The Best Romance Novels of the Year So Far
I'd like a steamy scorcher set in Belle Époque Paris
Doctora Aurora Montalban, lonely and disdained by her male peers, is running an illegal women's clinic when she finds it impossible to resist the brash, beautiful Duke of Annan. Read our review.
I want a big, splashy emotions bomb
Ava Rodriguez is fresh off a painful divorce that a lot of her family members blame her for. So when a chance encounter leads to one night with Roman, a sexy hotel C.E.O. — and then another night, and another — she doesn't see the need to tell any of her friends or relatives about it. It's all a delicious secret — until the pair is formally introduced as best man and maid of honor in Ava's cousin's wedding to Roman's childhood best friend. Read our review.
I love spicy, opposites-attract queer romances
Flames are more than metaphorical in this joyful, messy, delightful Sapphic romance starring a fire science researcher and an ambitious, type-A professional firefighter who's hot both in and out of her gear. Read our review.
Got a slow-burn historical romance?
The drama of this lush, elegant historical about two childhood best friends turned high-society nobles is heightened by the looming specter of the French Revolution. It's a classic case of two people knowing each other well enough to read each other's emotions, but misinterpreting the causes to disastrous effect. Read our review.
Give me forced proximity, fandom and werewolves
When the washed-up former star of a teen werewolf soap finds himself suddenly transformed into an actual werewolf, he must turn to a former superfan for help. She's snarky and dismissive; he's an ego monster with a terminal lack of self-awareness; together they're a nonstop disaster of sore spots, misunderstandings and inconvenient but irresistible lust — and it is all such a good time. Read our review.
Jane Austen meets 'Midsomer Murders'? Sign me up!
Please believe me when I tell you to breeze right past the cover of 'A Bloomy Head,' because that's not what's important here! What's inside is a bold, quick-witted, earthy, deeply researched Gothic gem about the romance between a cheesemaker and a military doctor. I came for the cheese, but I stayed for the glorious prose and wonderful characters. Read our review.
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Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
I'm Traveling to Europe This Summer, and These Are the 12 Wrinkle-free Dresses I'm Eyeing for Vacation—Starting at $25
I'm heading to Europe this summer with two dreamy destinations on the itinerary: Italy and France. While I still need to finalize the finer details of where to eat and what to see, I've been laser-focused on a much more pressing matter: what to pack. Specifically, I'm looking for the kind of easy, wrinkle-resistant summer dresses that travel well and still look luxe after hours in a suitcase. Because, let's be honest—nothing kills a vacation's vibe faster than calling your hotel's front desk to borrow a steamer. After spending more time than I'd like to admit scrolling through Amazon, I found a lineup of stylish travel outfits, from billowy maxi dresses to multifunctional midi dresses. For sunset dinners in Nice, wine tours in Provence, and espresso stops in Paris, these are all breezy, versatile, and start at just $25. So, consider this your packing shortcut for the season. If a dress could capture the spirit of summer, it would be this royal blue eyelet number. Lightweight, breathable, and filled with beautiful details, I'd pair it with white sneakers and a crossbody for daytime sightseeing in Rome. For a high-end dinner look, swap in gold flats and statement earrings. With 22 colors to choose from, you might be tempted to grab more than one before your next trip. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon This pleated stunner would look just as good at a vineyard in Tuscany as it would at a summer soirée while you're home. The structured pleats make it look polished, elevated, and far more expensive than its $50 price tag. Its wrinkle resistance makes it a savvy suitcase addition. Style it with block heels and a straw clutch for a wedding or keep it simple with strappy sandals and a sunhat on a day out. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon For just $30, this plaid maxi is a steal—and it'll look like a dream in photos. With ruffled sleeves and a cinched waist, it's the kind of outfit you'll want to wear from brunch in Paris to sunset cocktails in Brooklyn. It's breathable, lightweight, and easy to dress up or down with espadrilles or sneakers. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon This casual-cool midi dress is the piece you'll reach for again and again—especially while on vacation. The tie waist and side slit add shape to the breezy silhouette, and it works as a standalone outfit or even a swimsuit cover-up. Pair it with slides and a tote for the beach, or layer it with a denim jacket and white sneakers for travel days. One shopper said they wore it on five flights—now that's just the kind of comfort we can get behind. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon This halter midi is destined for any summer occasion: weddings, rooftop dinners, European strolls. The open back and high-cinching waist add shape while still maintaining an airy look and feel. The sky blue color is as photogenic as it gets—dress it up with espadrilles and delicate jewelry, or go more relaxed with leather slides and a basket bag. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon Plaid for summer? Absolutely—especially when it looks this good. With its flowing shape and soft material, this dress is perfect for exploring farmer's markets or having a long lunch alfresco. Go for crisp white accessories by day, then add raffia heels and a bold lip for night. One reviewer praised the quality, calling it flattering and wrinkle-resistant—a major plus for travelers. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon If there's one travel essential every wardrobe needs, it's a go-to black midi dress, and this one has a relaxed fit, side pockets, and endless styling potential. It works for city walks, office days, or even happy hour. Pair it with sneakers and sunnies for day, or add heeled sandals and a statement necklace for a night out. Bonus: It packs like a dream and costs just $30. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon A vacation dress that makes a statement, this two-toned pink midi has a subtle side cutout and breezy slit. It's playful without being over the top, so you can wear it with platform sandals for a rooftop party or layer with a denim jacket and sneakers for daytime exploring. The bold color combo will look especially good in golden hour photos. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon Whether you're headed to a beach club in Ibiza or lounging poolside at a resort, this striped mini doubles as a cover-up and day dress. The material is lightweight and easy to toss in a carry-on. Style it effortlessly with a wide-brimmed hat, straw bag, and sandals. At just $25, it's the kind of travel MVP you'll thank yourself for packing. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon With its simple shape and elegant black trim, this maxi dress feels equal parts timeless and versatile. It's the kind of piece you can wear to a dinner in Mykonos or a wine tasting in the South of France. Style it with minimal gold jewelry and slides for a laid-back vibe, or elevate it with wedges and a sleek updo. Reviewers say that like all of the items I'm eyeing on this list, it resists wrinkles—no steamer needed. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon If yellow is your signature summer color, this dress is calling your name. The flowy silhouette and delicate ruffle hem looks feminine and fresh, while the color pops beautifully against beachy backdrops and golden sunsets. Think: strolling along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice or sipping aperol in Amalfi. Add strappy sandals and cat-eye sunglasses to complete the look. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon Lightweight thanks to a linen-blend fabric, this little red dress is a must-pack for hot summer days. The open back gives it that vacation flair, and the pockets are practical for exploring. Wear it on a coastal wine tour with espadrilles or over your swimsuit for a beach day. Either way, it's the kind of easy-chic piece that looks effortless and polished all at once. Credit: Amazon Credit: Amazon Love a great deal? 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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Pick Apart
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Pick Apart Constructor: Jared Goudsmit Editor: Jared Goudsmit Jared: I'm so stoked to see this puzzle run! Constructing today's grid was an especially ambitious challenge for me because of those 15-letter bonus entries at 3- and 10-Down. One of my favorite aspects of USA Today puzzles is that grid designs don't have to follow rotational symmetry, giving constructors the flexibility to make more creative choices. I'd also like to give a shout-out to 33-Down, a resource I often use when hunting for fresh new clues! MARCH (9D: Hinamatsuri's month) Hinamatsuri is a Japanese holiday that is also known as Doll's Day or Girls' Day. It is celebrated each year on March 3 and celebrates the health and happiness of young girls and women. The observance of Hinamatsuri includes a display of dolls on a multitiered, red-carpeted platform. TARYN (27D: Body positivity activist Brumfitt) TARYN Brumfitt is a writer, speaker, filmmaker, and body positivity advocate. She is the founder of Body Image Movement, an organization that teaches people to love and appreciate their bodies. In 2023, TARYN Brumfitt was named Australian of the Year. COCA (30D: Mate de ___ (herbal tea)) Mate de COCA, also known as COCA tea, is an herbal drink made using the leaves of the COCA plant. The COCA plant contains alkaloids from which cocaine is derived. Although a cup of mate de COCA contains a low amount of the alkaloid, it is enough to cause a positive result on a drug test for cocaine. Mate de COCA is currently illegal in the United States unless it has been decocainized. KFC (1A: Raising Cane's competitor) Like its competitor KFC, Raising Cane is a restaurant specializing in chicken. Raising Cane's specific specialty is chicken fingers. The company was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is named after the dog of one of the founders. RHEA (15A: Actress Seehorn) RHEA Seehorn played the role of attorney Kim Wexler on the TV Series, Better Call Saul (2015-2022), a spin-off of and prequel to Breaking Bad (2008-2013). ROMAN (42A: Like Augustus) Augustus (63 BCE-14 CE), also known as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus was the founder of the ROMAN Empire. He was the first ROMAN emperor, serving from 27 BCE until his death. AYE (46A: Blackbeard's "Yes!") AYE, Blackbeard was the nickname of Edward Teach/Thatch (c 1680-1718), who was a pirate in the West Indies and off the eastern coast of North America. Blackbeard has been the inspiration for many fictional pirates. PICTURE BOOK (58A: "Boys Don't Fry" or "Pete's a Pizza") Boys Don't Fry is a PICTURE BOOK by Kimberly Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua. It tells the story of a Malaysian boy who wants to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. Pete's a Pizza is a PICTURE BOOK written and illustrated by William Stieg. It tells about a boy (named Pete, of course) whose father "turns him into a pizza" to help him overcome the disappointment of cancelled plans. I'm a fan of PICTURE BOOKs and I appreciate the use of specific examples in this clue. EAR (64A: Body part with a tragus) The tragus is part of the external EAR. It is a small pointed prominence that projects backward, helping to collect sounds from behind. If you put your finger on your cheek and let it travel back towards your ear, you will discover your tragus; the little part that sticks up slightly and is located above your earlobe. TESLA (66A: Inventor Nikola) Nikola TESLA (1856-1943) was an inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the design of modern electricity supply systems and alternating current. One of Nikola TESLA's inventions was the TESLA coil, an electrical resonant transformer circuit. TESLA invented the coil in 1891. Although they've been used in a variety of applications, today the main use of TESLA coils are for entertainment and educational purposes. Tesla coils can even be used to play music. KAPPA (1D: Letter after iota) KAPPA is making back-to-back crossword appearances, as we saw it yesterday clued as [Sorority's K]. EMU (11D: Liberty Mutual bird) The Liberty Mutual insurance company has used LiMu EMU as its mascot since 2019. ABC (29D: "The Golden Bachelorette" channel) The Golden Bachelorette is a dating reality TV series that premiered last year, joining ABC's offerings of dating reality shows. The Golden Bachelorette features a bachelorette and contestants who are older than those seen on its counterpart The Bachelorette. WIKIPEDIA (33D: Web resource with a "List of lists of lists" page) I'm always happy to see WIKIPEDIA highlighted, as it's a resource I, like Jared, am extremely grateful for. WIKIPEDIA's "List of lists of lists" page is a fun one to check out. As the name suggests, the page is a list of other WIKIPEDIA pages that contain lists of other lists. One could spend a lot of time digging into the links on this WIKIPEDIA page. (I don't have any personal experience of that, of course...) BDAY (38D: NYE, for Bebe Neuwirth) Bebe Neuwirth has won two Tony Awards for her work on Broadway and two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Lilith Sternin on the sitcom Cheers (1982-1993). And her birthday is on New Year's Eve. The abbreviation NYE in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be BDAY. ORE (43D: Mined resource in the game Deep Rock Galactic) Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative video game released in 2020. The game is set on an alien planet, Hoxxes IV. There are a number of different OREs on the planet that are mineable resources. IKEA (56D: Seller of SKOGSTA tables) SKOGSTA tables sold by IKEA are made of acacia wood. IN A (59D: "Genie ___ Bottle" (Christina Aguilera hit)) Christine Aguilera's song, "Genie IN A Bottle" is from her self-titled debut studio album. "Genie IN A Bottle" was the biggest summer hit of 1999, spending five weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Some other clues I especially enjoyed: ALOE (13A: Succulent that kind of sounds like a greeting) WAITER (50A: "___, there's a fly in my soup!") TRUNK (22D: Part of a car or tree) HATE WATCH (35D: Enjoy some trash TV, perhaps) POPSICLE STICK (20A: Part of a frozen treat that may have a joke printed on it) PITCH BLACK (37A: Totally dark) PICTURE BOOK (58A: "Boys Don't Fry" or "Pete's a Pizza") PICK APART: The word PICK is split APART and found at the ends of each theme answer: POPSICLE STICK, PITCH BLACK, and PICTURE BOOK. The theme answers here represent each possible split of the word PICK: P/ICK, PI/CK, and PIC/K. I'm glad that Jared persevered and came up with a grid that included the grid-spanning Down answers CORPORATE LADDER (3D: Something an office worker may climb) and SMOKE AND MIRRORS (10D: Magician's trickery), as those two answers are quite nice. Thank you, Jared, for this excellent puzzle. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 13, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Book review: 'The Odyssey'
The epic The Odyssey , written by Homer, is what philosophers call 'canonical' or 'classic' pieces of literature due to its prevalent lessons and moral displayed between the two main characters, Telemachus and his father, Odysseus. After Odysseus disappears during war, Telemachus has his house infested with suitors after his mother, Penelope. However, in the hopes of restoring his home, he quests to find his long lost father, despite all opposing circumstances. Conversely, Odysseus had not only lost the war, but was forced to vacate an island with a goddess, of which refused to release him. However, due to the heavy influence of Athena, Odysseus is set free to travel home, but with many obstacles in his way. This epic showcases many relevant and necessary ideas of how morals heavily influence our daily lives, but also displays the necessity and courage it takes to be a leader. The Odyssey has stood the test of time, and yet still teaches the adolescents of today's world. I believe this epic teaches the concept of what real leadership looks like, as Odysseus and Telemachus were both faced with many difficult situations, with many lives at stake, including their own. However, I felt as if it also displayed the humanity in all leaders, as both these men made careless and arrogant errors, causing loss and defeat in the book. It teaches readers that everyone is human, and there is no such thing as a perfect, all-time winning leader. I enjoyed the constant twist in action, setting, and backstory with each and every character, as each individual has his or her own storyline behind them. It was intriguing to listen in to what each character had to say and their past. Additionally, I enjoyed the constant anticipation of each major plot point, as everytime I suspected a cliche win, or predicted something, it either was way off or never ended up happening. It was quite suspenseful, as this was a book that was not afraid of displaying constant loss and grief. Although there is a lot to enjoy about this book, there are only a few things that I found to be perplexing. There were lots of unnecessary comments and characters throughout the book, and keeping track of their relevance and appearances was rather difficult, not to mention their similar Greek/Roman names. The random interferences of the Greek gods I also found to be annoying, despite their extreme influence and relevance in the book. Ultimately, I found the gods to be the main antagonists, however, many would disagree for various reasons. I would strongly recommend any young adolescent to read this epic, as it teaches many important lessons of leadership and humanity. With social media and the reliance on others becoming much too common, this epic displays raw, untainted ideas of leadership, and paints a perfect picture for readers to connect humanity and power, which are very related yet often isolated from each other when power is obtained. Juveniles would greatly benefit from reading this canonical piece, as leadership seems to be a legendary trait, which negatively impacts our future. Related
