Find a sexy summer escape in this pair of beachside romances, featuring sizzling nights, witty dialogue, and authentic characters.

★Kae, Courtney. In the Case of Heartbreak. Kensington. (Fern Falls, Bk. 2). Jul. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781496738974. pap. $16.95. LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE

Ben Parrish has always loved Adam Reed. Afraid of ruining their friendship, he’s never confessed his feelings to Adam. When Adam rejects Ben live on national TV, it stirs up past trauma, and Ben spirals into anxiety and depression. He escapes to his grandma’s beachside home for her 80th birthday extravaganza, hoping distance will heal his heartbreak. However, she’s invited Adam to be the fill-in guitarist for her birthday band and lodged him in the same space as Ben, forcing both men to confront their feelings for each other. Adam and Ben’s chemistry has been simmering for years; when it finally consumes them, the sex is steamy, and their love blossoms. This beautifully written novel is filled with authentic characters and heartbreaking, realistic scenes, but it is not all deep feelings. Humorous scenes abound, and the dialogue is as witty as it is revealing. VERDICT Kae (In the Event of Love) gives readers a world where queerness is open and accepted, people support each other during mental health breakdowns, and true love comes with a side order of self-awareness. Fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexandria Bellefleur will fall in love with this small-town, friends-to-lovers romance.—Heather Miller Cover

Kennedy, Elle. The Summer Girl. St. Martin’s Griffin. (Avalon Bay, Bk. 3). Jul. 2023. 400p. ISBN 9781250863874. pap. $18. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

College student Cassie is spending the summer in the quaint beach town of Avalon Bay, SC, helping her grandmother pack up and sell the historic family home and business, the Beacon Hotel. Pulled between her narcissistic mother and her father’s new family, Cassie decides her best escape would be in the arms of a summer fling—something both fun and temporary. And who does Cassie spy right outside her bedroom window? The hot and naked Tate Bartlett, house-sitting next door for the summer. Close proximity leads to intimate encounters as Tate discovers he is stunned by Cassie, finding more than just a killer body and a pretty face. As the summer comes to an end, Cassie and Tate start to wonder if a summer fling could ever become forever after. Fans of the “Avalon Bay” series will enjoy familiar faces and places in this third installment after Bad Girl Reputation. VERDICT Young love, sizzling nights, and the welcoming characters of Avalon Bay make this a perfect beach read for anyone needing a sexy summer escape.—Judy Garner