A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes a song can capture a whole era—a slice of your life recreated whenever you hear that opening riff. The movie The Breakfast Club made the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)" so indelibly iconic as the theme song for high school archetypes that when I saw the title of this book—and immediately got the song in my head—I wondered if it would be able to live up to the nostalgia it would trigger. Rest assured, it does.

Like The Breakfast Club, Mhairi McFarlane’s glorious, hilarious heartbreaker of a story begins with high school students pushed together by circumstances out of their control, vividly aware of their places in the social hierarchy, baffled and delighted by their mutual attraction. Their strictly-in-secret love story is sweet, innocent and almost breathless in its sweaty-palmed elation.

And then the film reel cuts out and the story picks up twelve years later.

Our heroine, Georgina Horspool, never left her native Sheffield. Never achieved her dream of becoming an important writer. Never quite found her niche at all, in fact, and has the rug of her unsatisfying life doubly pulled out from under her in just one night. First, she’s fired from her (miserable) waitressing job. Then she finds her (egocentric cad of a) boyfriend in bed with his assistant. Desperate for any opportunity that’ll keep her from being the object of pity (again) at the family’s weekly brunch, she jumps at the chance to tend bar for a private event at a new pub. It goes well, she’s offered a job and she’s eager to accept—but then she learns that the job means working with Lucas McCarthy who is, of course, the boy she loved a decade-plus ago and lost somewhere along the way.

So far, so expected. McFarlane’s writing is funny and charming enough to keep her readers engaged, but the beats in the first part will feel familiar as the story shifts from The Breakfast Club to Bridget Jones’s Diary. Still, as the story progresses, the madcap humor starts to mingle with deeper emotions. Georgina is self-aware in a way that Bridget never managed. Her relationships with her friends and family delve below the surface, uncovering real emotions and deep-seated issues. When she talks about discovering a beloved parent’s infidelity, there’s no punch line payoff. It feels real and visceral. When her dreadful ex tries to win her back, it’s not funny—it’s an awful ordeal that Georgina correctly identifies as manipulative and bullying. And readers should be aware that this novel contains a graphic description of sexual assault that could be triggering to some individuals. It is devastating and unflinchingly honest, but it is not gratuitous. Understanding the details of what occurred is pivotal to understanding the plot and characters.

Any romance reader will be able to peg that Lucas and Georgina are made for each other, but they have to put in some real work—on both sides—before they’re emotionally ready for happily ever after. McFarlane doesn’t skimp on sly humor or wacky characters, but no plot point has an easy fix and no character feels two-dimensional. Even the broadest personalities are loving, or loyal or cruel in tactile and vivid ways. And as the book progresses, you realize how much depth and truth there was to the characters and the story all along.

Zoey Castile is back with the third installment of her Happy Endings series, Flashed. It begins as just another sexy story about a hot male model and stripper (who’s a player on the soccer pitch and off). But it evolves into so much more. Once Patrick Halloran is disfigured from a life-altering accident, his inner beauty is able to shine through, giving this romance a hint of Beauty and the Beast with some reverse ugly duckling thrown in.

The woman who finally breaks through Pat's self-imposed isolation is Lena Martel, an aspiring artist working her way through college by keeping house. As you can imagine, it is unusual to work for a grumpy hermit of a man who has zero communication skills. Until they begin messaging each other. Sexily. Without the benefit of face-to-face interaction, Pat and Lena are forced to wade through getting to know each other with no posturing, allowing them to focus more on who they are, deep inside where the vulnerable bits are safely hidden.

For a man whose livelihood has always been his body—his strength, speed and beauty—Pat finds relying on his wits is new. But for Lena, an artist used to experiencing and touching and feeling life around her, relying on digital communication tests her, too. Patrick and Lena are incredibly likeable characters, and they defy the odds by sticking with one another. Great romances remind us that the heart wants what the heart wants, and it knows when it’s time to move forward. Even if you’re a man who wonders if his is the face the woman of his dreams can love forever.

This is a story for all the less than perfect people out there who have relied on being nice, funny and kind; who are often overlooked at first pass because they’re not shiny and sparkly and perfect. Those who know the truth about love and relationships because at the end of the day (and when it really, truly counts), substance trumps shine any day.

Toni Blake tells the perfect story for a summer afternoon in The One Who Stays. Cancer survivor Meg Sloan runs her late grandmother’s inn on small, quaint Summer Island. She’s content with her world and her relationship with Zack Sheppard, a local fisherman who casually drops in and out of her life. But while anticipating a momentous birthday, she wonders if she’s been settling instead of fully living life. The arrival of charming younger handyman Seth Darden emboldens her to consider what she really wants—perhaps something and someone different altogether? Blake’s leisurely pace provides a sense of slowed “island time” in this lovely, heartwarming romance with a little sadness to balance out the sweet.

It’s hard to feel sorry for Sadie Gold. When someone is born beautiful, raised rich and on the verge of filming what’s sure to be her breakout role in a blockbuster movie, her life might look pretty thoroughly charmed. But it’s easy to feel empathy for Sadie from the first moment we see her—fantasizing about a donut to motivate herself through a grueling session with her physical trainer. This isn’t a spoiled little rich girl who needs to be shaken out of her privileged existence. This is a girl who everyone expects to be spoiled, who has thus learned to work twice as hard to be taken half as seriously. We see her grit and dedication, her spirit and enthusiasm as she throws herself at her dreams with everything she has. And then we see one particular dream that fell apart, right before we learn that the stunt coordinator on her new movie is the boy who dumped her at her high school’s prom.

Bo Ibarra is a man who’s more than willing to run into a wall of fire or jump off a building—but loving Sadie scared him enough to send him running the other way, worried that he didn’t fit into her high society life and that she’d eventually come to resent him. But when they’re reunited for the first time in more than a decade, that fear is overpowered by the crackling chemistry they still share. Rekindling their physical relationship is easy and fun, but rebuilding trust will be significantly harder, especially since Sadie’s hiding a secret about their past.

Most of the story is breezy and playful, an entertaining romp between attractive, appealing characters who share an engaging backstory, an adventurous spirit and a love of movie quotes—particularly when it comes to Star Wars. It’s fun for the reader to go behind the scenes of a big budget movie, but that element of the story is touched on pretty lightly, and there are only a handful of scenes involving filming. Most of Johnson’s focus is on the characters reconnecting and rebuilding their rapport, and the challenge that connection faces when someone attempting to blackmail Sadie threatens to reveal her secret.

Highlight to reveal spoilers: The secret is that shortly after Bo ended their relationship, Sadie found out she was pregnant—and got an abortion. It wasn’t a decision she made lightly or without sorrow, but it’s a choice she looks back on without regret. The revelation of that secret provides the story’s climax as Bo struggles to come to terms with it—but Once Upon a Bad Boy is ultimately a celebration of choice and of a woman’s right to determine the direction her life takes. Sadie models that strength in how she lived her past, how she handles her present and how she builds a new future with Bo.

Travis Ford has been Port Jefferson’s pride and joy ever since he was a high school MVP knocking grand slams out of the park. The fame and success that followed (topped with a certain scandal-sheet notoriety: photos from an interrupted interlude earned him the nickname Two Bats) surprised no one, least of all Georgie Castle, his best friend’s little sister who always idolized him from afar. But when Travis returns to town, directionless and depressed after an injury and multiple surgeries have drained his career and his sense of self-worth, Georgie catches his eye in a way she never had before—by chucking greasy leftovers at his head and dragging him, kicking and screaming, back to life.

With the small-town vibe, the local-boy-makes-good-hero story, the second-chance romance and the best-friend’s-sister trope all coming together, you may think you know where Fix Her Up is going, especially when Travis and Georgie concoct a plan to fake a relationship to boost their reputations. If you’re certain it’ll inevitably lead to hijinks, misunderstandings, personal resolutions not to get attached and irresistible attraction that makes the fake romance real in spite of everything . . . well, you’re right. So what? You know where a rollercoaster is going before you get on. That doesn’t stop it from being an amazingly fun ride. And this story has more than enough heat and excitement and sweetness and charm to keep you glued to the page.

Travis really will make your heart (and other places) throb with his physical confidence, his full-throttle sensuality and the delicious way he gets caught up in the heroine despite his attempts to keep his distance. And girl-next-door heroine Georgie is definitely sweet. She works as a clown at kids’ birthday parties, and her easy propensity for joy is as natural and infectious as any child’s. And yet she is also fully grown up in her tastes and desires and deeply insightful in the way she angers, teases, soothes and motivates Travis into discovering the man underneath the playboy façade. My favorite part of Fix Her Up is how good they are for each other—and how much richer their lives are from having the other’s support on the way to seizing their dreams.

With a couple this fresh, engaging and endearing, a happy ending seems like an inescapable conclusion. But in the hands of Tessa Bailey, it feels more like a justly earned reward for everything Travis and Georgie have done to make us fall in love with them along the way. I already can’t wait to see them making cameos in the author’s upcoming sequel, Love Her or Lose Her.

Olivia Dade’s Teach Me is set in the decidedly unglamorous world of the public school system, and its clear-eyed acceptance of the stresses and injustices of that environment only makes its central romance all the more wondrous. No crazy tropes, no gimmicks, no twists—just two people falling deservedly in love.

And it certainly helps that reserved history teacher Rose Owens and her new coworker, kindhearted single dad Martin Krause, are so compelling that either could be the subject of an entire novel. As a plus-size woman who grew up extremely poor, Rose is painfully clear on all the ways the world (and specifically the patriarchy) can try to tear her down. And so she has constructed an impeccable, impermeable image—perfectly tailored, always jet black clothing; a full face of expertly applied makeup; and a polite but chilly demeanor. Rose doesn’t make friends with her colleagues and her closest friends are her former in-laws. But to her students, she is all warmth and acceptance, and always willing to help an overwhelmed or troubled teenager.

Martin is witness to both sides of Rose during their awkward first meeting, where Dade cleverly uses Martin’s reactions to his new coworker to establish his own character. A new addition to the social studies department, Martin has been given Rose’s favorite world history classes in a typically boneheaded and sexist move by Dale, an administrator who has it out for Rose. Martin intuits what has happened and the injustice of it during his first interactions with his new colleague, and is mature enough to realize that Rose’s reserve isn’t directed towards him. If anything, it is actually a sign that she’s treating him like she would any other colleague, and he is rightfully impressed and grateful for this. Martin’s emotional intelligence and unquestioning respect for personal boundaries allow Rose to feel safe enough to open up to him as they work together over the course of the school year.

As their romance unfolds, Dade ensures that Rose’s ice queen façade is just as appealing as her instinctual kindness. She doesn’t have to fully dismantle her strength to be loved. In fact, Martin finds her withering glares to deserving foes to be unbearably sexy. His pining for Rose is aching and palpable on the page, and Dade makes Rose’s inner turmoil just as compelling. Torn between her surprisingly strong desire for Martin and a longstanding fear of intimacy, Rose’s journey to her HEA is not linear and nor should it be. Teach Me is firmly grounded in reality, and acknowledges the foibles and traumas and flaws of both halves of its central couple. This is where its magic springs from—in its insistence that asking for and giving love is open to them regardless, and that love can bloom even under the deeply unflattering fluorescent lights of a public high school.

Ever since I first discovered Anna Zabo’s fantastic Twisted Wishes series, I’ve been enthralled with Mish Sullivan. A towering, confident as all hell bass player, Mish is a mother hen to younger members of the band. She’s been a calm, quietly powerful presence in the previous two books in the series, Syncopation and Counterpoint, dispensing the sort of loving, firmly realistic advice that spoke to a hard-won inner strength. Reverb and its characters frequently refer to her as a rock goddess, and that title never once seems unearned.

To put it frankly, Mish Sullivan deserves a romance with her hot, respectful bodyguard David Altet. A prince among men who understandably worships Mish, David is a reserved, intriguing foil to the big personalities that make up Twisted Wishes and their coterie. It’s a shame that Mish has to go through being stalked by a sexist jerk in order to meet him, but such is the world in which we live.

Reverb handles its stalker narrative with the empathy and character specificity that has made Zabo a favorite of the romance community. They place the focus squarely on Mish, rather than dwelling overlong on the frightening, misogynistic actions of her stalker. There are even a few moments where Zabo doesn’t share his comments at all, focusing solely on Mish and directly prioritizing her experience over his opinion and attempted ownership of it. Her strength to carry on and choose to be present for the fans in spite of the danger, many of whom look up to the out-and-proud queer members of the band is deeply inspiring. And Zabo makes it perfectly clear—Mish does not need to be present for the fans or stay in the spotlight, and no one in the band or elsewhere demands it of her. It is a choice she makes, her own personal act of defiance, and it is in no way the only correct response.

David and Mish approach their relationship with maturity, openness and a refreshing lack of angst. They both acknowledge the risks, especially David, who fears that becoming involved with Mish could distract him from his job of protecting her. But both know that the other is something special, and they are old enough to know when they have to throw caution to the wind. Their relationship is particularly meaningful for David, who has become increasingly isolated since leaving the military and transitioning. Coming out plots and stories of struggle are extremely important, but stories where trans characters are unquestionably accepted for who they are and deal with obstacles beyond their fight for societal tolerance are just as vital. David is an extremely sexy and appealing love interest whose identity and experiences are never fetishized, least of all by the pansexual Mish. His story is one of romance with Mish but also of allowing himself to become part of the family that is Twisted Wishes, making Reverb the perfect parting gift for fans that have similarly fallen in love with Zabo’s band of kickass misfits.

Love is the most dangerous gamble imaginable for Johan Maximillian von Braustein, stepson to the king of the tiny, tumultuous nation of Liechtienbourg. Bullied as a child for his sensitive heart, he’s learned to protect himself with an unending display of glamour and debauchery designed to keep everyone distracted and at a distance. Known as “Bad Boy Jo-Jo,” he’s on a first-name basis with members of the paparazzi, and there are online communities dedicated to the appreciation of his, ahem, assets—which are on frequent display. Every move he makes is orchestrated and calculated to protect himself from ever having to be genuine or vulnerable. And while he’s known for his wild stunts, the one risk too hazardous for him to even consider is the idea of falling in love.

Meanwhile, love is quite literally a game for Nya Jerami. Sheltered (read: stifled) by her manipulative, controlling father for most of her life, she seeks refuge in online games that let her play at romance, intrigue and seduction. And if her favorite happens to be One True Prince, in which her character is required to seduce a certain Prince Hojan transparently based on a Liechtienbourgian playboy, then who’s to know? It’s not likely that a man like him would ever notice a wallflower like her.

A series of comedic mishaps throw Johan and Nya together during a mutual friends’ wedding celebration. Nya finds herself thrust into Johan’s arms—and right into the media spotlight. It’s her chance to chase the adventure she’s always craved, with the man she has always desired. But years of treating love as nothing more than a harmless, consequence-free game have done nothing to prepare her for the moment when it’s there in the flesh, right by her side.

Cole has a lot of fun with the luxury and decadence of the settings in A Prince on Paper, and plenty of palaces, private jets and other trappings of wealth play into the escapist tone of the story. Yet that privilege comes at a price. As the daughter of a powerful government minister whose Machiavellian tactics have landed him in jail, Nya faces equal measures of pity, suspicion and scorn from people all too willing to tar her with the same brush. On the other hand, Johan is solely responsible for his reputation, but that doesn’t stop it from being a burden. It just happens to be a burden he willingly bears, drawing fire on himself to protect his beloved half-brother, the heir to the throne, from media scrutiny.

But with Johan, Nya doesn’t have to hide. And with Nya, Johan doesn’t have to dissemble. Their no-holds-barred honesty with each other is shocking compared to all the wheels-within-wheels manipulations surrounding them, and that’s exactly what makes it so sweet and satisfying. Johan puts all his masks aside while Nya steps out of the shadows, and they meet in the middle in a love that’s not a gamble or a game but a reward for their courage and trust.

Samantha Chase is back with the seventh installment of her popular Shaughnessy Brothers series. Set in a small coastal North Carolina town and as refreshing as a warm summer breeze, Tangled Up in You hits bookshelves at precisely the right time for summer reading.

When police officer Bobby Hannigan is shot in the line of duty, he’s forced to take some rest and relaxation. In his downtime, he meets single mother and widow Teagan Shaughnessy, who’s just brought her son back home to be near family.

The timing is wrong for Bobby and Teagan. Their future’s too uncertain, the changes too big. But as John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” Their attraction is gentle at first, and they forge an undeniable bond through their shared emotional struggle to adjust to their respective new normals. Bobby’s love for Teagan’s son, Lucas, only reinforces their inevitable happy ever after.

Chase takes readers on an emotional journey, and you’ll laugh and cry and get sucked into the drama of the Shaughnessy clan. If you’re a fan of big, meddling families and a full cast of secondary characters, you’ll enjoy it all the more. And even if you haven’t read the preceding books in the series, Tangled Up in You is a great standalone love story.

Former lovers get a second chance in Stefanie London’s Bad Influence. On the eve of a big move for her boyfriend’s job, Annie Maxwell decided to stay in New York City to support her mother during a medical crisis. The man in her life, Joseph Preston, left her behind, inspiring her to anonymously create a now-infamous app, Bad Bachelors, where women rate and review men of the city. Joseph returns just as a hacker threatens to reveal Annie’s identity, and she finds herself confiding in him, giving them a chance to face past mistakes and find closure. But will love rebloom instead? Annie and Joseph are flawed, authentic characters who must tread a fine line between loyalty to family and to each other. This is love with the blinders off, and it is all the more sophisticated and refreshing for that.

Zoey Castile returns to her aptly named Happy Endings series with Hired, in which two people learn that sometimes you have to break a few rules for the sake of finding true love.

Aiden Rios was supposed to be spending a week in New Orleans as an escort to a married woman. Unfortunately, she bailed, and now he’s celebrating his 25th birthday alone. While nursing his disappointment at a hotel bar by drinking one too many hurricanes, he meets Faith Charles. Their attraction is immediate, and one night gives way to yummy brunches, New Orleans sightseeing and so much more. But with Aiden contracted through the week to his married lover and Faith being the daughter of a popular mayoral candidate, their romance is riddled with complications.

Aiden is in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. A bad business decision caused him to jeopardize the male revue show he was part of with his friends, and he isn’t quite sure how to repair those relationships. While his original client, Ginny, hired him for a week of fun in New Orleans, issues with her husband caused her to leave Aiden hanging, an important detail that he keeps from Faith.

Meanwhile, Faith’s anxiety and stress have reached a new high while working on her mother’s campaign. Her relationship with her mom is strained at best, and she feels like every slight action is harshly judged. All she wants is her mother’s love and acceptance, though she fears those things are out of her reach. The way Aiden and Faith find a moment’s respite in one another is incredibly sweet. While they have some sizzling chemistry, they also genuinely like each other. It’s impossible not to smile when they’re together, especially when they’re flirting over a delicious stack of banana chocolate chip pancakes.

Hired is also a love letter to New Orleans. It’s imbued with drool-worthy food descriptions and portrays the city’s fascinating dichotomy between historic locations and humid bayous. Even if you’ve never been, you’ll feel like you can taste the warm beignets coated in powdered sugar and feel the thick heat of the afternoon sun on your neck.

Faith knows that being seen with Aiden could be a problem, both for her mother’s mayoral race and her own fractured familial relationship. Aiden has his own set of rules when it comes to women, knowing that attachments only breed more problems. But the two of them just fit, and despite the fallout from bending and breaking these rules, they’re willing to take a chance to see if it’s all worth it.

With a contemporary romance series that just keeps getting better, Castile is becoming a surefire bet for readers in search of adorable, emotionally fluent romances that will undoubtedly trigger a happy cry or two.