Summer’s end was a rush of folder-and-pencil shopping, back-to-school nights, and attempting to get everyone, including myself, on a reasonable sleep schedule. I also squeezed in a little reading, trying (and failing) to get through my ambitious stack of vacation novels. The first days of September have brought cooler temperatures to my part of Virginia, and that makes me long to dive into the cozy, magical, pumpkin-spice romances whispering to me from my shelves. But first, here are a couple of my favorite end-of-summer reads.

*****

Lauren Layne’s Miranda in Retrograde (Gallery Books) is a witty, charming tale of a serious academic learning to trust herself — and finding true love along the way.

Physics professor Miranda Reed’s world is turned upside-down when she’s denied tenure. Suddenly, her perfectly organized, extremely practical life plan has gone out the window, and she’s left scrambling to figure out what’s next. The university tells her to take a year-long sabbatical, but for someone who lives for her work like Miranda does, that’s just adding insult to injury.

With no place to go, Miranda moves into her aunt’s townhouse and is nudged to spend her time on an unconventional plan: Instead of studying the stars for science, she’ll let her life be guided by the stars in another way — via her horoscope. She turns her academic-minded focus to a stack of astrology books, learning everything there is to know about her natal chart and the celestial bodies she’s only ever looked at through a scholar’s eyes.

Without her work to guide her, Miranda falls into a new rhythm, one that includes her handsome, brooding next-door neighbor, Simon Archer. An artist who comes and goes from Miranda’s aunt’s house as he pleases, Archer, despite his gruffness, provides a surprisingly thoughtful sounding board for Miranda, even though they’re a complete mismatch (astrologically speaking). There’s also the sexy single dad Christian, whose zodiacal chart makes him perfect for her…

While diligently allowing her horoscope to dictate her decisions, Miranda takes on household projects, initiates awkward conversations, steps out of her comfort zone, confronts her family, and discovers that what she thought she wanted may not be what makes her happy. Layne’s characters and dialogue sparkle in this joyful, low-stakes romcom.

*****

Move over, Mulder and Scully, there’s a new investigative team in town! “X-Files” fans will find a lot to like in Mallory Marlowe’s debut, Love and Other Conspiracies (Berkley).

A painful breakup leaves producer Hallie Barrett flailing both emotionally and professionally. Her ex was not only her coworker, he was also the star of her last web series, and she’s desperate to come up with a new one for a company-wide competition. Enter cryptid expert Hayden Hargrove, whose podcast, “The Out There,” is wildly popular. Hallie thinks Hayden could achieve a similar following as the star of his own online show.

The handsome podcaster’s passion for the paranormal sounds great when he’s talking to other people, but his solo onscreen presence is positively cringe-worthy. That is, until Hallie jumps in front of the webcam to serve as the skeptic foil to his talk of aliens, Bigfoot, and Mothman. Their co-hosting chemistry is undeniable, and their numbers soar, which is great for Hallie’s professional aspirations. But as their proximity fuels a growing attraction, will paranormal true believer Hayden and blue-haired skeptic Hallie find love? The truth is out there — if they’re ready to find it.

This quirky, spicy debut handles the opposites-attract and friends-to-lovers tropes in a way that’s fresh and memorable. Despite the lighthearted theme, the story is emotionally layered, with room for plenty of personal growth for Hallie and Hayden as they process their feelings and learn to trust themselves — and each other.

Kristina Wright lives in Virginia with her husband, their two sons, two Goldendoodles, a ginger cat, and a green parrot. She’s a regular contributor at BookBub and a lifelong fan of romance fiction. Find her on Twitter at @kristinawright or on Bookshop, where she features her book recommendations.