Lisa’s Looking Forward To #127 – October 5th, 2021

Posted September 29, 2021 by Lisa Mandina in LLFT / 14 Comments

Lisa’s Looking Forward To #127 – October 5th, 2021

Once again I’ll be joining up with the Can’t Wait Wednesday posts hosted by Wishful Endings.

So, it’s almost October! And since these books are for the first week, I’m switching to my October LLFT button! Also, because these posts take me so much time, I’ve decided to do some adjusting. I had 16 listed in my planner to share. I’ve sorted them into the ones I’m really excited about, and will try to read, followed by ones I’d read if I’d gotten them for ARCs, and the ones that I think will be good for my students, but I probably won’t read. I’m going to share my top choices, up to 10, with the reasons like I usually do. But then the others I will either skip, or maybe just put them in a gallery of their covers below the rest.

I want an ARC of this so bad! I tried trading on Twitter, but had nothing those people wanted. 🙁 I tried reaching out the publisher, but nothing. I know I could have gotten an e-galley from Edelweiss, and I requested on Netgalley this week, but don’t know that I’ll get it or even have time to read it. So I’ll just keep hoping for a books for trade deal on Twitter after it is a bit older, or go buy the book for myself. To sit on the TBR shelf with all the other books like this I bought.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

A paranormal romantic comedy at the (possible) end of the world.

All Callie wanted was a quiet weekend with her best friend. She promised her mom she could handle running her family’s escape room business while her mom is out of town. Instead a Satanic cult shows up, claiming that the prop spell book in one of the rooms is the real deal, and they need it to summon the right hand of the devil. Naturally they take Callie and her friend, Mag, along with them. But when the summoning reveals a handsome demon in a leather jacket named Luke who offers to help Callie stop the cult from destroying the world, her night goes from weird to completely strange.

As the group tries to stay one step ahead of the cult, Callie finds herself drawn to the annoying (and annoyingly handsome) Luke. But what Callie doesn’t know is that Luke is none other than Luke Morningstar, Prince of Hell and son of the Devil himself. Callie never had time for love, and with the apocalypse coming closer, is there room for romance when all hell’s about to break loose?

From New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond, Not Your Average Hot Guy is a hilarious romantic comedy about two people falling in love, while the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

This sounds like a fun, cute romance. Hope to read it at some point!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

A charming NYC romance by co-host of the Woke Desi, for fans of: 
• multicultural connections 
• strong friendships and families
• a “will they/won’t they” story with powerful stakes
• the city that never sleeps 
• bucket list adventures
• characters who fight outside expectations and pressures to build the life they want

Kiran needs to fall in line. Instead, she falls in love. 

Kiran was the good daughter. When her sister disobeyed her family’s plan and brought them shame, she was there to pick up the pieces. She vowed she wouldn’t make the same mistakes. She’d be twice the daughter her parents needed, to make up for the one they lost. 

Nash never had a family. The parents who were supposed to raise him were completely absent. Now as a psychologist, he sees the same pattern happening to the kids he works with. So he turns away from love and family. After all, abandonment is in his genes, isn’t it? 

If she follows the rules, Kiran will marry an Indian man. If he follows his fears, Nash will wind up alone. But what if they follow their hearts? 

Praise for Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words:
“LOVE, CHAI, AND OTHER FOUR LETTER WORDS is a delight… As warm and comforting as perfect masala chai.”—Farah Heron, author of Accidentally Engaged
“A sweet story of finding love where you least expected to. A romp through New York City with fresh immigrant eyes. Kiran and Nash’s journey to learning to see themselves and others across boundaries and preconceived notions will warm your heart.”—Sonali Dev, author of Recipe for Persuasion

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

I’m not normally a huge holiday book reader, but this year I seem to be in the mood, and there seem to be a lot out there to look forward to! I’ve also wanted to read something by this author for awhile.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Ballet and babysitting bring two teens together in this very merry holiday rom-com from the author of the acclaimed Bookish Boyfriends series

Noelle Partridge is known for three things: being the best ballet dancer, babysitter, and person with the most Christmas spirit in her small town. But lately she’s bored by the lessons at her dance school, and her friends and father are more bah humbug than Hallmark movie marathon. So when her favorite babysitting clients ask her to accompany them on a ski trip over winter break, she packs her bags for the slopes. It helps that they’re offering double her rate—she’ll need the money for Beacon, an elite ballet academy that’s granted her an audition. 

Noelle is ready to “Deck the Halls” and have fa la la la fun, until Wyatt, the older half-brother of her babysitting charges, decides to surprise his family for the holiday. He’s one of the best dancers at Beacon, and makes Noelle’s head spin faster than pirouettes. Unfortunately, she also manages to step on his toes—spoiling his surprise and complicating his secret plans. After a few missteps, Noelle and Wyatt begin to thaw toward each other and bond over the big decisions looming in each of their lives. With enough Christmas magic, Noelle might just start the New Year with lots of babysitting cash in her pocket and a chance with the pas de deux partner of her dreams.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

Yet another cute sounding holiday story! I also love the comparisons, and even if they aren’t tricking their parents, I did love the original Parent Trap movie, so this is slightly similar it seems.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

A feel-good, holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas–perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze and Josie Silver’s One Day in December.

All they want for Christmas is a different life.

When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell–both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over. 

With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

I enjoyed the other book by these authors, I’m Not Dying With You Tonight, so was excited to get an ARC from the publisher of this one. I should be reading and hopefully posting a review this weekend!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

From the bestselling authors of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight comes a compelling YA novel about the choices teens make.

Two high school cheerleaders face the ultimate test when an act of solidarity spurs chaos. With a rocky start to senior year, lifelong friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their mind. Eleanor is still in physical therapy months after a serious concussion from a failed cheer attempt. Chanel’s putting tremendous pressure on herself to get into the best colleges and starts making questionable decisions. But they have each other’s backs just as always.

Eleanor’s new relationship with star quarterback Three may be causing a rift between the best friends. When the cheer squad decides to take a knee at the season’s first football game, what seemed like a positive show of solidarity suddenly becomes the reason for a larger fallout between the girls.

Grappling with the weight of the school’s actions as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on the friendship they’ve always shared?

A bittersweet, sometime humorous, but always compelling look at issues of friendship, privilege, sports, and race.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

I am amused by the fact that while I hate cooking reality shows, I seem to love books about them! lol This one sounds really good too!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Life is what you bake it.

Peyton Sinclaire wants nothing more than to escape her life as a diner waitress in her small, North Florida town and attend culinary school. Top Teen Chef, Food TV’s new show that pairs reality TV drama with a fast-paced culinary competition, is her ticket out of her boring future. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make her dreams come true and Peyton is determined to prove to herself, and the world, that where you’re born does not determine where you can go. However, once on the show, Peyton quickly discovers that there is more to the competition than just a well-seasoned dish. 

As things start to heat up on and off the set, Peyton will have to prove to the judges that she deserves to win while trying to untangle what is real and what is scripted drama, and decide what she is willing to risk to win before her dreams end up on the chopping block. 

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

Yet another cute sound holiday book with a cute cover! I’m just not ready at the beginning of October to read holiday!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Sarah Dessen meets Let It Snow in this new YA Christmas romance!

When Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn’t changed much in her sixteen years. But instead she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother’s inn. And she certainly didn’t expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother’s doorstep. It’s up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley’s Christmas. It’s about home and family and friends and finding her place, and along the way she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

No, I didn’t spazz out and do the same book twice, this is another holiday book coming out next week with a similar title to one above! But it also sounds cute!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

A paperback original romance about a bookish Filipino-American girl who crosses paths with the innkeeper’s aggravating nephew–but when they accidentally switch phones, their newly discovered secrets draw them together.

Lila Castro is ready to take on her last winter break of high school. The snow is plentiful, the mood is full of holiday cheer, and she’s earning extra cash working at the cozy local inn. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss’s frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Veracruz, becomes her coworker. When they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, they both realize they’ve been hiding things from each other. Will their secrets–and a dash of holiday spirit–bring them closer to love?

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

And yes, the final book I’m sharing is another holiday one! I think I’ve seen a few reviews on it that make me still interested in reading it!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She’s always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she’s always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she’s laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn’t exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya’s wedding.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it’s the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life–to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.

Sound good? Add to Goodreads HERE.

Final Thoughts:

So, I narrowed it down like I said from the 16 that I had in my planner to just the top 8.

Have you read any of these yet? What new books are you eagerly awaiting this week?

My monthly giveaway is up and running HERE.

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14 responses to “Lisa’s Looking Forward To #127 – October 5th, 2021

  1. I read four of these recently. I adored Holiday Swap (think Hallmark, very warm and fuzzy). Whisk and Wyatt were super cute too. Holly Jolly Diwali was very strong for me. I always thought the author did women’s fiction well, but the romance was really great in this one too. Hope you get to read some of these.

    • Lisa Mandina

      Good to hear all are so good. Now if I only had time to read them! I got the Holly Jolly Diwali as a free advance read e-book, but it was after my schedule was all booked up, so don’t know when I’ll fit it in.

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