A diverting magical romance that could benefit from some more reality.
Two soulmates work together in Whittier’s romance novel, the third in a series.
One March night in Pittsburgh at 11:38 p.m., two babies—Sarah Abbott and Joe Parker—are born in rooms right next to each other. From then on, “Fate” intertwines the two’s destinies, and over the years they repeatedly wind up in the same place at the same time, almost-but-not-quite meeting. In middle age, both are stuck in struggling marriages—until they have a brief fling with each other that allows them to return to those relationships with a new sense of purpose. Seven years later, Sarah and Joe are living completely different lives. Joe, a famous movie star, has amicably divorced his wife and is now focused on raising his two adult children, declining to pursue dating despite the constant prodding of his daughter, Avery. Sarah is now a widow of nearly two years and thinks she has done a pretty decent job at moving on—until she begins working as a liaison for Seattle Arts on the set of the film Joe is producing, and her guilt over their rekindled connection grows. Sarah decides to push past her anxiety and focus on the present, but when the whole world finds out that she and Joe are together, the media buzz and ensuing fallout threaten to derail their extraordinary relationship. The novel’s highlight is its cast of characters—especially Sarah, whose complexity as she decides to pursue what she truly wants in the face of overwhelming grief is rewarding to explore. The mystical kismet elements give the love story an ethereal feeling, but some readers may grow weary of the constant references to “Fate” and souls finding each other (“They’re true soulmates, no doubt about it”), wishing that other foundations of Sarah and Joe’s romance had received more focus. Although Whittier’s novel returns to the first couple in her Magical Seattle series, readers will be able to appreciate this installment without knowledge of the previous book; it’s an enjoyable read for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
A diverting magical romance that could benefit from some more reality.Pub Date: June 10, 2026
ISBN: 9798998880049
Page Count: 309
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.
A single mom winds up fake dating an incredibly wealthy man in her hometown.
Dolly Brick is back in her hometown of Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to help her dad and disabled brother manage their house and family business. As a 39-year-old single mother with multiple jobs—which now include working at the Brick Fish House—Dolly is always busy. When her mom left their family years ago, Dolly took over caring for her siblings and father and never really stopped. When she runs into Stewart Whitfield after making a shrimp delivery to his family’s mansion, she doesn’t think they could be more different. She’s had to figure out how to do everything by herself, and he can’t even change a tire. That’s why Stewart’s proposal that she pretend to be his girlfriend feels so unbelievable—but it comes with a hefty check that she desperately needs for home repairs. So she becomes the fake girlfriend of Stewart Whitfield (as in, the Whitfields her town is named after; his real fiancée just dumped him and it’s a bad time for him to be single) and experiences what it’s like to walk into fancy buildings through the front door instead of the service entrance. More than the boats and helicopter and expensive dinners, though, Dolly is impressed by what a kind man Stewart is—and how it feels to let someone else take care of her for a change. Soon, their relationship starts to feel more real than fake. Monaghan creates an impossibly winning story with a charming, lovable heroine. Dolly is capable, hardworking, and will do anything for the people she loves. She and Stewart both possess real flaws, and while their relationship begins with one of the most beloved rom-com tropes, their challenges feel like realistic adult obstacles rather than easily solved miscommunications. It’s also refreshing that, even though Dolly must learn to allow other people to help her, she never views her caretaking responsibilities as burdens. She deeply loves her family, and that love carries through the entire story.
A charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780593853979
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.
A marriage on the rocks gets a second chance—with a science-fiction twist.
Dr. Emery Martín is happily married to her husband Luca…mostly. She’s been madly in love with him since the moment they met, but in the three years they’ve been wed, she hasn’t been able to focus much on him. To the world—including Luca—Emery’s job involves developing medical-grade lasers. In reality, she works at a supersecret San Diego lab that’s engineering a compound to bring mammals back from the dead. Although Emery doesn’t want to admit it, she can tell that Luca feels pushed aside, but she believes so deeply in her work that she has a hard time leaving the lab. When Emery is late for dinner—yet again—on their anniversary, she rushes home only to see Luca get hit by a car. She has the secret compound in her car, and she knows she could get in major trouble if she uses it—but what’s she supposed to do, not save her husband’s life? The compound has only been tested on animals so far, and there’s no guarantee it will even work for humans. It does, though, and Luca comes back to life—with one small caveat. He can’t remember most things, including his marriage to Emery. After almost losing Luca, Emery is now grateful for what she has, and she’s determined to show him that she can be a better, more attentive partner. While Luca may not remember her, their magnetic chemistry is still there. This may be the do-over they needed to save their marriage—that is, if Emery can keep the life-reviving measures she took hidden from everyone around them, including nosy neighbors and her own company. Lauren—the pen name of the duo behind rom-coms like The Paradise Problem (2024)—has created a unique hook that feels genuinely refreshing. Emery and Luca’s unconventional second chance is emotionally compelling, and the slight thriller edge as Emery tries to cover up her actions keeps the pages turning.
An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781668017753
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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