I read way too much last month and realized the books I liked most were the ones I picked based on mood, not genre. so here's what worked for me.
commute read: The Italian Don (Accardi). mafia romance but the family dynamics are the real draw. the Accardi family feels lived-in… like the author actually thought about how a crime family sits at a dinner table. pacing is tight enough that you look up and you've missed your stop. twice.
Badass in Disguise is for when you need your heart rate above 120. action first, romance second. the disguise reveal is genuinely well-built… the author drops enough breadcrumbs that you feel smart when you figure it out, but the actual moment still hits. probably the most fun I've had reading in months.
if you're on a beach and want mess:
It Comes In Three's. love triangle but handled like adults. FMC makes a choice and sticks with it, which was refreshing. the middle drags slightly but the emotional payoff is worth sitting through.
last one is The Assassin's Guide to High School. yes it's YA-ish. yes the premise is silly. but there's something about a girl who could literally kill everyone at her school choosing not to that is weirdly comforting when you're feeling powerless. funny too. I read it right after a breakup and it helped more than it had any right to.
by SuggestionWorried741