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The Sweet Spot: Love In The Spotlight

In this section, aptly named The Sweet Spot, we've curated books that strike the perfect balance when it comes to intimacy and storytelling. Whether you're intrigued by the idea of diving into a spicy read or prefer to ease into it gradually, these selections are tailor-made for you. As a reminder, below is our Sticky Scale, which breaks down our spice ratings to help readers make informed choices.


   Wax

The first of the three ratings is Wax. Just like handling wax, which can be slippery yet becomes brittle when dried, Wax books contain no explicit sensuality. While physical romance may be hinted at or described in general terms, it will not be detailed.


  Honey

Moving up a step, the second rating is Honey. As you can imagine, honey is significantly stickier than wax, but more importantly, it is sweeter. Honey books offer a perfect option for readers seeking a more adventurous read without delving into spicy territory. In simpler

terms, think "fade to black." These books may include moderate sensuality, and physical actions will be described and detailed but won't be explicitly written. If you're unsure whether you're ready for a truly spicy book, these recommendations are sure to help!


  Nectar

At last, we've arrived at the final rating: Nectar. These books are not for the faint of heart, I can guarantee you that. These books will have your blood pumping, your palms sweating, and your heart racing. Whether you're into the typical, the taboos, or any of

the myriad kinks out there, this section will surely have something for you! But be warned, our Nectar recommendations will feature explicit sensuality and go beyond what's appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Sex will be depicted in graphic detail, and

there's always a chance that acts beyond intercourse may make an appearance. So, strap in, grab your favorite drink, and settle into your favorite spot as you venture into a world of new experiences or revisit your favorite smutty reads.


 
Unexpected Opportunities

Romance or No-mance

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the fast pace of modern living. But what happens when fate intervenes and throws us a curveball that we never saw coming? That's exactly the premise behind Lily Morton's captivating novel. At the center of the story is Jude, a highly successful model who, despite his glamorous lifestyle, feels a profound sense of emptiness in his life. His existence is defined by casual hook-ups and fleeting connections, all while adhering to a strict mantra: get in, get out, and no ties. However, when a chance accident leads him to accept help from an unlikely source, Jude finds himself embarking on a summer filled with unexpected love and heartwarming connections. Then there's Asa, a talented actor who has stepped away from the limelight to care for his son. Scarred by past betrayals, Asa is wary of forming lasting bonds, but he can't help being drawn to the magnetic Jude, who harbors secrets of his own. As their summer romance unfolds, both men are forced to confront their fears and insecurities, grappling with the question of whether love is worth the risk of heartache.



How May I Assist You?

Our first Honey pick for this month is Deal Maker by Lily Morton.



Sometimes your mouth makes deals that your heart can’t honour.


Jude is a highly successful model, but a very reluctant one. His life is full of casual hook-ups with pretty men in glamorous locations, but it’s still empty. However, circumstances decreed a long time ago that this was his path, so he’s resolutely stayed on it and accepted his fate with good grace. He made a deal with himself and his hook-ups. Get in, get out and no ties with anyone.


However, an accident at home one night leads to him making a new deal and accepting the offer of help from an unlikely source. It leads to an unexpected summer of falling in love with a larger than life man and his child.


But by the end of the summer his reasons for not staying are still valid. Will he turn away? Can he?


Asa is a talented actor who has spent time away from the scene to look after his son. But now he’s back, and the last thing he needs are complications from the gorgeous man who is staying with him. Scarred from too many betrayals, he has no intention of forming a lasting tie with anyone. However, he can’t resist the beautiful man with secrets, and to his horror he develops feelings.


But a deal’s a deal and they said it was just for the summer. What can Asa do with a man who has forever in his eyes and goodbye on his lips?

Lily Morton lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle. She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men! She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family. You can keep up with her and her upcoming works by visiting lilymortonauthor.com.


 
Love On Air

Places Everyone!

Are you ready to dive into a world of witty banter, unexpected romance, and sharp observations on modern love? In this captivating tale, Curtis Sittenfeld takes readers behind the scenes of a late-night comedy show, where love, laughter, and life collide in the most unexpected ways. Meet Sally Milz, a talented sketch writer for "The Night Owls," a Saturday night comedy show. With a string of heartbreaks behind her, Sally has long abandoned the search for love, opting instead for occasional hook-ups, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather. But when Sally's friend Danny begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actor who guest-hosted the show, Sally finds herself grappling with unexpected feelings of envy and insecurity. As Sally navigates the ups and downs of her love life, she channels her frustration into a hilarious sketch called the "Danny Horst Rule," poking fun at the phenomenon of average-looking men dating incredibly beautiful women. Little does she know, her own love life is about to take a surprising turn when she meets Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models. As Sally and Noah collaborate on sketches for the show, sparks begin to fly, leading Sally to wonder whether there might be something more between them. But in a world where social norms and expectations often dictate the course of romance, Sally can't help but question whether someone like Noah would ever consider dating someone like her.


Showtime

Our second Honey pick of the month is Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld.



Sally Milz is a sketch writer for "The Night Owls," the late-night live comedy show that airs each Saturday. With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather to round out a satisfying life.


But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actor who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women. Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the "Danny Horst Rule," poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman.


Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder whether there might actually be sparks flying. But this isn’t a romantic comedy; it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her...right?


With her keen observations and trademark ability to bring complex women to life on the page, Sittenfeld explores the neurosis-inducing and heart-fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.

Curtis Sittenfeld is the bestselling author of seven novels: Prep, The Man of My Dreams, American Wife, Sisterland, Eligible, Rodham, and Romantic Comedy, which was picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Her first story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It, was published in 2018 and also picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Her books have been selected by The New York Times, Time, Entertainment Weekly, and People for their “Ten Best Books of the Year” lists, optioned for television and film, and translated into thirty languages. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Esquire, and in the Best American Short Stories anthology, of which she was the 2020 guest editor. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Slate, and on “This American Life.” A graduate of Stanford University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Curtis has appeared as a guest on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” CBS’s “Early Show,” and PBS’s Newshour; four times been a Jeopardy! answer (see below), and once been a Word Search puzzle. You can learn more about Sittenfeld and her works by visiting her website curtissittenfeld.com.


 

IF YOU READ ANY OF OUR MONTHLY HONEYPOT BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE QUEEN'S CORNER TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

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