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Buzz Feed
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Rom-Com Novels To Read 2025
Whether you're looking for major spice or PG romance, straight or queer, enemies-to-lovers or forever-friends, I'm willing to bet there's a rom-com on this list that'll make your heart sing while you work on your tan. Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle Length: 336 PagesQuick Description: At a high school reunion, old enemies Molly and Seth make a bet about which couples they think will be together in five years. Seth bets he and Molly will be among I loved it: I love a debut author novel – you know this story has been swirling in Katelyn Doyle's head for years, perfecting the characters and flow. Molly and Seth are opposites: a golden retriever and a black cat. The characters are believable, likeable, and relatable in this easy-to-read, funny debut. Tropes: Friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, grand gestureFable Rating: 3.61/5Spice Level: Open-door romanceIf you liked this, read: Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue Length: 352 PagesQuick Description: Due to an IT error, Jolene gains access to all of her coworkers emails, revealing their innermost thoughts. She finds herself falling for one but can't admit I loved it: This novel (also a debut) is a rom-com hidden within a larger story of office dynamics. Minor characters stand out, with their emails providing details into their backstories and struggles. The description says "laugh-out-loud funny," but don't expect that. Instead, you'll find a relatable and, at times, dramatic and heartbreaking telling of offices Friends-to-lovers, opposites attractFable Rating: 3.81/5Spice Level: PG romanceIf you liked this, read: Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston Length: 432 PagesQuick Description: Cynical August meets punk-rock Jane on a subway and instantly feels the love. However, there's a time-and-space issue – Jane is displaced in time from the I loved it: This is a sapphic love story with elements of the fantastical, which you'll need to put aside reality to jump into August and Jane's love story. Each character is relatable and sexy as hell. They deal with real-world anti-LGBT comments and grief, as well as that pesky space-time continuum. Tropes: Meet-cute, found familyFable Rating: 3.9/5Spice Level: Open-door romanceIf you liked this, read: I Kissed Shara Wheeler, also by Casey McQuiston. One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London Length: 432 PagesQuick Description: Plus-size fashion blogger Bea is selected to be the next bachelorette on a dating show. This novel gives a look inside shooting the show, the internet frenzy surrounding it, and both some eligible and terrible I loved it: I'll always go hard for a plus-size heroine, with Bea being the perfect example. She is confident and sexy, while also being keenly aware of how the men see her. While some of the men let their fatphobia fly, there is one among the bunch who will give Bea her happily ever Forced proximity, love triangleFable Rating: 3.92/5Spice Level: Closed-door romanceIf you liked this, read: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner Book Lovers by Emily Henry Length: 384 PagesQuick Description: Literary Agent Nora agrees to spend the summer in picturesque Sunshine Falls, NC, with her sister, where she re-meets cunning book editor Charlie, her former I loved it: You can't have a list of rom-coms without Emily Henry, and picking just one of hers is difficult, but this one soars to the top for me. The Sunshine Falls setting is an incredibly realistic portrayal of small-town NC, and Nora and Charlie are both fantastic characters. Books play a central role in this novel, as they work together to publish a story with interesting ties to Nora's real life. Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, the best friend's roleFable Rating: 4.17/5Spice Level: Open-door romanceIf you liked this, read: Funny Story, also by Emily Henry A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams Length: 352 PagesQuick Description: Two stories converge in this fantasy romance between today's Harlem shop-owner Ricki and 1920s Harlem Renaissance pianist Ezra. Why I loved it: I'm going to tell you right away, this is a fantasy novel. Most negative comments regard magical elements being introduced partway through the story with no real warning. If you go in disregarding reality, you can fully immerse yourself in the Harlem of yesterday and today, with the sights, smells, and personalities of New York Opposites attractFable Rating: 4.13/5Spice Level: Open-door romanceIf you liked this, read: The Harlem Shuffle by Colston Whitehead Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Length: 432 PagesQuick Description: Justin and Emma have a curse: each time they date someone, that person finds their soulmate immediately after. When they come together, they decide to date for the summer, giving each other the chance to find their soulmate by I loved it: Abby Jimenez is another rom-com staple who often mixes lighthearted romance with dark themes. For this story, Justin's mother is off to prison, leaving him in charge of his younger siblings. Justin rises to the challenge, and Emma is along for the ride in this super adorable love Meet-cute, friends-to-loversFable Rating: 4.43/5Spice Level: Closed-door romanceIf you liked this, read: The Fall Risk, also by Abby Jimenez (a short beach read – just 52 pages!) I'm So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson Length: 368 PagesQuick Description: When Hudson's parents come into town expecting him to be in a relationship, he reaches out to his ex, Kian, to pretend to be his boyfriend for the visit and an upcoming wedding. As the events unfold, they begin to forget why they are exes in the first I loved it: I'm a sucker for the "pretend we're together" rom-com trope. You'll quickly forget why Hudson and Kian are not really together and fall in love with them as they fall back in love with each other. Plus, there's a wedding – we always love a Fake dating, second chance romanceFable Rating: 3.37/5Spice Level: Open-door romanceIf you liked this, read: A Dash of Salt and Pepper, also by Kosoko Jackson The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren Length: 432 Pages (Yes, three books on this list are 432 pages long!)Brief Description: After a wedding that knocks everyone down with food poisoning, only two come out unscathed: Olive, the bride's twin, and Ethan, the best man. While these two are mortal enemies, they reluctantly agree to take over the nonrefundable I loved it: Fake dating to the extreme: a fake marriage. Olive and Ethan must put their hatred aside for fake marital bliss in a dream location. The more they pretend to be in love, the feelings begin to be real, allowing Olive to begin to step out of the shadow of her perfect Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximityFable Rating: 3.89/5Spice Level: Closed-door romanceIf you liked this, read: The Paradise Problem, also by Christina Lauren And The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter Length: 304 PagesBrief Description: Maggie writes cozy mysteries, Ethan writes thrillers. They are not fans of each other, to say the least. The two authors are invited to a weekend getaway, where one of the world's most famous authors goes missing. Trapped in the snowy castle, they must figure out the clues to I loved it: This short novel brings a snowy backdrop to remind you that this heat isn't forever. This rom-co mystery combines a locked-room mystery with a budding romance between authors who previously wouldn't look at each other. As the mystery deepens, so do feelings and admiration for each Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, opposites attractFable Rating: 3.96/5Spice Level: Closed-door romanceIf you liked this, read: How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang I hope these rom-coms bring a little love to your summer reading. What are you reading this summer? Drop your suggestions in the comments!
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Q and A with Calgary author Natalie Sue, winner of the 2025 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
Article content Natalie Sue was busy working on revisions for her upcoming sophomore novel when she let an incoming phone call go to voicemail. Article content It turns out it was someone from Stephen Leacock Associates calling to tell her she had made the list for the prestigious $25,000 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, which she won this weekend at a gala in Orillia, Ont. Leacock, who wrote comical CanLit classics such as Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town in the early 20th century, lived in Orilli,a and it is home to the Leacock Museum. Article content Article content The win tops off what has been a remarkable ride for Sue and her debut novel, I Hope This Finds You Well. After writing three novels and receiving no interest from publishers or agents, Sue changed her style and pitched a book with a lighter tone and an ensemble cast of characters. She received offers from 10 literary agents, and I Hope This Finds You Well eventually had 10 publishers bidding for it. Released in early 2024 by Harper Collins Canada, it has been described as 'The Office meets Fleabag' with its tale of a burned-out twenty-something office outcast named Jolene who catches flak when unflattering online messages about her co-workers that she thought were private come to light. When she accidentally becomes privy to her co-workers' similarly disparaging DMs, she decides to use them to climb the corporate ladder. Article content Article content Local writers have a strong track record with the Leacock Medal. In 2024, B.C.-born novelist Patrick deWitt won the award for The Librarianist, but the runner-ups were Calgary authors Ali Bryan and Deborah Willis for Coq and Girlfriend on Mars, respectively. Article content Article content Past winners have also included Calgary's Will Ferguson, who has won the medal three times. Ferguson's brother Ian has also won the award, as did the late W.O. Mitchell. Article content For me, I try to prioritize the storytelling. I don't want to say comedy comes naturally, because I do think about my jokes. Sometimes I do get a little wrapped up in them, trying to make things funny. Before writing this book, I had written a few suspense (novels) and I think the biggest problem with me writing suspense was that I was throwing a few jokes in and it wasn't really the right tone. So, now, when I decided to write something a little lighter in tone, it matched much more. That's when I was finally able to find an agent and all that.
Hamilton Spectator
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Natalie Sue wins Leacock Medal for Humour for novel ‘I Hope This Finds You Well'
Natalie Sue's debut novel 'I Hope This Finds You Well' has won this year's Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award is given to the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the previous year. The novel follows the story of an office worker in her early thirties who one day stumbles upon all of her colleagues' private emails and decides to use their gossip to help save her job. 'I Hope This Finds You Well' was published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Sue is a Calgary-based author of Iranian and British descent who spent her early years living in western Canada. Runners-up, who received $5,000 each, were Greg Kearney for 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist who lost connection with his childhood best friend when he left to pursue a pop music career, and Patricia J. Parsons for 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows one woman's attempt to reconnect her family with Newfoundland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Natalie Sue wins Leacock Medal for Humour for novel ‘I Hope This Finds You Well'
Natalie Sue's debut novel 'I Hope This Finds You Well' has won this year's Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award is given to the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the previous year. The novel follows the story of an office worker in her early thirties who one day stumbles upon all of her colleagues' private emails and decides to use their gossip to help save her job. 'I Hope This Finds You Well' was published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Sue is a Calgary-based author of Iranian and British descent who spent her early years living in western Canada. Runners-up, who received $5,000 each, were Greg Kearney for 'An Evening With Birdy O'Day,' about an aging hairstylist who lost connection with his childhood best friend when he left to pursue a pop music career, and Patricia J. Parsons for 'We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock,' which follows one woman's attempt to reconnect her family with Newfoundland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Global News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Alberta writer Natalie Sue sees her debut novel become finalist for Leacock humour writing prize
Calgary writer Natalie Sue's debut novel about the absurdities of office life is one of three finalists for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The $25,000 award, named for essayist and humorist Stephen Leacock, honours the best Canadian book of literary humour published in the past year. Sue's I Hope This Finds You Well, which centres on a burnt-out office worker whose unsent email drafts accidentally go public, is on the short list. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Also making the cut is Toronto author and playwright Greg Kearney's An Evening With Birdy O'Day, about an aging hairstylist revisiting his friendship with a washed-up pop idol. Rounding out the list is Toronto writer Patricia J. Parsons' We Came From Away: That Summer on the Rock, which follows a feuding family's Newfoundland road trip. Story continues below advertisement The winner will be announced June 21 at a gala dinner in Orillia, Ont.
