The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (Gallery; LJ starred review) is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

Romance novelist Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is going through a dry spell in both her professional and personal lives. She hasn’t been on a date in over a year and has been unable to write for nearly as long. Fizzy agrees to be the leading lady in producer Connor Prince’s new dating show, The True Love Experiment, in hopes of both getting some inspiration for her next novel and maybe finding her own perfect match, but sparks unexpectedly fly between Fizzy and Connor instead of Fizzy and the show’s “hero” suitors. Can Fizzy and Connor (who would much rather be filming nature documentaries) overcome the roadblocks in their way and find true love in their own accidental experiment? Readers will appreciate the witty dialogue, chemistry that practically leaps off the page, and believable conflicts, as well as the opportunity to check in with The Soulmate Equation’s Jess and River in Lauren’s latest (after Something Wilder). VERDICT Both Lauren’s loyal fans and all contemporary romance readers will appreciate this sexy, swoony, heartfelt novel.—Whitney Kramer

The Love Con by Seressia Glass (Berkley; LJ starred review)

Appeared on the December 2021 LibraryReads list

“Engineer Kenya is a finalist on the reality show Cosplay or No Way, but to win she needs pal Cam to pretend he’s her boyfriend. This is a fun friends-to-lovers, fake dating romance that will best suit folks into cosplay, cons, or geeky pursuits. For fans of Jen Deluca and Sara Desai.”—Alezandra Troiani, Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, WA

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (Atria)

Appeared on the September 2021 LibraryReads list

“Charlie signed up for the reality dating show to rebrand his image. Little did he know he would fall for his producer, Dev. Can Dev and Charlie create the picture-perfect romance on screen, or will their behind-the-scenes romance derail both of their career plans? For fans of reality romance, One To Watch, and Something to Talk About.”—Kari Bingham-Gutierrez, Olathe Public Library, Olathe, KS

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy (Disney-Hyperion)

Appeared on the August 2021 LibraryReads list

“Low on job prospects, fashion school grad Cindy moves in with her reality-show-producer stepmom. When a spot opens up in the Bachelor-style series, Cindy seizes the chance to get nationwide exposure for her designs. The last thing she expects is to find love. A Cinderella-inspired romance with a plus-sized heroine and a multicultural cast. For fans of Red, White, & Royal Blue, The Hating Game, and Dumplin’.”—Eva Thompson, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City, OK