he needs to shore up his stride—and his image. Until a journalist digs up an old video of Zoe and Chase performing a skating program, and the internet goes wild.
Management seizes on the opportunity for a P.R. redemption, ordering Zoe and Chase to reprise their flashy routine.
Skating with him again—to a love song, of course—is pure agony. But it’s also Zoe’s only chance to unpack the truth of what really happened that night ten years ago. And to at least find forgiveness, if she can’t win back his heart.
There is nothing I love more than a hockey romance from Sarina Bowen. In New York Legends, she has created a world filled with characters I grew to love, but I must admit that I was excited to still have a small link to the Brooklyn world.
Bowen kicks off this series with my catnip - a second chance romance. It had been almost ten years since Chase and Zoe fell for each other. I adored watching their love story unfold via flashbacks, and I was crushed when it fell apart. There was a character who asked them if they believed in fate, and even if they didn't, I DID!
These two were meant for each other, and it pained me that it took the universe so many years to bring them back into each other's orbits. But everyone knows, that whole flame-flickering-for-years thing makes my heart go pitter-pat, so it was not too painful for me to endure as I waited for that flicker to turn into an inferno.
Obviously, I adored the romance aspect of this book, but I also found Zoe's personal journey interesting. The move from figure skating to skating coach was a major step for her. The aspects of her new career were interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about it. I was also happy to see she survived her teen years and miserable marriage while still holding onto her love for a sport that such a big part of her life. As expected, Bowen filled this world with characters that added to the fun, and I am itching to get to know them all.
Thrown for a Loop signals the start to another great series from Bowen, and there is no doubt that I will eagerly await each new release.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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