AFTER PERFECT

A woman starts over after the end of her marriage in Gabriel’s debut contemporary romance novel.

Gabby Stevens’ divorce has just become final. As part of her plan to move on, she decides to study creative writing. On the way to her first class, she collides with a handsome man who turns out to be her teacher, Colt James. They begin to develop a friendship, and he helps her get a much-needed job at a bookstore. She credits him with bringing light back into her life, and the sexual tension between them is intense, although she’s unsure about where he stands until he kisses her. Gabby’s head over heels, but Colt’s best friend, Tina, warns her not to “take things too seriously”—and, specifically, not to fall in love with him—and Gabby’s best friend, Felicity, is concerned about how fast things are going. Gabby keeps seeing him, and as they grow closer, he confesses that he’s dealing with past trauma and that he’s not sure how to be a good partner. Still, when he finally declares his love for her, it feels like a dream—until he suddenly leaves town without a word. Will Gabby have to learn to cope with another heartbreak? Another major element is the fact that Gabby, her ex-husband, and Felicity have been close friends for 20 years, and Gabby’s navigating these relationships post-divorce adds a nice layer of complexity to the story, effectively showing how hard it is to make a clean break with the past. A few minor issues keep the novel from complete success, though; a few details regarding Gabby’s financial situation and Felicity’s job as writer for the New York Times don’t quite ring true, and Gabby must constantly reassure Felicity that they’re still friends, which becomes tedious. Colt’s tendency toward the dramatic almost makes him seem like he’s in a different novel from the rest of the low-key characters at times. Still, the author’s narrative voice is engaging, and readers will root for Gabby and Colt to find happiness.  

A sexy and often compelling love story despite a few flaws.