Maybe “Confessions of a Shopaholic”? I’ve just read the first book in the series but it was a fun “chick lit” read
I like Shannon Stacey for contemporary chick lit with 30s protagonists. The Kowalskis series is a good one to start off with.
Lisa kleyas has a great Texas based contemporary romance series, but some of the books do deal with some heavy stuff.
I’m not a fan of the Shopaholic series, but I’ve actually loved all of Sophie Kinsella’s stand-alones. I wish she’d write more about some of the characters in the stand-alones.
Realized I haven’t been tracking new books here lately.
Moon Tracks by Jody Lyn Nye and Travis Taylor–Follows Moon Beam and a pretty good and quick read, although it’s more obvious that it’s a young adult series in this one. Do appreciate that there’s a focus on the characters without a random romance plot jammed in anywhere, though.
The Abandoned and The Delphi Effect by Rysa Walker–Interesting start to the series, basically what happened to the children of the ones in The Men Who Stare at Goats. The protagonists are all older than the ages presented given the way they’re written, but at least there’s some justification for it in most cases. Not all of them (in a couple places it feels like the author had one story written and then decided to age everyone involved back to make it a YA novel without considering how that might affect the characters involved), but I’ll finish out the series.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis Taylor–Really interesting premise, similar to Fall; or Dodge in Hell where a human ends up uploaded into a computer, but this time with space included. On the other hand towards the end of the book the first non-Bob human and alien characters have started showing up, and I’m starting to wonder if the author is aware that it’s possible to write non-white/straight/male characters as something other than scenery.
I know there are some others I’m missing, but I’ve also be re-reading stuff so I’ll add more if/when I think of them. (Also ETA to fix which Stephenson book it was)
Just read the first 2 There’s Something about Marysburg books by Olivia Dade. I appreciated the older protagonists (in their late 30s/40s) and the general vibe. Similar feel to “Spoiler Alert” which was recommended here.
One question for folks out there in the dating world: In the books, folks talk very frankly and IMO earnestly about what they like/don’t like…etc just before getting down to sex for the first time. Is this a thing that actually happens or is Olivia Dade just modeling good communication/consent? I cannot imagine being about to have sex with someone for the first time and just kinda pausing and saying “well, playing with my boobs does nothing for me, go for it if you want, but I’ll get bored.”* It feels so weird to me, but the last time I had a new partner was 13 years ago, so I might just be terribly out of touch with current sex etiquette.
*Paraphrased line from book
I slept with my now husband on our third date in 2016, so I guess my information is fresher? We did have a fair amount of advance discussion but it was less granular than your example and also conducted over text.
I’m guessing that’s what Olivia Dade is like on dates! IME and loads of discussions with friends and partners this seems totally individual.
I’ve heard anything from step by step instructions to just having fun exploring and figuring it out as you go. In my own dating experience it’s standard to discuss any potential hard stop things for either party, and to clarify expectations of consent.
Shelter Me by Juliette Fay is one in this genre that I enjoyed enough to remember years later.
Updating since I don’t think I’m the only one here who reads Seanan Mcguire–just finished her latest, Angel of the Overpass. It’s Ghost Roads 3, following Sparrow Hill Road and Girl in the Green Silk Gown which I then went back and reread since there was a fair amount of ‘remember xyz’ that I in fact didn’t remember . I thought it was a good read, and does a lot more than the earlier books to tie Rose back to the InCryptid series although it’s clearly still her book and the world is very different (which I like, since I like worldbuilding). Although I will say
Possible spoilers
The final fight was really anti-climactic considering what the antagonist had been built up as. Rose’s new character direction should be interesting if there are further books in the series, though.
I loved Sparrow Hill Road so this is definitely making me want to pick up the series again… and the tie to InCryptid sounds fun!
I don’t think I would call that the big reveal. I personally thought the trilogy was a masterpiece, but it did take awhile to kind of, uh, settle into itself. If you’re not enjoying it, ditch it!
Ohh, if there’s another one coming, maybe I should pick it back up!
Maggie Stiefvater just exploded my brain, again, with Mister Impossible.
I just finished The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, and thought it was quite good.
Just read and enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
Finished Indians on Vacation by Thomas King. He is an exceptional writer. It’s happy and sad and generally wonderful, written in an interesting conversational style. My only complaint is that the book is much too short.
I’m reading Pack Up The Moon by Kristan Higgins. I’m always an easy crier, but man this book is really getting me right in the feels. In a good way though because it’s so very sweet. But I can’t read it before going to work because I will cry off my mascara.
It sounds good but I’m not sure I could take it. Her nine-year-old died? I could read stories like that before I had children but I don’t think I can now. I want sweet, but I’m not sure I can do that kind of tragic.
Do you mean in the Kristan Hannah book? It’s a 28 year old woman who dies, not a child. Still makes me ugly cry because the husband is the sweetest.
ETA Kristan Higgins.