Archives de catégorie : Contemporary Romance

SEEING STARS de Candice Jalili

A spin-off story to the beloved Finding Famous, Candice Jalili is back with another story in the Mashad Family universe: a laugh-out-loud, larger-than-life YA romance that brings reality TV down to earth.

SEEING STARS
by Candice Jalili
Disney Hyperion, October 2025
(via Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)

The tabloids wish they could give you gossip this jaw droppingly juicy…
Mona Mashad grew up on camera, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to see her every move. Nothing was off-limits: not her first pimple, her first crush, and definitely not the death of her father, Mashad family patriarch and the best dad ever, Ali.

After more than a decade on screen, Mona has discovered the key to being the most famous teenager on the planet: never let your guard down and never give your heart away (because if it breaks, the whole world will know).

But she didn’t expect to meet Lukas Haas, notorious heartthrob and only son of Jordana Haas, the beloved President of the United States. Lukas sweeps Mona off her feet—he literally saves her when she falls down the stairs at the Met Gala—and for just one second Mona wants to let her walls come down. So, it hurts a lot when he betrays her, and even more when their moms demand they pretend to keep dating to appease their respective fan bases.

Normally, a fake relationship would be manageable for Mona. After all, she’s used to playing a part for the camera. But pretending to fall in love with Lukas when she’s still furious with him is no easy feat. And things get extra complicated when she meets Kai. A (hot) surfer and all-around normal guy. For the first time in her life, she can forget the cameras and just be…Mona. Could he be the escape from this fake reality that Mona needs? Or will fake dating America’s most eligible bachelor lead to real feelings?

FINDING FAMOUS was published in 2024.
Les droits de langue française sont toujours disponibles.

Candice Jalili is an Iranian American writer whose work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Cut, Rolling Stone, Elite Daily, and more. Finding Famous: A Mashad Family Novel was her YA debut. Candice lives in New York City with her husband, where she is a convenient walk away from her cousins and childhood best friend. She grew up in the Bay Area and spends hours of her days FaceTiming her parents there. You can find her on Instagram @CandiceJalili and online at www.CandiceJalili.com.

16 FOREVER de Lance Rubin

From acclaimed YA author Lance Rubin of Crying Laughing and the Denton Little series comes this compulsively readable romantic comedy about a boy who every year, on the eve of turning 17, gets kicked back to his 16th birthday—resetting his memory, experiences, and body—while the world moves on normally for everyone else.

16 FOREVER
by Lance Rubin
HarperCollins, January 2026

TIME LOOP REINVENTION: The time loop plot device is a tried-and-true staple, and Lance does an excellent job making it his own. While everyone else grows up, moves on, and moves out, Carter is left behind, stuck at 16. Readers will appreciate this fresh take on a classic trope.

ROMCOM FOR EVERYONE: 16 FOREVER has that perfect touch of YA romance, but it breaks from genre conventions and is relatable to anyone with a heart. While there’s plenty of romance and laughs, the outrageous plot but grounded, likable characters keep the action moving and the tone irresistible.

READYMADE FOR A FEATURE FILM: This novel has all the elements necessary to be a teen film hit—from forbidden lovers to high school parties to sibling heart-to-hearts, 16 FOREVER hits on many touchstones of being a teenager. Plus, the book is an IP project, making it the perfect candidate for an adaptation.

WILL THEY, WON’T THEY: With an established will they/won’t they right off the bat, readers will be on the edge of their seats to see what happens with Maggie and Carter—nor will they be able to see the major plot twist between their love story’s history coming, either!

Lance Rubin is the award-winning author of Crying Laughing, Denton Little’s Deathdate, and Denton Little’s Still Not Dead. He’s also the coauthor of Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan; and of the NYT bestseller The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek. Lance is also a voiceover actor and cowriter of the Off-Broadway musical Broadway Bounty Hunter. Visit him at lancerubin.com.

IN TIME WITH YOU de Kristin Dwyer

You’ve Reached Sam meets Before I Fall in this gripping speculative romance about one girl saving her first love’s life by falling for the last person she ever should—his best friend.

IN TIME WITH YOU
by Kristin Dwyer
Wednesday Books, Winter 2026
(via Sterling Lord Literistic)

Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning. Even worse she blames herself for his death… and so does his best friend, Max. He was there with them on that fateful day, and he’s never liked Nieve.

Unable to pull herself from her grief and wanting to hide from the accusation in his eyes, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college… the year before.

This time she plans to make sure Carter never follows her into that river. She’ll do everything in her power to keep him safe, even if it means losing him in other ways. But the more distance she puts between her and Carter, the closer she gets to Max, drawn to him in ways she never expected. But is she betraying Carter if the only way she can save him is to move on? And can she ever forget her past to embrace her future?

Kristin Dwyer’s IN TIME WITH YOU is a heartbreaking story of first love, loss, and one chance to change everything.

Kristin Dwyer grew up under the California sun and still prays every day for a cloudy sky. When she’s not writing books about people kissing, she and her spouse can be found encouraging their four mischief makers to get into trouble. Kristin is a part-time hair model and wants you to know she is full-time TSA PRECHECK, and one time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom, she will try to join.

HOW TO GRIEVE LIKE A VICTORIAN d’Amy Carol Reeves

A fun, escapist, romantic, travel wish-fulfillment book about a woman who happens to be a widow.

HOW TO GRIEVE LIKE A VICTORIAN
by Amy Carol Reeves
Canary Street Press/HarperCollins, December 2025
(via Context Literary)

Dr. Lizzie Wells, a Victorian Literature professor and bestselling author, is grieving her husband the Victorian way. She is keeping locks of his hair around her neck and dressing in black and jet and tulle–and amusing herself by refusing all but paper letters from her colleagues.

But then she’s offered a trip to London for escape and healing, where she befriends fellow bestselling novelist AD Hemmings. Rakish and handsome, Hemmings pushes her out of her comfort zone. She attends a Victorian-style séance, gets pulled onstage at a burlesque bar, sight sees with her son, and befriends the London row house housekeeper.

All the while, back in South Carolina, her late husband’s best friend and lawyer, Henry, peels back layers behind her mother-in-law’s trust. There’s a dark family secret her mother-in-law has been hiding for decades, the kind of thing that will change not just their family, but their town.

And with all of Henry’s caring and kindness, Lizzie fears she’s falling in love with him, too.

Amy Carol Reeves is a novelist, Victorian Literature professor, and widow. She grieved like a Victorian, but she did not meet a bestselling, handsome author in London–yet.

THE PHONE SWAP de Lia Louis

When a scientist and movie star accidentally swap phones on a busy flight, they must oversee each other’s digital lives until they meet again to swap them back.

THE PHONE SWAP
by Lia Louis
Zaffre (UK)/Emily Bester Books (US), July 2025
(via Mushens Entertainment)

Private, never-been-love scientist Allie Lake is on a busy held-up flight on her way back home when she is seated next to troubled, hopeless romantic movie star Milo Ford. She is in no mood to talk. Her most recent project at a research station has just come to an end and she really doesn’t want to go home. Especially to what’s waiting for her.

As for Milo? Milo wants nothing more than to be at home hiding out with a little normality. Instead, he has to go and film a movie in the Romanian mountains… all the while, the press are getting closer, circling his secret. A secret he’s scared will come to light.

Allie lands and goes home.
Milo lands and heads to the mountains.

And both quickly realise they don’t have their phones – except they’re not lost. They’ve just picked up each other’s, forcing them to stay connected as they try to find a way to swap back.

Lia Louis has written five books, Better Left Unsent, The Key to My Heart, Eight Perfect Hours, Dear Emmie Blue and Somewhere Close to Happy. Somewhere Close to Happy was pre-empted in Italy and sold at auction in Spain, and Dear Emmie Blue took the rights world by storm and has sold in a total of 16 territories apart from the UK, including Germany where it became a bestseller.