Cotton Candy Notes

by Lovey LaRue

When her husband demands an open marriage on their fifth anniversary, Betty is blindsided, her world shattered. Fleeing to the salt air and candy-colored shops of Verbania, she starts to pick up the pieces–the parts of herself she lost in the marriage, what she sacrificed to keep the peace.

She also starts dating, but only to make her husband jealous. (Don’t tell him there are no men involved.)

Then she meets Bennett—awkward, kind, and entirely consumed by work. Betty grabs his hand and drags him to the beach, the ice cream shop, and into every quiet joy he’s never known. Their friendship forms quickly but steadily, each showing up for the other in ways neither expected.

With Bennett beside her, Betty discovers that love doesn’t ask you to settle or change. Real love ignites your fires while never letting you get burned.

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2025

About the author

Lovey LaRue writes stories where men don’t need to change and women don’t have to. She creates characters who live life authentically and find love through little moments. At home, she has a couple of teenagers and a husband who’ve made peace with living alongside her imaginary friends. Between family life and pets–a Siamese cat named Ginger and a Basset Hound mix named Rocko–she hasn’t had a minute alone in twenty years. When she’s not slowly losing her sanity, she’s probably hiking or building book nooks.

Reviews

[Erica Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!! My mom taught me to live my life and love will come. I didn’t always listen, our FMC settled her first time, but when it blows up and her husband does her dirty she absolutely learns to live her life and then she finds an epic love. This book was funny, spicy, and so darn sweet. I loved every page of this book! I will be running and getting a copy of it for my shelves.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melinda Lisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cotton Candy Notes absolutely hits the sweet spot between light-hearted and serious with the best sprinkles of laughter and honesty throughout. I honestly didn’t put it down once I started. It’s that good! The relationship between Betty and Bennett is like a perfect chef’s kiss of what loving someone is really about: it takes patience, and kindness, but the reward is a whole world of excitement & fun & unexpected giggles, mixed in with a level of devotion & tenderness that we all should aspire to. This story could truly be about any one of us. I found myself bouncing back and forth between their brains so easily because they both exemplify the courage it takes to truly be yourself with the person you’re spending your life with. Bennett’s acceptance of Betty as she is and her innate thoughtfulness of him and his needs makes the reader need a whole box of tissues within just a few minutes of them being together! I can’t wait to see what happens next in this cute little town. I’m already chomping at the bit for the next character’s story and it’s midnight because I read through the whole book in one sitting! I can’t recommend this book more strongly than to say that I absolutely WILL be buying a special edition/signed copy/anything else on offer AND gifting it to friends.

[Iread4fun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lovey!

I really enjoyed this book. This is this authors second publication and I am obsessed. The characters were easy to love (or hate in Trevor's case) and the neurodiverse representation was creative and accurate. I liked that our girl Betty got to have her cake and eat it too. She definitely deserved it. I look forward to learning more about Verbania and its inhabitants in the future. I think there is a lot of room for the characters to grow. I don't want to spoil the story, but I do want to say that I was impressed by Bennett and his notebooks. I think his way of remembering the important things is inspiring for all of us who have difficulty with such things. Likewise, I appreciated how Betty embraced this coping skill of his and made it a loving part of their relationship. The dynamic of these two is heartwarming. I am excited to read what this author comes up with next.

[Shannon]

I really loved these characters!! The story flowed wonderfully and I felt so much compassion and empathy for both Bennett and Betty! I loved their story from beginning to end! The author did a wonderful job of putting you in the middle getting Birds Eye view and I believed I was living it right along with them! Great job with back story and the drama they experienced along the way! Loved it! Great read I laughed I cried and I felt great after it was over!! Would definitely recommend!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Neelii_44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You fall in love when reading

I loved. I love Love and this story is just full of it in the best kind of way. Bennet was so accepting of Betty and vice versa. Without either of them know each other’s struggles they allowed tye other person to feel welcomed and comfortable. I loved it. This probably my favorite story of the year so far. I loved it. I fell in love with the characters and I feel like I related a bit too much to Betty not defending herself.

[Barbara Pucser · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute delight this book was! I loved the characters and how believable and genuine they were. When it first started, I wasn't sure where it was going and I was pleasantly surprised as I went on. It goes to show that love is out there for whoever you are, in this case a curvy girl with colorful taste and an awkward shy guy with quirks. This was my first book by Lovey LaRue but it certainly won't be my last. Great book!

[Jill E · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a warm-hearted contemporary romance, look no further. Read "Cotton Candy Notes" by Lovey LaRae. This book is just so stinking cute! I'm so proud of Betty for standing up, doing what she wants to do, and being herself. Who knew an open marriage could be a good thing? I absolutely LOVED this book!

[Ryan Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cotton Candy Notes is a fun sugar-filled story. I loved seeing Betty take her life back after leaving her previous relationship. Lovey writes neurodivergent characters really well and I enjoy seeing the representation in her books.

[Really? Figured That Out All By Yourself? · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet as cotton candy

Every single person needs a Bennett in their life to love them unconditionally and cheer them on, especially us curvy women! I hope I find someone who thinks “the sun shines out of my ass” one day.

Love everything about this story.

[Amanda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and sweet story. It is definitely light-hearted with a little bit of seriousness to it and some humor. And I liked the storyline. Overall, I enjoyed reading this it was a really good read.

[Nilla Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the his book so much, this writer has such a way of writing romance and neurodivergent characters it can be so hard to find book with those kind of characters that are written well in this genre. Definitely recommend and can’t wait for her next book to add to my collection.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute romantic romcom it has flavor and spice but not too much spice. Mainly just characters making out. I super thoroughly enjoyed this book and was so excited to be able to read it as an ARC.

[Clary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute

This is a very cute book with a happy ending and characters that are fully themselves, even if they needed a bit of wake up at the beginning.