A spicy, escapist story for fans of BookTok's romance collection.
Feature image credit: Laura Bakhtiarian
In January 2026, Adelaide mum of two Laura Bakhtiarian published her debut contemporary romance novel One Night Only. This steamy tale of a one night stand that spills over past midnight features an Adelaide-based main character who’s whisked to Paris before landing in the idyllic Swiss countryside.
‘Growing up with dyslexia, I spent most of my life believing books (and becoming an author) were never meant for me,’ Bakhtiarian says, adding that she hadn’t read a book cover-to-cover until her mid-30s. ‘Discovering the romance genre completely changed that and unexpectedly led me to write my own novel.’
Finishing a debut novel is a milestone achievement for any author, but a dyslexia diagnosis makes things even harder, and Bakhtiarian has risen against the odds to not only complete but also self-publish her manuscript. ‘What began as a small personal challenge, writing a single chapter just to see if I could, eventually became my debut novel,’ she says.
Protagonist Abby starts off the story hoping for a proposal from long-time boyfriend James, AFL player and, as we learn, jerk. Instead he leaves her high and dry in the most romantic city in the world. Luckily, Abby stumbles upon an even bigger catch in Lewis, leading to a Parisian one night stand. But things get awkward when Abby relocates to Switzerland to start a new job, and Lewis is her new boss. This one is rounded up from 3.5 stars, since it’s a fun premise and it’s always nice to see Adelaide represented in bookland!
BookTok has seen spicy romance rising in popularity for much of the 2020s, and One Night Only answers to current trends in the department of chili and eggplant emojis. The focus is entirely on the budding relationship between Abby and Lewis with little else in the way of subplots, so this is one for readers who love to be all-consumed by romance. Naturally, the story lends itself to a few NSFW scenes, which are becoming increasingly commonplace in adult fiction and are at the top of many readers’ updated TBR lists.
After Abby and Lewis’ reunion in Switzerland, much of the book is made up of their interior monologues as they unpack their feelings for each other. There’s an in-depth exploration of the two protagonists’ emotions and their internal landscapes rather than a rollicking external plot. While this doesn’t make for a lot of external tension or unpredictability, and it can be a little repetitive in places, it appeals to readers who love their spice and want to zone out with it. There are also some well-written descriptions of the picturesque European surrounds, which help readers to immerse themselves in Abby and Lewis’ story and perfectly match the cute cover art.
‘For me, finishing the book wasn’t just about publication,’ the author notes. ‘As a mum, I wanted to show my children that it’s never too late to try something new or pursue a creative dream.’
Reviewed by Vanessa Elle
Instagram: @vanessaellewrites
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Laura Bakhtiarian, available on Amazon
Released: January 2026
RRP: Approx $23 (paperback)
