Love and Other Genres: A Bookish, Friends-to-Lovers Romance

by CC Holland, Allison Goldstein (Editor), Rachel Hermann (Illustrator)

Simon Evans and April Roundtree steal glances during writing workshops, but their attraction never moves beyond the editing table. When Simon’s screenwriting aspirations lead him to the other side of the country, the pair may be lost to the friend zone. But when Simon returns from L.A., the star-crossed friends navigate grief, class anxiety, and a shaky future for the Hudson City Writers along with their feelings for one another. Bookish, cozy, banter-filled, laced with correspondence and just the right amount of spice!

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

Reviews

[Maureen Forys · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO exciting to see a book I've heard about for so long finally out in the world!! Getting to read this a bit early as an ARC (and getting my first ever mention in an acknowledgments section 😈) was particularly fun!

Really enjoyed the family and interpersonal/community dynamics throughout and the strong sense of place/setting. I thought the middle was particularly strong as the characters and their relationships unfolded more. Lots of family, working through identity/meaning, relationships to work (vs passion), complicated relationships, and generally people figuring shit out. And finding love along the way! My review is corny, but the book is not!

Congrats, Charlotte 🎂🍰🎈!

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book slaps

[Kimberly Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read with Gilmore Girls vibes! I loved the vivid descriptions and how the plot steered clear of the cliché "messy girl saved by perfect guy" trope.

[Liz B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is foiiiine (iykyk)! A cute, fun romance for anyone who likes Gilmore Girls, email banter and book nerds. Can’t wait for more from CC!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words “A Bookish, Friends-to-lovers Romance” on the cover will get me to flip to a book’s blurb every time. And so I was happy to receive an Advance Reader Copy of Love and Other Genres by CC Holland to review last month.

In this novel, two aspiring writers, April Roundtree and Simon Evans, first meet at the local Hudson City Writers roundtable. They are drawn to each other, but April hesitates to act on her feelings because of their 7-year age gap. When Simon decides to move to LA to try his hand at screenwriting, April believes she has missed her chance.

But when Simon returns to town nearly three years later, having found work mostly as a barista rather than as a screenwriter in LA, they rekindle their friendship, both secretly hoping it can be more this time. When the bookstore proprietor and founder of Hudson City Writers asks April and Simon to take ownership of both the bookstore and the writer’s group so he can retire, their friendship and attraction deepen as they’re forced to work closely together.

The book features a found family of eclectic characters, a “just business partners” wedding date that turns into something more, and a community effort to save the independent bookstore and town institution from closing. If you’re looking for a feel-good second-chance romance to take to the beach this August, Love and Other Genres might be just the low-spice read you’re looking for.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two loveable MCs figuring life out! I loved their back stories, and the family drama, and especially the ending. It was so cozy and sweet, and just the right amount of steamy.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC, and congratulations on publishing this lovely book! ☺️

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of romance novels. But I took a chance on something new and I LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down and read it in only three days. It’s action-packed, and more than a typical romance—it’s a love letter to the family members who support us, the friends who challenge us, and the interdependent community that forms around us when we create something from nothing and write. It’s a love letter to Jersey, too. Although it was light-hearted and uplifting to read, and would make a fun summer beach read, it also has literary staying-power. I won’t be putting this one aside anytime soon, and I am buying a copy for my sister, too. Thanks CC Holland! I look forward to the next one.