It’s March! Which means the cold- and flu-packed February is behind us. Influenza A swept through our household one by one, and all four of us took our turn surviving it. What a whirlwind.
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Thankfully, we’re feeling better just in time for our upcoming Spring Break trip to Hawaii. Planning this trip has been a welcome distraction from social media. I hate to admit it, but I kind of hate it. Half the time I don’t know what I’m doing, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. That said, I do see the upside. Making even one meaningful connection each week—whether it’s a new book friend or a kind stranger—has been genuinely rewarding. I’m here for the positivity. The bookish community really is something special.
If you don’t already, you can follow me on Instagram @authorhelenaward
Story Spotlight
This month, I’m reading Assistant to the VillainbyHannah Nicole Maehrer. As someone who isn’t very active on social media (see above, haha), I was fascinated to learn that this book grew out of viral TikTok skits and reader encouragement. What an inspiring debut story.
The villain–assistant dynamic is completely binge-worthy.
If you didn’t know, this is a fantasy romance with a 3.93 rating on Goodreads (as of 2/12/26). This book might be for you if you enjoy:
Grumpy x sunshine trope
Fantasy aesthetics + office comedy
Slow-burn tension
Villain-centered story
Light mystery mixed with romance
Book Recs for This Mood
If you’re looking for more fantasy-romance with a similar feel, may I suggest:
A human girl raised by a vampire king enters a deadly tournament and must partner with a dangerous, morally gray vampire to survive. Dark romantasy with high stakes and sharp tension—think vampires meet The Hunger Games.
A hopeful romantic makes a deal with a charming immortal and is swept into a whimsical, curse-filled fairy-tale world. Lush, magical, and full of delightfully questionable characters.
After losing half her soul to a faerie, a young woman in magical Regency England teams up with a grumpy sorcerer lord. Cozy, witty, and full of heart.
Trope I’m Thinking About Lately
A (possibly polarizing) opinion: the grumpy x sunshine trope will never get old.
It works for so many reasons:
Built-in chemistry: opposites create instant tension and banter. What’s better than that?
Emotional payoff: the grumpy one softens, but only for the sunshine. Fireworks.
Hopeful growth: both characters evolve, breaking down walls and meeting in the middle.
Do you have any favorite grumpy x sunshine reads I should add to my list?
From My Writing Desk
While my novel (tentative title: The Viridis Survival Guide) is currently in developmental/line edits, I’ve been diving into a new project because, of course, the writer brain never truly turns off.
I’m working on a New Adult fantasy romance set in the same universe. I’m energized by the fresh tone and story, and I’m pouring in everything I love: the grumpy sunshine trope, slow-burn romance, shifting power dynamics, and plenty of action and world-building. More to come soon!
Check out this short playlist below that I put together for my writing inspiration. Side note: the four backgrounds represent the four main settings of the novel.
Mood Board from Sen Academy
Want a little extra chaos from my WIP?
Every month I’m sharing exclusive bonus content from my WIP. This month I’m sharing a mood board that I’ve complied for setting and vibe inspiration.
The novel is set in a moody, dark academy within an island cave. Think dark tunnels with lurking monsters, sandy-floored arenas, and cavernous classrooms.
Until next month’s survival log,
Helena xx
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