March 15, 2022
When a Bront�-loving English professor moves back to her hometown with hopes of identifying an anonymous romance novelist, the last thing she expected was to end up working at her ex-boyfriend's cafe. "Publish or perish" is the unfortunate term for assistant professor Athena Murphy's current predicament. After a meltdown at work forces Athena into a probationary sabbatical, she has until the end of the semester to submit a groundbreaking book for tenure, or she can bid her academic career at San Francisco's Wyatt College farewell. Determined as any laudable Jane Eyre or Catherine Earnshaw would be, Athena treks back to her farming hometown in hopes of writing a biography about Laurel, Illinois' very own celebrity: the elusive C.L. Garland, a pseudonymous bestselling author known for spinning well-known classics into page-turning erotica. In the meantime, Athena hopes to spy on any potential Garlands by working at a family friend's coffee shop only to find that the store has been transformed into the As You Like It Caf� and bought by none other than her hero-slash-heartbreaker ex-boyfriend, Thorne Kent. College sweetheart and fellow English major Thorne embodied all of Athena's fantasies of her "one true love," and despite lacking any darkly handsome or brooding qualities, he was her Heathcliff...until he inexplicably broke her heart three years ago. Can Athena navigate her still-simmering relationship with Thorne and uncover Laurel's best-kept secret in time to save her job, or will her happily-ever-after remain unwritten? Sereno's novel is witty and entertaining, and fans of the Bront� sisters will undoubtedly appreciate the fun she has nodding to their books. There is, however, some awkward writing ("horny in the morny"; "saucy damsel"), constant discussion of Thena's "bounteous" and hip-swaying curves, and an array of questionable moments, like the mayor's barely protested public auction of a "night on the town" with Athena at the community's Oktoberfest. A spunky romance that may delight Bront� fans if they can ignore several cringeworthy elements.

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March 21, 2022
Sereno’s sophomore rom-com (after Helen of Troy, Illinois), while predictable, delivers plenty of tongue-in-cheek literary witticism and small-town heart. It’s publish or perish for San Francisco lit professor Athena Murphy, who takes a semester-long unpaid leave. While she misses her students, this is her final chance to save her job. So back home to Laurel, Ill., she goes, emboldened by her plan to uncover the identity of C.L. Garland, author of a popular series of erotic renditions of classic works. It’s bad enough that she has to deal with her divorced parents and find a part-time job, but then she learns that her ex, Thorne Kent, with whom she shared an extremely tumultuous romance, has moved back to town and owns the local café. He’s got his secrets, like almost everyone in town, but he also follows his passions—one of which is Athena. The plot plays out exactly as expected and Thorne and Athena’s will-they-won’t-they drags on a bit too long, but the novel’s heart lies in its quirky, memorable characters. Readers will find themselves laughing through the familiar tropes—and dying for one of Thorne’s delicious creations. Agent: Erin Niumata and Rachel Ekstrom, Folio Literary.

May 1, 2022
In Sereno's charming, contemporary romance debut, the love of literature takes center stage with fresh and witty references to the works of British and American literary icons combined with subtler stylistic nods to contemporary popular culture. English professor Athena Murphy is a struggling academic who returns to her hometown, Laurel, Illinois, to uncover the identity of a secretive romance novelist, then, hopefully, write a bestseller that will save her career. She unexpectedly runs into her former lover, Thorne Kent, who owns the town's main hangout, the As You Like It Caf�, where our frenemy protagonists trade Amy Sherman-Palladino-like barbs to the delight of the gossip-loving patrons. Sereno deftly captures the cozy essence of Midwestern life, and the quirky residents of Laurel are as fully realized as Athena and Thorne. While Sereno excels at dialogue, some readers may find the excessive head-hopping within scenes difficult to follow. Additionally, the mash-up of several competing romance tropes and an overstuffed plot is a bit dizzying. But Sereno is a gifted writer and readers will watch for her next book.

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