Steamy Summer Rom-Com Reads with Carole Barrowman

The romantic comedy genre is always a popular read in the summer. But recently its popularity has grown considerably in part because of Reese Witherspoon’s ‘Sunshine’ book club, and because more books are being published that break the traditional stereotypical ‘boy meets girl’ formula. Joining us with her picks for the best Rom-Com reads for the summer is our book reviewer, Carole Barrowman. For more information on Carole, visit BarrowmanBooks.com. And see below for her picks! 1. "The Ugly Truth" by Jill Orr - This sunny funny rom-com mystery is set in a small town in Virginia. Riley Ellison is the town’s journalist who gets caught up in crimes of dramatic proportions while she’s trying to balance her work life and her love life, all with hilarious consequences. Riley also has an online life-coach whose advice is everything. 2. "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman - I loved this debut, not only because Reese Witherspoon picked it for her book-club and our producer, Katie Pinkowski recommended it to me, but it’s set in my hometown Glasgow, Scotland, and the author is a Glaswegian too. The story has an emotional and romantic heart and a laugh out loud funny bone. Eleanor is thirty and comfortably numb. Her life is unremarkable and she’s completely fine with that until she steps out of her comfort zone to help a neighbor. Eleanor reminded me of Amelia Bedelia– socially awkward and unaware of how funny she really is. 3. "Bridesmaids" by Zara Stoneley - Is there anything with the potential to be more romantic than a wedding? Anything with the potential to be funnier than a wedding? I don’t think so and this light, breezy funny book is proof. The bridesmaids may have their own secrets and issues but they pretty much save this wedding. 4. "Red, White and Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston - If you follow all things Megan and Will, you’ll love this fresh fun sexy debut novel about a rivalry between the son of a female president and a UK prince. Their rivalry starts with a fight at a wedding and evolves into a romance between the two young men. This novel is a charming well-written twist on the genre’s formula of finding Prince Charming.