by Yulin Kuang
A special dual narration by Katharine Chin and Andrew Eiden!
"Emotional, relatable and binge-worthy."" –Tessa Bailey
"I'll read anything she writes. An absolute star."" –Emily Henry
"I was hooked on the very first page. Don't miss this one!"" — Carley Fortune
A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover from brilliant new voice Yulin Kuang.
Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by Entertainment Weekly · Today.com · Paste · Daily Waffle ·The Nerd Daily and more!
Helen Zhang hasn't seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She's even scored a coveted spot in the writers' room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer's block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Except...
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he's well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn't have taken the job on Helen's show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can't pass up.
Grant's exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she's never been. And Helen's exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen's parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he's in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet... the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present.
A special dual narration by Katharine Chin and Andrew Eiden!
"Emotional, relatable and binge-worthy."" –Tessa Bailey
"I'll read anything she writes. An absolute star."" –Emily Henry
"I was hooked on the very first page. Don't miss this one!"" — Carley Fortune
A sexy and emotional enemies-to-lovers romance guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and give you a book hangover from brilliant new voice Yulin Kuang.
Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by Entertainment Weekly · Today.com · Paste · Daily Waffle ·The Nerd Daily and more!
Helen Zhang hasn't seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She's even scored a coveted spot in the writers' room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer's block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Except...
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he's well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn't have taken the job on Helen's show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can't pass up.
Grant's exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she's never been. And Helen's exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen's parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he's in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet... the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present.
Reviews-
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December 4, 2023
Screenwriter Kuang’s debut beautifully probes the lingering effects of grief and guilt while offering readers a glimpse behind the curtain of Hollywood glamour. Thirteen years before the start of the book, Helen Zhang’s younger sister, Michelle, took her own life by jumping in front of Helen’s classmate Grant Shepard’s car. Ever since, Helen and her family have channeled all of their grief and anger into despising Grant. Now a successful YA novelist, Helen leaves New York City for sunny L.A. to join the writing team for a TV adaptation of her work. Then she learns that Grant is leading the team. Michelle can barely bring herself to be civil toward him and her anxiety and anger over having to work together casts a pall over the writers’ room. Slowly, however, she sees Grant’s talent and comes to be impressed by how diligently he takes care of the people on the team. Like Helen, Grant is scarred by the past, but he also senses that he and Helen belong together if only she would give him a chance. Once feelings blossom, however, Helen fears her traditional Chinese immigrant parents are not ready to forgive Grant and may get in the way of a relationship. Kuang handles her characters’ complex emotions with sensitivity and skill, and makes the chemistry between Helen and Grant leap off the page. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these two. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. -
Katherine Chin and Andrew Eiden showcase the main characters in this romance novel. A tragic accident linked Helen and Grant in high school, and even though they've gone their separate ways, that pain is still fresh for both of them. Now, the two are thrust together again as they work on the TV adaptation of Helen's YA book series. Gradually, Helen shifts her long-held perspective on Grant. Eiden captures the smug voice Grant takes on to disguise his frequent self-doubt, which contrasts with his terrified tone during his panic attacks. In other moments, listeners can feel Grant's desire as Eiden emphasizes the word "hot." Chin uses a small, hesitant voice for Helen as she finds her footing in the writers' room. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
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September 1, 2024
The lives of Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard were changed in one moment 13 years earlier, when Helen's older sister died in a tragic accident. Now a bestselling author, Helen has landed a spot in the writers' room as they bring her book to life onscreen. One of the newly hired writers, Grant, has worked hard to build a life and forget his role in the accident, despite constant panic attacks. As he and Helen cautiously reconnect, they must reckon with the past and learn what kind of love story they are meant to have. Though Kuang's debut is steeped in pain, listeners will be buoyed by its enduring hopefulness. Katharine Chin and Andrew Eiden narrate Helen and Grant with tenderness and sensitivity, allowing listeners to experience their growth over the course of the novel. Kuang explores love through grief, so while there is plenty of romance and heat, it is tempered by the weight of past choices. VERDICT A layered, slow-burn romance that tackles tough topics with delicacy.--Elyssa Everling
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
