Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Title: Anxious People

Author: Fredrik Backman

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

From the author of A Man Called Ove comes a tale of a botched robbery, an unwitting hostage situation, and a group of people at an apartment viewing who have more than one reason to be anxious. You get the chance to peek into the lives of the hostages, the hostage taker, and the cops that are trying to bring everyone out of the situation alive. It's more character driven than full of action, but there were moments of comedy sprinkled in, too.

This story reminds of the kind of movies where the people end up having connections to each other. I could definitely see this as an ensemble cast sort of flick.

- Sarah R.

Check out Anxious People by Fredrik Backman @ the library!

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

                                             

Title: Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Author: Talia Hibbert

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Dani Brown is driven professionally, academically, and hormonally. She is not up for a relationship, but she is very interested in having a friend with benefits. Zafir Ansari is recovering from a long-ago tragedy. One that was so bad he gave up his professional rugby career and is now a security guard at a college. Therapy, romance novels, and his own start-up to help children get in touch with their feelings have given him the strength to tackle life. After months of exchanging coffee and breakfast bars, these two are going to be flung together for a noble reason, but will it ruin any chance they have to find a happy ending?

If you like the fake dating trope, this is for you. If you don't like raunchy talk and detailed descriptions of intimacy, this isn't for you.

- Sarah R.

Check out Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert @ the library!

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Title: One to Watch

Author: Kate Stayman-London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Bea Schumacher is a plus-size fashion blogger who rails one day about the complete lack of bigger contestants on the reality match-making show Main Squeeze. When the show's new producer hears this, she thinks she knows how to boost the show's flagging interest - make Bea the next contestant. Twenty five men, gorgeous locations, amazing clothes, and the usual reality TV twists and turns ensue. When you've had as little luck with love as Bea, you don't know who to trust when ulterior motives abound. Will Bea find love or will she walk away empty-handed?

If you like reality shows like The Bachelor, you will probably like this book. The author has playfully adds some blog posts, podcasts, and ads that respond to the reality show. A quick, fun read.

- Sarah R.

Check out  One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London @ the library!

When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger

Title: When Life Gives You Lululemons

Author: Lauren Weisberger

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction

Reprising the Emily Charlton character from her earlier novel Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger has Emily running her own business as an image consultant. Unfortunately a newer, social media savvy foe is stealing her would-be clients...until Karolina Hartwell. 

Karolina is a super model turned senator's wife who finds herself on the wrong end of a DUI charge. Worse yet, her husband, Senator Hartwell, seems more interested in cutting her loose than helping her out.

Miriam, mutual friend to Emily and Karolina, pitches in to provide moral support and dusts off the lawyer skills she put on the backburner to raise her family to try to help Karolina figure out what happened.

Will Karolina's name be cleared? Will she lose contact with the child she helped raise? Read this book to find out.

- Sarah R.

Check out When Life Gives You Lululemons @ the library.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Title: The Kiss Quotient

Author: Helen Hoang

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

After being pressured by her parents to fall in love and start giving them grandchildren, Stella is determined to find a boyfriend before her mother finds one for her. The only problem is that she's never dated anyone and has no idea where to start. Stella identifies as autistic and has a hard time feeling comfortable in social situations. She finally decides that she can become good at dating the same way she became so good at the economics job she loves - with lots of practice - so she hires Michael to teach her how to be in a relationship. Michael would normally never spend so much time with one client, but after putting his dreams on hold to help his mom, he can't turn down the amount of money Stella offers him. They soon find themselves in a fake relationship that starts feeling more and more real to each of them. 

This is an fun, authentic book that was inspired by author Helen Hoang's own autism diagnosis and is all about characters who see their differences as strengths instead of something to overcome. Fans of romance or of entertaining and relatable characters will enjoy this!

- Melissa

Check out The Kiss Quotient @ the library.