Romance in the Coffee Rings

  Hearts on the Field: A Friday Reading Moment 💛⚽ Welcome back to another Favorite Friday here on Romance in the Coffee Rings! This week, my pick is extra special because it’s one I’ve been dying to get my hands on — The Defender by Ana Huang. I picked it up just yesterday, and I already know it’s going to steal my whole weekend (and probably my heart). If you’ve been around for a while, you know how much I adored The Striker , book one in Ana’s Gods of the Game series. It had that perfect mix of passion, heartbreak, and adrenaline that makes a sports romance impossible to put down. So the second I heard we were getting Vincent’s story next? Instant preorder.

Hey everyone, just wanted to pop in and say I didn’t get a chance to post today. School’s been a bit overwhelming, so I’m taking the night to catch up and recharge. 💛 I’ll be back at it tomorrow morning at 10 AM with new content and all the cozy vibes you know and love. Thanks for being patient with me! ☕ — Erica 🤎 @RomanceInTheCoffeeRings

✈️ High Altitude Hearts: A Mile High Reading Moment Special Edition: Mile High by Liz Tomforde 🏒☕✨ I’ve been dying to reread Mile High ever since I finished The Right Move , and when the special edition dropped, I couldn’t resist. There’s just something about a moody hockey player and a sunshine flight attendant that hits so perfectly in the fall. The foiled edges, the artwork, the swoony energy—this edition feels like the ultimate collector’s cozy-romance treat. 🍂✨ Between the banter, the chemistry, and the emotional undercurrent, it’s one of those sports romances that reminds you why you fell in love with the genre in the first place. Summary: Chicago hockey isn’t complete without Evan Zanders —everyone’s favorite player to hate. Cocky, unfiltered, and way too charming for his own good, he’s used to getting what he wants both on and off the ice. Enter Stevie , the new flight attendant assigned to his team’s private jet—strong-willed, off-limits, and completely unimpressed ...

From Small Towns to City Streets: A Book Lover’s Two-for-Tuesday Sometimes the best love stories aren’t found on a page — they play out on screen, one cozy cup of coffee at a time. This week’s Two for Tuesday takes us from the quiet charm of Virgin River to the glittering romance of Emily in Paris. One gives you warm maple-latte comfort, the other a chic café-au-lait adventure. Whether you dream of small-town simplicity or Parisian chaos, both remind us that love, like coffee, is best savored slowly. 🌲 Virgin River Coffee Pairing: Maple Latte with a drizzle of caramel warm, comforting, and a little sweet, just like Jack’s bar and Mel’s cozy cabin. The kind of drink you sip while watching the rain and believing in second chances. Why you’ll love it: A nurse moves to a sleepy little town looking for a fresh start — and finds community, healing, and maybe love along the way. It’s all the small-town, slow-burn, comfort-read energy you crave. Perfect for fans of: healing romance, found...

 Mini Review Monday: Welcome to Derry 🎈 This week, I’m throwing it way back with a true horror classic that perfectly fits the October chill. 👻 It by Stephen King is eerie, nostalgic, and absolutely unforgettable — the kind of story that crawls under your skin and stays there. From red balloons to small-town secrets, Derry is the perfect place to revisit when the nights start getting colder and you’re craving that timeless, spine-tingling scare. 🎈 ⭐ Rating: 5/5 – Epic, terrifying, and unforgettable. ✨ Horror Level: High – psychological chills, supernatural evil, and emotional weight. 💀 Themes: Friendship, Fear, Small-Town Secrets, Good vs. Evil, Found Family 📝 Mini Review: Published in 1986, It is Stephen King’s masterpiece — a sprawling, haunting story about childhood, trauma, and the monsters that never really leave us. Both literal and metaphorical, It takes readers deep into Derry, Maine, where something ancient and malevolent feeds on fear itself. Following seve...

Latte Lit & Late Nights: Weekly Recap  🌙  This week’s posts blended cozy autumn reads with spooky twists and a few swoony surprises. From small-town romance to Stephen King chills, the vibe was equal parts heartwarming and haunting — the perfect mix for late-night reading with a steaming latte by your side. ✨ 📚 Posts This Week 📝 Mini Review Monday Secrets Behind the Rides 🎡 – A dark carnival mystery that hides heartbreak behind flashing lights and popcorn smiles. 💀 Twisted Tuesday Your Favorite Scary Movie 🎬👻 – I revisited the iconic Scream series and other slasher favorites that defined spooky season thrills. 📖 What’s the Hype? Wednesday Once Upon a Nightmare: Why Fairy Tale by Stephen King Owns the Hype 👑🩸 – A deep dive into King’s eerie brilliance and why his storytelling never loses its edge. ☕ Trope Thursday Small Town Romance with a Honey Latte Twist 🍯💞 – Cozy corners, golden-hour confessions, and the sweet simplicity of falling ...

Swoon Quote Saturday: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 💫 “I fell in love the way you fall asleep:   slowly, and then all at once.”   Some quotes don’t just live on the page - they linger.  They seep into you the way a late-night cup of coffee does: slow, warm, and quietly devastating. John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars isn’t just a love story; it’s a study in what it means to feel everything all at once — to love fiercely in the face of endings, and to find beauty even when time feels impossibly short. Hazel Grace Lancaster has always lived with the quiet hum of mortality in her chest. But when Augustus Waters walks into her support group, everything changes. Their connection feels like that rare spark you only find once in a lifetime — instant, electric, and somehow inevitable. Together, they turn fear into laughter, pain into poetry, and fleeting days into a forever kind of love. This quote — “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at o...

✨ Favorite Friday: Book Boyfriends Ranked by Coffee Order  ☕ Because every fictional man gives off a coffee vibe — some are caramel lattes, some are straight espresso shots. Let’s be honest — you can tell everything about a book boyfriend by their coffee order. From sweet and steady to bold and broody, these drinks say everything about their energy. Here’s how I’d order my fictional crushes this week: 🥇 Rhett Eaton ( Chestnut Springs – Elsie Silver) → Iced Caramel Macchiato Smooth, dependable, and just the right amount of sweet — with a kick when he needs it. 🥈 Rowan Kane ( Dreamland Billionaires – Lauren Asher) → Black Coffee, No Sugar Brooding, ambitious, and way too serious… but you know it hits just right when he softens up. 🥉 Garrett Graham ( The Deal – Elle Kennedy) → Mocha with Extra Whip Playful, flirty, a little over the top — but underneath it all, pure comfort. 🍯 Theo Morales ( Off to the Races – Elsie Silver) → Honey Lavender Latte Golden retrie...

Trope Thursday: Small Town Romance with a Honey Latte Twist  ☕   Trope Spotlight: Small Town Romance → Honey Latte Warm, familiar, and impossibly sweet—comfort in every sip, just like finding love where you least expect it. Always Mine by Laura Pavlov Series: Honey Mountain #1 Trope(s): Small Town Romance • Friends to Lovers • Brother’s Best Friend He fights fires for a living, but the flames building between them may be too big to extinguish. Niko West is Honey Mountain’s golden boy—a firefighter with a teasing smile and a reputation that keeps the town buzzing. Everly is his best friend since kindergarten, the girl who knows every corner of his heart but doesn’t realize she owns it. When she finds herself single for the first time in years, she makes Niko an offer that changes everything. It’s supposed to be casual, uncomplicated—but there’s nothing casual about years of buried feelings catching fire. 💕 Why This Trope Works So Well Always Mine captures ev...

Once Upon a Nightmare: Why Fairy Tale by Stephen King Owns the Hype ✨  Fairy Tale  by Stephen King Every now and then, a book comes along that reminds us why stories matter — why they pull us out of our world and drop us somewhere strange, terrifying, and magical. This week’s What’s the Hype Wednesday pick does exactly that. 🌀 Why It’s Got Everyone Talking Fairy Tale isn’t your typical horror from the King of Horror himself. It’s a sprawling, imaginative journey into another realm — a dark fantasy that reads like The Wizard of Oz collided with The Stand . Seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade stumbles upon an old man, a loyal dog, and a locked shed that hides something far beyond what he could imagine — a portal to another world. What waits on the other side? Cursed royalty, impossible magic, and a battle between light and shadow that might decide the fate of both worlds. It’s eerie, emotional, and deeply human — the kind of story that makes you believe fairy tales still...

Twisted Tuesday: Your Favorite Scary Movie ☠️ Genre: Nonfiction / Film History Perfect For: Horror buffs, Scream fanatics (AKA ME!), meta-film lovers, and anyone who still triple-checks the door locks before watching a scary movie. 📽️ A Love Letter to the Genre That Refused to Die Some books creep up on you… and others grab you by the throat in the very first chapter. Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins is absolutely the latter. Even though I haven’t finished it yet, I can confidently say this is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating, bloody-brilliant nonfiction reads I’ve ever picked up. Cullins doesn’t just rehash the Scream franchise — she dissects it like a final girl studying her killer. Through exclusive interviews, candid set stories, and smart cultural commentary, she builds a full picture of how Wes Craven’s meta-masterpiece turned a fading slasher subgenre into a pop-culture juggernaut. From the unforgettable moment Drew Barrymore’s scream split t...

Mini Review Monday: Secrets Behind the Rides 🎢 There’s something truly special about  Liarland  — beyond the mystery, the suspense, and the adrenaline-fueled twists, it transported me right back to the feeling I had as a kid playing  Nancy Drew  games and watching  Murder, She Wrote  with my mom and grandma every week.  The thrill of piecing together clues, the rush of trying to solve the case before the final reveal, and that nostalgic spark of curiosity — this book captured  all  of it. Madison Rupp’s writing made me feel like a detective again, chasing shadows and secrets through every chapter. It’s more than just a mystery… it’s a love letter to every story that made me fall in love with solving them in the first place. 🔎✨ ⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 – Twisty, addictive, and full of tension. ✨ Suspense Level: Medium-High — fast-paced mystery with romantic undertones. 💘 Tropes: Forced Proximity, Amateur Sleuthing, Anonymous Threats, Summer ...

🌟 Between Chapters & Coffee Cups: Weekly Round-Up ✨ This week’s lineup brought a mix of powerful romances, fan-favorite tropes, and reader-powered choices — all paired perfectly with cozy coffee moments. Here’s everything you might’ve missed from the rings this week! ✨ 📚 Posts This Week 📝 Mini Review Monday Lies in Plain Sight 🕵️‍♀️📖 – A twist-filled read full of secrets, suspense, and betrayal that kept me turning pages late into the night. ☁️ Two-for-Tuesday Pick My Next Read! 📚💭 – The choice is in your hands! I shared a few tempting titles and let you decide which book I should dive into next. 🌟 What’s the Hype? Wednesday The Dark & Powerful Romances Dropping This November 🔥✨ – A sneak peek into the bold, emotional, and unforgettable romances hitting shelves soon. 💘 Trope Thursday Friends to Lovers ☕❤️ – A look at one of the most beloved tropes and why slow-burn chemistry makes the sweetest stories. 💕 Favorite Friday Favorite TV Series – One ...

☕ Swoon Saturday: Couple Goals Edition 💞 Rhys Larsen & Princess Bridget — The Royal Romance That Redefines Love 💘 Meet the Couple If opposites attract, then Rhys Larsen and Princess Bridget von Ascheberg are living proof. He’s stoic, brooding, and sworn to protect her. She’s warm, poised, and destined to rule. Together, they’re a slow-burn storm of loyalty, devotion, and undeniable chemistry that turns duty into desire. 📖 Book: Twisted Games by Ana Huang 💡 Trope: Bodyguard Romance, Forbidden Love, Slow Burn 🌶️ Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Medium-High) 🫶 Why They’re Couple Goals 💂‍♂️ Loyalty Beyond Duty: Rhys starts as Bridget’s protector, but his unwavering loyalty goes far beyond his job description. His love is steadfast, his presence constant — the kind of support every queen deserves. 👑 Strength in Partnership: Bridget may wear the crown, but Rhys stands beside her, not behind her. Their relationship shows that love isn’t about one person saving the oth...

💖 Favorite Friday: Favorite TV Series – One Tree Hill Why It’s a Forever Favorite: Some shows come and go, but One Tree Hill remains a staple in the romance lover’s heart. It’s more than a teen drama — it’s a story about growing up, falling in love, finding your purpose, and learning that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Through its nine seasons, we watched the characters evolve from awkward high schoolers to adults navigating love, loss, careers, and family. And at the center of it all? The relationships — romantic and platonic — that shaped them along the way. Whether you were a Nathan and Haley fan (the ultimate enemies-to-soulmates story 💍), swooned over Lucas and Peyton’s slow-burn connection, or rooted for Brooke to find the love she deserved, One Tree Hill gave us some of the most memorable love stories in TV history. The show wasn’t afraid to tackle real issues — heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and self-discovery — but it always reminded us that love is worth...

☕️ Trope Thursday: Friends to Lovers The Vibe: Some of the best love stories aren’t the ones that start with sparks flying or instant attraction — they’re the ones that grow quietly over time. Friends to lovers is the ultimate slow burn. It’s years of inside jokes, movie nights, and “just friends” hugs that linger a little too long. It’s the comfort of knowing someone sees you — truly sees you — for who you are, flaws and all. And then one day, something shifts. A glance lasts too long, a touch feels different, and suddenly you’re wondering if maybe, just maybe, this has been love all along. This trope hits deep because it’s rooted in trust and emotional intimacy. The characters know each other’s worst days and still choose to stay. They’ve already built the foundation, and watching them take that terrifying leap from friendship to love feels like watching a home being built on the strongest ground. It’s tender. It’s heartwarming. And it often delivers the most satisfying payoff — b...

Hype Alert 🚨: The Dark & Powerful Romances Dropping This November New month. New reads. New obsessions brewing. November is bringing us some of the most talked-about romance and romantasy releases of the year — and trust me, you’re going to want these waiting on your doorstep or Kindle the moment they drop. Here are two highly anticipated books already topping my TBR (and probably about to take over yours too 👀): 🐍 I, Medusa by Ayana Gray 📅 Releases November 18, 2025 This is my most anticipated release of the month — a powerful, rage-fueled reimagining of Medusa’s myth that flips the script on one of Greek mythology’s most misunderstood women. Meddy has always lived in the shadow of her immortal family — until she’s offered a place among Athena’s priestesses and finally begins to carve out a destiny of her own. But when a betrayal by the gods transforms her into the monster of legend, she must decide whether she will remain a pawn in their cruel games… or rewrite her ...

💭 Two for Tuesday: Pick My Next Read! A mystery thriller or a friends-to-lovers romance — which should I dive into next? I’m torn this week, and I need your help, book besties! 💭📚 It’s time for one of my favorite kinds of Two for Tuesday posts — the “Pick My Next Read” edition. I’ve narrowed my TBR down to two completely different reads: a chilling, twisty thriller that’s been on my radar since release day and a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that’s been sitting patiently on my shelf. Here’s where you come in: read through both summaries below and vote in the comments (or over on Instagram Stories) to help me decide which one I should pick up first. 👀👇 🔪 Mystery Thriller: The Intruder by Freida McFadden Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery Coffee Pairing: A bold dark roast — intense, bitter, and full of unexpected twists. Casey’s cabin in the wilderness isn’t built for a hurricane — and it’s definitely not built for what’s about to happen next. When she d...

📖 None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (Standalone Psychological Thriller 🔪) ⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 – Twisty, unsettling, and impossible to put down. ✨ Suspense Level: High – slow burn with shocking reveals. 💀 Tropes: Unreliable Narrator, Obsession, True Crime, Cat-and-Mouse, Gaslighting 📝 Mini Review: Stepping outside my usual romance lane, I picked up None of This Is True as my very first Book of the Month pick — and wow, this thriller did not disappoint. Lisa Jewell weaves a story that’s equal parts psychological puzzle and slow-building dread. We follow Alix, a successful podcaster whose curiosity leads her straight into the web of Josie Fair — a woman who seems ordinary on the surface but quickly reveals a disturbing darkness. What begins as an intriguing podcast subject spirals into obsession, manipulation, and danger. By the time Josie vanishes, Alix’s life is no longer her own — and the true crime story she set out to tell has turned her into the main character. What I l...

Turning Pages & Pouring Thoughts: Weekly Recap ✨ This week was all about heartfelt romances, iconic tropes, and a few fictional crushes that deserve their own spotlight. Between new favorites, old loves, and stories that lingered long after the final chapter, here’s everything that brewed on the blog. ✨ 📚 Posts This Week 📝 Mini Review Monday Love in the Silence ✨💙 – A tender, emotional romance that proves love doesn’t always need words to speak volumes. 📖 Two-for-Tuesday Backlist vs. New Release ☕📚 – A bookish face-off pairing a nostalgic favorite with a shiny new read—because both deserve a place on your shelf. 🌟 What’s the Hype? Wednesday October Spotlight ✨🍂 – A roundup of the buzziest reads hitting shelves this month and whether they live up to the excitement. 💘 Trope Thursday Marriage of Convenience with a Cappuccino Twist ☕💍 – Breaking down one of romance’s most beloved tropes with a fresh look at why “fake vows” often lead to real feelings. 💕 F...

Swoon Scene Spotlight: When “Fake” Starts to Feel Real Welcome back to Swoon Saturday , where we dive deep into the scenes that make our hearts race, our stomachs flip, and our coffee cups feel just a little warmer. 🫶 This week’s spotlight? A deliciously slow-burn, fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers moment from Elle Kennedy’s The Dixon Rule . Diana and Shane’s story is full of banter, boundary-pushing, and the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on you — and there’s one scene in particular that takes their “this is just for show” arrangement and turns it into something so much more . So grab your latte (maybe with a little cinnamon — trust me, it fits), settle in, and let’s break down the scene that had me completely swooning . ☕💘 📚 Book: The Dixon Rule 🏒 Author: Elle Kennedy 💫 Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers • Fake dating • Opposites attract • Forced proximity ✨ The Scene There’s one scene that completely melts every reader — the moment Diana’s “no feelings” rule starts to crumbl...

☕ Favorite Friday: TV Love Interests & Their Bookish Twins There’s nothing like a good TV love interest to make you swoon, sigh, and scream into your pillow at 2 AM. But what I love most is how some of my favorite on-screen crushes give the same exact vibes as my book boyfriends. Double the swoon = double the fun. So for this week’s Favorite Friday , I’m pairing up some of my TV faves with their bookish counterparts. And of course, I had to throw in coffee pairings too—because what’s a swoony binge without a latte in hand? 🏀 Nathan Scott (One Tree Hill) Why We Love Him: From broody high school baller to loyal husband and dad, Nathan’s character growth is chef’s kiss . He’s the definition of an athlete with heart. Bookish Twin: Garrett Graham ( The Deal by Elle Kennedy) → Star hockey player, cocky at first, but when he falls, he falls hard. Garrett’s blend of athletic swagger and real emotional depth makes him Nathan’s perfect match. Coffee Pairing: Mocha Latte → ...