Summer of Love

Easton, the pen name for writing duo Madeline Palmieri and Katherine Murtha, set their diverting debut on the Love Island–esque U.K. reality show Summer of Love. When Oliver Wright, a ballet dancer mourning a recent breakup, and Declan King, a closeted gay boxer, both sign up for the program, they find themselves unexpectedly attracted to each other. But the eight-week dating competition, which takes place in a villa in Mallorca, expects the men to pair up with women. While Oliver and Declan are pushed by the producers into a love triangle with fellow contestant Zoë, they also initiate an on-screen “bromance” that gets more serious off-camera. The reality show drama is good fun, and Easton uses the setting to allow the men a chance to process their feelings, especially as Oliver comes to terms with his sexuality, but readers in it strictly for the romance may be frustrated that the Summer of Love hijinks often keep the characters apart. Still, what stolen moments the men do claim are swoonworthy, including a romantic hike and a night spent sharing a bed. Meanwhile, the threat of the producers discovering and manipulating their love story raises the stakes. This affectionate contemporary will appeal to fans of Alison Cochrun’s The Charm Offensive. (Mar.)