First published 2025
Paige Lancaster stands at the edge of her music career breakthrough. One contract separates her from making a living as a songwriter. Then a music industry insider tells her something that stops her cold: her lyrics feel safe, like she's protecting herself from old pain. The criticism cuts deep because Paige knows exactly what heartbreak the professional means. Liam Bishop broke her heart four years ago, and she's been writing around that wound ever since. In a moment that surprises even herself, Paige calls Liam with an unusual request. She wants him to date her for three months, then break her heart again. The plan seems simple enough to unlock the raw emotions her songwriting needs. Liam reluctantly agrees, partly because he helped launch her music career in the first place. Their fake relationship unfolds across his summer work travels. They share hotel rooms, excavate their shared past, and perform as a couple in the present. The attraction they once shared resurfaces stronger than before. As their chemistry intensifies and genuine feelings return, both Paige and Liam face an impossible choice between artistic ambition and authentic love.
Genres: romance, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: bittersweet, emotional, intimate, introspective, romantic
Tropes: fake-dating, forced-proximity, friends-to-lovers, second-chance-romance
340 pages · Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin