Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

This is the story of two people who most definitely are not looking for love, especially not with each other. Maggie thinks that Aiden is her son's age while he thinks she's his mother's. It's a bit of a coincidence that they think that but not an unthinkable stretch. As the two spend more time together on an online role-playing game, they become friends. When Aiden hurts his ankle, they meet in person and realize they are about the same age. Love isn't instant, but as the two get to know each other, as they listen and grow (loved this!), they figure out they might want more from each other than merely friendship.

Four stars

This book came out July 1, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

Love, Comment, Subscribe by Cathy Yardley

Cathy Yardley writes such lovely contemporary novels about women in tech. This is just another wonderful addition to her canon. I went back and forth reading the ebook and listening to the book on Audible and enjoyed both versions. 

Growing up, Lily Wang just wanted to be popular. We get to see one interaction where she tries to join the popular kids but is pushed back to her circle of friends, the ones who call themselves the Nerd Herd. There is some hurt from her friends but they smooth it over quickly. Except for Tobin Bui, Lily's high school arch nemesis. But now he's a popular YouTube star and Lily could use his... not help per say but his name. Her own beauty channel has maxed out on viewers and she's not willing to get into a feud or start trashing products in order to build more. So a collaboration seems like it could be a good idea. Even with someone who mostly does pranks.

The two work together and manage to produce several successful videos even though their working styles are completely different. And, of course, this is a romance so working together might just prove that these two opposites will attract.

Four stars

This book came out October 21, 2021

Followed by Gouda Friends

Borrowed as ebook and audiobook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Ship of Fools Cathy Yardley

 High school sweethearts Ren and Rachel broke up. Well, he broke up with her and broke her heart. His parents explained to him that it would be too hard to be across the country and maintain a relationship especially since they would both be in school. And he listened.

Ten years later, Rachel needs a favor that only a billionaire (or a billionaire’s kid) can help with. So she calls Ren. And he uses the opportunity to try and get back in her good graces. But Rachel isn’t really happy about that. She decides to give him one week to figure out his whether or not he can fit her into his life. But will Ren crack under the pressure from Rachel adding to the pressure he’s already under from his parents?

I felt like Rachel was a little harder than she needed to be and Ren was just a little too perfect but it was a overall a fast and fun book.

Three and a half stars

Follows Playing Doctor

Book borrowed from Audible Escape

This book came out September 30th, 2018

Opinions are my own

Ms. Behave by Cathy Yardley

 In previous books in this series, we knew that Simon, medium-time TV star of a sci-fi series, has some mysterious past in Snoqualmie and that it probably has something to do with the gender-neutral, kick-ass lawyer Mallory and we finally get to find out what it is. 
The two were best buds in high school but when Simon caught feelings, he tried to be super secret and respectful about it because he thought Mallory was a lesbian so he wasn't going to put all of his feelings on her. Which, he probably could have shared some but... teenagers aren't the smartest and I very much respect the "why lose a best friend" question. They did get handsy with each other one night but were yanked apart soon after so never had a chance to follow up.
Years later, Simon still thinks Mallory's hot, especially when she saves his butt from a potentially awkward situation. He is still trying to respect her feelings, even when she is coy (but that seems to have been their relationship in high school also.)
Maybe not the best representation of bisexuality (some things seemed stereotypical but I'm not an expert on the topic) but Mallory was strong and confident in who she was and I enjoyed that about her.

Four stars

Follows What Happens at Con

Followed by Playing Doctor

This book came out July 30th, 2019

Borrowed from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

Game of Hearts by Cathy Yardley

I don't love the trope of my best friend's sibling (unless that is not the source of the tension) and this one didn't really make me change my mind. Yardley is a really good writer and I am very much enjoying this series but this book was not as good as the first two. I mean, even though Kyla Summers and Jericho Salomon are adults, there's some stupid reason why they're not supposed to get together; her brother doesn't want them to. I mean, Jericho also has some motorcycle club (clean cut, not SOA) issues that he's dealing with and being back in his home town to help Kyla out is bringing up some old memories that he thought were long out of his head, but those aren't nearly as much of the focus. I also didn't like that Kyla's brother never really seemed to get that her passion wasn't the garage. I get that that is probably true to life but I do like my romances to have an all around HEA (with an HFN being an okay substitute.)

Fours stars

Follows One True Pairing

Followed by What Happens at Con

This book came out January 30th, 2018

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own

One True Pairing by Cathy Yardley

Hailey Frost loves Mystics, a sci-fi TV show with three male leads, but that doesn't mean that she expects Jake Reese to wander into her second job, hiding from a horde of screaming, clothes-ripping fans. Nor does she expect that she will enter into a mutually beneficial fake relationship with him; she'll help boost his Q store but creating a romance story between a star and his fan while he'll boost her family's failing bookstore.

A fun and quirky story with characters that were easy to relate too. Hailey might have been a little too prickly and Jake just a little too cinnamon roll but I did get past that eventually.

Fours stars

Followed by Game of Hearts

This book came out July 25th, 2017

Borrowed as an audiobook from Audible Escape

Opinions are my own