Both Kennedy Ryan and Alexis Daria released the final novels in their latest romance trilogies in May of this year. I enjoyed both but they focused on very different types of characters (oddly enough, it was a flip between the characters they focused on in the second novel – so for Primas of Power, we get the cousin that always did the right thing and played by the rules in book 3 while Skyland explored that character in book 2, and Skyland focuses on the more independent one in book 3 while that’s who had the stage in book 2 of Primas).
Just Can’t Get Enough
I really like that Kennedy writes mature adults – her romance novels follow real people, and there is very little angst. The things keeping them apart tend to be real issues. In this case, Hendrix is attracted to someone that used to date a business partner of hers. Even though the timeline of the relationship is entirely on the up and up, Hendrix worries that exploring the relationship could negatively impact her career.
Hendrix is about to achieve a career goal she has had for ages, she loves her friends and her life, and she is perfectly happy being single. She is also dealing with an aging parent who is the beginning of her battle with Alzheimer’s. For now, her aunt has volunteered to move in and be the primary care taker, but Hendrix knows this isn’t a long term solution as her aunt is getting older, and her mom’s condition will worsen.
Maverick has gone through this type of situation and they easily bond over their mutual experiences with ailing family members before realizing that there is much more there. While the circumstances are very different, something about Mav and Hendrix’s relationship reminded me of the main characters from her novel Reel. Maybe that mix of professionalism with unwavering support once the couple commits?
Along Came Amor
This is the third and final of the Primas of Power novels – I have really enjoyed all the novels in this trilogy, and have been looking forward to this release, and it didn’t disappoint. Ava has always been the perfect cousin – she is the one that always helped, did everything right and now, she is divorced because despite everything, her husband decided to leave her. While most of her family is understanding, she now has to deal with her grandmother’s disapproval for the first time.
When Ava meets a handsome hotelier at his hotel’s bar, she decides to let go and take one thing for her self. What was supposed to be a one night fling turns into a no strings attached situation until her escape and real life start to mix when it turns out Roman is also part of her cousin’s wedding party.
While Roman has a few issue he has to get through (mostly related to control and letting go), this novel is all about Ava and her figuring out how to set boundaries and how to be in her family if she puts herself first rather than always trying to be perfect and prioritize everyone else’s happiness and wants. Even her beloved cousins sometimes rely on her too much and between being a good person and severe fear of abandonment, Ava does not know how to advocate for herself.
When Javi Dumped Mari
Mia Sosa’s latest came out in June and is either stand alone or the start of a new series (The Starter Ex, out in March 2026, looks like it has the same illustration style for the cover and Vanessa might be one of their college friends, I can’t really remember any supporting character names). I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as The Worst Best Man or The Wedding Crasher. I have only seen When Harry Met Sally once so if Emmalita hadn’t pointed it out, not sure I would have made the connection to its inspiration on this story.
Javi and Mari have been best friends since college. They are the kind of friends that everyone else knows are perfect for each other but for various reasons, they don’t see it or are afraid to take that step: afraid to ruin the friendship, never available at the same time etc. The novel flashes back and forth between the present day as Mari is preparing for her wedding to another man and the evolution of their friendship from college to the day Mari told Javi about the proposal. Javi is finally ready, though, and it’s not only because Mari is engaged. He came to the dinner with news of his own, and a hope to take the next step, only to be surprised.
I enjoyed the flashback scenes the most in this one. While Javi is the one who most obviously has doubts about himself and his worthiness, Mari has her own set of father issues she brings to the equation, and which have led to her recent choices, including her choice of fiancé.
