First published 2023
Layla Hilding stands in her empty apartment at thirty-five, her divorce papers still fresh and her dreams of musical stardom long buried. She teaches music at an elementary school now, far from the spotlight she once knew as a lead singer. Every morning, she chats with Josh, whose daughter is one of her students. Josh carries his own wounds from a recent separation that ended his twenty-year marriage to his high school sweetheart. Both feel lost in a dating world dominated by apps and casual hookups. Neither wants to rush into anything serious. They agree to stay friends, leaving the door open for something deeper if it develops naturally. But being on the rebound complicates everything. Layla struggles with loneliness that independence can't cure. Josh finds himself thinking about their conversations long after school ends. Their careful approach to romance feels safe, but safety doesn't guarantee protection from heartbreak or promise happiness.
Genres: romance, family-life, contemporary, divorce, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: friends-to-lovers, second-chance
304 pages · Paperback · Griffin