★Joyce, Jessica. The Ex Vows. Books on Tape. Jul. 2024. 11:11 hrs. ISBN 9780593907658. $95. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

An unrelenting series of disasters leading up to her best friend’s wedding in Napa is no match for Georgia Woodward’s list-making skills, even if she has to work closely with the wedding’s other “best person,” her ex-boyfriend Eli Mora. Georgia is expecting Eli to continue following the list of rules they set up five years ago to keep their best friend trio from crumbling, but Eli appears to have gone rogue. He no longer seems to be the workaholic, absent boyfriend Georgia had to rescue her heart from, but the open, tender man she first fell in love with. As they attend cake tastings and turn the Napa Valley vineyard they both worked at as teens into the wedding venue Adam and his bride-to-be only dreamed of, Georgia and Eli find their present chemistry colliding with their past feelings. Soon they begin to wonder if it’s time to toss away their rules and lists just like a bridal bouquet. VERDICT Kyla Garcia gorgeously narrates Joyce’s (You, with a View) single-POV romance, bringing lush emotion to Georgia and Eli’s second-chance relationship. A must-listen for those who enjoy Tarah DeWitt and Kate Clayborn.—Elizabeth Gabriel

★Neilson, Riss M. A Love Like the Sun. Books on Tape. Jun. 2024. 10:22 hrs. ISBN 9780593870389. $85.50. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Laniah Thompson is mortified when she can’t pay the rent for Wildly Green, the barely one-year-old natural-hair care company she owns with her mother. Laniah is also troubled by nagging health concerns, likely anxiety-related but perhaps something worse. When Laniah’s longtime best friend Isaac Jordan discovers her financial troubles, the foster kid turned famous model and artist makes a life-changing post on social media: a photo of Laniah tending to his hair using Wildly Green products. Isaac’s caption, “It’s always been her,” brings immediate financial success to Wildly Green. His scheme to fake a relationship with Laniah for the summer appears to be a brilliant solution, until real-world emotions start to twine around these two longtime friends. YA author Neilson’s (Deep in Providence) stunning adult contemporary romance debut is narrated with emotional depth by Frankie Corzo, whose soft and lyrical voice never leaves doubt as to which character is speaking. VERDICT Highly recommended for listeners who enjoy romances that blend swoony feelings with high-stakes challenges like mental health, disabilities, grief, and racial identity. Share with readers of Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams.—Elizabeth Gabriel

★Toon, Paige. Seven Summers. Books on Tape. May 2024. 11:02 hrs. ISBN 9780593826836. $95. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Toon’s (Only Love Can Hurt Like This) latest transports listeners to a seaside town in Cornwall, England, and shows slices of the protagonist’s life across several years. Freshly returned from a sculpting course in Italy, Liv has simple plans for her summer: spend time with friends and family and save money so she can move to London. Then tragedy strikes, causing Liv’s life to crumble. Her former classmate Finn is home from Los Angeles for the summer and filling in with a mutual friend’s band before returning to his burgeoning music career. Sparks ignite when Finn and Liv meet. Knowing their time together is limited, they make a pact. If neither one has a significant other the following summer, they will continue where they left off. After seven summers of this, a new visitor changes everything. Narrator Natalie Simpson breathes life into Liv’s story, pulling listeners in and helping them experience the emotions in the scenes. In addition to her deft portrayal of Liv, she effectively captures the secondary characters. VERDICT An engaging and exquisitely narrated story that’s a must-have for most collections. Give to listeners seeking romantic fiction with depth and make sure to suggest that they have tissues handy.—Amanda L.S. Murphy