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By Meghan Leigh
A Romance-Filled Weekend in Milwaukee
My podcast cohost Nicole and I were lucky enough to spend a lovely weekend exploring the romantic nature of Milwaukee.
(And don’t try telling me that a blue-collar, Midwestern, baseball-loving city like Milwaukee isn’t romantic. I’m not buying it. If anything, it checks off so many of the boxes we see in romance novel tropes today – and I’m here for it.)
Our foray into the city brought us face-to-face with some of the best contemporary romance authors of the day. After tromping up and down twenty-some blocks of North Avenue, my heart was full, my wallet was empty, and my shoulder was sore from schlepping all my new novels.
In no particular order – i.e., the order in which they were pulled out of the tote – here are my fabulous finds from our time in Milwaukee.
My Romance Book Crawl Haul
1. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Chosen partially because of the sweet cover art, this YA novel features a gay, Latino protagonist who accidentally unleashes a ghost into his school. A cute, bad-boy type of ghost. Picked up directly from The Well Red Damsel bookstore. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
2. All on the Line by Lo Everett
Part of a larger series, but works as a stand-alone. A baseball-themed romance with “You’ve Got Mail” vibes. Enemies to lovers. Did I mention baseball? First book I grabbed that day! You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
3. Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
A queer romance with an Armenian protagonist. Love is found over traditional dishes and witchy arts. Snagged this gem at Thirst Bookstore. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
4. Dead Egyptians by Del Blackwater
A well-researched dive into Egyptian history with occult adventures, magic, and a gay slow-burn romance. Bonus: I got to chat with the author about her travels and writing process—so excited to read this! You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
5. Find Me by Liz Lincoln
Book three in the Milwaukee Men at Work series, but can be read out of order. It’s a Christmas, second-chance romance set in one of my favorite places. Yes, please. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
6. It’s a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer
A modern queer retelling of It’s a Wonderful Life, carrying the tagline “Make the Yuletide Gay.” Can one have too many Christmas romance novels? I think not. You can purchase it from Amazon here.
7. Caulky by K. M. Neuhold
Part of the Four Bears Construction series. Between the cheeky title and cover abs, I’m ready for this sexy rebound romance, possibly with forced proximity. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
8. Wood You Marry Me by Daphne Elliot
A marriage-of-convenience, slow-burn romance with a lumberjack hero. Sold the minute I saw the heroine married for health insurance. Practical, relatable, and hilarious. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
9. Winner Takes All by Amanda Bryk
According to the author, this one gets overlooked—but it’s her personal favorite. With zero plot clues on the back cover, I’m intrigued and ready for the mystery. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
10. Tanabata Wish by Sara Fujimura
A YA coming-of-age romance set in Japan. Bought this one for my niece, who’s learning Japanese—seemed like the perfect fit. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
11. Ruckus by L. J. Shen
A second-chance, forbidden romance wrapped in the complexities of chronic illness. Didn’t realize it’s book two in a series… fingers crossed it still reads smoothly! You can purchase it from Amazon here.
12. Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin
When I wondered aloud if pirate romances still exist, this one magically appeared at Thirst bookstore. Can’t wait to see how a contemporary pirate romance stacks up against the Fabio covers of the ’80s. You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
13. Three Swedish Mountain Men by Lily Gold
Self-discovery after heartbreak. Forced proximity. Reverse harem. Swedish vacation. Honestly—how could I say no? (My co-host Nicole actually had this on her shopping/TBR list and I didn’t know that when I bought it!) You can purchase it from Amazon here or The Ripped Bodice here.
Bonus Books & Surprises
Not mentioned above:
- A book I grabbed for a future book-swap with Nicole (no spoilers).
- A mysterious book-in-an-envelope gifted by Robin at our Bookish Biddie Brunch. I’ll be “unboxing” this one online!
- A mystery-date-with-a-book package. Hints included: slow burn, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, gentle protagonist. All tropes I adore.
Wrapping It Up
Sweet 16 books in total! 🎉
I don’t know about you, but I’d say that’s a pretty solid haul. Next year (please say there’s going to be a next year), I’ll definitely be bringing a bigger bag.
Happy reading, friends!
What’s Next
Stay tuned: I’ll be reviewing some of these on Romance on the Rocks Podcast soon. If there’s one you want me to start with, holler in the comments!
✨ Your Turn: Which one of these would you read first? Have you read any? Drop your recs or your faves. I love hearing what you all are excited about!
