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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Looking for an escape? Here are 16 romance novels to read this summer
In a world of chaos, books offer an escape. Now, more than ever, we need novels that transport us into a great romance, whether it be set in a fantasy world of witches and pirates, a hotel on the Amalfi Coast, a country on the verge of revolution, in the cockpit of a plane or in a 17th century French castle. Whether you're in the mood for the comfort of instant love and happily ever after, romantasy with swords and sorcery, steamy historical fiction, literary takes on complex relationships or cheeky novels that set you tingling, the summer of 2025 offers all of that and more. To get you started, here are 16 books to read at the beach, in the bathtub, in the backyard or in stolen moments waiting in the school pickup line or on your lunch break. Consider Yourself Kissed By Jessica StanleyRiverhead: 336 pages, $30(May 27) Life in London is culture shock for Coralie after growing up in Australia. When she rescues a 4-year-old girl from drowning, it turns a traumatic incident into a meet-cute with the girl's dad, Adam. Their burgeoning relationship leads Coralie from Oz straight to happily ever after. But what happens in the 'ever after' part? When their relationship stutters at the 10-year mark, can they find their way to a new form of happiness? This novel invites you to eat Tim Tams as you sip comedic tea. Summerhouse By Yiğit KaraahmetSoho Crime: 352 pages, $29(May 27) A love triangle can sometimes put the spice back in a long marriage … or it can inspire a riveting murder plot. In Karaahmet's suspenseful marriage story, Fehmi and Şener have achieved the near-impossible: the gay couple has been together for 40 years in repressive Turkey. But simmering domestic tensions are set to a rolling boil by Fehmi's increasing fascination with the troubled teenager next door. 'Summerhouse' is redolent of the Mediterranean atmosphere of a Highsmith plot: sharp, spicy and humor black as night. Winging It With You By Chip PonsG.P. Putnam's Sons: 384 pages, $19(June 10) The quest for fame makes strange bedfellows and stranger reality show contestants. In this case, it's a bed shared by Theo Fernandez, who just lost his job as a pilot, and Asher Bennett, who just got dumped by his boyfriend. When the two sit next to each other at the airport bar, they decide to pose as a couple for 'The Epic Trek,' a round-the-world travel-competition reality TV show. What starts out as romantic roleplay becomes love that will upend their lives. Writing Mr. Right By Alina KhawajaMira: 304 pages, $19(June 10) Ziya Khan is living the life of most aspiring writers: She works a day job that pays the bills while spending her nights writing novels. Despite her hard work, her manuscripts are met with constant rejection (girl, same) and she vows to give up. Then she wakes up to find Aashiq, her writing muse made flesh. He has only one purpose: to inspire and push Ziya to keep writing and pursue her passion. When the two fall in love, the romance threatens to distract her from her art. Love, Coffee, and Revolution By Stefanie LederBlackstone: 282 pages, $29(June 10) Dee Blum is an idealistic student who drops out of college to lead eco-tours in Costa Rica, much to her family's disapproval. Dee is happy in her new life and when she meets two men, everything sizzles. But Dee's naive views of both romance and of doing right are complicated by a dangerous organization presenting itself as the 'good guys.' What will she do next and will the decision smother all of that romantic fire? Room on the Sea By André AcimanFarrar, Straus & Giroux: 272 pages, $28(June 24) Aciman, whose 'Call Me by Your Name' slow-burned the summer of 2007 (and again when adapted to the big screen in 2017), has written three romantic novellas, combined here into a single volume. 'Mariana' is about the passion between a nun and an aristocrat, based on a 17th century volume of correspondence. 'The Gentleman From Peru' takes place in a hotel where a group of friends are spellbound by a stranger's tale of thwarted romance. And 'Room on the Sea' follows a man and a woman thrown together in a jury pool who are drawn to its deeper ends. Each of the novellas are just the perfect length for a single afternoon. A Treachery of Swans By A. B. PoranekMargaret K. McElderry Books: 368 pages, $20(June 24) Poranek's sapphic twist on 'Swan Lake' is also a murder mystery and a fantasy. When Odile, the daughter of a sorcerer, is sent to steal the king's crown, she must first infiltrate his court. There, she transmutes noblewoman Marie d'Odette into a swan and assumes her identity. Odile woos the crown prince, but a murder at court forces her to seek out assistance from the muted swan. She unfurls her own wings of desire for the beautiful Odette. Hot Girls With Balls By Benedict NguyenCatapult: 288 pages, $28(July 1) Two Asian American trans women — Six and Green — compete on the men's pro indoor volleyball circuit. When they're not together, they communicate on their very public social media accounts. Demanding fans, who scrutinize every relationship spike and volley, and jealousy complicate their love, and together they'll face a shocking act of betrayal. Get set for this funny and very sexy off-court romp. A Bomb Placed Close to the HeartBy Nishant BatshaEcco: 304 pages, $28(July 1) Love is its own act of resistance in repressive times. Here romantic passion combines with revolution in a historical fiction sure to light up readers' rebel hearts. Cora Trent, a graduate student in 1917 California, meets Indra Mukherjee, a revolutionary who has recently arrived from India. When America chooses to join World War I, the government prosecutes dissidents and silences protests. Harsh national policies lead to imprisonment and deportation for those caught speaking out. Will the lovers survive being made fugitives on the run? These Summer Storms By Sarah MacLeanBallantine: 400 pages, $30(July 8) Turns out that money and toxic families go together like peeled grapes and the finest Roquefort when MacLean combines them. Cast out of her family, Alice Storm returns to attend her father's funeral. She is forced to stay on her family's island estate as the patriarch's will stipulates conditions that must be played out before anyone can leave. Her father's second-in-command, the handsome Jack Dean, insists family members play fair in obeying their father's will. Alice breaks all the rules when she tests the family game's referee. Love Is a War Song By Danica NavaBerkley: 336 pages, $19(July 22) Opposites attract in this story of a spoiled pop princess and a cowboy. Posing on the cover of Rolling Stone while wearing almost nothing but a feathered war bonnet was supposed to mark Avery's national success and celebrate her pride as a member of the Muscogee tribe. The backlash makes her a laughingstock and scuttles her career. In exile at her grandmother's Oklahoma ranch, she meets Lucas Iron Eyes, who has been working since he was 16 and has no time for stroking her bruised ego. But when someone threatens the ranch, the two unite to save it. The romantic sparks set the whole prairie ablaze. The Game Plan By Kristen CallihanCanary Street: 352 pages, $18(July 29) Hot sex and feisty romance give readers a zing in the story of an NFL athlete who falls for the girl next door. Ethan Dexter looks like a mountain man hunk, but in his private life, he's lost in the wilderness when it comes to women. What folks don't know is that he's entirely focused on Fiona Mackenzie, who treats him like he's just another guy in their social group. When Dex makes his move, will Fiona block or punt? Once Upon a Time in Dollywood By Ashley JordanBerkley: 448 pages, $19(Aug. 5) Jordan's debut is an exhilarating climb through Tennessee's mountains and the depths of passion. Eve's increasing success as a playwright begins to short-circuit her life, so she seeks a quiet starlight writing retreat — or permanent exile — in the hills. Her neighbor, Jamie, wants his own life as a single dad after the end of a bruising custody battle. Will either one of them give up their peace to experience the pulse-pounding thrill of plunging into love? The Sun and the Moon By Rebekah FaubionBerkley: 368 pages, $19(Aug. 12) Cadence has found a happy life as a park ranger in Maine. It's a lot sunnier than the icy shadow of her celebrity psychic mother. When Madame Moira reaches out to Cadence to announce her upcoming nuptials, she reluctantly agrees to attend her engagement party. There she meets Sydney, the pilot daughter of her stepfather-to-be. Their plot to dig holes in their parents' love garden entangles them in the tendrils of their own blooming feelings. Love Is an Open Book By Chandra BlumbergCanary Street Press: 352 pages, $19(Aug. 12) Blumberg totally understood the assignment when she set out to write one of romance's favorite types of stories. Her tale of best friends — Mia, a romance novelist who is cynical about love and unable to write, and Gavin, who thinks he can help her get her mojo back — is a frisky delight. They create writing exercises in which they act out scenes based on different romance novel styles. Can the two tell the difference between playacting and following their hearts? The Sea Witch By Eva LeighCanary Street Press: 448 pages, $19(Aug. 26) Leigh has penned a pirate romantasy with an ultra-hot relationship at its center. Alys Tanner has been condemned as a witch in 18th century New England and escapes to captain an all-female crew of sorcerers. Taken prisoner and brought on board the ship the Sea Witch is Ben Priestley, a British naval navigator. Beset by monsters, chased by the Navy and attacked by other pirates, Ben and Alys battle together against the odds.
Qatar Living
17-05-2025
- Qatar Living
Qatar Airways Cargo to help lions Goliath, Coralie return to nature
After more than a decade confined to a cramped circus cage on the back of a touring truck in France, two lions — Goliath and Coralie — are finally heading to freedom. Thanks to new regulations phasing out the use of wild animals in circuses, and a great initiative by Qatar Airways Cargo, the majestic pair will soon arrive at the Animal Defenders International Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa. On Tuesday, May 20, the two lions will be onboarded onto a Qatar Airways Cargo freighter from the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. They will touch down in Doha before journeying onwards to Johannesburg, South Africa, and reaching on May 21. The flight, provided free of charge under the airline's 'WeQare Rewild the Planet' initiative, marks a major milestone in the lions' journey to their ancestral homeland. 'We're proud to support ADI again in bringing these two beautiful lions home. Moving animals of this size and stature is no small feat — from arranging suitable cages and ensuring their welfare, to coordinating logistics at every step — but it's a mission we're passionate about,' said Qatar Airways Cargo's Chief Officer Cargo Mark Drusch. 11-year-old Goliath and 13-year-old Coralie were rescued after a complaint was filed by France's Free Life Association against Cirque Ideal, where the lions had spent years in harsh conditions. Despite the circus attempting to evade authorities, the animals were eventually located and seized under France's new regulations banning wild animals in circuses — a law that will take full effect in 2028. The lions were temporarily housed at Tonga Terre d'Accueil near St. Etienne, before ADI stepped in to offer them a permanent home. ADI, known for its large-scale rescue missions in countries like Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Guatemala, will welcome the lions to their 455-acre sanctuary in the Free State province. There, they will live in expansive natural enclosures of up to eight acres, far removed from the tiny cages they are used to. ADI President Jan Creamer expressed both relief and urgency. 'Goliath and Coralie have endured a lifetime of suffering, trapped in barren cages with no freedom, no space to move, and no consideration for their wellbeing. Now, they'll finally enjoy the sights and sounds of Africa, where they can stretch out in the sun, chase wildlife, and simply be lions,' he said. Despite the flight being covered by Qatar Airways Cargo, ADI is still working to raise funds for the lions' long-term care, enclosure construction, and associated relocation costs. 'This mission will transform their lives. But we still need help to ensure Goliath and Coralie can live the rest of their days in peace and dignity,' said Creamer. --- Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. Instagram - @qatarliving X - @qatarliving Facebook - Qatar Living YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Can love survive Brexit and babies?
Never go out with a journalist. Sure, they may have promised to cook dinner, but when a story breaks, that's it — all plans are off. And political journalists are the worst offenders. Consider Yourself Kissed (bear with it, it's less frothy than the title suggests) follows a couple over ten years, from 2013 to 2023, as Adam gets his dream job at The Times, 'trying to be funny' about 'life and death' politics, and his girlfriend, our heroine Coralie, struggles to remember why she fell in love with him. His all-consuming career makes her feel 'like a widow without the sympathy' as she brings up their two children and his daughter from his first marriage. This is a man who describes being on The
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Win a copy of Cat Fight by Kit Conway in this week's Fabulous book competition
CORALIE, Emma and Twig are friends and neighbours, but tensions are never far from the surface. Then a panther is spotted on the road and cracks appear in their close community. 1 As the summer heats up and more big-cat sightings are reported, their friendships are pushed to breaking point. A wry and witty domestic thriller. 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition. To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on May 24, 2025. For full terms and conditions, click here.
30-04-2025
Illinois town mourns the 4 youngsters killed when a car barreled through their after-school camp
CHATHAM, Ill. -- Residents of a small central Illinois city on Tuesday mourned the loss of three children and a teenager killed in a startling crash in which a car barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp. Authorities said it didn't appear to be a targeted attack. The car on Monday left a road, crossed a field and smashed into the side of the building in Chatham used by Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, also known as YNOT, according to Illinois State Police. It traveled through the building, striking people before exiting the other side. Six children were also hospitalized, including one left in critical condition. The Sangamon County coroner identified those killed as 18-year-old Rylee Britton of Springfield and three Chatham children: Ainsley Johnson, 8, and Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both 7. On Tuesday evening, with red ribbons tied in bows lining Main Street, hundreds of people gathered for a vigil in the town square, where heart-shaped boards bore the names of the four who died. Dozens of people signed messages to each. 'You were a great counselor,' 9-year-old Coralie Glessner wrote on the heart for Britton. Coralie, who has participated in YNOT's program in the past, said she liked that Britton played four square with her. Asked for a memory of her, Coralie said, 'Greeting me when I got off the bus' each day at YNOT. Faith leaders spoke as attendees held lit candles. Lutheran Charities brought support animals, and the American Red Cross provided 'water, snacks and tissues,' organizer Miriam Snider said. Sam McCurdy, 19, drove home Tuesday from the University of Missouri in Columbia to be with his sister, a close friend of Britton's. His sister, Britton and other friends had planned to attend prom together this weekend. 'I wanted to be here for her, and for the community, to show support,' McCurdy said. 'So many plans, so many futures, and so much grieving for something that shouldn't have happened.' People in the community of about 15,000, located in what was once an open prairie outside the Illinois capital of Springfield, have also been grieving and consoling each other in other ways. 'People are coping by finding ways to be with each other, to provide comfort and support to those who are suffering,' Snider said. Churches held prayer services, city leaders ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and schools held classes online. An ice cream shop offered free scoops and a community meeting place. Some locals changed their Facebook profile pictures to red ribbons with the motto 'Chatham Strong.' 'This is just devastating," said Jennifer Walston, 43, as she and her daughters left flowers and a stuffed animal at the crash site. Plywood covered the hole where the car crashed into the building. She said her daughters knew Alma and Ainsley, remembering them as energetic girls who tried to include others. 'They were sweet girls,' Walston said. The studio where Ainsley and two others hurt in the crash took dance canceled classes Tuesday. Teachers at Studio M Dance Centre remembered the 8-year-old in a Facebook post as a 'sweet and sassy' dancer and tumbler who 'will be deeply missed every single day.' Earlier in the day, hundreds packed Cherry Hills Church. Most wore red, the color of Glenwood High School, where Britton was a senior. Pastor Steve Patzia told the crowd that he saw her in church on Easter Sunday as he offered words of comfort. 'It's good and right to feel how you feel, when you feel how you feel. I've had moments of grief and sadness. I've cried, and I've also had memories,' he said. 'I would encourage you to share those good memories you have of her and the children that were lost as well.' Parents said the YNOT Outdoors after-school and summer camp programs, which employ high school and college students as counselors, are coveted and competitive to get into. In social media posts, families recalled fond summer memories at the location which focuses on outdoor activities. Walston's daughters attended the summer camp and said they knew Alma and Ainsley, remembering them as energetic girls who tried to include others. 'They were sweet girls,' Walston said. Jamie Loftus, founder of YNOT Outdoors, said security camera footage showed a vehicle left the road 'a substantial distance' away and sped across the field toward the building. The car then crossed a road, the sidewalk and YNOT's parking lot before crashing through the building 'with no apparent attempt to alter its direction,' Loftus said. The vehicle then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and fence. 'I cannot gather the words to express much of anything that will make sense in print," Loftus said in a social media post about the victims on Monday. 'They are friends and their kids are like our kids.' Jacob Rabin, 19, who attended YNOT as a child, said the 3:20 p.m. crash happened at the worst possible time. 'They would have just gotten off the buses' at YNOT, Rabin said. 'There would have been the peak amount of people there at that time.' The driver, a 44-year-old Chatham woman, wasn't injured but was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Police said toxicology reports were pending. She was not in custody on Tuesday. State police declined to offer further details, saying the crash remains under investigation. 'This does not appear to be a targeted attack,' state police said. Officials in the Ball-Chatham School District, where the four victims attended schools, said classes would be online through Thursday. 'As we mourn this unimaginable loss, we recognize the pain and grief that many are experiencing,' Superintendent Becca Lamon and Chatham Village President Dave Kimsey said in a joint statement. 'We are all hurting.' The deadly crash comes days after a car plowed through a crowded street during a Filipino heritage festival in Canada, killing 11 people. Similar vehicle ramming events have taken place worldwide.
