I’ve recently decided to change the name of this series to ‘Sweet and Swoonworthy Romances’ as I realised I was limiting myself with the books I could talk about. There are so many lovely YA romances that I wouldn’t call ‘swoonworthy’ and this post is not all about smut. If anything, I’m more of a clean romance girl. Hah, just kidding. I like both.
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
It feels weird to be talking about the second book in a series but this is the one that really sold me on Signa and Death’s relationship. I described it as ‘sorrowful longing’ in my review and that’s exactly what it is. The mutual pining is beautifully heartbreaking and you really want nothing but the best for them.
There’s something about two people that can’t be together because of the threat of literal death that really gets me. I mentioned in my ‘tropes I love’ post earlier this week that forbidden love only works in a fantasy setting and this book proves that. I don’t think you can get more forbidden than a human woman and Death himself.
I’m yet to finish this series so I have no idea what the outcome of Signa and Death’s relationship is. I really hope they get to be truly happy.
Synopsis: A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He’s hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.
Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.
Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Signa and Death’s story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
I’m going to continue ignoring the existence of the second book in this series and pretend this is the five star standalone romance that I fell in love with. Don’t get me wrong, the second book was OK but I hated how Liz changed. Wes still gets five stars from me.
This was one of my top reads of 2022 and it’s my go-to recommendation if someone is looking for a sweet and clean romance. It’s the perfect book for romcom lovers but also music lovers. Liz creates playlists for pretty much any event or feeling she has in her life, which is so fun and absolutely something I did as a teen.
Another reason why I love this book so much is because it’s childhood friends to lovers, one of my all time favourite tropes. It also kinda has fake dating, which we all know is my favourite. Wes and Liz don’t actually pretend to date, but it has a similar premise. Which obviously leads to real feelings and it’s just so cute.
Synopsis: Perpetual daydreamer Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar – and maybe snag him as a prom date – even befriend Wes Bennet.
The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbor might seem like a prime candidate for romantic-comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.
But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must re-examine everything she thought she knew about love – and rethink her own ideas of what happily ever after should look like.
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: The Best Of: Standalones #19