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Book Annotations:

October: A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
This blend of fast-paced horror and twisted romance follows Constanta’s vampiric afterlife tied to a toxic, unnamed lover. The final love letters Constanta writes to him expose centuries of cruelty but end with the hope of a happy future for herself and her fellow consorts.

November: A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lolli
Niki does everything right, but when things start to go wrong in her perfectly manicured life, she impulsively buys a ticket to India to attend her best friend’s wedding. This fun contemporary romance centers around celebration to create a festive background for romance to flourish.

December: Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley
This Halmark-esque tale centers around the chance meetings of three characters during the first holiday season of the new millennium, and the coming-together of people of different faiths in celebration and love.

January: Time to Shine by Rachel Reid
Landon is shocked when he gets the call from Calgary; he will be playing on the same team as his NFL hero and rising star Casey Hicks. Sparks and ice will fly in this fast-paced hockey romance published by Harlequin subsidiary Carina Press.

February: Token by Beverly Kendall
After becoming the token Black woman at her job, Kennedy is inspired to start her own PR company that connects corporations in need of ‘diversity hires’ with diverse jobseekers. Race and sex set the conflict in this contemporary romance novel.

March: Normal People by Sally Rooney
This fast-moving novel follows Connell and Marianne, two teens from rural Ireland, over the course of four years as they experience first love, growing up and moving away for college. This well-known work of literary romantic fiction has been made into a BBC miniseries of the same name.

April: The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz
When her father passes away, Lady Camembert must disguise herself as a man – the next Count Camembert – to claim her freedom and family estate. Maintaining this alter ego becomes difficult, however, when Camembert begins pining after the elegant Princess Brie in this eloquently drawn and brightly coloured graphic novel.

May: Love Her Wild by Atticus
This book compiles the poetic works of Atticus, the most famous anonymous romantic poet on Instagram, and his reflections on what it means to love and be loved. Short verses are packed with emotions that help readers unpack their conceptions of love from many different, yet all innately human, perspectives.

June: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
It’s been five years since the accident that changed Feyi’s life, but over the course of one summer she will finally be forced to face her grief if she ever hopes to find love again. This novel offers a raw view of love and loss through its rich language that doesn’t shy away from the explicit nature of real life.

July: The Pairing by Casey McQuisten
Theo and Kit are exes who didn’t leave on good terms, but their relationship will be challenged when they are stuck together on a weeks-long food and wine tour through Europe. The decadent descriptions of food and sweltering cityscapes reflect the lustful tension in this lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers novel by the author of Red, White and Royal Blue.

August: Beach Read by Emily Henry
This contemporary romance novel featuring two struggling writers living in neighbouring beach houses for the season lives up to its title; Beach Read is an easy and fun read for the beach or a summer vacation. January has been having a difficult year in both her work and relationships, but will spending time in her father’s old beach house make this hopeless romantic believe in herself – and love – again?

September: Love for a Deaf Rebel by Derrick King
This nonfiction narrative explores the realities of loving someone with a disability and mental illness, highlighting both the good and bad moments in such a relationship. The novel features extensive dialogue uniquely translated from ASL conversations between the author and his partner.