First published 2026
Violet struggles to care for her rebellious teenage sister Phoebe after their father's sudden death. Her optimism crumbles under the weight of grief and responsibility. Then Phoebe discovers a love letter left behind by their apartment's previous tenant. The letter pleads for a second chance at love, and reading it brings the first spark of life back to Phoebe's eyes since their dad died. Violet will do anything to keep her sister engaged with the world again. They track down the letter's author, a moody and enigmatic man named Dex. Despite his abrasive personality, Phoebe convinces him to join them on a cross-country road trip to deliver the letter to its intended recipient. As they travel west, Violet watches Phoebe come alive again. She also discovers that beneath Dex's difficult exterior lies someone charming and funny, someone genuinely interested in her thoughts and dreams. The chemistry between Violet and Dex intensifies with each mile, but their destination draws closer. Soon they will reach the woman Dex once loved, and Violet must face what that means for the connection growing between them.
Genres: fiction, romance, coming-of-age, contemporary, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: bittersweet, character-driven, emotional, hopeful, intimate
Tropes: found-family, grumpy-meets-optimist, road-trip, slow-burn-romance
Setting: apartment, cross-country
Paperback
Content warnings: death