Top 25 Paid iPad Books Apps on iTunes Store

The Secrets We Hide - Karin Slaughter

The Secrets We Hide
The next thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Are All Guilty Here
Karin Slaughter
Genre: Crime & Thrillers
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins
Seller: HarperCollins Australia Pty Limited

The stunning new North Falls thriller by the bestselling author of We Are All Guilty Here 'Few writers can balance pulse-pounding suspense and emotional truth as brilliantly as Karin Slaughter. Her books grip you from the first page and refuse to let go' Freida McFadden Welcome back to North Falls -- a small town with big secrets. The house at 1601 Iris Drive looks like any other in the quiet, residential street. But rumours are rife about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors. Then one afternoon gunshots ring out. Allison Vickery is found murdered in her own kitchen, her teenage daughter bleeding and left for dead. Everyone thinks they know what happened. But they're wrong. The truth is more shocking than anyone could ever have imagined. Secrets are everywhere in this small town. And it's up to Detective Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth ... Praise for Karin Slaughter: 'Karin Slaughter is always a must read' Harlan Coben 'Quite simply, Karin Slaughter is the best of us' Dervla McTiernan 'Crime fiction at its finest' Michael Connelly 'I'd follow her anywhere' Gillian Flynn 'One of the best crime novelists in America' Washington Post 'Fiction doesn't get any better than this' Jeffery Deaver 'In a class of her own' West Australian

Nothing Stays Buried - D.K. Hood

Nothing Stays Buried
A completely addictive and absolutely gripping serial killer thriller
D.K. Hood
Genre: Police Procedural
Price: $6.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Bookouture
Seller: Carmelite House

Fear grips her as she passes under the last streetlight on the remote highway. Seeing the familiar truck, she thinks she’s safe. But her scream is silenced by a gloved hand before her world goes black… When Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy David Kane investigate a cold case on a remote ranch in Black Rock Falls, what they uncover chills them to the bone. In a shallow grave lies the lifeless body of farm worker Maria Reyes. Jenna’s heart breaks as she sweeps aside the woman’s long dark hair to find purple bruising all over her face.    Interviewing workers at the ranch, Jenna senses hostility and feels eyes watching her. Every instinct screams that something very sinister is happening here and when news breaks that another young woman is missing, her pulse races once again. Jenna knows she’s running out of time to find the girl before she too ends up in a woodland grave.   Jenna and her team work night and day, ignoring the growing threat from the farm workers around them, and soon discover a link between the ranch and an unsolved case where two people were burned alive in a remote cabin. Could a twisted killer have been using this place as a hunting ground for over a decade? When a call comes in about suspicious activity at an off-the-grid hut in the nearby forest, Jenna knows this is the breakthrough they need. Scrambling her team, she prays that she can catch this ruthless killer before he takes another innocent life. But what waits for her beneath the trees is more terrifying than anything she imagined. Can she find the missing girl and save herself from becoming the monster’s next victim? If you love Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Mary Stone, you will be addicted to this twisty new thriller from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author D.K. Hood. **Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone** What readers are saying about D.K. Hood: “Oh wow, I can’t say enough about this one!! So good!! Literally had me guessing until the reveal… Captivated.” Sip_andread, 5 stars “I blew through this like the wind! Fantastic read!” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Wow! Still trying to catch my breath.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Exceptional… My word, I couldn’t put this down… Compulsive reading and I couldn’t stop and had to read to the end.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Wow… Amazing… Fantastic… Bone chilling.” B for Bookreview, 5 stars “A cracking page-turner with some omg moments that will keep you reading late into the night.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Incredible… Had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath…

Weddings - Danielle Steel

Weddings
Danielle Steel
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK
Seller: Macmillan Publishers Australia and Pan Macmillan Australia

From the romantic streets of France to the bustling chaos of New York City, Weddings is the story of three generations of complex, passionate women and how they choose to respond to convention, from the billion-copy bestselling author, Danielle Steel. Marie-Aurelie, cherished yet untitled, embraces a life outside conventional matrimony, igniting a legacy of profound choices for her descendants. Dominique, longing to eclipse her mother's shadow, finds herself caught up in love's hidden tangles, leading her children down diverging paths. Her eldest breaks free from an oppressive betrothal. Her son clings to stability in a turbulent marriage. Her youngest defies tradition but ultimately discovers her own version of happiness. When the past and future collide, these women must decide whether they keep to tradition or forge new paths. To marry or not, because their decisions will affect the future of all of those close to them.

The Score - Elle Kennedy

The Score
Now an Original Series on Amazon Prime
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 Nov 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Original Series now on Prime Video. Can't wait for Season 2 of Off Campus? Fall in love with Dean and Allie... Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Score now for the perfect friends with benefits romance! Also available in Deluxe HB He knows how to score, on and off the ice . . . Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn't have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she's nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won't include the king of one-night stands. It'll take more than flashy moves to win her over . . . Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls . . . he's a ladies man, all right, and he's yet to meet a woman who's immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world - and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It's not over until he says it's over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it's time to stop focusing on scoring . . . and shoot for love. *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Tropes 🏒College hockey romance 🏒One night stand 🏒Secret dating 🏒Spicy romance 🏒Frenemies to lovers

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke

Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke
Genre: Crime & Thrillers
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 07 Apr 2026
Publisher: Fourth Estate
Seller: HarperCollins Australia Pty Limited

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 'EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK’ – BELLA MACKIE 'NIGHTMARISH, SHOCKING, BRILLIANT’ – STYLIST 'MADDENING, MESMERISING, INGENIOUS’ – NEW YORK TIMES 'INTELLIGENT, INCISIVE, INSANELY READABLE’ – JENNIE GODFREY 'DERANGED, DARING, CLEVERLY WRITTEN’ – VOGUE 'My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…' Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them. Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible. As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction. NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY ‘WICKEDLY FUNNY, FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE' ABIGAIL DEAN 'INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE' ASHLEY AUDRAIN 'SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR, LACED WITH DARKNESS' CLARE MACKINTOSH 'THE STEPFORD WIVES MEETS THE HANDMAID'S TALE' HANNAH DEITCH About the author Caro Claire Burke received her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She is the co-host of Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast. Yesteryear is her first novel.

The Deal - Elle Kennedy

The Deal
Now an Original Series on Amazon Prime
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 Nov 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Original Series now on Prime Video Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Deal now for the perfect fake-dating romance! Also available as a Deluxe HB and a TV Tie-in edition She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy . . . Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice . . . even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date . . . and it's going to be oh so good All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him . *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review

Whistler - Ann Patchett

Whistler
The new international bestseller from the author of Tom Lake and The Dutch House
Ann Patchett
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 02 Jun 2026
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Seller: Bookwire Gesellschaft zum Vertrieb digitaler Medien mbH

THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING NEW NOVEL FROM THE PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE DUTCH HOUSE AND TOM LAKE 'Few writers are more adept than Patchett at delineating the collisions between present and past' Observer 'Whistler is top-shelf comfort food, the literary equivalent of pricey ice-cream' Guardian, Book of the Day __________ When Daphne notices an older gentleman following her around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, she doesn't expect it to be Eddie – her former stepfather. Married to her mother for a short time when Daphne was nine, she hasn't seen Eddie for many years; not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again now, Daphne and Eddie feel that time has fallen away. Their earlier relationship was brief but had a profound impact on both of them. Together, they consider not only their past, but the joys of the present and their commitment to face the future together. A moving, luminous story about how family, memory and love endures, Whistler paints an intimate portrait of how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything. __________ 'This generous-hearted, clever and poignantly revealing tale feels another sure-fire hit. Spend a day on the couch in its warm, riveting company and you won't regret it' Times 'A quietly compelling story about the power of familial love to transcend time and blood' Harper's Bazaar, Best Books of 2026

The Mistake - Elle Kennedy

The Mistake
Now an Original Series on Amazon Prime
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 Nov 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Original Series now on Prime Video. Can't wait for Season 2 of Off Campus? Fall in love with Grace and Logan... Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Mistake now for the perfect second chance romance! Also available as a Deluxe HB He's a player in more ways than one . . . College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he'll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he's worth a second chance. Now he's going to need to up his game . . . After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She's not a charity case, and she's not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He'll have to work for it. This time around, she'll be the one in the driver's seat . . . and she plans on driving him wild. *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review 💗💗💗 Tropes: 🏒 Second chance romance 🏒Hockey romance 🏒Bad Boy x Good Girl 🏒College romance 🏒He falls first

Regime Change - Maggie Haberman

Regime Change
Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump
Maggie Haberman
Genre: Political Science
Price: $17.99
Publish Date: 24 Jun 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Seller: Simon and Schuster Australia Pty Ltd.

A riveting, intimate and revelatory account of the most radical and consequential presidency of our time. From the two reporters who have covered him more closely than perhaps anyone else over the past decade comes this definitive portrait of Donald Trump in the White House. Regime Change covers the first year of Trump’s second presidency – a term liberated from every constraint that defined his first. The generals who once told him ‘no’ are gone, and the lawyers who remain have learned to pick their battles. His administration has flouted court orders and he has claimed powers that Congress once checked. What remains is a President willing to take enormous risks that have upended global markets and toppled heads of state; an imperial President operating almost entirely on instinct alone. Based on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented reporting from deep within the administration’s most closely guarded rooms, Regime Change takes the reader inside the Situation Room and into the secret Oval Office deliberations that have launched a new war in the Middle East and seen Trump seal the border, surge National Guard troops into cities, and send immigration agents into deadly clashes with protestors. Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan bring us behind the scenes of a presidency that has transformed the culture, turned the Justice Department into an agent of retribution against the President’s enemies and the office itself into a brazen vehicle for profit. They reveal a second term propelled by a historical irony that Trump himself has come to understand: that the indictments, the convictions, the assassination attempts and four years of exile made him not weaker but far more powerful, more vengeful and more willing to gamble than any President in modern history. This is the story of how Trump has used that power, who has tried to stop him, and why nearly all of them have failed. It is also the story of something American journalists are more accustomed to chronicling in distant capitals than in their own: a President who has fundamentally altered the nature of the office he holds – and, with it, how the rest of the world understands American power. It is an account of Regime Change right here in America – a landmark real-time history of a modern presidency like no other.

The Goal - Elle Kennedy

The Goal
Now an Original Series on Amazon Prime
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 Nov 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Original Series now on Prime Video. Can't wait for Season 2 of Off Campus? Fall in love with Tuck and Sabrina... Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Goal now for the perfect forced proximity romance! She's good at achieving her goals . . . College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cut-throat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn't include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she's willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change. But the game just got a whole lot more complicated . . . Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he's fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn't hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina's heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he'll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist . . . *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review 💘💘💘 Tropes 🏒College hockey romance 🏒He falls first 🏒One night stand 🏒Accidental pregnancy 🏒Grumpy x Sunshine

One More Time - Mandy Magro

One More Time
Mandy Magro
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: 07 Jun 2023
Publisher: HQ Fiction
Seller: HarperCollins Australia Pty Limited

Fate, hope and desire collide for one special couple in a way they never would have expected. An epic love story, in the tradition of Nicholas Sparks, from bestselling Australian author Mandy Magro. One split-second choice. A spark of magic. What if your life could be completely different? Grace Burrows knows her seventieth birthday celebration is going to be an enchanting affair. And she can't wait to immerse herself in an evening surrounded by family and her closest friends, to waltz across the dance floor as she used to and reminisce over shared memories gathered across the decades. But it's also the evening she'll have to finally reveal a secret that she knows will devastate her family - her time left with them is too short to be fair... Scarred by his war-time experiences and losses, Charlie Wilson knows he's made a lot of mistakes. Too many. But none greater than ruining his marriage to Grace when they were young. Tonight, as they dance, Charlie is determined to tell her he's always loved her. But when old feelings and resentments are drawn to the surface, tempers fray and Charlie and Grace are left on opposite sides of the same old argument. Fate, however, will give them one last chance to be truthful - and as a touch of magic sparks, everything changes... PRAISE FOR MANDY MAGRO: 'A deliciously blissful romance that will have you hooked from beginning to end.' - Better Reading

Look Behind You - D.K. Hood

Look Behind You
An edge-of-your-seat serial killer thriller with a heart-stopping twist
D.K. Hood
Genre: Police Procedural
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: 10 Dec 2025
Publisher: Bookouture
Seller: Carmelite House

Fear grips her as the heavy footsteps echo along the isolated trail path. She thought she was alone in the woods, but as a hand reaches out from the darkness to cover her mouth, she knows that nobody will hear her scream… When Jan Pierce is reported missing, Sheriff Jenna Alton and her deputy David Kane rush to the forest surrounding Black Rock Falls. Jenna’s heart breaks when she sees Jan’s body at the bottom of a ravine. But it’s the purplish bruising in the shape of a boot on her back that tells Jenna it was no accident. Somebody killed her. As Jenna investigates Jan’s last movements, she learns that Jan joined a self-defense class and told her closest friends that she thought someone had followed her home one night. Was someone watching her every move, waiting for the right moment to strike? Then another woman from the same group, Sierra Lang, is reported missing. When Jenna finds Sierra at home, her lifeless body submerged in bathwater amid clear signs of a struggle, she is certain there is a serial killer in town. With no sign of forced entry, Jenna believes Sierra knew the killer and let him in. Could it be someone known to the whole group, someone they thought was a friend? As Jenna looks into both women’s lives, her heart races when the trail leads to someone she knows very well—someone she trusts. As a member of her own team comes under fire, Jenna is shocked to her core and desperate to get answers. Could the killer be closer than Jenna ever imagined, and can she uncover the truth before another young woman’s life is taken? Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Mary Stone, this absolutely addictive serial killer thriller from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author D.K. Hood will have you hooked from the start! **Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone** What readers are saying about D.K. Hood: “Oh wow, I can’t say enough about this one!! So good!! Literally had me guessing until the reveal… Captivated.” Sip_andread, 5 stars “I blew through this like the wind! Fantastic read!” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Wow! Still trying to catch my breath.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Exceptional… My word, I couldn’t put this down… Compulsive reading and I couldn’t stop and had to read to the end.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Wow… Amazing… Fantastic… Bone chilling.” B for Bookreview, 5 stars “A cracking page-turner with some omg moments that will keep you reading late into the night.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Incredible… Had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Left me chilled to the bone… Must-read in this gripping and very addictive series.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “I was totally absorbed into the book from the first few pages… I am fully addicted to this series.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars “A gripping series and I just love it! Five huge stars! Give me more!” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Great book!… Filled with suspense, intrigue and great detective work… Highly recommended.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Compulsive reading.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars “Gripping… I was hooked… On the edge of my seat.” NetGalley reviewer “An outstanding read. You do not want to miss.” Tove Reads

The Legacy - Elle Kennedy

The Legacy
Now an Original Series on Amazon Prime
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 Nov 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Original Series now on Prime Video Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Legacy now for the much-anticipated answer to the question: Where are they now? Four stories. Four couples. Three years of real life after graduation. . . A wedding. A proposal. An elopement. And a surprise pregnancy. Life after college for Garrett and Hannah, Logan and Grace, Dean and Allie, and Tucker and Sabrina, isn't quite what they imagined it would be. Sure, they have each other, but they also have real-life problems that four years at Briar U didn't exactly prepare them for. As it turns out, for these four couples, love is the easy part. Growing up is a whole lot harder. Come for the drama, stay for the laughs! Catch up with your favourite Off-Campus characters as they navigate the changes that come with growing up and discover that big decisions can have big consequences . . . and big rewards. *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review

The Truth about the Accident - Nicole Trope

The Truth about the Accident
A totally gripping family drama filled with secrets and lies
Nicole Trope
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $4.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2023
Publisher: Bookouture
Seller: Carmelite House

I gaze at my husband’s once-handsome face, so still and pale in the hospital bed. The doctors say I should keep talking. He might be able to hear me even after the terrible accident that left him fighting for his life. But all I have to whisper to my husband is this: I know what you did. Every day I wave my husband Damon off with a kiss and a smile, drive our precious children to school, and make sure our house is pristine before preparing a delicious meal. I pretend I’m not filled with fury that he once nearly destroyed our perfect life. It’s important to carry on as normal. That is, until the accident. My husband was hit by a car. It was pouring with rain. Nobody saw what happened. But the police are asking questions… Do they know about the terrible argument we had that day? Do they know about the text message I sent, telling someone to Delete everything? And do they know that no-one is happier that my husband is in a hospital bed, than me? An absolutely addictive page-turner about a family in crisis, a marriage at breaking point, and how secrets can be deadly. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth. Read what everyone’s saying about The Truth About the Accident: ‘Wooooh!!! This book just got better and better as it went on. Holy smokes did I dig myself into this book and not let go… Brilliant.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved!!!!!… You think you know what is going on the entire book then bam there is a secret revealed at the end that blows your mind… Awesome… You flip through the pages so fast.’ Blue Moon Blogger, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I devoured the book in just a few hours… HOLY SMOKE! Trope has done it again, this book was absolutely fantastic!’ @thrillbythepage_, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘OMG, Nicole Trope has written a brilliant thriller… Will leave you breathless… This is one hell of a ride that you actually won’t see coming.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping… Filled with secrets and lies… The truth is unveiled, leaving readers breathless… Captivating… A gripping page-turner from start to finish.’ @readwithmills, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A brilliant family drama… Excellent… I just couldn't put this book down, great from the very first page until the superb ending … What a book!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The complete package!… Very suspenseful, very twisty and very mysterious… Shocking… A story to keep you up all night.’ @Andireads2023, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Perfect… It has so many twists and a completely unexpected ending. I read this book in one evening it was impossible to put down.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An emotional rollercoaster… Captivating… Gripping… Will keep readers on the edge of their seats.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A deliciously twisted, heart-stoppingly tense and absolutely terrifying read… I couldn’t put it down… Excellent… Writing was perfect.’ @rubie_reads ‘I was blown away… It kept me on the edge of my seat…’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One DELICIOUS novel about love, deception and revenge.’ @stamperlady50, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ambersley - Amy Atwell

Ambersley
Amy Atwell
Genre: Historical Romance
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: 18 Jun 2011
Publisher: Amy Atwell
Seller: Amy Atwell

She was never meant to be his equal…or his bride. When a devastating fire claims her noble family, young Lady Amber vanishes without a trace—presumed dead to the world that once awaited her. But the little girl survives. Raised in secrecy as a boy by a humble gardener and his wife, “Johnny” grows up far from the life she was born to inherit… and far from the dangers that still linger in her past. Until everything changes. When the long-absent heir to Ambersley returns, the fragile life Johnny has known begins to unravel. Forced to confront the truth of who she is, she joins London society as Lady Johanna. Yet, she finds herself caught between two worlds—and drawn to a man she can neither trust nor resist. He needs a wealthy wife. She needs protection. A marriage of convenience may solve everything…except the feelings growing between them. Because friendship was safe. Love is not. And when long-buried secrets come to light, Johanna must decide where she truly belongs—and whether she’s willing to risk her heart for a future she was never meant to claim. Escape into a heartfelt Regency-set romantic saga filled with secrets, sacrifice, and a love worth fighting for. Perfect for readers who love a clean historical romance, the friends to lovers trope, marriage of convenience complications, hidden identities and family secrets all culminating in a slow-burn emotional romance.

Mad Mabel - Sally Hepworth

Mad Mabel
Sally Hepworth
Genre: Fiction & Literature
Price: $14.99
Publish Date: 30 Sep 2025
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Seller: Macmillan Publishers Australia and Pan Macmillan Australia

SHORTLISTED - ABIA GENERAL FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026 From the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and Darling Girls comes the story of Mad Mabel. They called it murder. She called it justice. In 1959, at just fifteen years of age, Mabel Waller became the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder. In 2025, on a quiet Melbourne lane, an elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie Fitzpatrick. No one suspects any foul play. Until they discover Elsie's past. In the 1950s, her name was not Elsie. It was Mabel. She is known around the world as Mad Mabel. But is she mad? More importantly, is she guilty? When the police open a new investigation and the media descend upon her, the elderly Mabel decides it's time to set the record straight. In a world first, at the age of 81, Mabel Waller is speaking. New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth is at her finest in this twisty, compulsive thriller of friendship, family and murder. Or is it justice . . . ? Praise for Sally Hepworth: 'She is one of my favourite Australian writers' - Liane Moriarty 'Sally Hepworth is a born storyteller' - Trent Dalton 'The queen of suburban noir' - Sunday Telegraph

The Things We Never Say - Elizabeth Strout

The Things We Never Say
The new standalone novel from the bestselling, prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge and Lucy By The Sea
Elizabeth Strout
Genre: Literary Fiction
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: 07 May 2026
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Seller: Penguin Books Limited

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE PULITZER-WINNING, BOOKER-SHORTLISTED ELIZABETH STROUT COMES A STUNNING STANDALONE NOVEL OF LOVE, LONELINESS AND NEW BEGINNINGS ' Strout is brilliant at uncovering what goes on beneath the surface of ordinary life’ THE TIMES 'Emotionally stunning, devastatingly wise . . . her best novel yet' RACHEL JOYCE '‘Elizabeth Strout writes extraordinary fiction about ordinary people' TELEGRAPH ‘A moving, tender and wise novel about a committed teacher who is utterly confounded by the emotional complexities of daily life. This might be Elizabeth Strout’s best yet’ CLARE CHAMBERS Artie Dam is a man with a secret. He spends his days teaching history to high schoolers, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. He goes to holiday parties with his wife of three decades, makes small talk with neighbours, and, on weekends, takes his sailboat out on the beautiful Massachusetts Bay. He is, by all appearances, present and alive. But inside, Artie is plagued by feelings of isolation. He looks out at a world gone mad—at himself and the people around him—and turns a question over and over in his mind: how is it that we know so little about one another, even those closest to us? And then, one day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, one that threatens to upend his entire world. Once he learns it, he is forced to chart a new course, to reconsider the relationships he holds most dear—and to make peace with the mysteries at the heart of our existence. With exquisite prose and profound insight, Elizabeth Strout captures the way grief reverberates through decades, the comfort found in deep friendships and the freedom that comes when we break free of our secrets. The Things We Never Say is a stunning new novel from one of our most acclaimed observers of the human heart. *** PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH STROUT: 'A terrific writer' ZADIE SMITH 'A superbly gifted storyteller' HILARY MANTEL 'Elizabeth Strout is one of my very favourite writers' ANN PATCHETT 'She gets better with each book' MAGGIE O'FARRELL 'A beautiful read' OPRAH WINFREY 'Strout is, as ever, wonderfully attentive life's escapable cruelties and woes' SUNDAY TIMES

The Alphabet Killer - Keri Beevis

The Alphabet Killer
A heart-pounding serial killer thriller from Keri Beevis
Keri Beevis
Genre: Crime & Thrillers
Price: $1.99
Publish Date: 07 Dec 2025
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Seller: Boldwood Books Ltd

A must-read, gripping, heart-pounding US serial killer thriller from bestselling author Keri Beevis! 💥 Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Tess Gerritsen and You! 🎬📚 Twenty-Six Letters. But only one Killer? 🔪 I'd just graduated high school in Oregon when the Alphabet Killer began his reign of terror at Juniper College. Eight students were murdered, each with their surname initial carved into their bodies – A to H. When the next victim, ‘Victim I’ escaped, the Alphabet Killer was revealed to be Professor Rodney Boone. He died that night when his house went up in flames. Now, eight years later, I am a rookie police officer, and while out on patrol I discover a dead body - a student with the letter ‘J’ carved deep into his flesh. Everyone assumes it’s a copycat. It has to be. Boone is dead, right? That’s what all the reports said, although his actual body was never found... As the body count rises, we race against time. Can we find the killer before he can complete the alphabet? If you loved this – try the next page-turner in the Rebecca Angell series - The Storybook Killer - a sadistic killer with a chilling agenda. This book was previously published as Dead Letter Day and M for Murder What everyone is saying about The Alphabet Killer: 'I was grabbed from page 1 - brilliant!' – Valerie Keogh Angell and Hickock – the new team on the block. A serial killer story with a difference. Brilliant story, excellent characters. Five stars from me’ – Anita Waller ‘From the moment I turned the first page to the last word I was hooked. Rebecca Angell is a likeable and feisty character, who you will be rooting for until the end’ - Patricia Dixon A fantastic rollercoaster of as story– well written and meticulously planned to cover the murderers’ tracks – highly recommended’ - Amanda James 'kept me gripped until the end'- Reader Review 'recommend to any fan of detective or crime fiction'- Reader Review 'Excellent storytelling, turns and twists and good mystery' - Reader Review 'Brilliant edge if your seat crime novel couldn't put it down' - Reader Review

Enter the Nightmare - Jayne Castle

Enter the Nightmare
A Harmony Novel Book 19
Jayne Castle
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Nightmares become real when a woman trying to rebuild her life enters the Hotel of Dreams in this exhilarating Harmony novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle. Alice Radstone should have known not to return. Her life before the Hotel of Dreams had been the perfectly cloistered world of a teacher at the Ballantine Academy. When the death of her mentor forced her out, she was left to reinvent herself in the big city. Since then, things have not gone well. Ten months ago, after her first trip to the hotel, she woke up in the locked ward of a hospital for the criminally insane, told that she had murdered her husband on their wedding night. She has no memory of the husband or the wedding but after escaping the asylum, one thing is certain-she is never going back. Unfortunately, Alice's second reinvented life is also deteriorating rapidly, which is why she finds herself once again at the Hotel of Dreams-this time hiding in the shadows of her room, a dead body in the shower, and two men wearing masks creeping toward the bed to kidnap her. Again. When the enigmatic and decidedly dangerous Owen March shows up, claiming he's there to rescue her, she has no choice but to accept his offer-and hope that he doesn't intend to kidnap her, too. With Alice and now Owen in the killer's sights, time is running out. Alice and Owen must trust each other and the electric passion between them if they are to make it out of this hotel alive.

Ironwood - Michael Connelly

Ironwood
Michael Connelly
Genre: Crime & Thrillers
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 19 May 2026
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Seller: Allen & Unwin Pty Limited

Sworn to protect a scenic island that's meant to be far from mainland evils, Detective Sergeant Stilwell feels danger closing in. Acting on a confidential tip, Detective Sergeant Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night and drop a duffel bag of drugs at a remote airstrip in the mountains. But their sting quickly goes sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pick-up man, shots are fired on the runway and the plane takes off unharmed. An internal inquiry puts Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility, but there's no way he's going to sit on his hands instead, risking his already shaky standing, he begins a secret investigation.  After discovering a piece of key evidence in lost and found, Stilwell follows the lead all the way to the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Ren e Ballard in Los Angeles. But they soon realise they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities.  This case is wider than anyone ever imagined and more dangerous than they had foreseen.

Big Stick Energy - Sarina Bowen

Big Stick Energy
Sarina Bowen
Genre: Romance
Price: $5.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
Seller: Tuxbury Publishing LLC

One accidental DM. One fake relationship. Zero chance of keeping it professional. Darcy Kendrick is used to putting out fires. As an overworked to a pro hockey team, she’s seen it all. But nothing prepares her for accidentally DMing her very private, very NSFW fantasy to the subject of this fantasy: team captain Eric Tremaine. Nobody actually dies of embarrassment. Right? But when a wedding invite puts them on a collision course with her chaotic family and his emotionally fraught past, Eric suggests a plan: they fake-date their way through the “Wedding Experience.” It’s mutually beneficial. Totally strategic. And definitely not real. Except between mini tacos, slow dances and lingering glances, Eric starts to wonder if the sharp-tongued assistant with a bottomless to-do list might be the one person who truly sees him. And for Darcy? The fire in her heart might be the only one she can’t put out. It’s supposed to be fake. It’s supposed to be temporary. So why is it so hard to walk away?

The Blood Sugar Repair Plan - Sarah Di Lorenzo

The Blood Sugar Repair Plan
A program for type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, prediabetes and obesity
Sarah Di Lorenzo
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
Price: $16.99
Publish Date: 30 Jun 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Seller: Simon and Schuster Australia Pty Ltd.

Easy steps to prevent, manage and even reverse high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes in 9 weeks. Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health crises of our time. But what if your diagnosis didn't have to be permanent? The Blood Sugar Repair Plan gives you the knowledge, motivation and structure to prevent, manage and even reverse diabetes. Drawing on her years of clinical experience and backed by real results from her clients, Sarah Di Lorenzo explains the root causes of diabetes and translates the science into a step-by-step, 9-week program of meal plans, recipes and lifestyle strategies that make change not only achievable but sustainable. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, have pre-diabetes or want to improve your blood sugar, this book gives you the tools to futureproof your health. Diabetes doesn't have to define your life. Prevention starts with knowledge and reversal begins with action – this book equips you to do both.

The Dixon Rule - Elle Kennedy

The Dixon Rule
The addictive, must-read hockey romance from TikTok sensation, Elle Kennedy!
Elle Kennedy
Genre: Romance
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 14 May 2024
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Seller: Hachette Australia Pty Ltd

Welcome back to Briar U! Discover the next generation in this icy-hot spin-off series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Dixon Rule now for the perfect enemies-to-lovers romance! 'I told them I had a girlfriend.' I start to laugh. 'This is the greatest day of my life.' 'Oh, it gets better, Dixon. I told them it was you.' Diana Dixon has a lot going on this summer. She's rehearsing for a ballroom dance competition, juggling two jobs, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend who can't take the hint it's over. Yet despite all that, she still has plenty of time and energy to tell Shane Lindley to screw off. Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, he's a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but he's messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, and - most importantly - leave her alone. What Diana doesn't realize is that Shane's sick of hook-ups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealous . . . and who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbour? Despite Diana's reluctance to break her rule, a fake relationship is the perfect solution for her own ex issues, and soon she can't deny something is sizzling between her and Shane. Something hot and completely unexpected. And it might just be getting a little too real. *** Why fans love Elle Kennedy ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author 'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland, New York Times bestselling author 'This book had the ability to make me swoon one minute, put my heart in my throat the next, then literally make me burst right out laughing out of the blue' Goodreads Review 'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review 'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review '5-Made My Heart Pitter Patter-Stars' Goodreads Review 'One of the few authors who can instantly put a grin on my face as soon as I start reading her books' Goodreads Review

Three Reasons for Revenge: A gripping new crime thriller from the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of What Happened to Nina? - Dervla McTiernan

Three Reasons for Revenge: A gripping new crime thriller from the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of What Happened to Nina?
Dervla McTiernan
Genre: Police Procedural
Price: $12.99
Publish Date: 01 May 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins
Seller: HarperCollins Australia Pty Limited

Someone's been waiting. Someone's been watching. From the #1 internationally bestselling author of What Happened to Nina? comes a gripping high-stakes novel of suspense about three seemingly unconnected people, caught in a lethal web of deceit and unhealed wounds. Three gifts. Three victims. One deadly game. Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found. Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different doors: a respected psychologist's home, a socialite's mansion, and a struggling single father's run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient - and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim. Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they're most vulnerable. And she's convinced that somehow, it connects back to Alexis Turner. As she races to uncover the connection between three seemingly unrelated people, Judith discovers she's no longer just investigating the game - she's being forced to play. 'Three reasons to read this book: taut plotting, clever twists and terrifying secrets. McTiernan pulls no punches in this dark, explosive thriller' Lisa Gardner 'Dervla McTiernan braids a masterfully-woven web of deceit ' Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author 'A riveting psychological thriller with a hugely satisfying mystery at its heart. Three Reasons for Revenge is a brilliant read!' Evelyn Clarke, author of The Ending Writes Itself 'Standing ovation - Dervla McTiernan is such a star! Three Reasons for Revenge is an absolute triumph. McTiernan's skill with storytelling and character shine through in this irresistible and captivating mystery - with its unique story, relatable characters, non-stop suspense, and ingeniously diabolical plot. I could not turn the pages fast enough!' Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours 'Gripping from the first page, Three Reasons for Revenge is a mystery lover's mystery. This novel is smartly plotted, deeply layered, and reads like the wildest true crime story you've ever heard! As Detective Lee unravels the truth, I found myself gasping at every surprising twist and turn' Joan O'Leary, author of A Killer Wedding Praise for Dervla McTiernan: 'McTiernan is a bestselling crime writer for good reason' Sydney Morning Herald 'A born storyteller' Val McDermid 'An uncommonly fine mystery writer' New York Times

A Bookish Story - Heatherly Bell

A Bookish Story
Heatherly Bell
Genre: Romance
Price: $0.99
Publish Date: 10 Mar 2026
Publisher: Heatherly Bell
Seller: Draft2Digital, LLC

A grumpy sunshine, secret identity, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance!  Luci Santana believes in love, especially when it comes to books. Since being forced to give up her apartment, she'd love to get out of her over-involved family's backyard she-shed and resuscitate her life. She's given a chance to supercharge her career when she's recruited to be the face of the country's bestselling novel. The romance book secretly written by a man. Years before he wrote the book that changed his life, literary author Ryan Brady was caught shaming the romance genre in a video. When his book is chosen by a celebrity morning show, a face to face interview is required. Suddenly his secret pen name desperately needs a woman's face.  Enter Luci. Luci hates the book everyone else raves about but it becomes her job to defend the book, the genre, and try not to get caught falling in love with the enemy. I'm in love with Luci and Ryan! The unique premise of A Bookish Story hooked me from the get-go, and even the need for sleep couldn't pry it out of my hands. This is the most fun I've had reading a romcom in forever. Luci and her family will steal your heart and Ryan is to die for, the cinnamon roll hero we've been craving for a long time. Do NOT miss this one! ~ Darynda Jones, NY Times bestselling author  Readers are loving Ryan and Lucy's slow burn wholesome romance: "I just sat and read this whole thing with the good book feeling only great books can bring to my soul. i loved every moment of it and both couldn't stop reading but then also didn't want it to end." "I love this book, particularly the exploration of the different types of love and how it manifests for different people." "As a romance reader whose hubby teases me about it being just 'corn.' I loved this book." "This book resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt the need to diminish themselves to be loved. It offers a sense of being seen and empowered, making it a compelling read for those seeking a romance that prioritizes emotional authenticity and personal growth."