Single mum of two, based in the Manchester office of an American television conglomerate, Lisa Darling has a lot on her plate. The twice divorced Lisa's job keeps her very busy, but she is guilted into volunteering for the kid's school's PTA, because she feels she will be a better mother if she does. Her mum and her best friend hate her second husband who is never around to help parent the kids, busy as he is with his new life and new love interest. She certainly needs help with the boys-especially 15 year Leo who is blowing off his good grades in favor of a wishful rugby career. It seems that both Lisa and Leo are having "hormonal issues," one as he grows into adolescence and the other as she experiences the change and deals with roller coaster symptoms and HRT corrections. Lisa is also surrounded by good friends in and out of her workplace. But her best work friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer-she has to take a leave of absence to have an operation and subsequent treatment. They are both curious about the new guy sent from the L.A. office to take her place for the six months she's in recovery.
This new guy, Zach, will be closely working with Lisa and her team-she finds and greenlights television shows, and his office does the scheduling. She takes a meeting with him to discuss their possible new acquisition and so she can check him out-and as soon as he comes into the room she gets her first hot flash...or is he just, well, hot? Unfortunately he's also obnoxious, criticizing her new show and cutting the meeting short-Lisa knows this is going to be a long six months. Can this work relationship turn into a love relationship...not bloody likely and yet....
A cut above frothy, Costello's rom-com actually transcends the genre, placing romance as a part but not the heart of her novel. Yes, there is the steamy action with love interest Zach, but it's not really the center of the book-balancing friendship, work, and motherhood takes precedence. This is a smart take on growing up, determining what you really want, and learning how to get it. Good women's read.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
February 4, 2025
Reserve a physical copy - Coming soon
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