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Between Loves and Goodbyes: Contemporary Romance Stories Perfect for Summer Beach Reading
Escape into 15 unforgettable contemporary romance stories that will transport you from Thailand's hidden beaches to Germany's medieval towns, from Portugal's sun-drenched cliffs to Vietnam's bustling streets.
Perfect for summer reading, this steamy collection follows passionate encounters, forbidden affairs, and heart-stopping connections that burn bright across continents. Each interconnected story delivers the emotional intensity you crave with the wanderlust you dream about — think Colleen Hoover meets Emily Henry with a passport and no rules. Whether you're lounging by the beach or curled up at home, these tales of love, lust, and goodbyes will keep you turning pages long into the night.
Meet Alexa, the "Fire Girl" whose copper hair catches flames on Thai shores. Follow Matthias as he discovers tantric secrets in mountain hideaways. Watch Christina navigate polyamory under starlit skies. Each story stands alone, yet weaves into a larger tapestry of passion, wanderlust, and the loves that shape us — even when they're temporary.
This isn't just romance, it's emotional geography. How we connect across dating apps and time zones. How some people become seasons in our lives rather than lifetimes. How love leaves its mark, whether it lasts three days or three decades.
"Some nights are built for adventure. Some for desire. And some... are built to break your heart beautifully."
Perfect for summer reading, this steamy collection follows passionate encounters, forbidden affairs, and heart-stopping connections that burn bright across continents. Each interconnected story delivers the emotional intensity you crave with the wanderlust you dream about — think Colleen Hoover meets Emily Henry with a passport and no rules. Whether you're lounging by the beach or curled up at home, these tales of love, lust, and goodbyes will keep you turning pages long into the night.
Meet Alexa, the "Fire Girl" whose copper hair catches flames on Thai shores. Follow Matthias as he discovers tantric secrets in mountain hideaways. Watch Christina navigate polyamory under starlit skies. Each story stands alone, yet weaves into a larger tapestry of passion, wanderlust, and the loves that shape us — even when they're temporary.
This isn't just romance, it's emotional geography. How we connect across dating apps and time zones. How some people become seasons in our lives rather than lifetimes. How love leaves its mark, whether it lasts three days or three decades.
"Some nights are built for adventure. Some for desire. And some... are built to break your heart beautifully."
310 pages, Hardcover
Published July 23, 2025
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Bruno Clozel
13 books6 followersBruno has never been one to follow the expected path. A storyteller at heart, he thrives on capturing unforgettable moments, turning them into words, and bringing stories to life, whether on the page or on stage. With an insatiable curiosity for the world and the people in it, he is always chasing new adventures, new conversations, and the kind of encounters that leave a mark.
When not writing, overthinking, or getting lost in the beauty of an untold story, Bruno can be found by the beach, in the mountains, or diving into a new sport — because movement, like storytelling, is where he finds his inspiration.
When not writing, overthinking, or getting lost in the beauty of an untold story, Bruno can be found by the beach, in the mountains, or diving into a new sport — because movement, like storytelling, is where he finds his inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 31, 2025
Between Loves and Goodbyes is a collection of fifteen short stories that explore the themes of love, loss, and human connection, set against a backdrop that stretches across Europe and South-East Asia. The author shares in the closing notes that many of these stories grew out of overheard conversations, places he has visited, and his own lived experiences. This sense of authenticity runs throughout, with each piece feeling grounded, relatable, and, in its own way, very real.
The stories are atmospheric and often romantic, sometimes raw, and always tinged with the fragility of fleeting moments. Each narrative follows characters on their personal journey to find meaningful relationships. Modern dating culture plays a strong role, with texting, dating apps, banter, and brief but intense encounters shaping many of the storylines. Coincidental meetings often spark profound connections at focal points of the characters’ lives, highlighting the way chance can alter the course of love.
The author captures both the art of seduction and the unpredictability of desire with evocative atmospheric language. Shifting perspectives, sometimes male, sometimes female, keep the collection dynamic, while the varied locations add a richness of atmosphere. Stories set in Thailand in particular carry a hedonistic energy, blending romance, travel, and self-discovery.
Despite exploring themes of loss, the collection avoids heavy melodrama. Even in moments of goodbye, there is a sense of growth and acceptance rather than devastation.
The inclusion of stories touching on the pandemic feels timely and relevant, especially those that capture the tentative steps of reconnecting after isolation and the renewed hunger for human contact.
This is an ideal book for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance fiction that is thought-provoking yet easy to dip in and out of. Each story stands alone, making it perfect for reading in short bursts or quiet moments of reflection. I found the collection a refreshing departure from my usual reading choices, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a beautifully written reminder of love’s fleeting nature, travel’s transformative power, and the memories of loves once held close.
Many thanks to Reedsy Discovery and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The stories are atmospheric and often romantic, sometimes raw, and always tinged with the fragility of fleeting moments. Each narrative follows characters on their personal journey to find meaningful relationships. Modern dating culture plays a strong role, with texting, dating apps, banter, and brief but intense encounters shaping many of the storylines. Coincidental meetings often spark profound connections at focal points of the characters’ lives, highlighting the way chance can alter the course of love.
The author captures both the art of seduction and the unpredictability of desire with evocative atmospheric language. Shifting perspectives, sometimes male, sometimes female, keep the collection dynamic, while the varied locations add a richness of atmosphere. Stories set in Thailand in particular carry a hedonistic energy, blending romance, travel, and self-discovery.
Despite exploring themes of loss, the collection avoids heavy melodrama. Even in moments of goodbye, there is a sense of growth and acceptance rather than devastation.
The inclusion of stories touching on the pandemic feels timely and relevant, especially those that capture the tentative steps of reconnecting after isolation and the renewed hunger for human contact.
This is an ideal book for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance fiction that is thought-provoking yet easy to dip in and out of. Each story stands alone, making it perfect for reading in short bursts or quiet moments of reflection. I found the collection a refreshing departure from my usual reading choices, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a beautifully written reminder of love’s fleeting nature, travel’s transformative power, and the memories of loves once held close.
Many thanks to Reedsy Discovery and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2025
Romance with a View
This collection is like a passport full of passionate layovers — each story drops you into a new country, a new connection, and a new kind of emotional spark. I really enjoyed the sense of wanderlust and the diversity of characters and experiences. Some stories definitely stood out more than others, but overall, it’s a fun, steamy read perfect for vacation mode or a cozy weekend in.
If you like your romance with a dose of introspection and a splash of jet lag, this might be your vibe. Just be ready for a few emotional detours along the way.
This collection is like a passport full of passionate layovers — each story drops you into a new country, a new connection, and a new kind of emotional spark. I really enjoyed the sense of wanderlust and the diversity of characters and experiences. Some stories definitely stood out more than others, but overall, it’s a fun, steamy read perfect for vacation mode or a cozy weekend in.
If you like your romance with a dose of introspection and a splash of jet lag, this might be your vibe. Just be ready for a few emotional detours along the way.
January 31, 2026
Knowing that I agreed to write a review after reading kept me pondering how exactly to approach it.
Fifteen stories of contemporary romantic interactions. Not all are happily ever after moments, but there is a goodly collection of pleasurable moments.
While I am beyond the experience of dating apps, texting and internet connection, that doesn’t preclude my ability to connect with the stories.
Apart from the relationship narrative, the author describes places and scenes with the beauty of language that draws the reader into the scene and wraps them with poetic imagery and beauty.
Fifteen stories that can be read individually, making this a book that could be read on a commute, a beach chair, or any space where you wanted to leave the cares of the world behind for a time and get carried along by a short story.
Fifteen stories of contemporary romantic interactions. Not all are happily ever after moments, but there is a goodly collection of pleasurable moments.
While I am beyond the experience of dating apps, texting and internet connection, that doesn’t preclude my ability to connect with the stories.
Apart from the relationship narrative, the author describes places and scenes with the beauty of language that draws the reader into the scene and wraps them with poetic imagery and beauty.
Fifteen stories that can be read individually, making this a book that could be read on a commute, a beach chair, or any space where you wanted to leave the cares of the world behind for a time and get carried along by a short story.
July 31, 2025
Este livro surpreendeu me muito pela positiva, como vocês sabem leio muito pouco em inglês mas este livro levou me a querer ler mais é a conhecer mais histórias escritas em inglês, além de ser uma coletânea poética e sensível que mergulha no coração, nos momentos que antecedem o amor, nos que o consomem em silêncio, e, sobretudo, nos que permanecem depois do adeus.
Os contos capturam encontros breves, intensos e muitas vezes inacabados, em que personagens se cruzam em lugares distantes uma ilha na Tailândia, um aeroporto vazio, uma cidade coberta de neve e vivem paixões tão intensas quanto passageiras. Não há exagero dramático: há uma delicadeza quase cinematográfica na forma como o autor retrata o desejo, a conexão emocional e a dor sutil da perda.
Cada história parece um fragmento de memória às vezes agridoce, às vezes melancólica, mas sempre real.
Este não é um livro para quem procura finais felizes ou romances tradicionais. É um livro para quem já se despediu de alguém com o coração cheio, para quem acredita que certos amores não precisam durar para serem inesquecíveis.
Os contos capturam encontros breves, intensos e muitas vezes inacabados, em que personagens se cruzam em lugares distantes uma ilha na Tailândia, um aeroporto vazio, uma cidade coberta de neve e vivem paixões tão intensas quanto passageiras. Não há exagero dramático: há uma delicadeza quase cinematográfica na forma como o autor retrata o desejo, a conexão emocional e a dor sutil da perda.
Cada história parece um fragmento de memória às vezes agridoce, às vezes melancólica, mas sempre real.
Este não é um livro para quem procura finais felizes ou romances tradicionais. É um livro para quem já se despediu de alguém com o coração cheio, para quem acredita que certos amores não precisam durar para serem inesquecíveis.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews