May 1, 2023
Everhart’s sparkling debut pairs a feisty heroine with a straitlaced hero on a whirlwind adventure. Bisexual writer Dylan Coughlan is at a crossroads: her career at London’s Buxom Magazine is going nowhere, and her decision to write about her abortion has put her at odds with her conservative parents—and at the center of a social media firestorm. So when she wins a trip around the world from a London radio station, she jumps at the chance. The only caveat is that the station gets to choose her traveling companion at random from her phone contacts, and it lands on someone she can’t remember meeting: “Jack the Posho.” Buttoned-up lawyer Jack Hunton felt a real spark when he met Dylan at a club and was disappointed that she never called, so he throws caution to the wind and agrees to join her. At first, freewheeling Dylan worries that planner Jack will be a killjoy. As their trip progresses, however, opposites attract, with Dylan opening up about her past and Jack admitting to his artistic ambitions. Everhart’s layered characters leap off the page, and the no-nonsense approach to both Dylan’s abortion and her sexuality is refreshing. Far-flung backdrops—including Marrakech, Reykjavik, and Tokyo—add to the fun. Everhart is a writer to watch. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.
Starred review from May 1, 2023
DEBUT Magazine writer Dylan wants more out of her job and is vying for her own column. On a whim, she enters a BBC radio contest and wins a trip around the world for two, all expenses paid. But there's one huge catch--her travel companion will be chosen at random from her phone contacts. Just her luck, it's Jack--the guy she recently met and made out with at a club and then promptly ghosted. Starting off awkwardly, they gradually rediscover their chemistry from that first night. But just as they begin bonding, Dylan, hoping to get the column, jeopardizes it all by posting an article with personal details about Jack, against his wishes. Now Dylan must find a way to gain back Jack's trust and try to salvage their budding relationship. Debut writer Everhart crafts complex characters with well-developed backgrounds and plenty of entertaining banter. VERDICT Set against the backdrop of gorgeous international locales, this slow-burn rom-com will appeal to fans of travel and social media story lines as well as the forced proximity trope. Pair with Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams.--Migdalia JimenezY
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