STUCK IN THE COUNTRY WITH YOU – Zuri Day
Harlequin Afterglow
ISBN: 978-1-335-57489-3
December 24, 2024
Romantic Comedy

Holy Mound, Tennessee – Present Day

Ten years ago, Genesis Washington ended up in a one-night stand with Jaxson King. The night became an embarrassment after learning that Jax was responsible for her brother’s broken arm—and the end of his football dreams, plus bedding her was part of a bet. Gen has never forgiven Jax, though luckily, they don’t run in the same circles as he is now a famous ex-football player while she is…well…just someone. But while meeting with the relatives of her favorite uncle after his death, Gen runs into Jax and learns he was her uncle’s next-door neighbor and a good friend. She figures she will never see him again, but at the reading of her uncle's will, she learns that she has inherited his farm. With no job and no money, the farm comes at a good time. However, her uncle’s sons aren’t happy. And it turns out that Jax is willing to help her at the farm. What should she do?

Gen is conflicted a lot in STUCK IN THE COUNTRY WITH YOU and feels like her past is catching up with her. Jax turns out to not be the bad boy she thought he was all those years ago. Her brother lied about what happened with the broken arm and the bet. Despite that, Jax is a handsome man and women flock to him. Gen doesn’t want to be another notch on his bedpost. However, he turns out to be a good friend because he was helpful to her late uncle. Add in that her cousins are angry over not inheriting the farm, which they wanted to sell and pocket the money. At first, Gen agrees with them, but after the way they treat her, as though she stole their inheritance, she decides to dig in. Relocating to Holy Mound is a good plan. But can she make the repairs on the farm without going deeper into debt?

The attraction between Gen and Jax still sizzles after all these years. She should resist him, but she can’t. He proves to be invaluable and appears to be a nice guy. The more they get to know each other, the more she trusts him. Is Gen falling in love with Jax? STUCK IN THE COUNTRY WITH YOU is an intriguing read about a couple with a shared past. She is so angry with him at first that she ends up in a predicament where she ultimately has to rely on Jax to help her. His past is a bit messy, while hers is filled with missed opportunities and bad luck. Will their second time around be the lucky charm for a future together? Find out the answer by picking up a copy of STUCK IN THE COUNTRY WITH YOU.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

This was just a cozy book. It felt so nice to read it. Very cozy. Very cute. I don't have a lot say.

Stuck in the Country with You by Zuri Day was an entertaining read. In this story we meet Genesis Washington, who has inherited her great-uncle’s farm only to learn the next-door neighbor is none other than Jaxson King, a one-night stand that was amazing, however misunderstanding that caused a rift with her family. Fast forward ten years and now Genesis finds she still finds Jax attractive and from Jax’s actions, his interests are just as explosive. With Genesis’ cousins contesting her great-uncle’s wishes, she not having a steady stream of income and now fighting her feelings for Jax, Genesis does know who she can trust

Zuri Day has always been a great storyteller that will have readers feeling a certain way about the characters. Genesis characteristics were that of a woman wanting to experience familial love and was not receiving that with her mom or brother. She sought solace with Uncle Cyrus and formed a bond with him, but deep-down Genesis struggled to feel love from her family. Cyrus’s sons, once learning of the inheritance, showed their true colors and treated Genesis badly. With Jax, Genesis couldn’t help but fall for him but was waiting for the other “shoe” to drop. Jax’s character displayed a man who knew what he wanted and went after it. Being an ex-athlete with a past scandal, Jax was determined to right the wrongs he felt he was unjustly accused. He also knew that one time with Genesis ten years ago was not something special and upon seeing her again years later, he knew she was the one for him. As Genesis navigates the ins and outs of farm life, Jax offers his assistance and ultimately his heart. Overall, Stuck in the Country with You was a nice read.

A fun and charming little romance that sometimes trips over its own premise, Stuck in the Country With You is a cute second chance romance laden with sexual tension and a spited center. Zuri Day’s talent shines and makes the tropes ring new and fresh, but it’s not an entirely perfect book.

Genesis Washington made the mistake of having sex with her brother’s rival while mid-rebound from her ex. The great sex wasn’t worth their shared family drama, and as a result she hasn’t seen Jaxson King in ten years.

Until, that is, she inherits a farm from her beloved Great Uncle Cyrus and Jaxson happens to be her next-door neighbor. When Jaxson offers to help the out-of-her-depth Genesis acclimate to country life, they get closer. She leans upon the existence of her long-distance situationship, and Jaxson doesn’t help her complicated romantic life one iota. But is Jaxson worth all of the trouble getting back together with him might bring?

The answer to that one is ‘Yes’, for Genesis and the reader. Zuri Day has a great grasp of what it’s like to adapt to country living and Stuck in the Country With You throws in a slow-burn romance with a complicated history that’s rooting for.

Jaxson is a delight of a hero; grounded and sunny to Genesis’ sharp and biting. I really liked the contrast between the two of them and the way the romance comes about.

There is a bit of an age gap between them, which might some readers might not like, but they’re fully grown adults enjoying themselves, and it’s easy to get into the slow-moving heat of it all.

I did have to deduct some points from the final grade because the main conflict feels a little forced and creaky. But the end result is a fun and solid romance. Stuck in the Country With You is bright, romantic and funny – a really enjoyable cozy romance.

I found myself surprised that I did not enjoy this book as much as I anticipated. Honestly, I felt like our FMC was a little insufferable and out MMC was putting up with some unfair situations. There were some moments where I would lost in the story and be laughing and enjoying myself and then soemthing woudl happen that was so off the cuff or unbelieveable that it would throw me out of the story. That happened like 2 or three times. It made it hard for me to stay focused on the story. I did not hate this book, but I definately like there was something left to be desired. For that I feel like it's a right down the middle for me at 3 stars.

Good fences make good neighbors—except when a scorching shared past makes things complicated—in this delightful city-meets-country romance from Zuri Day.

She’s packing her bags—and her baggage.

Ten years ago, Genesis Washington made a very poor decision. At the time, it seemed great. Fantastic. Explosive. But the truth is, your one-night rebound should never be your younger brother’s rival. And he definitely shouldn’t be someone who allegedly only slept with you to gain the upper hand—even if the sex was amazing.

Now Genesis is blindsided when the farm she’s inherited just happens to be right next door to Jaxson King, the regrettable one-night stand she’s still painfully attracted to. This man has aged like the finest of wines, and what’s worse, he’s now a thoughtful and responsible father. Good thing Genesis has a (*cough* long-distance *cough*) boyfriend. Well, sort of. It’s complicated.

Jaxson and his hotness should be easy enough to ignore. But when city-girl Genesis discovers there’s a serious learning curve to her humble new home, it’s Jaxson who’s there to lend a very skilled helping hand. With every problem that arises, Jaxson is seemingly making all the right moves—both on the farm and when things heat up behind closed doors. But, surely, that doesn’t mean he’s right for Genesis, does it?

My take:
I don't wish to give away the plot, but the book's blurb suggests a lighter tone than the narrative delivers. Indeed, Genesis comes into an inheritance, yet it's fraught with conflict, and Jaxson's unexpected assistance is pivotal. The book unfolds rapidly—be it the inheritance, the rekindling of ties between Jaxson and Genesis, or the culmination. Personally, I yearned for more depth. The narrative has solid potential but seems limited by a set formula and length constraints. For those seeking a quaint romance with a dash of spice, this may satisfy. However, I found myself desiring a bit more room for the story to unfold. Generously, I've given it three stars.

This is a charming romance about Genesis Washington, a city girl who inherits a farm next to Jaxson King, her past love. Ten years after a life-changing mistake, Genesis is confronted with her regrets and a rekindled connection with Jaxson, who’s matured into a responsible father. The chemistry between them is undeniable, filled with tension, humor, and sizzling moments. As they navigate their history and the challenges of country life, their bond deepens, creating an engaging and relatable story about love, growth, and second chances.

I picked Stuck in the Country with You because of the cover. I thought it was going to be a sweet farm romance. While it was on a farm, it was just a farm house. While I did enjoy the story and the family drama, I was hoping for farm animals and all that.

I did read it in one setting and had my attention. Its not my favorite book but not the worst one either. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.

This was fine. It felt a little forced to me. Like the scenarios just didn’t have flow. She inherites a farm from her beloved uncle. But her cousins are shocked. And her uncle that she definitely loved so much never mentioned the famous guy she went to high school with moved next door. It was a just a lot. And I didn’t feel like I knew the characters well enough to race through all that set up. But it was small town second chance, which always warms the heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and author for the ARC for a review. I am not sure how I feel about this one! I will say the premise and the cover, instantly drew me in! I feel like there was so much potential between Jaxson and Genesis's history, city girl meets country neighbor, grumpy x sunshine, but sometimes the story felt like a report rather than getting to experience things with the characters. There were parts that were funny and made me laugh, and other parts, where I was like please be serious. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the side characters like Miss Hazel and two jealous and childish uncles.

I really liked Jaxson's character, like that was a good man, Savannah! He was steadfast and patient, even when Genesis did not deserve it! I did like the chemistry between him and Gen, but sometimes there are times where, Genesis is so grumpy it is unbearable over some family drama, that's not even hers to own. I also feel like the pacing is ALL over the place, sometimes it's like months of gaps between situations. I also feel at times like how the age gap was discussed was GROSS - like "oh he was in high school, but so mature," made me want to barf.

I wanted to like this so much, but it fell a little short of my expectations. I think that it could work for some people as a quick and easy read! Probably really good as an audiobook too.

The plot caught my eye. I thought this would be a cute read and it is! It’s a super cute and fast read.

I was not a fan of how fast the friendship to lovers happened. I actually thought I missed a page.

Stuck in the Country with You is a heartwarming read about how miscommunication can take you down a different path in life, but destiny always has its way of working it out in the end.

The FMC (Genesis) is making it through life, barely. She currently finds herself low on funds while helping someone with their own aspirations and while this is happening, a death in her family occurs. Even though this is a sad moment, a blessing is already unfolding for her. In more ways than one.

The MMC (Jaxson) returned home to find peace and solice after situations occurred a few years prior. His only priorities in life currently are to take care and provide for his daughter. He’s currently single and okay with that.

When Genesis and Jaxson meet again after several years, old feelings return both good and bad. The chemistry is there, but past trauma and baggage is hard for them to let go. However, fate always has a way of working things out for the greater good.

Do I recommend? Yes

3 ☆
Ten years ago, Genesis Washington made a very poor decision. A one-night rebound should never be with your younger brother’s rival. And he definitely shouldn’t be someone who allegedly only slept with you to gain the upper hand. Now Genesis is blindsided when the farm she’s inherited just happens to be right next door to Jaxson King, the regrettable one-night stand.

The premise and the cover art are what caught my attention! And while I wanted to really love this story, with the second chance and small town vibes, it didn't really do anything for me. The miscommunication between Genesis and Jaxson for 50% of the book had my head hurting and made me want to throw my Kindle across the room. Sorry! Genesis's family was trash, and I really wanted to see how that played out. (Hint as to why I finished this book.)

•Second Chance Romance
•Enemies-to-lovers
•Small Town
•Black Romance
•Miscommunication

Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin, for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the idea and concept of this book, but I felt there was so much missing in the execution of it.

There was a lot of potential in this story. City girl who has to move the country, neighbor she has a *history* with, family drama. It all sounds like major entertainment. However, I had a hard time feeling any sort of deep investment in Genesis. Jaxson, or their relationship. I think the downfall for me was that so much of the story was told rather than shown. There were pages and pages between dialogue at times that were full of ‘this happened, they did this, this conversation happened’ rather than actually experiencing those things with the characters. There were so many interesting dynamics and histories at play in the story and I wish I could have felt more involved with it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sooooo, I started to read this book and almost immediately knew it wasn't for me. I just don't think it was what I was looking for at the time, and I don't see myself picking it back up.

Very cute book! It remained me of a hallmark movie! Genesis and Jaxson were meant for each other! I love the backstory along with the small town feels. Will be getting a copy for my shelf when it comes out next month!!

Stuck In the Country With You is a charming light romance that delivers on its promise of easy escapism. While the storyline is engaging and has potential, the narrative often skips over key developments, leaving the pacing feeling a bit rushed. This makes it less of an immersive read for those looking for a deeply developed plot or character arcs.

However, as a breezy romance, it’s enjoyable and fits well for readers seeking a lighter, less demanding experience. While it didn’t leave a lasting impression, it still provides enough warmth and charm to be worth a read for fans of casual love stories.

I didn't love it but I also didn't hate it.
It started off as a cozy read but ended up being cringey, making me want to skip it.
The small town where everyone know everyone and is part of their business, I like that. There is something about towns like that that just feel good.
There is spice, parts of it are nicely done while other parts add to the cringe.
Jaxson and Genesis, I like them but I wish there was more to them. There is a history, a back story, family drama. I want more.
I read this as an arc so the editing issues and typos were expected, I wanted to note that as this is not a contributing factor to my rating.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Publishing for the chance to read this arc

Thank you Harlequin Romance for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This novel took some warming up to for me. At first Genesis was so stubborn and didn’t want to hear Jaxson out. I was finally happy when she was able to get out of her own way and secure her happily ever after.

I did enjoy the chemistry exhibited by the couple from the beginning. However, some of the timeline seems disjointed and there was some jumping around that was a little confusing.

While you don’t read the book for edits I will say that the wording and editing did make it kind of hard to get through the book. I do believe once the editing has taken place, a smoother read and even better story will be the outcome.

Stuck in the country with you caught my attention with the cute book cover and summary. Genesis, suprised by the decision, inherits her greatuncle’s farmhouse. Given the light of this news, she has to deal with several factors including her ungrateful cousins wanting rights to the house, life going downhill, and to top it all off reuniting with her one night stand from 10 years ago who is now her next door neighbor Jaxson. Past dramas and old plus new feelings resurface, Genesis has to maneuver it all. This was a quick read but I did feel like parts of the story were unfinished or rushed. It left me wondering and wanting more of the story to complete plus to see more growth and development from the main character, Genesis. This book is a mix of small town romance with second chance, like a Hallmark movie with a big splash of Fixer Upper.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.