A winning second-chance romance that’s fun, steamy, and full of crackling chemistry.
When two former pop stars reunite for a Broadway show, the drama spills offstage and into their personal lives.
Kathleen Rosenberg always knew she wanted to be on stage—she just never imagined it would involve reinventing herself as Katee Rose, a pop star who was more famous for her contrived nasal singing voice and famous boyfriend than she was for her talent. Together with Ryan LaNeve, one-fifth of the boy band CrushZone, she made up one-half of America’s favorite couple. That is, until things went awry and she found herself falling for another, more sensitive CrushZone member: Calvin Kirby. When her relationship imploded, so did her career. More than 10 years later, Kathleen has mostly moved on from her Katee Rose days—until she gets the chance to star in a Broadway show written by Harriet Watson, her best friend and songwriter, and directed by none other than Cal Kirby. Kathleen hasn’t forgotten how he abandoned her when her career went up in flames, and she doesn’t trust him. But the opportunity to live out her dream and show off her natural talent is too great to resist, and soon she’s working side by side with the man she hates. Through long hours and lots of dance practice, though, Kathleen discovers that their chemistry never went away—in fact, it’s stronger than ever. Would a relationship with Cal destroy everything Kathleen has worked so hard to build? As she did in her adult debut, Funny You Should Ask (2022), Sussman creates a dual-timeline story, simultaneously showing Kathleen and Cal’s past as pop stars and their current lives as they attempt to move on and reinvent themselves. The chemistry between Kathleen and Cal is smoldering, and the stakes feel high—Kathleen doesn’t want a dramatic romance to take attention away from her best friend’s writing or to fall back into the same mistakes she made when she was younger. Fans of 2000s pop music will eat up the details of Kathleen’s early singing career—and her downfall, which mirrors the media’s treatment of female pop stars at the time.
A winning second-chance romance that’s fun, steamy, and full of crackling chemistry.Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 9780593357378
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Dell
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.
A recently dumped librarian finds herself fake dating her polar opposite.
When Daphne Vincent’s fiance, Peter, dumps her, she’s shocked—but the worst part is that he’s leaving her for his gorgeous best friend, Petra, the woman he’d always told Daphne not to worry about. Now Daphne has to move out of Peter’s home and restart her life in the small Michigan town where she’d moved to be with him. Salvation comes in the form of Miles Nowak, Petra’s ex—he has a tiny spare room in his apartment, and he understands what it’s like to wallow in heartbreak. Daphne feels lucky to have her dream job as a children’s librarian, but other than that, she feels adrift and friendless in Waning Bay—and then she and Miles get invitations to Peter and Petra’s wedding. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Daphne not only says she’ll attend the wedding, but tells Peter she’s dating Miles. It would be the perfect way to show Peter and Petra that they’ve moved on…if only it were true. In the grand tradition of fake-dating romances, Daphne and Miles pretend to be in love, getting to know each other while having various adventures and misadventures. Daphne quickly learns that although she’d dismissed Miles as a pothead with a lack of direction, he’s actually a good time—and a loyal friend. But Daphne knows she needs to get out of Waning Bay, so this fake relationship can’t lead anywhere…can it? Reliable bestseller Henry has written another surefire hit that manages to be dramatic, sexy, and fun. Miles and Daphne have chemistry that leaps off the page, and their will-they-or-won’t-they energy propels the story to its satisfying conclusion. Daphne is an immensely likable character, one whose past realistically informs her current relationships. The world of Waning Bay is charmingly quirky, and Daphne’s co-workers at the library are endearing. As always, Henry’s biggest strength is the sharp, often hilarious dialogue that makes the story a joy to read.
Henry fans, rejoice: This is her best yet.Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593441282
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
BOOK TO SCREEN
SEEN & HEARD
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