An unexpectedly tender story with the panache and steaminess of a romance.
A 40-something woman’s life is upended over and over again in Wolter’s genre-defying debut novel.
After losing her house, husband, and stepchildren in a bitter divorce battle, hotshot lawyer Serenade “Sera” Kincaid seeks solace in a variety of men, although none are quite right for her needs. The closest she comes to satisfaction is her friends-with-benefits relationship with the slightly younger Zac, a self-proclaimed “bad boyfriend,” also recently divorced. Their texts and conversations are terse and direct (“Would like to see you”), but there’s not much more depth to their relationship than that. Indeed, they spend most of the novel denying the possibility of a meaningful relationship beyond their booty calls—but it’s clear that the characters feel something more, and readers will find themselves rooting for Sera and Zac to figure it out. The chronicling of Sera’s encounters with cringy hookups and unavailable men is amusing until it suddenly isn’t, when one date takes a shocking and sobering turn. From this point on, there’s little in the way of good news that comes Sera’s way; with the help of her friends, she works through one traumatic experience after another, navigating life crises with grace and characteristic humor. What initially seems like a lighthearted rom-com transforms into a meditation on illness, relationships, and the mark one leaves on the world; this commitment to realism is refreshing for the genre. Readers should know going in, though, that they’ll get no fairytale ending and that they’ll encounter mentions of rape and other sensitive topics. Overall, Wolters’ characters are bright and likable. However, they lack depth, and the relationship at the heart of the work ultimately feels tepid. Even so, the friendships and support systems that carry Sera through make for a touching story—one that will appeal to readers in search of a more somber slice-of-life narrative.
An unexpectedly tender story with the panache and steaminess of a romance.Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63755-219-3
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Mascot Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
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.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
