I came for the grumpy, wounded cop energy and stayed because Lucy Score absolutely wrecked me!😮‍💨📚

I devoured Things We Hide from the Light like it was my emotional support romance. Watching Nash Morgan, once the golden, charming Morgan brother struggles with panic attacks, trauma, and the weight of nearly dying, felt so raw and real. This book doesn’t just give us a broody hero; it gives us a man learning how to survive himself again.

And then there’s Lina. Smart, guarded, secretly soft, and absolutely allergic to commitment. Their chemistry? INCENDIARY. 🔥 I loved how their physical connection wasn’t just hot though wow, it was, but grounding like touch itself became part of the healing. The slow unraveling of secrets, the tension between wanting to stay and needing to run, and the way Knockemout quietly works its magic on everyone? Chef’s kiss.

This story hit me right in the feelings with its mix of found family, emotional growth, swoony moments, and just enough danger to keep my heart racing. Nash and Lina’s journey is messy, tender, and deeply satisfying, and yes, I absolutely closed this book staring at the wall afterward.

❓️Do you love a romance where healing and love happen at the same time, or do you prefer your characters fully put together before they fall? 💭💕

❗️If your book club is reading this book or the other two books in the series join The First Editions and get access to our book club kits with a book club discussion guides, menus, activities and more!

✨️Happy reading everyone!

It’s finally here! If you’ve been dying to spend more time in Knockemout and unravel everything that went down in Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score, this is your moment. 🚓🔥💙

✨ Tap the link for instant access to:

📚 A fully themed Things We Hide from the Light book club kit

📖 A fun, thoughtful discussion guide covering trauma and healing, slow-burn tension, protective heroes, small-town loyalty, and emotional growth

🍩 Knockemout-inspired food ideas, cozy activities, and themed door prize suggestions done for you

Whether your group is ready to swoon over Nash, unpack Lina’s strength, or talk about the emotional depth Lucy Score delivers in this unforgettable romance, this kit is designed to help your meeting feel immersive, heartfelt, and just the right amount of chaotic (in true Knockemout fashion).

👉 Tap the link to access the kit now and turn your next book club into a small-town romance experience worth talking about: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAqU2Ogyw/jAHHc4zet45ztIZJafPxgQ/edit?utm_content=DAHAqU2Ogyw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

❗️Don’t forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went!

💥 Happy reading! 📚💙

📣𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻!📖

You’ve done the hard part: you wrote the book. Now, let’s get it into the hands of readers who will love it

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?❓✨

Whether you’re launching your debut title or promoting your latest release, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 want to help you connect with a dedicated community of book lovers.

📧𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗: Send an email to 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝟲@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 with your book details and what you're interested in doing and how we can help!

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿:

👀𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀: Need ARC readers for honest, high-quality reviews?

📔𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀: Have a stunning new design to show off to the world?

💰𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Promoting an upcoming sale or Kindle Countdown deal?

📚𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Want your work highlighted in front of new readers?

💎𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: Celebrating a launch day, a sequel, or a major award?

📖𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗞𝗶𝘁: Want to provide discussion guides and extras for reading groups?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆:

👯‍♀️𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Tag a fellow author below who deserves a boost! We’d love to help share their story.

📖𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Want exclusive access to these deals and ARCs? Send us an email at 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝟲@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 with 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥 in the subject line to join our inner circle!

5 Mind-Blowing Facts Every Romance Lover Should Know

We spend hours tucked away with our favorite fictional couples, but sometimes the stories behind the books are just as wild as the plots inside them. Whether you’re a fan of dark billionaires, Regency balls, or modern-day meet-cutes, these five facts will change the way you look at your bookshelf.

1. The Global Sensation That Started as Fan-Fiction

It’s the fun fact that launched a thousand debates: Fifty Shades of Grey was originally Twilight fan-fiction. Before it was a record-breaking trilogy, author E.L. James posted it on fan sites under the title Master of the Universe. Christian Grey was originally Edward Cullen, and Anastasia Steele was Bella Swan. After the story went viral, the names were changed, the vampire elements were removed, and a publishing phenomenon was born.

2. Pride and Prejudice’s "Boring" Original Title

Could you imagine swooning over Mr. Darcy in a book called First Impressions? That was Jane Austen’s original title for her masterpiece. While it fits the theme of the book perfectly, her publisher eventually went with Pride and Prejudice to follow the trend of alliterative titles popular at the time. Personally, we think the P&P we know and love has a much better ring to it!

3. The 18th-Century Fandom

If you think bookish merch is a modern invention, think again. In 1740, a novel called Pamela by Samuel Richardson became the first true romance bestseller. It was so popular that it created the world’s first literary fandom. Fans didn't just buy the book; they bought Pamela themed fans, paintings, and even teacups. People were literally obsessed with the shipping of the 1700s!

4. The Unstoppable Queen of Romance

Have you ever felt guilty about your to-be-read pile? Just think of Nora Roberts. As one of the most prolific romance authors in history, she has written over 225 novels. To put that in perspective, she has been publishing an average of five books a year since 1981. Whether she’s writing under her own name or her gritty alter-ego, J.D. Robb, she is proof that the romance genre is a powerhouse of productivity.

5. The "No" That Turned into a "Yes"

Finally, a bit of inspiration for the writers out there. Even the biggest books face rejection. Did you know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which has one of the most iconic sub-plot romances in later books, was rejected by 12 different publishers? One editor even told J.K. Rowling, "Don't quit your day job." It’s a great reminder that even the stories that define generations almost never saw the light of day.

Which fact surprised you the most?

Are you a fan of the Twilight to Fifty Shades pipeline, or are you more shocked by the 18th-century fandom craze? Drop a comment below and let’s chat!

If Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score stole your heart or you know it will, this one’s for you. We’ve created a fully themed book club kit inspired by Knockemout, grumpy barbers, runaway brides, found family, and the kind of love that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. And yes, it’s available exclusively to members of The First Editions. 💙🐶

Joining The First Editions gets you access to:
✨ Our Things We Never Got Over book club kit
✨ Engaging discussion questions on grumpy/sunshine romance, family, and community
✨ Knockemout-inspired food ideas, activities, and themed door prizes
✨ A cozy, welcoming reading community that loves swoon-worthy stories with heart

This is a story about starting over, letting people in, and discovering that family isn’t always who you’re born with and our kit is designed to help you talk, laugh, and swoon through all of it together.

📚 Join The First Editions and read Things We Never Got Over the way it deserves to be read!

❓ Bookish question: Are you a sucker for grumpy heroes like Knox, or is the found-family vibe what gets you every time?

It’s finally here! If you’ve been itching to dive deeper into Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score, this is your moment. 💙✂️🐶

✨ Tap the link for instant access to:
📚 A fully themed Things We Never Got Over book club kit
📖 A fun, thoughtful discussion guide covering grumpy/sunshine romance, found family, small-town chaos, and character growth
🍔 Knockemout-inspired food ideas, cozy activities, and themed door prize suggestions done for you

Whether you’re planning your next book club meeting or lining up future romance reads, this kit is designed to help your group laugh, swoon, and dig into everything that makes Knox, Naomi, and Knockemout unforgettable.

👉Tap the link to access the kit now and turn your next book club into a small-town romance experience worth talking about. https://tinyurl.com/mtaf3nc5 

❗️Don’t forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went!

💥Happy reading!📚💙

What happens when a grumpy, bearded barber meets a runaway bride in a town that thrives on chaos?🦊✨

Reading Things We Never Got Over felt like being wrapped in a cozy small-town blanket that occasionally gets set on fire. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Knockemout and its cast of messy, lovable, meddling characters. Knox is peak grumpy hero energy closed-off, fiercely loyal, and absolutely no match for Naomi’s sunshine resilience or her unexpected role as guardian to an 11-year-old with a grown-woman attitude.

I loved how Lucy Score balanced swoony romance with real emotional weight. Naomi’s journey from abandoned and overwhelmed to finding her footing hit hard in the best way, and Knox’s slow unraveling had me smiling every time he did something kind while insisting he didn’t care. The banter was sharp, the tension delicious, and the found-family vibes made this feel like more than just a romance it felt like coming home.

This was a book club dream: plenty to gush about, lots to debate, and characters I’m still thinking about long after the last page. Grumpy/sunshine lovers, small-town romance fans, and anyone who enjoys a protective MMC with a soft center, this one’s for you.

❓️Are you more likely to fall for the grumpy loner like Knox or the chaotic small-town charm of Knockemout itself?

If you’re shopping for a reader this Valentine’s Day or are the reader casually dropping hints 👀, bookish gifts fall into two swoon-worthy categories: The Experience all about cozy, immersive reading vibes and The Keepsake pieces that celebrate a lifelong love of stories. 

✨The Experience Cozy Reading Goals
Think Blind Date with a Book wrapped in paper with tropes like Enemies to Lovers or Only One Bed teasing what’s inside, candles that smell like old libraries or favorite characters, a reading valet to hold books, glasses, and tea, and the ultimate game-changer: a Kindle page-turner remote so you never have to leave your blanket burrito.

💌Personal & Romantic Keepsakes
From custom library embossers stamped with “From the Library of…” to personalized “Story of Us” books, book bouquets made from classic romance pages, and book-shaped jewelry boxes hiding a plot-twist surprise, these gifts feel like they were pulled straight from a love story.

💝Thoughtful Small Gifts Budget-Friendly but Mighty
Leather heart bookmarks, literary tea blends, cozy bookish socks, and ceramic book vases prove you don’t need a big budget to give something meaningful and adorable.

❗️You can also sign them up for our annual Bookish Valentine Gift Exchange on Elfster! Tap the link to join! https://www.elfster.com/gift-exchanges/04001f27-092d-4a41-922b-7a506773a519/?join=mdqw

❓️Which of these is already on your wishlist? Or did I miss a bookish essential? Let’s chat in the comments!👇

Because nothing says I love you quite like supporting someone’s reading obsession one chapter at a time. 💕📖

January really said: “New year, new TBR,” and we took that personally. 📚✨

We kicked off 2026 with a massive bang! From the pulse-pounding thrillers of The Page Ladies to the seriously magical journeys in our Young Readers club, the "January Blues" never stood a chance against these stories. Whether we were binging audiobooks on our morning commute or getting lost in our own individual stacks, this month was one for the record books.

🌟 January Highlights at a Glance:

• 🏒 Best "Hockey Era" Binge: Wildfire & Skate It Till You Make It

• 🕵️‍♂️ Biggest Page Ladies Thrill: The Rembrandt Heist & Presumed Guilty

• 🏰 Young Readers MVP: The Last Resort & Spellbinders

How many books did you tackle this month? Click through to see our full review of every title we touched this January, and don't forget to tell us your favorite read in the comments! 👇

Let’s be honest: my current To-Be-Read TBR pile is already looking elite, but I have a feeling the bookish community is hiding some absolute gems that I haven't discovered yet.

I’m kicking things off with three heavy hitters that I’m betting will be the talk of the year. If these aren't on your radar yet, they should be!

🩸The Dark & Poetic: Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff

The endless night is finally here, and I am fully prepared for the emotional damage Gabriel and Dior are about to put me through. If you like your fantasy dark, bloody, and written with a poetic edge, this is the one to watch.

💊The High-Stakes Thriller: The Forbidden Heiress by Glede Browne Kabongo

This is a twisty inheritance thriller where the secrets are deadlier than the corporate games being played. I’m already looking over my shoulder just reading the synopsis! It’s the perfect pick for fans of intense, high-stakes suspense.

🚀The Emotional Journey: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

TJR is taking us to the stars! Set against the backdrop of 1980s NASA, this story follows female pioneers with that signature emotional gut-punch she does so well. My tissues are already on standby for this one.

Now, I Need Your Help! 🗣️📖

I want to turn this post into the Ultimate Community Recommendation List. I’m looking for your #1 must-read  recommendation right now is the book you can't stop thinking about.

Here is how to join in:

1. Drop your #1 book pick in the comments. Any genre is welcome!

2. Tell me why it’s a masterpiece in 5 words or less.

The Plan 🗓️

I’m going to compile all your suggestions into a Master Recommendations Guide and share the final list later this week. We’ll have a curated, community-vetted list that we can all screenshot and save for our next bookstore trip!

Ready... set... GO!