STAR SHIPPED

After years of fan speculation, TV co-stars finally fall for each other.

Simon Devereaux is always irritated with Charlie Blake, and he’s sure the feeling is mutual. Over seven seasons starring in Out There, best described as “Twin Peaks in space,” they've spent a lot of time together and Simon knows he can be annoying. He's snippy and aloof since he’d rather be perceived that way than admit how much he struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. Simon is quietly preparing to leave the show and take his career in a more serious direction, but he’s hoping to do so in a way that won’t lead to more rumors about how difficult he is, so when an opportunity springs up to stage a fake friendship with Charlie, he takes it. Then, on an unexpected road trip, he discovers that Charlie is far deeper than the often shirtless reality-TV doofus he thought he knew. They also discover there’s some truth to the attraction that legions of online shippers have been projecting onto them, and, unfortunately for the reticent Simon, it goes far beyond physical chemistry. Though they quickly become emotionally as well as physically intimate, their lives are about to head in separate directions, and the situation may be more complicated than either is prepared to handle. Sebastian, beloved for her queer historical romances, makes her contemporary debut with this slightly steamy, banter-filled enemies-to-lovers story. Her top-notch character development is just as compelling in a 21st-century setting, as is her ability to portray deep, tender emotional connections between two people who are learning to truly see each other. This is heightened by the close third-person perspective, solely focused on Simon’s point-of-view, which provides a respectful depiction of the experience of living with anxiety. Set against a Greek chorus of fan voices interjecting their perspectives throughout, it’s a warm and masterful story that proves Sebastian is adept at cozy chemistry, no matter the time period.

A swoonworthy contemporary gay romance from a beloved historical-romance author.