Love to hate you A novel

While it lacks the charming correspondence of The Shop Around the Corner or the punchy emails of You've Got Mail, this sultry riff on those classic films from Adair (You've Got Male) offers plenty of steam. Connecticut romance bookshop owner Summer Russo fervently believes in happy endings but is frequently disappointed by the men in her life, who seem to always end up wishing she were her more vivacious identical twin sister Autumn. But clueless men are a minor problem compared to the big box bookstore being built next door by billionaire Englishman Wes Kingston, whose aggressive tactics may put her out of business. With animosity lingering, Wes and Summer are forced together when he unexpectedly joins her family vacation as the guest of Autumn's new boyfriend, who happens to be Wes's half brother and business partner. Quickly understanding Summer's family dynamics and annoyed that no one takes her side, Wes shifts from adversary to knight in armor as they work together to compete in a family cook-off and athletic competitions. The premise feels familiar, but Adair keeps things fun with humorous set pieces and sexy chemistry between the leads. The author's fans will not be disappointed. (Apr.)

After months of anxiety over the future of her romance bookshop as the chain store BookLand prepares to open next door, Summer Russo is looking forward to her family's annual trip to the beach in Mystic, CT, for relaxation, games, and time with her twin sister, Autumn. But Autumn shocks everyone by showing up with her new boyfriend and his brother, Wes Kingston, who happens to be the grumpy, annoying CEO of BookLand. Now the usual family dynamic is flipped, and Summer and Wes find themselves paired together more often than not; the heat of argument between them quickly turns into the heat of passion. Cracks in Summer's and Wes's armor make it apparent that, while they're very different, they might see each other better than anyone else. With competing businesses, different expectations of love and romance, and more than a bit of old baggage, they must decide if being together is worth the risk. VERDICT Playing with the plot of You've Got Mail, plus a touch of Mystic Pizza and a whole lot of romance tropes, Adair (You've Got Male) returns with an engaging beach read that takes opposites-attract to a whole new level.--Kellie Tilton