When a baker meets the bookshop owner of her dreams, and he turns into her nemesis, they’ll both have to read between the lines to avoid a career-ending recipe for disaster. Max Boyson looks good...from a distance. But up close and personal, the tattooed hottie Joelle Prima has been crushing on for the past year and half has turned into the prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by his delectable cover. When she first learned about the massive renovation to the building they share, Joelle imagined that temporarily combining her Filipino bakery with Max’s neighboring bookstore would be the perfect opening chapter to their happily ever after. In her fantasies they fed each other bibingka and pandesal while discussing Jane Austen and cooing over her pet hamster, Pumpkin. Reality, however...is quite different. Her gallant prince turned out to be a stubborn toad who snaps at her in front of customers, dries his wet clothes in her oven, and helps himself to the yummy pastries in her display case without asking. But beneath Max’s grumpy glares, Joelle senses a rising heat—and a softening heart. And when they discover the real reason for the renovation, they’ll have to put both their business senses and their feelings for each other to the test.

One of Bustle's Most Anticipated Fall Releases Debut author Sarah Smith nails this fun and sexy rom-com where two office foes hammer out their differences to build a love that will last.... Emmie Echavarre is a professional faker. She has to be to survive as one of the few female employees at Nuts & Bolts, a power tool company staffed predominantly by gruff, burly men. From nine to five, Monday through Friday, she's tough as nails--the complete opposite of her easy-going real self. One thing she doesn't have to fake? Her disdain for coworker Tate Rasmussen. Tate has been hostile to her since the day they met. Emmie's friendly greetings and repeated attempts to get to know him failed to garner anything more than scowls and terse one-word answers. Too bad she can't stop staring at his Thor-like biceps... When Emmie and Tate are forced to work together on a charity construction project, things get...heated. Emmie's beginning to see that beneath Tate's chiseled exterior lies a soft heart, but it will take more than a few kind words to erase the past and convince her that what they have is real.

Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night. Things are about to get downright Shakespearean. All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom. Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic. Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes. When Micah discovers the man getting under her skin is the writer heating her up, their enemy vibe turns steamy. But with Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes more than a little complicated… Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith Shakespeare, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, secret romance, hot professor, “good girl,” dirty talk, hot nerd hero, black cat girlie, working together, praise kink, she comes first, high heat level, “I hate you but I love f&*$ing you” From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles… Church Girl by Naima Simone Break Point by Yahrah St. John Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer by A.H. Cunningham

Nothing like a rocky start between enemy coworkers stuck together on location to prove that love isn't just a ploy for ratings—it's a force of nature. Alia Dunn has finally gotten her big break. After years of working her way up at TV's top outdoor travel channel, she gets the green light from network executives to bring her dream project to life: produce a series about Utah's national parks. It's a touching tribute to her late apong, who sparked Alia's passion for travel and the outdoors as a kid. Alia is thrilled—until she meets her newest crew member, Drew Irons. The same Drew she had the most amazing first date with two weeks ago—who then ghosted her. The same Drew who has the most deliciously thick forearms and who loves second-guessing her every move on set in front of the entire crew. It's not long before the tension between them turns hotter than the Utah desert in the dead of summer, and their steamy encounters lead to major feelings. But when the series host goes rogue one too many times, jeopardizing the entire shoot, Alia realizes that she'll need to organize one hell of a coup to save her show—and she'll need Drew's help to do it. It's the riskiest move she's ever made. If she pulls it off, she'll end up with a hit series and her dream guy . . . but if it all goes wrong, she could lose both.

A PopSugar Must-Read for October! In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen. Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot. But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks. The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

What if you woke up one day and the loved one you'd lost was suddenly, inexplicably alive again? Chloe Howard's devotion to her job has come at a cost: spending time with the most important person in her life--her mother. Vowing to change, she plans a trip home. Sadly, hours before she arrives, her mother passes away, leaving Chloe without a goodbye and riddled with grief and regret. But maybe...maybe it's not too late. Just days before the funeral, Chloe finds her mother unaccountably alive and well. And it's no longer May; she's been transported back in time to March. No one--not Chloe's brother, friends, or colleagues--understands why Chloe is so confused. How can she make sense of this? It's impossible. But Chloe is going to make the most of it. She's going to do everything differently: repair family rifts, forge new bonds, tell her mother every day how much she loves her, and possibly prevent the inevitable. This is a second chance Chloe never saw coming. She's not wasting a minute of it.

"Xander: Two things matter to me: hockey and getting my stick wet off the ice, if you catch my drift. But then I meet Sophie Porter. She’s the Bashers team doctor–and the daughter of my head coach. And she’s got one hell of a proposition for me: fake date so that she can set boundaries with her overprotective dad. It’s an easy “yes” for me. I’d never have a chance with this beautiful and brilliant woman in real life. She’s a good girl with a naughty streak–my weakness. She makes me feel wanted and safe. And when I open up to her about my painful past, she comforts me in a way no one else has. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before... I’m falling in love with Sophie... But no matter how real it feels for me, I know it’s all fake to her."--

"I hate Valentine's Day for one reason and one reason only: Wes Paulsen. He came into my life like a wrecking ball one year ago today. After an incredible night together, we were inseparable for months. I'd never been happier in a relationship -- neither had he. We were just starting to build a life together when everything changed. Turns out Wes was hiding things from me -- big things. I wanted to work through it, but he walked out, never giving me -- never giving us -- a chance. I didn't know how I'd be able to get over him, but I threw myself into my art. After months of working nonstop to escape the memories of Wes, my career's finally taking off and what do you know -- Wes walked back into my life. Once again on Valentine's Day. One year to the day that we met. I've spent six months hardening my heart. It should be easy to reject him, to tell him I've moved on. But he's doing everything -- and more -- to win me back. He's being the boyfriend I've always wanted. It'll take everything in me to resist him -- I'm not even sure if I can. But I'll sure as hell try.

"I just slid into the DMs of the hottest guy on TikTok and asked him for the most outrageous favor... Desperation makes you do crazy things...like slide into the DMs of TikTok hunk Gage Grant. That's exactly what I do after my cheating ex empties my bank account. I DM Gage and ask if I can film sexy TikToks of him and post them to the account of my struggling ice cream shop, Sweet Cheeks, so I can go viral and make more money. To my shock, he says yes. But there's a catch: I have to star in the videos with him. One problem: We're complete opposites. I'm a plain Jane girl next door. He's a TikTok bad boy with Adonis abs and a devilish smirk who films himself preparing gourmet recipes shirtless. But I'll do anything to save my business. Soon I'm covering Gage's washboard abs in whipped cream, he's licking hot fudge off my stomach, and Sweet Cheeks' TikTok followers are loving it. Business is on fire...and so are things between Gage and me. The more we're together, the harder it is to resist his heart-melting smiles, sweetness, and sense of humor. Soon we're hooking up. It's the hottest workplace romance ever. But am I brave enough to take another chance on love with a guy I never, ever thought I could have?"--

"Del. I’m the most hated player in the NHL. I’m famous for fighting dirty, and it’s earned me a nickname: Dirty Del. When I get traded to the Denver Bashers, I’m told to clean up my act. The team’s social media girl, Ingrid, is helping me sweeten my public image. She’s everything I’m not: bubbly and likable with a sunshine smile. She’s also stunningly beautiful–and totally off limits. Her cousin–my teammate–hates my guts and warned me to stay away from her. She’s also stunningly beautiful–and totally off limits. Her cousin–my teammate–hates my guts and warned me to stay away from her. It’s not long before I start to catch feels. I need to focus on my career. I don’t need any distractions, especially not a relationship. But I’m falling hard for this beautiful sunshine girl."--