How to Catch a Queen- Girls with Glasses Readathon

If you are getting your TBRs ready for the Girls With Glasses Readathon (click here for bingo card) and a bit stumped here are a few books that fit each category. Now, for the royal couple I used my creative license to stretch just a wee bit, but hey this is my list so my rules. Here we go!

Strong female main character

Title: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon 

Publisher: Forever Publishing 

Synopsis: Samiah Brooks never thought she would be "that" girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she's been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah-along with his two other "girlfriends," London and Taylor-have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men, no dating, and no worrying about their relationship status.

For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she's always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy, honey-eyed Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? When it comes to love, there's no such thing as a coincidence. But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?

Reason: Samiah is focused on her career but is also passionate about mentoring girls of color in STEM

Relationship of convenience

Title: The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa 

Publisher: Avon Books 

Synopsis: A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.

Tired of living in his older brother’s shadow, marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.

Reason: Lina and Max team up together together to woo a hotel client and may end up digging each other.

Disability Rep

Title: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert 

Publisher: Avon Books

Synopsis: Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. 

Reason: Chloe is learning how to manage her chronic illness. Her disability is invisible so her friends and family have to be patient since they can't tell if she's having a good day or bad. However, our sweet Redford pays attention and swoops in to help her. 

Queer Rep

Title: Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Publisher: Self Published 

Synopsis: She just wanted to claim her inheritance. What she got was a husband…

Xeni Everly-Wilkins has ten days to clean out her recently departed aunt’s massive colonial in Upstate New York. With the feud between her mom and her sisters still raging even in death, she knows this will be no easy task, but when the will is read Xeni quickly discovers the decades old drama between the former R&B singers is just the tip of the iceberg.

With no choice but to say I do, the unlikely pair try to make the best of a messy situation. They had no plans to actually fall in love.

Reason: Both Xeni and Mason are bisexual and as they are exploring what it means to be a married couple and of course to get their inheritance, they are also exploring their sexual desires together. One friend said I wasn't expecting to read about butt plugs, so if you pick this book up, you should expect read about butt plugs. 😂

• **Doubles as relationship of convenience** if they want that inheritance they have to be a couple

Royal couple

Title: You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria 

Publisher: Avon Books

Synopsis: With their careers on the line, Jasmine and Ashton agree to rehearse in private. But rehearsal leads to kissing, and kissing leads to a behind-the-scenes romance worthy of a soap opera. While their on-screen performance improves, the media spotlight on Jasmine soon threatens to destroy her new image and expose Ashton’s most closely guarded secret.

Reason: So, I know this might be cheating but...Jasmine and Ashton are telenovela royalty. That's it that's why!!! 

Location outside of the continental US

Title: Ties that Thether by Jane Igharo 

Publisher: Berkley

Synopsis: At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture, even after immigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping—well forcing—her to stay within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and…white.

When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother. Soon, Azere can't help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising her identity? The answer will either cause Azere to be audacious and fight for her happiness or continue as the compliant daughter.

Reason: The first portion of the book Azere and her family are in Nigeria and then move to Canada. So you get two locations outside of the US (good thing the category wasn;t North America- but we would still have let it count). 😉

**Bonus Recommendation** 

Title: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Synopsis: His Only Wife is a witty, smart, and moving debut novel about a brave young woman traversing the minefield of modern life with its taboos and injustices, living in a world of men who want their wives to be beautiful, to be good cooks and mothers, to be women who respect their husbands and grant them forbearance. And in Afi, Peace Medie has created a delightfully spunky and relatable heroine who just may break all the rules.

Reason: The book takes place in different cities in Ghana. 

Addresses healthcare or disease

Title: A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole 💓

Publisher: Avon Books

Synopsis: Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

Reason: Naledi visits Thesolo with Prince Thabiso to help identify the cause of an outbreak in a small village. I can't tell you more without spilling the beans but yeah Naledi basically saves the day. 

• **Doubles as location outside the continental US**, even though it's a fictional African country lol. 
• ***Triples to as a royal BIPOC couple***, like come on this books is the golden egg if you ask me. 

Handles Consent Well

Title: Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Publisher: Avon Books 

Synopsis: With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina's ever seen, offers his family's farm as a refuge. Alone with her unrequited crush feels like a recipe for hopeless longing, but Katrina craves the escape. She's resigned to being just friends with Jas--until they share a single electrifying kiss. Now she can't help but wonder if her crush may not be so unrequited after all...

Reason: Katrina has been through a lot. In order for Jas to let his feelings beknown he let's Katrina set the tone and pace for their relationship. He's patient and does a good job asking what she needs from him in different aspects of their relationship.

Freebie read any Alyssa Cole book

Title: When No On is Watching by Alyssa Cole 👑

Publisher: William & Morrow 

Synopsis: Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Reason: I realized my list is a bit romance heavy (you should have expected that) so I wanted to throw in a different genre. This book is marketed as a thriller but it definitely has horror elements especially the ending. Yikes!

I want to see your TBRs. 

Happy Readathon Reading!