Arturo Hilario

El Observador

One of the most compelling and fun new Broadway musicals has arrived to the Bay Area, bringing with it a jukebox of pop hits and a story that turns a tragic romance into an opportunity for reinvention and joy.

& Juliet is a modern update to Shakespeare’s teenage tragedy Romeo and Juliet, which allows the story of the ill-fated lovers to continue, striking out the death part and letting Juliet continue a search for her meaning, and letting Romeo have a more positive journey as well.

Using pop music to tell the tale woven with themes of independence, the joys of friendship and self-love, the show’s musical acts use songs exclusively written by Swedish producer and songwriter Max Martin.

Martin’s pen has been responsible for some of the most infectious and beloved pop songs of both the 20th and 21st century, and those unfamiliar with him might be surprised by his extensive catalogue of chart-topping hits.

Some of the songs featured in & Juliet include: “Larger than Life”, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, “Oops!…I Did It Again”, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” and “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears, “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd, “Teenage Dream” and “Roar” by Katy Perry, and “Break Free” and “Problem” by Ariana Grande.

Alongside the music, the actors in the show have been praised for their interpretations of the musical hits, with infectious choreography and endearing performances from a diverse cast that portrays the title character of Juliet, her ex-lover Romeo, William Shakespeare, his wife Anne Hathaway (her actual name), and one new compelling character that is original to this show, May.

May is Juliet’s best friend and a nonbinary character which was first played on Broadway by nonbinary actor Justin David Sullivan, their performance received a lot of praise as their story is a highlight of the show for the positive portrayal of gender fluidity and the way their journey is woven into the main story of & Juliet.

Following in the footsteps of nonbinary representation in the show is the gender non-conforming multi-disciplined actor and creator Ishmael Gonzalez (using pronouns they/them/he), who I recently had the opportunity to speak to about their experience on the show.

From Miami-Dade Florida, he is of Cuban descent and from a family of artist and performers, making this opportunity to perform on stage a proud moment for their family. Playing the character of Gregory and at times taking up the mantle of May as an understudy of the character, Gonzalez took a moment to reflect on their journey into the arts and support from his family, what it means to be a Latino actor in the current turbulent political times that affect Latino communities around the country, how creativity and joy are antidotes to political poison, and why & Juliet is an adventurous and entertaining show that works as a form of escapism and hope for anyone.

& Juliet is now playing at San Francisco’s Orpheum theatre until July 27, 2025. It will return to the Bay Area at San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts October 7-12, 2025.

Ishmael, could you talk about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in the performing arts?

So my family, we’re all artists, which is really interesting for a family that is a product of immigration. And it’s really amazing. My family is mostly dancers. So my brother and my cousin and my mom were all dancers when they were younger, and some of them are still dancers. And my brother started doing theater when he was in middle school, and I would go watch his shows. And through seeing him on stage, I saw myself in him, and I really wanted to start doing that.

So then I joined the drama class when I was in middle school at the same school that we were at, and I started doing shows there. And then then I started to take it a little more seriously. I went to an arts high school in Miami called New World School of the Arts. And there, I really started to refine and just become more well-versed in theater-making and being a performer. And then I went to college for acting at University of North Carolina School of the Arts and I actually did an acting degree there instead of musical theater. But we still did a lot of musical theater things there.

Yeah, that’s pretty much the trajectory of it. It really started as kids, we were always performers, we would always be doing shows. I would always do these Christmas shows in my room with lights, and I would be sitting, I would be hiding underneath my bed with a power strip, plugged in with a bunch of Christmas lights, and I would unplug them and plug them, which was probably very dangerous. But I would unplug and plug them to make this light show in my room. And creating as a child, we would make dresses out of blankets and there was always that creative spark in our family, and we always found a way to make something happen with the few little resources that we had, and so it’s translated into how I perform and work today.

Now you are working on an acclaimed Broadway show, how’s that transition been for you from those bedroom performances to a professional stage? And what has that experience been so far?

It’s been a whirlwind. It’s so crazy to go from doing shows at school for a week or two to doing eight shows a week. I mean, this is my first professional gig that I’ve gotten since I left school. So I didn’t do any regional theater or anything. So I really didn’t have time to practice what doing eight shows a week was until I started doing this show. And it really took me by surprise.

But it also was a great learning lesson in preservation of the voice of the body and really learning how to be consistent. I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve learned through this process, and I think is the key to having a long career in this industry, is consistency. And being able to give 100% or know what You can give that day, even if you’re feeling a little bit under, but understanding that I have to be present every day in the performance. And I think that’s been the biggest transition in my brain, is understanding my body. I’ve never been so self-aware of my body and what I put into my body, how I exercise, what my maintenance is like outside of the show.

The show off-stage is as important as the show on stage. And I think sometimes when I’m lacking in some areas, off-stage is when I start to notice that my performance is not giving what I need to give. It’s also just a business. And sometimes, those are the harder parts of being in this industry is learning that this is a business, and we are essentially a product, but we’re a very cool product. We’re a very fancy artistic product. And it’s about finding that balance of understanding the business of theater and still remaining as an artist and as a creative, because at the end of the day, that is our selling point, is our creativity, is our artistry.

And so I always also try to make sure that I’m treating myself artistically outside of work as well, to keep how I am performing in work in balance, too. Because sometimes it’s hard dancing eight times a week, you’re putting your body through incredible stress. So it’s very important to also have things outside of work that feed me as well as a human being so that I can continue to enjoy the work that I do on stage.

What do you do outside of the work part of this that keeps you artistic muscle going?

I have a different hobbies and different projects that I try to keep up with. I love to knit and I love to crochet, and that’s something that seems so dumb, but it really is another form of artistry for me to express myself is creating. And I create gifts for my cast all the time. When we opened, I made these little hearts with headphones, which is our logo, and I made these crochet hearts with headphones for everybody in the cast when we opened.

That’s just a small token of my appreciation, but also my time. That’s the way that I keep myself artistically alive. And I’m also a theater maker myself. I devise and create shows myself. Specifically, a lot of the work that I create outside of & Juliet is centered around, first and foremost, my Latino heritage and my community and my family, and really dissecting the experience of what it is to be myself in this world. And I’ve realized that a lot of times, creating your own work is a self-validation, and it’s the only way in some ways that you reaffirm your reality of what you see around you.

And especially on tour, because our environment is constantly changing, it’s really hard to maintain a sense of self. So I think it’s really important for myself to create those things outside of work so that I can continually remind myself of who I am and remind myself of the work that I love to do and just remind myself how fierce I am.

Like you mentioned, Broadway is a business, but it’s also artistry. One thing that Broadway attempts to do is constantly change and evolve, progress and highlight communities that may not be as protected in society. What that means to you being part of this show and also being a Latino with immigrant roots in your family and seeing the immigration issue currently playing out in the country?

I mean, right now, it’s really hard being a US citizen, I’m not going to lie, and being in this country and seeing how much my community is hurting right now, especially when I’m in this show, sometimes it feels frivolous to be in something like this. And then I remind myself, especially when I see people from the Latino community come to the show, it makes me emotional.

I’ve met people at the stage door, and I talk to them in Spanish, and it’s the first time I’ve talked in Spanish in months with these audience members. And it makes me really emotional because it reminds me that the story is for everybody. It sounds so corny, and a lot of people say this, but where I come from, people don’t do this kind of stuff.

Seeing the Latino community in the audience is what fuels me. Every time I see somebody in the first few rows and I can tell that they’re Latino, it gives me more of an engine to perform at a higher caliber because I want to be that excellent for them so that they can see themselves reflected the same way that I saw myself reflected. -Ishmael Gonzalez

We don’t have these opportunities to go to the country and be performers. And so I feel very lucky to be from my lineage and also be able to carry this tradition of being a performer, because my family are all performers at different levels. And in some ways, this is the biggest scale that any of my family members have ever reached.

And so it’s a beautiful experience, but it’s also a very hard experience. There’s a cognitive dissonance that I feel a lot of the times because I feel so fortunate for the job that I have right now and then I see how much the Latino community is hurting right now and so much of the fear that is being created around my community.

And in a lot of ways, what’s so beautiful about being in the show is that I’m a representation of the antithesis of all those fears that people create about my community. And it’s really powerful to be standing on stage every night and looking out into the audience and especially when we get to more popular cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago. Seeing the Latino community in the audience is what fuels me. Every time I see somebody in the first few rows and I can tell that they’re Latino, it gives me more of an engine to perform at a higher caliber because I want to be that excellent for them so that they can see themselves reflected the same way that I saw myself reflected in my brother on the middle school stage. It’s like a bigger version of that now.

So despite the circumstances that are in this country currently, it’s a nice respite to look for the joy in things as well.

Well, I think something that’s important, too, that I’ve learned is that joy is resistance as much as resistance is resistance. And I think there’s so many times that we’re made to feel small. Honestly, when I’m touring the country and I’m working and I’m staying in these hotels, and I see the workers here, and almost all of them are Latino.

I always try to connect with them because I try to remind myself that my community is beyond the show, and there’s so many people around me in this country that are affected by what’s happening. And I think it’s so important to make people feel seen. I’m so lucky and fortunate that I grew up speaking Spanish and I’m able to communicate in that way with strangers. But I think it’s always a gift to see someone and communicate with them in their language because it’s a reaffirmation that this is a place for them, too.

I’m the only Spanish-speaking company member in the show. And so that’s why I feel so honored to be able to have the interviews with these publications, because for me, it’s really important that we get the Latino community to the shows because they deserve to see the show and they deserve to have a bit of joy in their life because we face so much sadness every day.

And I feel like it’s really important for them to also experience this joy. And I don’t know, there’s a lot of times in some states where it’s a lot of white people in the audience. And as a theater creator myself, as someone who wants to create my own theater company and outreach to my community, I think it’s even more important to create accessibility for the Latino community to come see the shows. Because a lot of times, our tickets are very expensive, and so I think it’s really important to also create programs that help subsidize tickets for people who aren’t able to always come to the theater and have a good time.

Can you talk about your roles as Gregory and understudying as May?

So pretty much every night I’m on-stage playing Gregory, we call it the player track. And so the players make up the ensemble that supports the story throughout. And so we are Shakespeare’s players, we are Shakespeare’s actors, and we are building the show every single night from the beginning. I mean, the beginning of the show is us setting the stage for the night of the play. Because in this rendition of the show, we’re basically performing Romeo and Juliet for the first time. And so we’re creating this world that everyone lives in. And then also there’s principal characters that are new, that we know of. And one of them that is new is May, who is Juliet’s best friend.

And this is one of the first characters in a musical that I’ve ever seen that is nonbinary or gender non-conforming. And especially as a gender non-conforming actor, it’s so special to have the opportunity to play this part when I can.

Because I’m an understudy, I’m not on as May all the time. But when I get the opportunity to do it, in my bio in the program, I have a little dedication to my grandparents who have passed away, and every single time that I go on for May, I always pray to them before I go on because they’re the reason that I’m here. Their sacrifices that they made are what allowed me to be in this moment. And so I always have to honor them before I go on stage to play that character.

[May] is someone who allows Juliet to see her power and her beauty, and also May has an opportunity to also find love for themselves, too. And I think that’s something that’s to be important in the theater and in life in general, to see stories that allow us to have love and experience love.

And I’m very excited to see where the theater goes from here in terms of representation for nonbinary people, because even going to the stage door after the show and talking to parents of nonbinary and trans kids and having them cry in my arms when I play May, it’s so special. And sometimes I can’t believe that it’s happening because it’s surreal. But it’s so beautiful to see how this representation of this person means so much to so many people that don’t even identify in that gender expression.

Because I think also, too, nonbinary people represent freedom, and they represent seeing beyond this binary world that we live in. And I feel like a lot of people are yearning for that freedom within themselves. And it may not be that they express themselves as gender fluid or whatnot, but there is a freedom in expression that non-binary people have that I feel like a lot of people are scared of. And that’s when we have these anti-trans bills that are being passed.

And I think it’s interesting when I’m performing as May, you never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes people walk out in the middle of the songs that I sing. Sometimes people are overjoyed, and I see them crying in the front row when I sing, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” but it’s always a toss-up.

You never know what it’s going to be like. And sometimes it varies by city. Sometimes we have great reactions to May, and sometimes we don’t. But something I’ve learned through being able to inhabit this character is it’s important to do it regardless because people’s discomfort is the moment when they also learn, and they also learn to see something different.

And sometimes we have to get past that discomfort to learn about a different experience that isn’t ours. I think that is really what’s so important about having this character in the show.

What has been the most memorable experience or memory from being on this tour so far and being involved in a production like this?

I think some of the most memorable moments are the moments in which we have so much turmoil happening in this country, and we’re still doing this show despite all of the fear that’s happening. And I remember even performing on election day. It was a very hard day to go to work and feel motivated when we got the results that we got. But it reminded me that my existence is so important, and my existence is so valid. And this administration, I don’t mean to get very political with this conversation, but I just feel like that’s just the natural progression.

But this administration is poison to this country, in my opinion. And it’s beautiful to see that we are the antidote, we are the medicine for what we need right now in this country. This show, sometimes people come in and they’re like, “Oh, it’s just a jukebox musical. It’s these stupid songs.” But truly, being part of it reminds me that there’s so much power in this music.

For me, personally, I really did not like pop music that much before I started this show. Through doing this show, I really have learned that pop music has a lot of power because there’s such a joyous tempo and there’s such a rhythm to it, and you don’t really realize how powerful the lyrics actually are. Because sometimes when you really break down the songs and you look at the lyrics individually, you really start to see that there is a heart. There’s such a heart to this music. And really, that’s accredited to Max Martin, who wrote the music of the show.

I think the show was crafted in such a way that they really found songs that speak to the heart and speak to the humanity of these characters. And I think that is why this show was one of the most successful jukebox musicals, it’s because they really took time to find the songs that really helped move the story along but also tap into who we are as human beings.

It’s funny, the third song of the first song that’s song by Juliet is “…Baby One More Time” and it’s so interesting. I sit on almost like the apron of the stage every night, so I’m really close to the audience, and I can hear them. And it’s so funny when the first few chords of the song start, people can tell that it’s that song, and they start to laugh, even though it’s a very serious moment.

They start to laugh because either they’re uncomfortable or they’re either like, “Oh, it’s Britney Spears!” And she’s sitting next to a tomb, and it’s kind of funny. I feel like that song is a synthesis of the whole show in the sense of you come in, you hear this song, you’re like, “Oh, it’s kind of a joke.”

But then you really see the story of what’s happening to Juliet in that moment. And you start by laughing at it, but then you really listen, and you see, also, the girl in our show who plays Juliet, Rachel Simone Webb, she is just a supernova of talent, and she is one of the best performers that I’ve ever seen in my career of being in the theater.

Seeing her sing that song every night with so much emotion and so much vulnerability reminds me that is the power of this show, you come in expecting one thing and you leave with something completely different. And there’s so many times at the stage door that people come in and they’re like, I thought this was just going to be some kind of dumb, brainless, fun show, but I really felt something.

Even for me, I still get emotional some nights, sitting right in front of Juliet at her feet as she sings “Roar”, because I start to really feel what those lyrics are saying. I really start to hear what she’s proclaiming for herself. And that’s why so many people in the audience are moved by that song and that performance of the song because the lyrics are so real, and it speaks to everyone. And I think that really is the power of the show.

And to end the interview, why would you recommend people see & Juliet?

I think & Juliet has done a lot for the cities that we visited. And I think, for me personally, San Francisco, I went to San Francisco years ago, and I experienced how beautiful San Francisco is as a city. And I’m so excited to be back and find more community than I did the last time. And I think specifically for the queer community in San Francisco, I think this show is a really beautiful representation.

And even for people who don’t identify within the queer community, there really is a storyline and a love story for everyone in the show. And I think it truly brings people so much joy and a level of escapism that in some ways is needed right now because of how dark the times are right now. I think in a lot of ways, it is escapism, but it also is a possibility of a world that can come in the future. And we can see how much love and joy we can give each other. Every time I see people leave the theater, I only see smiles on their faces. And I think right now we need a lot of joy.

And there’s so much beautiful representation in this cast for the Black community, for the queer community, for the Latino community. I think San Francisco is such a beautiful melting pot of so many communities, and to see ourselves on that stage and see us living in joy is so important right now.

I had arrived in Oxford as a visiting student eager to read Philosophy. But, after a few months here, I came down with a disease: I had lost my ability to read anything for leisure. Anything.

This loss of interest in reading for fun became omnipresent. I first recognised the symptoms as I stood amongst the bookshelves at Blackwell’s, struggling to find a suitable book to enjoy during the break. I needed a distraction from my reading lists and my degree, yet I went blank in front of the wall adorned with flashy titles and vibrant covers. I could not find a single book to read.

Before Oxford, I was a typical bookworm. I would read everything within my sight: the short commercial pieces on the billboard; the boring ‘how-to-use’ stickers behind my shampoo bottle; the cover of a random magazine; and any ‘fun story’ that was actually not funny at all in the outdated newspaper from five years ago. I explored every genre of book, from philosophical tomes to romance novels. There was one time that I even composed an essay defending the beauty of romance novels and read it aloud in class to debate with my Literature teacher. For me, every book is worth our love, attention, and criticism, including the most undervalued of genres—romance. Books such as Twilight carry their weight and serve their audience, something echoed in The Blue’s recent article on romance and eternal girlhood. I love sentences and words in any form, and am utterly enamoured with any book that shares my world.

Little did I know that this love would fall apart upon my arrival at Oxford.

Ever since Oxford, I have felt judgmental and fussy about selecting books. I turn down romance novels because I find them too childish and dreamy. I refuse to read philosophy-related books because it was so close to my study, so it felt like not taking a break. I can’t imagine reading any science book, because they bore me terribly.

Moreover, the long, gruelling hours of reading for tutorials and seminars have given me a terrible habit for brain-rotting social media; I have scrolled more than ever. Right after the tutorial essay submission, as a reward for completing my weekly readings, or even socially, in the middle of an awkward encounter at a formal event, I unlock my phone and scroll. It’s not just me; other Oxford students have also noted this phenomenon, namely the slow death of our attention spans.

It became clear to me: I had come down with the highly infectious ‘Inability to Read for Leisure’.

I knew it did not originate solely from Oxford, and I couldn’t blame the university for everything. Much of it came from me. I have turned to short-form content and visual formats instead of reading, and must accept the implications. The books that used to be my great best friends and brought me to Oxford now hate me.

I miss the way books used to feel. The weight of a novel in my hand on a rainy Sunday. The joy of finishing a sentence and rereading it just for the pleasure of the cadence. I miss the companionship of characters I used to meet between pages. So I’ve decided, I want that part of me back.

Over the break, I prescribed myself a book list to kick-start my immune system.

Three pills were needed: my favourite book of all time, a cheesy book, and a classic. Why? It is a piece of cake to re-read and re-enjoy what you love. A kitschy, typical BookTok book would be an easy read. Finally, I kept the best for last. The cherry on top was a challenging read, but a fruitful one.

My first choice was When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. I read this book ages ago as a young girl in Year 7. However, as I grew older, the book resonated with me in a different way. My understanding of morality and the fear of death became clearer, which made me feel more deeply when reading such an emotional piece. At the end of the book, just as I had seven years ago, I cried. When I was younger, I cried over the lives in the book and my fear of death, but now, I cried for more people and felt scared of death because I had so many more purposes to live for beneath the tears.

Next, I read Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. I chose this one because its cheesy title stood out in the Travel Writing section at Blackwell’s. I was sure there’d be a French guy who entices a foreign girl with no knowledge of the French language to come to France. As it turned out, I was correct about these points: 1, there was a French guy; and 2, the book was indeed so cheesy. I didn’t enjoy the book as much because, from the perspective of someone who has learned French and visited France, Turnbull’s portrayal of the country was filled with judgments and generalisations that were not always accurate. At least better than Emily in Paris.

Lastly, the classic, 1984 by George Orwell. Although my friends had highly recommended it when I arrived in the United States for college, I had procrastinated reading it for quite some time. And so I read it during my lengthy flight from Oxford to Vietnam; for over 20 hours, I alternated between napping, reading, and sampling the airline’s food. 1984 took me on a journey of highs and lows, filled with doubt and suspicion. It was the most rewarding long-haul flight I have ever had.

Each book I included in my special regimen taught me something. When Breath Becomes Air reminded me to keep reading and re-reading great books. Those books could never grow old, and you’re never truly finished with them. For its faults, Almost French nevertheless resonated with my experiences of studying abroad. It touched my yearning sense of belonging as an international student so much that I saw myself in the journalist’s main character, not in Paris but in Oxford. However, it also reminded me of how quickly cultural differences can lead to stereotypes. Finally, 1984 was not as difficult a read as one might think, yet it was not easy either. It represented the intersection of my two degrees in Linguistics and Philosophy: How easily we are manipulated by language? What is truthful and what is not? It taught me why one should keep reading new books, to access new worlds, knowledge, and experiences.

When I arrived at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City with the 1984 folded and my glasses taken off, I realised that I had cured myself of my inability to read for leisure.

Witherspoon tackles topics like Korean American identity, social media fame and the titular fluffy shaved ice dessert in “Bingsu for Two,” which was named one of Forbes’ 40 most anticipated novels of 2025. We sat down with Witherspoon to talk about what storytelling means to her, how she found a place for both humor and romance in her writing and the way her time at the UW and love of Seattle informed her debut novel.

Did you always want to be a romance author?

I consider myself a horror author first and foremost and am drawn to scary stories that make my heart race, so “Bingsu for Two” was different for me. After getting a lot of rejections on a book I’d written prior, I decided to step away from the dark, brooding world of dark fantasy and write a romantic comedy that reignited my love of storytelling. I was in a Korean cafe in Tacoma when I got the idea for the book, and wanted to create a coming-of-age romantic comedy with a character that captured the struggles I was going through as a student and someone on the precipice of adulthood.

You shared that “Bingsu for Two” is a romance book and a coming-of-age novel. How do both aspects of the story show up in the book?

I wrote “Bingsu for Two” when I was 19, and the main character River is a few years younger than that. River and I are mixed Korean American, and his feelings of not being enough and managing cultural expectations reflect my experiences of not feeling Korean or American or smart enough. Both River and I were trying to understand our identities, and writing this book helped me realize that it was OK not to have everything figured out. Now, I’ve internalized the lessons that River learns, especially the fact that much like my writing, I don’t expect myself to be a perfect final product, but one that is continually evolving.

How have you found an identity that feels right for you and a place where you feel like you belong?

The answer is still evolving, but I feel like I’ve come full circle. This book has helped me explore my Korean heritage in ways that have resonated with readers, like the scene where River’s mom cuts up fruit for him or River noticing a familiar smell of his mom’s cooking when coming home. Bringing these experiences to the page has been so validating in a way I needed growing up. It also reminds me that I don’t need to keep proving that I’m one thing or another.

Tell me more about the process of finding your voice as a writer while working on this book.

I think of my writing style as ever-evolving. I also see myself as a collage of all the things I love, whether it’s books and media I’ve consumed or conversations with people in my life. My book is a time capsule of who I was at the time, which made it easier to put myself in the character’s shoes.

What helped you stay persistent in the process of getting your first book published, especially hearing a lot of ‘no’s’ in the beginning?

With the publishing industry being so competitive, you’re going to hear “no” more than you hear “yes.” Breaking into the publishing industry can feel like you’re trying to win the lottery, but I am nothing if not stubborn. I was querying the book and kept getting rejected, but what helped me push through was the fact that storytelling has always moved me since I was a young reader, not just with the books I read but the communities that form around them. I hoped that my book could inspire others in the same way.

For your English major at the UW, you learned how language is used as an art form, and how you can break conventions. How did that show up in “Bingsu for Two”?

One of the things I wanted to deconstruct is the main character River’s inability to identify and express how he’s feeling. There’s so much left unsaid, especially as he tries to understand his messy, muddled feelings. With the help of his love interest, he’s able to think about his feelings in a way he hasn’t before.

In terms of subverting conventions of romance novels, many readers told me that they were surprised to read a romance novel from the perspective of a male character. I knew I wanted to explore ideas of not [writing] the perfect love interest, which is why River is on a journey to figure out who he is and what he wants. He gets a happy ending, but he doesn’t have everything figured out.

How do you use both humor and romance in this book? Did you want to have a little bit of both?

I wanted the book to be funny while still covering deeper topics like consent and coming of age. River often reflects the idea of laughing through his pain instead of grappling with his emotions. Instead of confronting emotional vulnerability, he makes a joke. Avoiding talking about emotions directly can be super prevalent in the Asian American community, and part of his journey is realizing that you do have to feel your feelings at the end of the day.

This book mentions many Seattle coffee shops and locations. What are some of your favorite cameos?

A lot of the book is inspired by my love of Seattle and features some of its famous landmarks. During a coffee scavenger hunt, they go to Victrola Coffee Roasters in Capitol Hill and Coffeeholic House in Greenwood. Whenever I reread certain sections, it takes me back to the places on campus where I wrote this book, whether it was a dorm or a library.

How do you feel now that your debut novel is out?

It’s a funny feeling to achieve your dreams and then figure out what’s next. I’m taking the time to be excited that it’s out and prepare for what comes after. At the end of the day, I hope readers pick it up and resonate with it.

Check out “Bingsu for Two” and follow Sujin Witherspoon on Instagram.

Get to know Sujin with these rapid-fire questions:

Go-to coffee order : Iced lavender oat milk latte, ideally from Cafe Allegro.

: Iced lavender oat milk latte, ideally from Cafe Allegro. Go-to bingsu order : Mango bingsu.

: Mango bingsu. Favorite coffee shop : Coffeeholic House in Greenwood .

: Coffeeholic House in Greenwood . Romance books : “Love, Canter, Action” by Katie Gilbert and “Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar” by Anahita Karthik are coming out later this year and early next year, and I recommend checking them out!

: “Love, Canter, Action” by Katie Gilbert and “Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar” by Anahita Karthik are coming out later this year and early next year, and I recommend checking them out! Romance trope you’d like or want to explore : I love fake dating as well as the angst of childhood friends to strangers to lovers.

: I love fake dating as well as the angst of childhood friends to strangers to lovers. Favorite spot at the UW : Suzzallo Library.

: Suzzallo Library. How you want people to feel when reading “Bingsu for Two”: Ideally, they’d laugh 90% of the time and cry 10% of the time. That’s the golden ratio.

About the author: Aleenah Ansari (she/her) is equal parts storyteller, creative problem solver, and journalist at heart who’s rooted in the stories of people behind products, companies, and initiatives. She writes about travel, entrepreneurship, mental health and wellness, and representation in media for Insider, The Seattle Times, Byrdie, and more. You can usually find her searching for murals, reading a book by a BIPOC author, or planning her next trip to New York. You can learn more at www.aleenahansari.com.

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

If you walk into any bookstore these days, you’ll likely be greeted with at least one table of brightly illustrated romance novels. No matter how you feel about the animated cover trend (and the opinions are definitely strong), it’s hard to ignore that romance is having a moment.

How do you sum up a year in romance? Goodreads lists and best-seller charts make an excellent starting point, but personally, I’m more likely to take a book recommendation from people who know romance — and read lots of it.

RELATED: I’ve been an Audible member for 2 plus years — here’s why you should join

Meet Bad Bitch Book Club, a fully virtual book club founded by lit consultant Mackenzie Newcomb with over 61K followers on Instagram and an active Facebook community of over 32,000 members. In addition to the main Facebook group, there are sub-groups for most genres, in addition to interest-and-identity-specific groups.

As a member of BBBC myself, I knew there would be no better place to source a list of wonderful, diverse contemporary romance novels other than the romance-specific sub-group Bad Bitches in Love.

So, I put out a call to the people I love reading with the most, asking members to share their favorite contemporary romance released in 2024. This is how you sum up a year in romance, by rounding up the books that romance readers genuinely loved reading.

Without further ado, here are the best contemporary romance novels of 2024, per the seasoned romance readers in Bad Bitches in Love.

Best contemporary romance novels of 2024:

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.68/5 stars

About the book: Two writers with a complicated history end up working on the same TV show… Can they write themselves a new ending? A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover.

“How to End A Love Story” comes recommended by Brittany Arreguin, a co-admin of Bad Bitches in Love who has been a part of the book club for four years. “There are many reasons I love this book, but I just think the prose is written in such a memorable way and when I think about growing up Chinese, maybe feeling some of the same struggles of trying to hold it all together when life feels like it’s falling apart, this book resonates with me in that aspect. I felt for the characters, who both share some past trauma, and read them work through it in one of my favorite books this year, and even ever in my life.”

Arreguin’s co-admin Jordan Ellis cosigns this recommendation. “This book is as much a story about grief as it is a hot and tension-filled romance. Kuang’s real life experience writing screenplays really shines through. And don’t tell me Taylor [Swift] didn’t write “Guilty As Sin?” about Grant and Helen!”

Victoria Desmond, another longtime book club member, also named this a favorite romance novel of 2024. “I have not stopped thinking about this book. Before I read it, I thought the premise would be an automatic no for me but I loved the story so much! Kuang’s writing really draws you in and I couldn’t help falling for the story.”

Audiobook narrator: Katharine Chin, Andrew Eiden | Run time: 11 hours and 6 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.11/5 stars

About the book: This ode to “Twelfth Night” is the perfect friends to lovers romp featuring an accidental wedding, meddling families, and plenty of sizzling chemistry.

“Marriage and Masti” is a recommendation from Newcomb, the aforementioned founder of Bad Bitch Book Club. “Nisha Sharma strikes the perfect balance of swoony & steamy. She writes characters that are multi-dimensional and complex and yet still relatable. “Marriage and Masti” is the third and final book in the “If Shakespeare Were An Auntie” series and it closes it in a perfect way.”

Katie Ritoch, who has been in BBBC for four years, also named this her 2024 favorite. “‘Marriage and Masti’ is the best romance book I read this year. It’s an ode to oldest daughters with family trauma and the perfect friends to lovers. Sharma perfectly blended the healing aspects of Veera’s journey with Veera and Deepak’s love story. This book was healing, funny and spicy!”

Audiobook narrator: Vikas Adam, Soneela Nankani | Run time: 10 hours and 24 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.91/5 stars

About the book: To save his family’s failing funeral home—and his own chance at a queer love story—a reluctant clairvoyant must embrace the gift he long ignored.

“Rules for Ghosting” comes recommended by Sarah Martin, who has been reading with the BBBC for three years. “This book is a love letter to queerness and the many forms love and family come in. It’s a warm hug after a long day!”

Audiobook narrator: Petey Gibson | Run time: 12 hours and 42 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.34/5 stars

About the book: An emotional, slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance about grief and found family between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season

As a member of Bad Bitch Book Club myself, I (Angela Tricarico, the author of this very piece!) believe “You Should Be So Lucky” is one of the best romance novels of 2024. “I’m bending the rules here just a little bit because I simply can’t help myself and I didn’t read a better romance this year. Set in 1960, “You Should Be So Lucky” is not quite contemporary, but compared to the majority of Cat Sebastian’s bibliography (most of which is set in the Regency era), it’s contemporary enough. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself to justify its inclusion on this list. “You Should Be So Lucky” checks a lot of boxes for me as a reader: it’s a slow-burn baseball romance with an arts reporter trying his best as the main character, written by my favorite author. A recipe for success if I ever heard one. No one writes sad boys like Sebastian, and it is so, so easy to get invested in this sweet and moving story about these two men who find ways to overcome loss together.”

Audiobook narrator: Joel Leslie | Run time: 11 hours and 59 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.0/5 stars

About the book: In this enchanting love story, a free-spirited florist and an enigmatic musician are irreversibly linked through the history, art, and magic of Harlem.

“A Love Song for Ricki Wilde” comes recommended by Mel Suckow, a member of Bad Bitch Book Club since its inception. “This book made me believe in magic. It’s a reminder of how the power of art has the ability to transform relationships and transcend time.”

Audiobook narrator: Mela Lee, Preston Butler | Run time: 11 hours and 42 minutes | Buy hardcover | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 stars

About the book: This novel follows once-childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country.

“Here We Go Again” is a recommendation from longtime Bad Bitch Book Club member Emma-Cate. “‘Here We Go Again’ by Alison Cochrun is my favorite sapphic romance of the year. It explores grief and reconciliation on the gayest road trip you could imagine – two childhood best friends turned enemies turned coworkers on a cross country road trip with their terminally ill high school teacher. The story is sweet, funny, sad, and the most meaningful!”

Audiobook narrator: Natalie Naudus, Jeremy Carlisle Parker | Run time: 12 hours and 28 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.3/5 stars

About the book: “Delicate Escape” is a swoony small-town romance that will set your heart racing with elements of suspense and an exploration of trust and commitment.

“Delicate Escape” comes recommended by Amber, a two-year member of BBBC. “I loved the character development and the way they grew to love each other! I also really enjoyed the added suspense aspects.”

Audiobook narrator: Teddy Hamilton, Erin Mallon | Run time: 10 hours and 15 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.41/5 stars

About the book: “This Could Be Us” is a steamy combination of women’s fiction and romance following a single mother on a path of healing and figuring out life after her divorce.

“This Could Be Us” comes recommended by Tomi Obebe, who joined BBBC two years ago. “Kennedy Ryan consistently reminds me why | love reading. Her ability to write such rich characters and storylines is a credit to her talent but should also inspire others in the genre. Ryan finds a way to make each novel a source of introspection on how we approach our own personal relationships and growth! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book — couldn’t put it down! I feel like it was a major book club discussion in 2024 for those discovering life after divorce, confidence, and boundaries in relationships. I think this is one of her best yet!”

Additionally, Ritoch mentioned this novel as an all-time favorite. “Kennedy Ryan perfectly balanced the growth of Soledad’s personal journey and the romance storyline. I think this book is not only a testament to second chances in life but also to female friendships and the strength of women who have been wronged by men.”

Audiobook narrator: Ines del Castillo, Jakobi Diem | Run time: 12 hours and 20 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.7/5 stars

About the book: A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy.

“One Star Romance” is a rec from Claire Handscombe, who has been reading with BBBC for several years. “This book was such a well-written and emotionally intelligent exploration of friendship and found family. It also did such a good job of portraying the vulnerability of being a writer and how hard, and all-consuming, that can be.”

Audiobook narrator: Laura Hankin | Run time: 10 hours and 57 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5 stars

About the book: Ellie Palmer’s debut novel follows a woman post-double-mastectomy finding the right guy at the wrong time and striking up a tenuous friendship with him over the course of, well, four weekends.

“Four Weekends and a Funeral” was recommended by Morgan Rohbock, who has been in BBBC for over four years. “‘Four Weekends and a Funeral’ is one of those books where I could truly see the circumstances that befall the main character happen to me or a friend where this crazy circumstance does create love. It’s an ode to early 2000s rom-coms while also being this complex, nuanced story of a woman with the BRCA1 mutation and unexpected loss, navigating challenging circumstances and figuring herself out. And in the end, she finds first happiness and then love through the chaos of life in this really beautiful way.”

Audiobook narrator: Karissa Vacker | Run time: 9 hours and 40 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.17/5 stars

About the book: In this cozy, friends-to-lovers romance, Maren Laughlin has been fishing her whole life, but she’s finally ready to be caught.

“Catch and Keep” is a recommendation from Victoria Mescall, who joined BBBC in 2020. “I loved how unexpectedly emotional this fishing romance was. Family was at the center of this story and I loved how it challenged stereotypes about autism and sexism.”

Audiobook narrator: Zura Johnson, Michal Norman Johnson | Run time: 9 hours and 6 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.0/5 stars

About the book: A surprise pregnancy after an uncharacteristic one-night stand leads to even more life-changing revelations for Eve and the baby’s father, who she finds herself growing closer to.

“Ready or Not” was recommended by Teresa, who joined BBBC two years ago. “I don’t even like pregnancy-based romance books, but this one was incredibly good! The audiobook narrator also brought a lot to it.”

Audiobook narrator: Alex Finke | Run time: 10 hours and 50 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.7/5 stars

About the book: Two sisters roll up their sleeves to run a dilapidated inn but must learn to work with the locals in this deliciously spicy novel inspired by “Sense and Sensibility.”

Martin also recommended a second 2024 book. “Nikki Payne is out here absolutely crushing the Austen retelling game. This book was hilarious and chaotic and so heartfelt, I could not put it down. I loved everything about this book and I want everyone to experience Nora and Bear’s love.”

Audiobook narrator: Kacie Rogers, Phil Ava | Run time: 11 hours and 9 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 stars

About the book: Two people with the same “curse” — the people they date go on to find their soulmates in their next relationships — are hoping to break it, so they decide to date long enough and well enough to set each other free.

“Just For the Summer” is the best romance pick of Megan Brown, a newer member of Bad Bitch Book Club. “This book really just captivated me from the start. The writing, the characters, and the story itself were amazing. I still think about it months later.”

Marissa, another newer member, seconded the recommendation. “‘Just for the Summer’ (and the whole series) focuses on mental health challenges in thoughtful and meaningful ways. Emma and Justin also have the cutest meet-cute — via a Reddit thread discussing their “curse”. The MMC (male main character) is the definition of “if he wanted to he would” — we see a man who is thoughtful, caring, and understanding.”

Audiobook narrator: Christine Lakin, Zachary Webber | Run time: 11 hours and 43 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5 stars

About the book: Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance.

Newer book club member Lauren O’Donnell says “The Ex Vows” is the best romance of 2024. “The characters felt real and very accessible, and I felt like the main characters grew rather than being a stick in the mud for themselves. The banter was stellar, and the dialogue also felt non-cliche.”

Audiobook narrator: Kyla Garcia | Run time: 11 hours and 10 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.8/5 stars

About the book: A teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex’s wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

Though not a BBBC member, Post Wanted’s Victoria Giardina is an avid reader, and recommends this novel. “‘Say You’ll Be Mine’ by Naina Kumar paints a poignant narrative of independence, staying true to your beliefs and letting your heart be your guide. I’m a big fan of contemporary romance novels but this one earned a spot on my best five-star books of 2024 list, and for a good reason — it wasn’t corny, had an engaging protagonist and love interest and shone a spotlight on the AAPI culture that I found to be particularly interesting and insightful. I read this around Valentine’s Day but it’s an excellent book to pick up for any time of year, especially if you want something witty, lighthearted and page-turning.”

Audiobook narrator: Soneela Nankani | Run time: 10 hours and 45 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5 stars

About the book: Daphne’s ex-fiancé Peter leaves her in a bit of a pickle when he leaves her for his childhood best friend Petra. Stranded in Michigan without any nearby family or friends, practical, no-nonsense Daphne agrees to live with Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles. How do they end up having to fake a relationship in front of both of their exes? Well, it’s kind of a funny story…

“Funny Story” is another favorite of mine. “This list wouldn’t be complete without the latest from Emily Henry. “Funny Story” is the author’s fifth adult rom-com, and it’s high on my list of her books, too. This book is the opposites attract trope done perfectly, with carefree, chaotic Miles a perfect foil to uptight, practical Daphne. It also uses the fake dating trope in a fun and unexpected way to tell their story.”

Audiobook narrator: Julia Whelan | Run time: 11 hours and 23 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

More great 2024 contemporary romance novels:

More reader-loved contemporary romance novels:

We also asked Bad Bitch Book Club members what their favorite contemporary romance of all time is. Here’s what they had to say.

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 stars

About the book: In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy, an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

My favorite romance novel of all time is “The Charm Offensive.” “Do you ever read something and just feel it so deeply? That’s how I felt the first time I read “The Charm Offensive,” and how I’ve felt on every subsequent re-read or re-listen (and there have been quite a few!). In her debut romance, Cochrun crafts a whirlwind romance between the producer of a “Bachelor”-esque dating show who creates other peoples’ happily ever afters (but never his own) and the star of the show himself — someone who doesn’t believe that true love is in the cards for him at all. The stakes just feel so real, like you can absolutely picture something like this happening in real life. Plus it also has some of the best commentary on complicated identity and mental health of any romance I’ve read.”

Audiobook narrator: 10 hours and 52 minutes | Run time: Vikas Adam, Graham Halstead, Cassandra Campbell | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 stars

About the book: After causing an international incident at a royal wedding, the first son of the United States, Alex Claremont-Diaz, is forced to fake a friendship with the youngest Prince of England; the two have always been pitted against each other as rivals in the press, but the rivalry turns into a friendship, and quickly, that friendship turns to something much larger than either of them anticipate.

Oops, I couldn’t limit myself to just one pick. “‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ is the book that made me fall in love with reading again. How often is it that you remember exactly where you were when you read a book for the first time? I’ll never forget being alone in my college dorm just a week before graduation, so engrossed in the story that I could barely put it down long enough to meet a friend for dinner. McQuiston’s debut novel is truly something special; so easy to lose yourself in and endlessly relatable. I’ll always be in awe at their ability to write characters who are so complex and real that you start to feel like you know them — or maybe you are them.”

Audiobook narrator: Ramon de Ocampo | Run time: 12 hours and 15 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.0/5 stars

About the book: A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Grace Hodges, a longtime BBBC member, names “Beach Read” her favorite contemporary romance novel. “‘Beach Read’ is a book that takes two people in difficult times who are willing to bend their expectations for life in a sleepy beach town because they both need a friend. Two writers working on their craft and becoming close and falling in love over and over again, not because or despite, but regardless, is enough to make a cold, hopeless heart warm.”

Audiobook narrator: Julia Whelan | Run time: 10 hours and 13 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 stars

About the book: When her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better. That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex — he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself.

“The Heart Principle” was picked by Arreguin. “In a similar vein, again books that speak to my heritage and experience really resonate with me. This one specifically is my favorite, but I love all of Helen’s work. It’s the story of feeling like you have to work twice as hard, like in this case with the main character’s neurodivergence, and still never feeling enough, but finding love from a person who thinks you are.”

Audiobook narrator: Brian Nishii, Natalie Naudus | Run time: 9 hours and 30 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 stars

About the book: “Yerba Buena” is the debut adult novel by the bestselling and award-winning YA author Nina LaCour, following two women on a star-crossed journey toward each other.

“Yerba Buena” is an all-time favorite pick from Suckow. “I loved how this one really showcased how people grow on their own in order to be able to grow together. Yerba Buena was just so real, you know?”

Audiobook narrator: Julia Whelan | Run time: 8 hours and 1 minute | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.6/5 stars

About the book: A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions.

Martin recommended this “SNL”-inspired rom-com. “Sally Milz is me and I am her. Where is my hot pop star?!”

Audiobook narrator: Kristen Sieh | Run time: 9 hours and 5 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 stars

About the book: This compelling, scorching novel is about hope and healing, and what it truly means to love for a lifetime, following a couple trying to save their marriage.

BBBC founder Newcomb recommends the first book in Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland series. “Kennedy Ryan is the best romance author of our generation. She writes stories about complicated people finding love and re-discovering themselves. “Before I Let Go” is the perfect example of her work.”

Audiobook narrator: Wesleigh Siobhan, Jakobi Diem | Run time: 13 hours and 45 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.1/5 stars

About the book: If literary agent Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine. Book editor Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero. But as they are thrown together again and again — in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow — what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

“Book Lovers” is a true book club fan favorite. Here’s what Obebe has to say about it. “Witty dialogue. A+ chemistry between the MMC and FMC (female main character). And a unique take on rom-coms where we get to follow the jilted, well-meaning, type-A ex-girlfriend from those cheesy Hallmark movies for once! “High maintenance”, career-loving women deserve a happily ever after too! I’ve described this book to many friends as a similar vibe to “Gilmore Girls” banter — so definitely add to your list if you’re a fan of the show.”

Desmond agreed that this novel was among the best. “Books about books are always going to be a hit but this one has that special EmHen pizzaz. I love reading their journey to each other every time, and I appreciate that the other characters play such a big role as well.”

Brown was the third member to recommend “Book Lovers.” “This book is one I just love dearly. I see myself in the characters so much and love the writing of Emily Henry!”

Audiobook narrator: Julia Whelan | Run time: 11 hours and 23 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

“He Will Be Mine” by Kirsty Greenwood (also known as “The Movie Star and Me”)

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.3/5 stars

About the book: After seeing him on the silver screen, Nora believes that Gary is her soulmate, her one true love, the man she’s supposed to grow old and wrinkly with. She knows it sounds nuts, she knows it’s completely crazy. But sometimes love is crazy, right? With the help of a sunny Californian weather girl, a super hot but super grumpy scriptwriter, and a very passionate Adam Levine tribute act, Nora is about to try the impossible and let fate decide her future….

When asked for an all-time favorite romance, Handscome recommended: “He Will Be Mine.” “This was such a good story of a celebrity crush because it did an excellent job of showing how it can feel to know that the hope that something might happen is crazy, but also might be real. I loved Nora, I loved her ballsy risk-taking, and I identified deeply with her.”

Audiobook narrator: Emmy Rose | Run time: 11 hours and 20 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.3/5 stars

About the book: Years ago, Marlon James (a musician otherwise known as Grip) and Bristol spent a few magical nights together. Since then, she’s gone on to manage his career, but it’s getting harder to resist her

Bad Bitches in Love co-admin Ellis recommends “Grip,” another Kennedy Ryan title. “This is a perfect book by our best contemporary romance author! Second chance romance that discusses fame and race, but still provides sex scenes that blow you out of the water? Kennedy Ryan is the best to ever do it!”

Audiobook narrator: Jakobi Diem, Maxine Mitchell | Run time: 14 hours and 49 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.3/5 stars

About the book: A mid-century grumpy/sunshine rom-dram about a scrappy reporter and a newspaper mogul’s son finding love despite the odds stacked against them.

Rohbock, who “really love[s] romance books and waxing poetic about some faves” picked this as an all-time favorite. “I still think about Nick and Andy at least twice a week. This is the gay Newsies story of your dreams where two best friends fall in love at a time when two men aren’t supposed to be in love and the way they treat each other is truly one of the most beautiful stories ever, especially as they discover they are accepted and deserving of each other. Andy making Nick’s family recipe soup will get me every time.”

(For the record, this is another instance of bent rules, as this book would have been one of my — the author of this piece — personal choices and is, again, set in the 1960s! Historical, technically, but contemporary compared to Sebastian’s other works!)

Audiobook narrator: Joel Leslie | Run time: 11 hours and 46 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.9/5 stars

About the book: August Landry is a cynical pseudo-detective who has just moved to NYC; she keeps spotting the same mysterious woman on her Q train commute and the two quickly form a connection. The only problem? The woman, Jane, is literally displaced in time — pulled straight from the 1970s and bound to the Q.

This is a pick from Teresa, who says, “It pulled me out of a reading slump and really surprised me.”

Audiobook narrator: Natalie Naudus | Run time: 12 hours and 10 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.5/5 stars

About the book: A Broadway actress has a chance at stardom when cast by a major Hollywood director, but the role of her dreams may cost her the love of a lifetime in this epic novel

Martin also provided a second all-time favorite rec, marking the fourth Kennedy Ryan inclusion on this list so far. “This is the blueprint for a Hollywood romance. Kennedy Ryan has me out here believing that fictional people are soulmates.”

Audiobook narrator: Eboni Flower, Jakobi Diem, Nicole Small | Run time: 17 hours and 14 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 3.6/5 stars

About the book: A commitment phobe and a hopeless romantic clash over and over again, but heartbreak and chemistry bring them together in this romance.

O’Donnell provided a very strong recommendation for this “When Harry Met Sally” inspired romance. “Beyond it being a love letter to New York, I loved the main characters. So rarely is there a casual representation of alternative romantic relationships (open relationships, fluid sexuality) that isn’t a cornerstone/focal point of a book, and there was real growth throughout the book while also allowing the main characters space to have flaws. I regularly return to time periods and scenes in this book because the dialogue and internal dialogue are so strong”

Audiobook narrator: Kristen DiMercurio | Run time: 11 hours and 5 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5 stars

About the book: An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate… only to discover he lives seven years in the past. After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.

Marissa recommends checking out one of Ashley Poston’s magical rom-coms. “This book is just so fun. Who wouldn’t want a magical apartment to help them find love?! It’s a light, exciting read and is so different than any other romance I have read.”

Audiobook narrator: Brittany Pressley | Run time: 9 hours and 43 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5 stars

About the book: From the author of “Fourth Wing” comes a sweeping romance about the sustained power of chance encounters that sees two people meeting on a plane and their lives becoming inextricably linked by that moment.

This book was recommended by Mescall. “I love epic love stories that span time and location and this book is a delicious ten-year journey from the U.S. to Afghanistan and back. I have never before seen an author so seamlessly weave love, grief, family relationships, socioeconomic circumstances, and current events together. This book makes you think about fate, and you root for the characters the entire time.”

Audiobook narrator: Carly Robins, Teddy Hamilton | Run time: 10 hours and 30 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

Amazon

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5 stars

About the book: In this book, a romantic wonders if sharing a roof with her best friend’s brother was the right move after all, especially as they pretend to be a couple.

Amber is the reader who recommended “The Right Move.” “Liz is a fantastic author! I absolutely fell in love with Ryan Shay & I love Indy as well.”

Audiobook narrator: Sean Crisden, Junpier Young | Run time: 14 hours and 19 minutes | Buy paperback | Buy Kindle e-book

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“Close your eyes!” I yelped across the pool as my 5-year-old took her very first plunge off the diving board this summer. This garnered quite the funny look from her dad. But, inside me, I knew I was right: Jumping into a pool with your eyes open can make you go blind. I saw it in a movie once and never forgot that warning — or the movie, for that matter. Released in 1991, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken was a film based on the memoir A Girl and Five Brave Horses, which told the true life story of an actual person, Sonora Webster. Do you remember the chokehold that movie had on us in our youth?

Of course, if you grew up in the ’90s, you know what I’m talking about. And, if you live without anxiety, you probably know my daughter is just fine. After all, there is a bit of a difference between my daughter leaping haphazardly from a board suspended two feet from the water and the magnificent horse-diving feats completed by Sonora. Still, that memory and panic reminded me exactly how obsessed I was with Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken in grade school. I couldn’t possibly be the only one, right? And it’s still obviously just as brilliant as I remember… right?

Time for a re-watch! (It’s on Disney+, by the way.)

The 30-Second Synopsis

If you weren’t a self-proclaimed “horse girl” in the ’90s or didn’t grow up oddly obsessed with anything set before the Great Depression, you have no idea what you missed. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken follows a young orphan girl, Sonora Webster (played by Gabrielle Anwar), on her quest for fame. She sees an ad in the paper for a “diving horse girl” and makes her way to the fair, temporarily settling for a job as a stablehand but never giving up on her dream.

The people of the traveling circus, especially those associated with Dr. Carver’s Diving Horse Show, become a found family for her. The headstrong and pushy Dr. Carver acts almost as a father figure to Sonora. His son, Al, trains her when Carver pushes her requests aside, teaching her how to mount a moving horse and dive 40 feet into a pool below (yes, Al inevitably becomes Sonora’s love interest). After falling from a horse and dislocating her shoulder, the existing diving-horse girl, Marie, ends up unable to perform, and Sonora gets her wish.

But during a fateful performance in Atlantic City, the crash of a cymbal sends Sonora’s horse faltering, and she plunges into the pool (you guessed it) with her eyes open. The impact of the water on her eyes causes Sonora to go blind. Yet, she still won’t give up on her dream, even when her now-future-husband Al forbids it. With the help of an old friend (and death-defying motorcycle rider), Sonora hoodwinks her family and the crowd. She mounts and dives her horse, still blind, and continues to do so for another 11 years.

The Big Hitch

Wild Hearts is so dramatically done and yet so beautifully written that it’s hard to believe it’s true. But it is. Mostly.

And it is still so good. Mostly.

If you’re an adult who hasn’t seen Wild Hearts in a few decades (or ever), I 10/10 recommend you watch it. The cinematography, the story, the beautiful scenery, the horses, the actors — they all make the film worth your 90 minutes. It’s the perfect way to escape a bad day. Will I show it to my daughter, though? I haven’t fully decided.

It’s worth pointing out that the movie was released in 1991 and was set in the 1920s, both decades with much different standards than now. This isn’t some story a man made up to suit his own interests, either, but an honest-to-goodness true story about a real woman’s coming of age, her triumphs and her tragedies.

One of the most problematic aspects of Wild Hearts remains the relationship between Sonora and Al.

Buena Vista/Getty Images

In real life, Sonora and Al had almost a 20-year age gap, and they met when she was in her teens. In the film, Sonora is of an indeterminate age but is still in school until she runs away. The actors had a 10-year age gap — Anwar was 21 then, and Schoeffling was 31. When you break down that number, it doesn’t seem too alarming, and given the norms of Depression Era courting, Sonora and Al’s partnership probably wasn’t scandalous back then, either.

The movie might honestly make the partnership worse, as Sonora’s youth is highlighted multiple times while Al is very clearly a grown man. Nothing more than a few kisses are shared (or even hinted at) on-screen between Sonora and Al. However, a very clear sense of romance pervades the plot (they even get engaged on-screen).

Because context is wildly important, so is the maturity of the viewer. While I don’t think Wild Hearts is a movie that needs to be turned off the minute my 5-year-old enters the room, I’d probably wait until she’s in her mid-teens to do a proper “showing” so that we can talk about things like consent and appropriate age gaps in modern society.

Feminism ~With Caveats~

I’m also not sure we can call Wild Hearts feminist anymore, though we certainly would have in the ’90s. On the surface, it’s about a headstrong girl who leaves behind a life of abuse to chase down what she wants in life. Time after time, Sonora is told no and pushes back. She literally goes blind and is told she can’t pursue her passion anymore, only for her to do exactly that. Sonora Webster was a feminist icon in the Depression Era, and the movie version of her became a feminist icon for horse girls everywhere in the ’90s.

Still, there are a few things a modern feminist might take issue with.

Sonora and Marie’s relationship is tenuous at best — they see each other as competition for Al and the job, and Marie is often catty and mean to Sonora. I think modern moms expect more from their female relationships and the women we share with our daughters. What was commonplace in 1924 is downright cringe-y in 2024. We don’t want to view other women through the lens of competition.

Sonora’s relationship with the men in her life is also troublesome. Al continuously supports Sonora’s dreams, even at the onset of her blindness. And, yes, that’s what we want from a partner for us and for our daughters. The issue? The constant need for male permission. Every step of Sonora’s journey seems to require approval from the men in her life. The men hold the reins, so to speak.

Buena Vista/Getty Images

Granted, that likely wasn’t problematic in the ’20s and was barely seen as such in the ’90s. It’s only under the magnifying glass of modern feminism that this theme becomes an issue. Do I want my daughter to think that all of her achievements must be met with the approval of men? If I’m being honest and ornery, I’d say quite the opposite.

So, where does Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken stand in the long list of great movies from my childhood? Honestly, it still ranks high. Sonora’s story is brilliant and beautiful under a magnifying glass from any decade. I’m almost thankful for the near-heart attack poolside that triggered the memory. And I will absolutely let my kiddo marvel at the diving horse girl in Wild Hearts… someday. I’m just going to wait until I can properly explain some things first.