Fiction Reviews
FEBRUARY 2, 2026 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 93
himself enough to wheedle the funds that he and his cousin need to escape a violent moneylender. As Nico delays confessing his true motives, the demands on Titus reach a boiling point. Charles excels at capturing the inner turmoil of her leads and peppers their simmering romance with plau- sible historical details. The resulting tale of intrigue, social pressure, and forbidden love is sure to please. (Apr.) More Like Enemigas Stephanie Hope. Carina Adores, $18.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-335-52609-0 Hope debuts with a simultaneously chaotic and predictable sapphic rom- com. Isabella “Isa” Valdes dropped out of college to take over her late father’s Cuban restaurant, La Mariposa. But three years later, outstanding bills and overdue rent threaten to shut- ter the eatery. Desperate to save her father’s legacy, Isa agrees to attend her estranged cousin Sofia’s weeklong wedding in hopes of impressing Sofia’s investor fiance with recipes from her father’s journal. Unfortunately, Isa is stuck rooming with Valentina, a child friend turned rival, who ruined Isa’s quinceañera party. Valentina, who is hung up on Sofia, offers to help Isa uncover a family secret hinted at in her father’s journal in exchange for help sabotaging the wedding. Despite being polar opposites, as the week progresses, Isa can’t help her conflicted yet growing feelings for Valentina. Their enemies-to-lovers plot struggles to find its footing, with Isa and Valentina’s underdeveloped relation- ship taking a backseat to the fairly unsurprising family mystery. There’s some fun, telenovela-esque drama along the way, but for the most part, this squanders its potential. Agent: Kristy Hunter, Knight Agency. (Apr.) How to Fake a Southern Gentleman Myra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt. Primero Sueño, $18 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-6680-9895-0 Author duo Cuevas and Marquardt ( Does My Body Offend You? ) put a delightful, gender-bent spin on My Fair Lady . Journalist Luisa Martín
Moreno is fired for writing a damning story about Griggs Caldecott Johnson III, “Atlanta’s Golden Boy.” Meanwhile, single mom Holly Simmons, an events coordinator at the country club Griggs frequents, is in danger of losing her job and the life she’s built for her son due to Griggs’s harassment. Fueled by their mutual hatred, Luisa and Holly hatch a plan to expose Griggs with the help of handsome hustler Elijah “Eli” Denvil Sweet. The women give Eli a makeover, complete with etiquette and voice lessons, transforming him into a charming Southern gentleman capable of infiltrating Griggs’s elite world and gaining his trust. As Luisa and Holly’s wild scheme unfolds, love blossoms between Luisa and Eli while Holly falls for speech professor Hugh. The romance subplots are sweet, but Holly and Luisa’s ride-or-die friend- ship is the true heart of the book. The story toggles between both women’s perspectives which, combined with a few too many competing plotlines, makes things feel cluttered. Still, the quirky cast is realistic, well-shaded, and endearing. This sassy celebration of found family and friendship will enchant fans of the original. (Apr.) Dog Person Camille Pagán. Delacorte, $30 (336p) ISBN 979-8-217-09205-5 In this poignant second-chance romance, Pagán ( Good for You ) tells a story of resilience from the perspec- tive of Harold, an aging rescue dog who lost his person, romance novelist Amelia May, nearly two years ago. Before she died, Amelia asked Harold to take care of her partner, Miguel, who, since her death, has been deeply depressed and neglecting Amelia’s now-struggling bookstore. Trying to drum up some business by secur- ing a famous author to visit the store leads Miguel and Harold to Chicago, where they meet single mother Fiona and her daughter, who happens to be named Amelia Mae. Harold is sure Fiona could help Miguel find his way back to happiness and conspires with 11-year-old Amelia Mae to bring them together. Pooch and preteen make for a winning matchmaking duo, with
precocious Amelia Mae stealing every scene she’s in. Miguel’s grief is well rendered, and his struggle to reopen his heart and recognize that moving forward does not mean forgetting the past makes for a moving central con- flict. Romance fans will want to read this one with tissues at the ready. (Apr.) The Paris Match Kate Clayborn. Berkley, $19 trade paper (464p) ISBN 978-0-593-81937-1 Clayborn ( The Art of Disappearing ) whisks readers to Paris in this steamy slow-burn ideal for armchair travelers. Physician Layla Bailey lives out of a suitcase while subbing for vacationing doctors across the U.S. She likes the work because the weeks-long assign- ments are a distraction from her recently ended marriage. Then the wedding of her ex-sister-in-law, Emily MacKenzie, brings her to Paris, where Layla spent her own honeymoon. She’s determined to be pleasant and mature with her former in-laws, but this proves difficult when her ex shows up with a new girlfriend, and the best man, Griffin, accuses her of encourag- ing Emily’s cold feet. Scarred on the inside and outside by a traumatic fire, Griffin lives like a hermit in Upstate New York and only left his home to support his best friend. He’s deter- mined to see the wedding go through and recruits Layla to help fix things between the couple. Clayborn gives both protagonists impressive emo- tional depth as they work through past heartbreaks and discover unexpected new love. A whirlwind tour through the city of lights—the wedding party cruises down the Seine, explores Montmartre, and takes in Musée Rodin—only enhances the romance. Add in a well-earned happy ending, and this is sure to please. (Apr.) Save the Date Mallory Kass. Atria, $19 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-1-66809-447-1 Kass’s rollicking debut braids three women’s stories over a wild wedding weekend. Beautiful and successful influencer Marigold’s plans to marry the perfect man, pediatric oncologist
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