Published by Gallery Books on September 15, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A woman wakes up with amnesia to a totally different life and teams up with her charming new neighbor to piece together her missing memories in this tender and funny romantic comedy from the author of How Freaking Romantic.
Growing up, Marnie Stephens believed in magic. That destiny was real, the universe had a plan, and every problem could be fixed by one of her grandmother’s many crystals or mantras. But now, at thirty, Marnie’s dreams have fallen by the wayside as real life proves to be more difficult than divine. That’s all about to change, though, thanks to her upcoming move from LA to Boston with her boyfriend Matt. Sure, she still has some nagging worries about the future, but those things will work themselves out. She just needs a fresh start.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Marnie gets when she wakes up at a hospital in Boston with no knowledge of how she got there. Her doctor tells her she suffered a head injury, Matt insists they broke up months ago, and, most distressing of all, her hair is somehow eight inches shorter. Nothing makes sense, but one thing is clear: Marnie has no memory of the past year. Soon, she’s discharged and finds herself in an apartment she doesn’t remember with a new neighbor, Ben Morgan, a man she’s sure she won’t forget.
Now, with the clues she finds scattered around her home, and Ben, who knows Boston like the back of his hand, Marnie sets out to retrace the past year to figure out where things went wrong and set them right. But despite what her grandmother always told her, there’s no magic to make her recovery easier. Between doctor’s visits and treks across the city in search of her lost memories, the last thing Marnie needs is to start falling for the grumpy—and incredibly attractive—man helping her. But the universe has other plans, and it’s not long before Marnie begins to wonder if fighting for the past is as important as the one person who could be her future.
After hitting her head, Marnie wakes up missing the past year of her life. With the help of her "memory box" mementos and her neighbor, Marnie hopes to recover that year.
I knew from the very beginning I was going to love this book. When a women with amnesia wakes up to Overboard playing on the TV, I knew I was in for something fun. I must admit, I adore Harding's writing, but this, this was perfection! Funny, witty, and warm. I loved every second of it!
You may think, well, she only lost one year, but it happened to be a year of big changes for Marnie. She found herself in a new home with a new job and short hair! She had no idea what transpired prior to all these changes, but she was determined to figure it out. I truly fell in love with Marnie. She was very sweet despite the struggles she was experiencing. She tried to keep a positive outlook, and I was happy she had Ben to help.
The dynamic between Ben and Marnie was interesting, and I loved watching their friendship unfold. Marnie was more or less on her own. She lost her parents and grandmother, her best friend was back in L.A., and she was alone on the east coast. But Ben was there, by her side, the whole time. He offered support but never pushed too hard. It was such a thrill to explore Boston with them, and can we talk about the Sox game. That part was hilarious!
One of the things I enjoy most about Hardings books is how funny they are. The humor is always on point for me, but they also have this emotional depth that never fails to pull at my heartstrings and force me to attach myself to her characters.
Overall: This was a memorable amnesia romance that was packed with humor, feels, and sparkling banter which left me smiling from ear to ear and declaring this book a favorite.
Published by Atria Books on September 15, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
The author of the “brilliant” (Library Journal) An Academic Affair returns with a steamy romance about a recently separated single mom who’s absolutely not looking for another relationship...only to fall for the younger owner of her favorite wine bar.
Fiona Fisher thought she had it a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, head-over-heels in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
Fiona was still reeling from the demise of her marriage, while Satoshi was pining for her. Would Fiona be able to overcome her broken heart and open herself to love again?
I enjoy returning to a world I loved, and McAlister did a magnificent job expanding this world. I think I even spotted two interesting future love matches. Catching up with everyone from the last book was a thrill, and it was wonderful to see Fiona get the love she deserved. Satoshi was such an amazing soft boi and a great partner. He encouraged and supported Fiona as she was figuring out life post-divorce and never let her believe she couldn't accomplish anything she set her mind to.
I am not any kind of drinker, but the wine world in this book was fascinating. I very much enjoyed reading about all the grapes, the different wines, and the insane things sommeliers can do. It's always wonderful reading about people with a deep passion for something, and I admired Satoshi's dedication to his craft.
That said, Fiona sometimes made decisions that were very frustrating. I tried to be patient as I am sure the blow she was dealt by her ex was devastating, but there were many times Satoshi deserved better. I also thought she was a bit tough on her brothers. When push came to shove, both Jonah and Ellis stepped up for her and were there when she needed them.
That said, there were many beautiful and emotional moments that made up for those missteps. Overall, I was very happy at the end of this book and excited to return for more.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment