I love a romance that has a thread of seriousness. Most of the time I gravitate toward romances that border on women’s fiction or romantic suspense because there is more external conflict that brings the couple together. This list by Farah Heron explores some of my favorite types of stories: romances about women who are battling something and have a brilliant significant other to guide them through it. If that sounds at all like a book you might enjoy (and trust me, you will), you NEED to check out Heron’s books and the three favorites on her list.
So, what are Farah’s three favorite books about women connecting to their inner strength?
Hello! I’m Farah Heron, and I’m delighted to introduce my newest rom-com, Just Playing House to you!
My book follows Marley Kamal, a luxury sales associate trying to break through as a personal stylist. She finally gets her first high profile celebrity client— who turns out to be Nikhil Shamdasani, the soon-to-be action star who was her high school prom date who ghosted her after they hooked up. Disaster, right? But Marley and Nik make a deal— she’ll style him for his upcoming press tour, and he’ll move into her house to take care of her after her surgery that she cannot reschedule. Marley is a carrier of a BRCA genetic mutation, and she needs to have a mastectomy, so she won’t get sick like her mother and aunt before her. While living together, Marley and Nik rekindle their friendship, and lean on each other for support when both are facing huge life changes.
Despite the heavy topic, this book is full of laughs with an adorable fluffy cat, a cinnamon-roll hero who cooks to show he cares, and a diverse (and somewhat whacky) group of friends who are always up for a wine and cheese night.
If you’re looking for more fun romances about women connecting to their inner strength, here are some other titles you may enjoy!
The Takedown by Lily Chu
Dee is a diversity consultant who is happy and positive about her life and sees no reason for any of it to change. But when she gets friendlier to the son of her CEO, she realises that things aren’t as rosy as they appear and maybe her overly positive outlook is actually the thing that is holding her back.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
This book was such a warm comforting joy to read. Mika is a witch who is used to following the rules, even when those rules leave her isolated and without a family. When she breaks out of her routine to help train three young witches, she discovers that all she needed was a found family and a grumpy librarian to break her out of her lonely life.
Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
This recommendation is special for me, because just like Just Playing House, this is a rom-com about a woman who carries a BRCA mutation. Alison believes she must live her life in the extremes since she cheated cancer by having a mastectomy. But when she meets grumpy furniture maker Adam, Alison learns to embrace the life she’s always wanted, instead of the one she thinks she needs.
Just Playing House is available now in trade paperback and e-book.
Farah Heron author photo credit Emily Ding Photography, Featured image designed by Jon Negroni. Read more articles by Brianna Robinson here.
Brianna Robinson is a book publicist and Sarah Lawrence College alum. She lives in New York with too many books and two enthusiastic dachshunds. You can find her on twitter @blrobins2.
