May Brings… Small Town Romances?

Ah, May, the month of endless school assignments and work madness. In desperate need of a breather, I sought solace in the cozy realms of small-town romances. I craved something light and fluffy, a literary equivalent of a marshmallow cloud to carry me through the grueling finals slog. And boy, did these books fit the bill! Now, let’s be honest, when it comes to Rom-Coms, I already know they’re not going to send my literary senses into a frenzy. They’re more like cotton candy—sweet, sugary, and oh-so-enjoyable in the moment, but they tend to melt out of my mind faster than ice cream on a scorching summer day. In other words, they’re delightfully forgettable.

So, let’s dive into the world of small-town romance with three tales that offered just the right amount of escapism:

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Rating: 2/5
Synopsis: When Avery, a girl who runs an event venue with her two sisters, gets into a car accident and needs someone to help her heal, her male best friend and roommate steps in to help, and (you’ll never guess it) sparks fly.

I had my heart set on a grand display of fireworks, but what I got from When Sparks Fly were a few measly sparklers. Don’t get me wrong—I’m a sucker for the Friends-to-Lovers trope, but this particular book failed to ignite the spark of connection for me. Initially, the whole roommate dynamic had me hooked, and the first third of the novel was filled with amusing and entertaining roommate antics. But as the story progressed, it became as predictable as a squirrel hoarding acorns for winter. Sure, it was light and fluffy, but it lacked the oomph to truly captivate me. Consider it a quick fix for predictable romance cravings, but not something I’d enthusiastically recommend to a friend.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis: When Toronto city girl Calla receives a phone call from her estranged Alaskan bush pilot father, she must venture into the wilds of Alaska to mend—or not mend—their relationship in the time he has left. Oh, and there’s a hot bush pilot there too.

The Simple Wild provided a passable romance, but its true charm took flight in the heartfelt father-daughter relationship. Picture this: the untamed beauty of wild Alaska, where bears roam and the air crackles with a sense of adventure. The setting alone was like a refreshing splash of glacier water on a hot summer’s day. Admittedly, there were a few twists along the way, though as predictable as a bear’s love for salmon. But what truly tugged at my heartstrings were the tender moments between Calla and her estranged father—genuine and bittersweet, like the taste of wild berries. Alas, when it came to the actual romance, I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief. Love at first sight might work for lovestruck teenagers, but for me, it felt as believable as a penguin in a desert.

Wait for it by Mariana Zapata
Rating: 2.75/5
Synopsis: When Diana, a spunky woman and an aunt raising her two nephews, moves to a new small town, she must find a baseball team for her oldest nephew, and she might just find herself a baseball coach.

When it comes to heartfelt moments, Wait For It knocks it out of the park. Zapata skillfully convinces me that Diana and Dallas were meant to be together, and the struggles of a grieving aunt trying to raise her nephews hit me right in the feels, like a fastball to the heart. However, at times, the humor swung and missed, leaving me cringing or confused.