Blackburn, Lizzie Damilola. The Re-Write. Penguin Bks. Aug. 2025. 288p. ISBN 9780593299050. pap. $19. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Temi and Wale met, fell in love, and were a happy couple—until Wale dumped Temi and went on the reality TV show Love Villa. Their breakup destroyed Temi, and watching him romance and seduce other women every week on TV only made it worse. Now she’s a full-time romance writer, but it seems no one’s interested in her book as the rejections keep piling up. Temi is beginning to worry about paying her bills when her agent calls about a possible celebrity ghostwriting job. She doesn’t have a lot of experience ghostwriting, so she fully expects to be rejected. Instead, she’s offered the job and a hefty paycheck. The only catch is she’ll be ghostwriting Wale’s memoir. He wants to show the public that he’s not the player they saw on TV. Temi tells herself that she’s no longer attracted to Wale, but he’s showing her a completely different side of himself, one that she never saw when they were dating. He’s being open, honest, sharing his past, and Temi is falling for him all over again. VERDICT Blackburn’s (Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?) charming romantic comedy touches on difficult subjects, combining them with well-written characters and an engrossing story.—Heather Miller Cover

Khawaja, Alina. Writing Mr. Right. Mira: Harlequin. Jun. 2025. 304p. ISBN 9780778368663. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

On the eve of her 30th birthday, exhausted and crushed by another rejection from a literary agent, Ziya decides to give up on her lifelong dream of getting her novel published. Before crying herself to sleep, she manages to make a wish on an enchanted candle. When she wakes up, there’s a handsome stranger in her kitchen who introduces himself as Aashiq, her writing muse come to life. Aashiq is eager to help her get her writing goals back on track. Naive yet wise, pushy but curious, and kind to a fault, he is the dream guy Ziya needs to bring back the spark in her creative process. As she starts to embrace Aashiq’s zest for life, she can’t help but fall hard for him. The problem is that Aashiq’s not a real person, so a future together seems impossible. VERDICT Khawaja (Maya’s Laws of Love) has written another heartfelt story centering Pakistani American and Muslim characters. Set in New York City and featuring a prominent literary plot and fun fantastical elements balanced with real world storylines, this uplifting novel is a must read for fans of multicultural and cozy romances.—Migdalia Jimenez

War, Pyae Moe Thet. Here for a Good Time. St. Martin’s Griffin. Aug. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250330550. pap. $18. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Poe Sabei has dreamed of being an author for as long as she can remember, and the only person who never doubted her is her childhood best friend, Zwe. Even her fiancé, Vik, wanted her to give up on her dreams and get what he considered a real job—then broke up with her when she didn’t. Now Poe finally has an internationally bestselling first novel and a Netflix deal, with a large helping of writer’s block on the side. To celebrate her success, and hopefully get a start on her next story, Poe books a luxury island vacation for her and Zwe. The island paradise seems like just the thing, until an armed group of women takes the resort staff prisoner and sends Poe and Zwe on the run. Now writer’s block, Poe’s romantic feelings for her best friend, and all her uncertainties about the future must take a back seat to survival. VERDICT The friends-to-lovers romance is secondary to the mystery of the armed invaders and the struggle to escape the island, but readers looking for a summer beach read should find the latest from War (I Did Something Bad) a fun and exciting diversion.—Meagan Day