First published 2022
Max works as a personal grocery shopper when the pandemic hits California. Her part-time job becomes overwhelming as lockdown begins. In the canned goods aisle, she meets Jonah, who struggles with anxiety that worsens during quarantine. They start dating through FaceTime calls and socially distanced meetings at playgrounds. The pandemic creates new heartbreaks and challenges that push them apart while also drawing them closer together. Their relationship develops across differences in social class, economic privilege, and mental health. The crisis makes these gaps more visible and harder to ignore. Max and Jonah navigate the first two months of quarantine while falling in love. The story balances romance and humor with the real difficulties of the pandemic. Their connection grows through shared experiences and honest conversations about their different lives.
Genres: romance, contemporary, 21st-century, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: California
Period: Pandemic
352 pages · Paperback · Dial Books
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness