A Short Story Anthology That Will Make You Swoon!
The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection
Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Short Story Anthology
Amazon Originals
January 23, 2024
ebook, audiobook
Love when you least expect it
6 Kindle short stories with audio narration
It should come as no surprise that when this collection of short stories was announced, and then promptly showed up on NetGalley for review copies, I knew I needed to read and review each of these stories by the following six amazingly talented authors: Christina Lauren, Abby Jimenez, Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, Ashley Poston, and Sariah Wilson.
The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
This sweet epistolary romance has all the delightful meet-cute vibes of “You’ve Got Mail.” Spanning over a decade, Terra and Callum begin emailing each other due to a fluke in their school district’s system. Deciding to only email on Valentine’s Day, both Terra and Callum begin to open up to the other. The culmination happens on the 10th anniversary of their pen pal relationship. It would be appropriate for Christina Lauren to make me squeal over the sheer cuteness of how their romance plays out, and I guarantee that you will have an equal reaction.
The Worst Wing Man by Abby Jimenez 
If anyone can make you laugh and cry throughout the same short story it would be Abby Jimenez. Holly is a hospice nurse and her current job is helping her Grandmother journey through her end of life care. John is the maintenance man with a heart of gold whose selflessness doesn’t just extend to helping his brother fix up his apartment, it also includes taking care of a flat tire for a nurse’s car that he just can’t seem to stop thinking about. This short story gave me all the feels.
Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne
Rosie is a woman with disastrous luck. She decides to spend a boatload of money on a Galentine’s Spa Day with her sister. Rosie feels more than ever that she is the ugly duckling to her sister’s swan-like grace especially when Rosie gets trapped within an enclosed relaxation chamber. When everything goes to pieces and the fire department gets called, it’s a guy dubbed “Romeo” who faithfully sticks with Rosie until she’s safely out of the fancy Japanese chamber. Through quips, heartfelt conversation, and so much earnest praise, Rosie and her Romeo forge a fast friendship. I was cheering so hard for these two characters, and I absolutely adored the ending. This short story hit every single sweet spot for me.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On by Jasmine Guillory
Set in San Francisco, Daisy is a woman with a vendetta against a surly bakery owner. She’s determined to believe that this man is rude, hates her, and has horrible business acumen since he becomes more infuriating with every time that she points out she’s been given extra pastries and attempts to pay for them. Harris is the bakery owner who has no idea how to talk to the woman who is as vivacious as she is gorgeous. Imagine his surprise when she hurls herself on top of him during an earthquake. As luck would have it, they are trapped inside his bakery. I love when he falls first, and I also admire that Daisy is unabashedly herself throughout the entire short story. Harris and Daisy’s interactions are as fun as they are sweet. I love the humor and their ending was equally as spicy.
With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
Audrey’s best friend is getting married which means that she’s the Best Man, naturally. Unfortunately for her, that also means that her one-night stand with the bride’s best friend is also the Man of Honor for the big day. Audrey also believes that she is afflicted with a kissing curse. If anyone kisses her, soon after that person will find their true love. After the bachelor party becomes a drunken blur, Audrey is awoken by Theo only to find out that the groom is missing. Retracing her steps, Theo and Audrey are forced to confront their attraction. This short story felt like a throwback to rom coms of the 90’s and early oughts. I love when he falls first, kissing curses be dammed.
Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
Ilaria is a princess who yearns for an anonymous two-day vacation in Rome. She manages to get her reluctant PA to swap places with her. Anne will travel back to the palace and act as royalty so that Ilaria can have peace to explore Rome on her own. Unfortunately for Ilaria, she has a mishap and ends up waking up in the apartment of a kind Scottish photographer, Callum. Callum and Ilaria are instantly smitten and end up exploring Rome together while discovering more about each other. It only takes one brief run-in with the paparazzi to discover that Ilaria isn’t the only one with a secret. I adored this short story. Equal parts charming and fun. I love reading about the flutter of emotions with a new relationship, and I love a grand gesture even more.
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
