A slow-burn romance full of passion, yearning, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood details.
A journalist and a troubled movie star reconnect after a fateful interview 10 years ago.
When journalist Chani Horowitz nabs an interview with actor Gabe Parker, she doesn’t know it’s going to be her big break. She's jealous that her former MFA classmates are succeeding in the literary world while she’s writing celebrity puff pieces. Gabe may be her No. 1 celebrity crush and the next James Bond, but she doesn’t expect much—that is, until she meets him and they have an instant connection. The interview turns into an invitation to a movie premiere and a party at his house. Her piece on him goes viral, finally earning her fame and a steady career—but right after it comes out, Gabe marries his co-star, and Chani’s left feeling heartbroken and foolish. Ten years later, Chani has the kind of career she could’ve only dreamed about back then. People are clamoring for her next essay collection, but she can’t help feeling like she’s only successful because of Gabe and the fact that everyone wonders if she slept with him during their interview all those years ago. Now, she’s asked to reteam with him for another interview. They’ve both changed—Gabe is divorced and newly sober after nearly throwing away his whole career, and Chani is divorced and unsure about her writing. With 10 years of missteps, learning, and maturity behind them, could this be their chance for a filmworthy happily-ever-after? In her adult debut, Sussman creates a story that’s thrilling wish fulfillment with a dash of wistful melancholy. Chani’s conflict between getting a good story and getting to know Gabe is understandable, and Gabe feels like a real person even though he’s one of the biggest stars in the world. The conversations between Chani and Gabe sparkle with all the charm of The Philadelphia Story, the movie the two of them initially bond over. And although the romance is top-notch, Chani’s struggle to believe in herself and pursue the kind of writing she cares about is touching, too. From LA to New York to Gabe’s cozy hometown in Montana, Gabe and Chani’s love story is a delight to read.
A slow-burn romance full of passion, yearning, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood details.Pub Date: April 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35732-3
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Dell
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
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
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.
Best friends confront feelings for each other when they take a honeymoon trip together.
Francesca Gardiner and George Saint James have always been best friends—just like Jo and Laurie from Little Women, which they both love. Frankie has a big, complicated family and George was the boy next door who’d moved in with his eccentric grandmother. Their friendship survived childhood, awkward teenage years, and living together as young adults without ever venturing into the romantic—well, except for one kiss, but they don’t talk about that. When Frankie gets engaged to an older professor named Nate, George isn’t happy and a huge fight ensues. Despite his misgivings, George shows up to be her best man, but Nate leaves Frankie right before the wedding with only a cryptic letter. Devastated, Frankie goes to a friend’s house to recuperate, but her honeymoon is already planned and paid for—so she decides to travel to Tofino, a picturesque town on the coast of Vancouver Island, with George taking Nate’s place. Frankie wants to fix her friendship with George, but now that they’re in a romantic suite in a beautiful location, things are more complicated than ever. She’d always thought a relationship would be a bad idea, but she’s slowly beginning to realize they’ll never be able to go back to being kids. Maybe the only way forward involves forging a new kind of relationship. Fortune, the author of romances like This Summer Will Be Different (2024), returns with another love story full of longing and intense angst. The many allusions to Little Women are charming, and Frankie is a delightfully headstrong, feisty character. She and George have explosive chemistry, and Fortune manages to make the “will-they-or-won’t-they” nature of their relationship feel like life-or-death stakes.
A powerfully strong romance for readers who like their love stories full of torment and passion.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9780593953242
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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