You’d think a town called Friendly would be, well, friendlier.
As a lowly junior buyer for a trendy boutique in NYC, I dream of opening a store that will carry beautiful clothes for women of all body types. So, when I inherit beachfront property from a great-aunt I never knew existed, it’s a dream come true. There’s just one problem: my handsome new neighbor has plans to expand his own business—and he needs my building to do it.
Tuck’s a local. I’m an outsider. With the whole town against me, I may as well pack my bags and leave.
But that’s not my style.
I won’t give up without a fight. But Tuck has a few tricks up his sleeve, too—including spine-melting kisses that I can’t seem to resist.
Suited for Love is a sweet, laugh-out-loud romcom novella that first appeared in the Fall into Love anthology in 2022. It has been edited and expanded to become the first book in the Sticks & Stones Sweet Beach Rom Com series.
Ash Keller writes clean contemporary romance and romantic comedies. Her books are sweet on heat but big on heart. She lives in the rolling hills of Kentucky with her wonderful husband, three mischievous cats, and a couple of bossy backyard chickens that peck on the door to demand treats. For the latest news and exclusive content, subscribe to her newsletter.
So well done! Engaging! Fun! Romantic! Set by the seaside! I wanted a quick, fun, lighthearted, romantic read last night and so I read this book in one sitting, as it is a shorter novella. Totally checked all the boxes of what I needed at the time and I highly recommend it! A Shorter story but still long enough for a good story arc and antics along the way! I could totally envision this story being put to screen as a fun romcom.
Thank you to author Ash Keller for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Oh my gosh! That was just so incredibly sweet and fun. From enemies to Forever, this story made me howl with laughter. Margo was adorable. She’s a little sunshiny, but that’s tempered with moments of pure snark. And Tuck isn’t full-out “grumpy”, but in another decade or so he’s going to be yelling at kids to get off his lawn… Or maybe not now that this big-city whirlwind has blown into his life. I loved this book so much and I’m already counting down the moments until I can get my hands on the next one. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
I've been wanting to read a book by Ash Keller for a while. I was so excited when I won this one. And I LOVED it!
This is not a long book. It was a nice break from reading long books. The author did a great job making her characters jump off the pages in the short amount of space she had.
I loved Margo. She's the kind of woman who wants to help those around her feel good about themselves, no matter their size. So when she's fired from her job as a buyer for a NYC boutique, she knows that she wants to open her own place that will cater to everyone. And bonus, she's left a small shop in Friendly.
Friendly made me laugh. The people of Friendly were not so much to Margo. Everyone knew that Tuck wanted to expand his business into the store she was left. And most people were against Margo being there. I loved the way she worked to turn them to her favor. And I loved Margo and Tuck together. They were able to create a space and a relationship all their own.
This is such a cute read. It's a perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon on the beach or by the pool!
I won a copy of Suited for Love from the author. All opinions are my own.
This was just a fun book. When Margo is humiliated by her boss for the last time, she makes a change. Making a move from New York to small town Georgia is a huge change. But she can do it. This was a quick read and lots of fun. A free download I believe from the author.
I'm ready for a beachy RomCom and this one hit the spot!
Margo is a buyer for a posh clothing chain but there's no room there for her desire to clothe all sizes of women. With her stunning eye for fashion, she opens her own shop in small town Friendly. I love her cleverness in winning its citizens over and her Switzerland moments with her neighbor, Tuck. Margo is so comfortable with herself and that's so refreshing.
Tuck and Margo have such an easy, sweet, and swoony relationship with all the feels, even though this is a novella. I loved these characters, Houdini the cat, and the quirky and fun supporting cast. I can't wait to jump back into Friendly again.
If you love books repping plus sizes, inclusiveness, love interests in the 40ish age range, small town shenanigans, and sweet romantic comedy, this is the book for you!
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I liked our characters... a lot. Loved a lot about them. I also loved the town and the story itself. But I had a few problems. First, it was crazy short. I didn't look at the length (I never do) but how the story was going, I expected more than the hundred or so pages. Instead it kicked off great and then zipped to a conclusion before I could blink.
Still, next time I'm up for a romcom, I might check out the next. I'm curious to see what Keller will do to make this a series.
Margo Sterling’s dream promotion at the world-renowned boutique, Boutique Chrysalis, is cut short when her boss refuses to carry inclusive sizing. Margo had been pushing for inclusivity as where she works does not carry her size, and it is important to her. After quitting her job, everything feels like it’s falling apart until she gets a call from a small-town lawyer in Georgia saying that her great aunt Hildy, whom she’d never met, passed away, leaving her in possession of a small shop with an apartment above it. The mayor’s son, Tuck, has wanted Hildy’s Hut next door ever since he expanded his small bait and tackle business into carrying more outdoor items and was close to getting his hands on the much-needed space until a city girl showed up out of nowhere. She’s absolutely breathtaking and a true breath of fresh air which makes it even harder for him to hate her. Margo finds herself longing for the guy next door, and soon enough, she isn’t sure if she still wants to win over the whole small town or just him.
Suited for Love is a sweet short story about embracing the unexpected and having the courage to follow your dreams. I love how Margo stands up for herself against her boss, who clearly has a problem with Margo’s body as well as a problem creating a clothing boutique that sells inclusive sizing. I like how Margo almost fearfully embraces the idea of inheriting a business and making it into what she wished her high-end NYC job provided because “when one door closes, another opens.” I think that while Tuck’s character might seem in great contrast to Margo’s at first, I like how they are able to find common ground that allows their attraction to blossom quickly. Like the other Ash Keller book I’ve read, this one is fast-paced, and while I’m a fan of getting all the little details about romances, I found myself feeling okay without it. I genuinely love that this series is all about awareness and body positivity, and I can’t wait to read the second book!
This book was short and sweet and gave me all the happy vibes! Margo was awesome standing up for what she believed in and so brave starting her own little shop in Friendly against Tuck’s (and the town’s) wishes! I loved the meet cure, the forced proximity between her and Tuck, and the enemies to lovers aspect!
Suited for Love: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sticks & Stones Beach Rom Com Book 1) PUB DATE: March 6th If you enjoy... ☀️Small town ☀️Novella ☀️Hate to Love ☀️Plus Size Rep ☀️Sweet Romance ☀️Characters over 35 ☀️Happy Endings
Then I would look into Suited for Love this was a lovely short read & perfect for romance lovers ♡
Thank you to the author @ashkellerbooks For sensing me an ARC All thoughts, opinions & this post are my own. 📖☀️❤️📚 .
Kisses only. I first read this as part of an anthology. This is a short but sweet read. Much of the relationship occurs behind the scenes or we’re just told it happens (we talked all night or this was the fifth night we hung out—that kind of stuff). The book has good bones but I definitely think it could have been fleshed out more.
Tuck owns a business in Friendly, Georgia, and wants to make his shop larger since the property next door might be sold after his neighbor passes away. His shop had been perfect until he added kayak rentals to his business and storing them inside made is tough to move around. When he hears the property was left to a relative who has plans for it, he’s not sure what his next step will be. The Chief of Police stops by at the crack of dawn with Houdini, a local cat notorious for “losing” his collar. And since Tuck was appointed 5 years ago by the mayor (his mother), Coop wakes him up “before the crack of dawn” to provide yet another collar with a bell on it to warn the birds they are being stalked. Coop leaves the shop and Tuck finds the collar in the middle of the floor… already!
Margo Sterling is a buyer for a fashion company. When she suggests they carry more inclusive sizes for the larger woman, it doesn’t go over well with the boss. Her great-aunt leaves her a storefront that she can use to fulfill her fashion dream. But the town is not very welcoming, seeing her as the enemy who is keeping Tuck from expanding his crowded shop next door and because “folks support their own”. If someone has to leave, she knows they are all looking at her!
Tuck is fishing on the beach with a friend who just left for work when he sees the girl of his dreams walking in his direction. Neither knows who the other is. He sees her walking right toward one of Bishop’s fishing lines which she can’t see with the sun shining on it. He shouts out to her but she doesn’t know why, so he runs at her to stop her progress. She trips and falls trying to get away, cuts her foot on a shell, and is bleeding. He explained why he ran at her and she apologized for over-reacting. Then he picked her up and carried her over to Bishop’s supplies to clean the cut, giving her his sweatshirt to keep her warm in the chilly breeze. When she said he was the only person in town who was kind to her, he knew this had to be his new neighbor. But he doesn’t have the heart to tell her who he is as she sarcastically mentions “the mayor's kid who wants a bigger bucket of bait” causing all this grief. Will they get over their conflict and give in to the feelings they both have for each other? Or will they remain enemies and ignore each other going forward?
Excellent humor and wonderful characters make this a book the reader will thoroughly enjoy. Grab your copy and meet the characters and the town you will grow to love!
-a slightly shorter version of this story used to be part of the Fall Into Love romantic comedy collection
-this is told from Margo & Tuck’s points of view
Review:
This is a quick and sweet romance! I liked how Tuck and Margo first met! It was interesting to see how they interacted without knowing who they were to each other. And later how they reacted after realizing who they were. I liked watching Houdini pop up unannounced several times in the story and seeing what he’d do. It was interesting to see him warm up to Margo before many of the townsfolk did, especially since he seemed to like evading all of them.
Summary:
Tuck has been hoping to expand his business in the small town of Friendly and when his neighbor passes away, it seems like he’ll be able to have that hope become truth. That is until the town gets news that his neighbor left it to a relative and that relative is coming to set up shop.
Margo loves fashion and finding great looking pieces made in varied sizes as she knows how difficult it is to find clothes that are fashionable but also fit her body. So when she is given the opportunity to create her own storefront that doesn’t need to conform to the ‘perfect’ woman, Margo jumps at the chance. But she soon discovers that she might be the only one excited to have her there, with Friendly being a tightknit town and all.
Tuck is shocked to see his dream girl on the beach one morning. He is even more shocked to realize that she is his nemesis, the person who inherited the shop he hoped for. But despite that, he can’t get her out of his head nor can he stop being stuck dumb by her beauty.
Margo thought she met someone who might actually be happy to have her in Friendly, now she knows otherwise. He was probably just having a good laugh at her not knowing who he was. But that’s not a problem now. What is a problem is that he’s on her mind. Plus, she still has his sweatshirt but doesn’t want to give it back yet…
Could Tuck and Margo make peace and find love with one another, or will the desire for the same shop keep them as nemeses?
Simple love story with fish out of water and enemies to lovers tropes. Margo leaves a big New York fashion house to create her own “every size woman” boutique in a little bitty town.
Page 37- I've never been a romantic. And I don't believe in love at first sight. But when she spots the dolphin playing in the waves, her whole body responds with delight. She throws her head back in laughter, clapping her hands. My heart literally skips a beat. Who knew that was a real, physical reaction and not just a silly description used by poets?
Page 38 - There was an old man by the sea Not ancient, though. Just forty-three. But when he saw her It caused such a stir That his heart skipped an entire beat.
Page 38 - She's stunning. From her dazzling smile to her joyful exuberance to the way her billowing dress forms to the curves of her body when the wind catches it just right…
Page 58 - I didn’t drift into a peaceful sleep until after the cat snuggled against me and started to purr. The only problem? I don't have a cat. So, I've been in Friendly for approximately twelve hours, and I've hallucinated a ghost cat, humiliated myself in front of my neighbor-slash-nemises, and sliced my foot open with a shell. Nope. So far, Friendly has failed to impress.
Page 67 - "It was hidden, like a secret passage. There's built-in shelving and an armoire along one wall. The door is inside the armoire. I had to climb through it to get here. Can you believe that?” I can't help but laugh. "This is your Narnia."
When a book features a Supernatural reference right in the first chapter... consider me sold! From its opening with a hilarious Zumba scene to said Supernatural reference (plus several more mentions throughout), this sweet RomCom drew me in right from the very start and kept me entertained from start to finish.
Suited for Love was a very quick read. With less than 100 pages, it took around an hour to read, if that. Despite its shorter length though, nothing felt overly rushed or as if any story was missing. Would I have enjoyed more time spent with these characters? Absolutely. They were well-written and I really enjoyed getting to know them and could have spent more time doing so. Still, the story felt complete at the end. There was little drama and great small-town charm, plus a great message on body positivity as well. I haven't personally seen that in many (if any) of the RomComs that I have read, so I thought that was a welcome addition.
Overall, I found it to be an enjoyable beachy read and one that has me looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series!
**I received an ARC for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
If your looking for a sweet, funny and quick read, then look no further! This novella was my first by this author and it definitely won’t be my last!
I loved how the main characters were on the older side (late 30s, early 40s), closer to my age! So it was very relatable on that level to me! Margo was a hoot! I just loved her! She was curvy and not ashamed of it! She wanted every woman to be proud of their size and wanted to make them feel beautiful! Tuck was the sweetest! I loved their witty banter together and their meet cute gave me all the feels!
I loved Friendly, the small town, and all the side characters! The Epilogue was the perfect ending and so lovely! It had a sweet surprise!! ❤️ I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and what all it has in store!!
Things I loved: ☀️Small Town Vibes ☀️Rooftop Terrace scenes! ☀️Witty Banter ☀️Swoony Kisses ☀️Sweet Side Characters! ☀️Houdini the Ghost Cat! ☀️Zumba Class scene! ☀️Piggy Back Ride!
CW: Swoony kisses, No Language
*I received this ARC copy from the author in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own! *
This is my second review of “Suited for Love”. The author sent me a revised copy for review and like the first time I read it I thoroughly enjoyed her book the second time. I’m including my first review here. After the first few pages I was hooked, and I knew this was going to be a book I would enjoy. I wasn’t disappointed either, and I had a hard time deciding whether to finish the book nonstop or stop for dinner. My wife won the argument and dinner won, but I finished it later that night anyway. Margo is my kind of woman, but don’t tell my wife. I like that she isn’t a bean pole and has some curves to her body. I like that she quit her job and followed her dream. Tuck and her seem to fit perfectly so I lose out. I particularly liked the first chapter about the ZUMBA class. I was laughing out loud after every sentence, and I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. BTW, I wasn’t laughing at Margo suffering. I was laughing at how well the author was describing the action. I was given an ARC copy of this book, and this is my honest review. I highly recommend this book.
City girl, Margo, has to win over the small town of Friendly, GA if she wants her new boutique to be a success. No one stands to benefit more from her failure than Tuck, the owner of the bait shop next door and the mayor’s son.
Suited for Love is the first book in the new Sticks & Stones Sweet Beach Rom Com series. This short but sweet romance is packed with humor and swoon-worthy moments. It can be read as a stand-alone. Although it does not tie into the author’s other series, there is a nod to Traitor Tater from the Road Trip Love series.
I adore Margo! She is a fun loving but hard working curvy gal who just wants ladies of every size to be able to easily shop for clothing they love. Poor Tuck never stood a chance. He falls for Margo the second he sees her. There’s so much chemistry and sassy banter between the two of them from the very beginning that you can’t help but love them too.
Suited for Love is a great start to a new series. I can’t wait to see more of Margo and Tuck along with the rest of the Friendly townspeople.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
'Suited for Love' is my favorite Ash Keller romcom yet! The main characters are totally opposite and both totally relatable. And so very perfect for each other..
What woman hasn't struggled to find beautiful clothing that also makes her look and feel beautiful? Who hasn't struggled for recognition of her value and abilities? You will find yourself in curvy Margo.
What person hasn't faced setbacks on the path to realizing the fullness of a dream? That's where you can feel with Tuck.
Life will use the most unexpected and magical means to get you where you are supposed to be. Even an escape artist cat named Houdini.
Just as magical as Houdini's talents is Ms. Keller's ability to pack so much story in such a short book. This one has to be read to be believed.
I received an ARC copy of this story from the author via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to share my review.
A sweet novella that hit the perfect spot in my heart at the right time
💫Margo, a plus-sized woman like me, stood up for what she believed in.
💫Quitting her job, she moved to the town of Friendly and started her own boutique to dress up women of all sizes.
💫Enter Tuck whom she fell for in the best meet-cute situation
💫The town was opposed to the outsider, but Margo had a plan to win them over
💫 The book had the feels that made me love the characters. Margo loved her curves abd was comfortable in her own skin even when her boss tried to shame her
💫Tuck had his heart in the right place and managed to make me swoon. Where can I find my Tuck?
💫 I loved the small town atmosphere kept alive in the whole book. Love and warmth were infused in the words
💫 Houdini the cat added magic to the air around the characters
💫 The book made me believe in it, and the entire credit went to the author
Oh, what a fun story! I enjoyed this one from beginning to end! Ash Keller has penned a hilarious, and delightful rom-com that is an absolute joy to read! Margo and Tuck are awesome characters who will totally have you rooting for them. I LOVED that Margo is a plus-size heroine, representation we need more of in fiction (romance especially) in my opinion. I also loved Houdini, he was a hilarious addition to the story! Small town series are my personal fave, and I’m loving Friendly, the little coastal Georgia town where this story is set! I can’t wait for a return visit! Reading this novella was a bright spot in my day, and I most highly recommend it! I can’t wait to read whatever Ash Keller writes next!
I received an ebook ARC copy of Suited for Love by Ash Keller from the author. My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
She has worked as a buyer for over 10 years at a high-end fashion company. She tries to convince the head buyer to start selling more inclusive sizing and even has designers and samples to convince her. When the boss laughs, she realizes this is not her path. When her Great Aunt passes away and leaves her a shop at a beach in Georgia, it's a light bulb moment. Please read to see all the adventures Margo has making her dreams a reality. Will the cute guy next door be any help? Love the store will have plus sizes! I'd shop there in a minute!
This a the perfect read if you don't have a lot of time. I enjoy reading before bed, but then get wrapped up in the story and my bedtime quickly gets away from me. This is the perfect read if you'd like to see the ending before sleeping!
This series is addictive and fun to read. The first book in the Sticks and Stones Beach series introduces us to all the quirky residents of Friendly including Houdini the (magical?) Cat. margo comes to the close knit town to open her retail store, Sticks and Stones after her aunts death. Unfortunately, Margo isn't the only one with designs on her aunts store front. Enter Tuck, a longtime resident and owner of the neighboring bait shop. Tuck wants to expand his business but he'll need the building next door to do it. Hijinks ensue. The books in this series are a quick read but that doesn't detract from the plot or characters. This rom com has plus size representation that's done right. suited for Love was fun, sweet, low angst and romantic. Another winner from Ash Keller.
Such a cute love story. It’s a quick and fun read. Sometimes novellas leave me feeling unsatisfied and missing too much from the story, but this one left me happy after reading it. (A lovely epilogue was a perfect conclusion too.) The parts of the story that were summarized to move the narrative along filled it in and kept the story moving. The main characters were endearing and their journey from enemies (which was pretty short lived) to friends to love was sweet and cute. There are some great quirky side characters and a neat location that I look forward to seeing more of in the series. There’s a great body positivity element as well. I haven’t read everything from this author, but this one is my favourite so far.
Suited for Love was such a cute read! It was sweet, fun, romantic, funny, and now I want my own Narnia too! 😂 I enjoyed Margot and Tuck's story, and even though they were technically rivals, it never really felt that way to me from their meet-cute onward. Houdini was the best, knowing when he was needed and by whom. I loved the community's response and change of heart regarding her store and welcoming her into their fold (again, we were only told, not shown, about their unwelcoming behavior, but I'm OK with it.) And that ending was perfect for them (I loved the double grand gestures). Can't wait to read the next one in the series! ~ 4.5 stars
What an incredibly sweet, extremely hilarious and refreshingly wholesome little novella that had me smiling, cackling and swooning!! Despite it being a novella, I found it thoroughly satisfying and it lacked nothing in terms of fulfillment. Suited for Love is the first book in the "Sticks & Stones Beach Rom Com" series and it has your rivals-friends-lovers trope, middle-age main characters and takes place in the charming coastal town of Friendly. I absolutely loved the Zumba class scene, witty banter, romantic kisses, wonderful secondary characters and a cat named Houdini!! This is my first read by Ash Keller and I am a huge fan already. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and I adored this story so much!!! Highly recommend and all the stars!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
מרגו היא קניינית זוטרה בחברת בוטיקי אופנה ידועה הגרה בניו יורק. מרגו היא אישה במידה "פלאס סייז" שחושבת שבגדים צריכים לבוא בכל המידות האפשריות ולהתאים לנשים ממגוון גדלים ומבני גוף, אך מנהלת החברה שבה היא עובדת לא מאמינה בכך. מרגו מבינה שאין לה עתיד בחברה וכי לעולם לא תתקדם, ובמקביל היא מקבלת הודעה כי ירשה נכס מדודה-רבתא שלה, אותה מעולם לא הכירה, בעיירה קטנה בשם "פרנדלי" בג'ורג'יה, שנמצאת על חוף הים. מרגו מחליטה לעזוב את עבודתה, לעבור לפרנדלי ולהקים שם בוטיק אופנה עצמאי משלה. כשהיא מגיעה לפרנדלי, מסתבר לה שהשכן החדש והחתיך שלה, טאק, לא ממש מרוצה מהעניין, מכיוון שרצה לקנות את הנכס בעצמו כדי שיוכל להרחיב את חנות הדיג שלו. נובלה קצרה וחמודה ממש, בדיוק מה שהייתי צריכה בימים אלו. נהניתי לקרוא ואני עוברת לספר הבא בסדרה, שמוקדש לאחותו של טאק.
This novella is so cute! One of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, and the fact that the MC was a plus size girl fighting for fashion representation was just too perfect. A lot of books have traditionally attractive/sexy MCs who are "toned and fit" and a size 2. Having representation in this MC with my body type, size, and hair cut was just so nice to read! Win for the curvy girls!
If you're looking for a quick, lighthearted romance, this is definitely for you.
Again, thank you Ash for the ARC! I will be keeping this in my back pocket as a comfort read when I need a quick pick me up.
Friends to enemies, romance, small town. Everything you need, in a 'cannot put down' book.
Margo, a plus sized fashion buyer for a brand which caters to only smaller women, leaves everything she knows to start her own fashion boutique which caters for all. The small town she moves to isn't fond of outsiders and her neighbour, wanted her shop. Margo must win over the town, but also her neighbour Tuck who is battling his own confusing thoughts. He wanted that store, but is love more important?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.