July 8, 2026
Actually Romantic
I was steeped in romance this week in advance of our (sold out!) Hot Summer Night event at Book Bar tomorrow night. I’d already read Chasing Summer, the rom-com debut by Frankie Scott (Zoe Whittall), and called it “A sparkling summer novel, and a gorgeous getaway to the beaches, vineyards, and rustic charms of Prince Edward County… [A]n engaging ode to first love, creative ambition, friendship, family, and forgiveness.”
But I was very happy to finally get a chance to read Lavanya Lakshmi’s debut, Leave and Come Back, about Simran, a woman who’s been estranged from her Indian-American family and returns to the fold for her cousin’s big wedding, only to have her boyfriend crash the party and get roped into partaking in the two weeks of celebrations and attempting to win the affection of a very formidable auntie. The story was richly textured with humour and meaning, and interwoven with themes of family, grief and forgiveness, as well as the cultural elements which blend different Indian traditions. The novel’s title comes from the Tamil word for “good bye,” which includes a promise of returning—a promise that Simran needs to learn how to keep.
And then I read Forever is the Sweetest Con, by Joanna Thurlow, the first release from new PEI romance imprint Sugar Shack Books, and did it ever satisfy. After being swindled by her boyfriend, with creditors now threatening to take her mother’s house, Las Vegas waitress and aspiring actress Cleo decides her surest bet is winning top prize on a brand new reality show billed as Love Island meets Survivor. After what happened with her ex, she’s definitely not looking for love, but she’s sure shes savvy enough to follow reality TV rules and act the part of happily ever after with Kei, a musician who has his own reasons for wanting to win, but then the entire production crew disappears and Cleo and the others are stranded on a remote Northern Ontario island. There are twists and turns and surprises galore, and this one kept me engaged to the very satisfying ending.
