April 26, 2021
Winfrey (Waiting for Tom Hanks) delivers a sweet and fluffy rom-com that plays out partly through the touching email correspondence between heroine Teddy Phillips, an endearingly hapless 30-something, and hero Everett St. James, a “hot Mr. Rogers.” Both are romantically skittish: Teddy was expecting a proposal when her exploitative doctor boyfriend dumped her and kicked her out of their shared apartment, leaving her floundering. As for Everett, he’s focused all his time and energy on his work hosting a children’s TV show since his own romantic disaster. Teddy finds comfort in Everett’s program and emails him hoping for some of the same supportive guidance he’s so good at doling out to children. Everett’s enchanted by her note, kicking off a pen pal–style relationship that slowly evolves into something more. Winfrey lets their love blossom at a believable pace as they overcome emotional and professional obstacles with the help of their convincing sets of friends. With plenty of smile-worthy misadventures along the way, this light, down-to-earth romance is sure to charm. Agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell Management.
May 1, 2021
Nearing 30 and newly dumped in Columbus, Ohio, a woman reconnects with her friends and tries to figure out what she wants out of life. Teddy Phillips has been with Richard (Rick the Dick to her friends, she later finds out) ever since college, devoting herself to taking care of him and helping him become a doctor. But despite all the cooking, cleaning, and of-course-I-can agreeableness she showers upon him, instead of proposing to her as she expects one evening, he dumps her and kicks her out of their house. She turns up on the doorstep of her two best friends, Eleanor and Kirsten, who welcome her with open arms, an empty spare room, and encouragement to try one new scary thing each day. Thus begins Teddy's attempt to figure out who she is after so many years of tagging along, helping others, and abdicating responsibility for any and all decisions. One of her first scary things is an impromptu decision to write to Everett St. James, host of Everett's Place, a local children's television show, to ask for advice on figuring out her life. She loves his show, which is devoted to helping young kids process and understand their feelings, and she's happy when they become pen pals--and then when their relationship evolves into more as they open up to each other. As in previous books, Winfrey has created a straightforward story with pop-culture nods, strong and supportive friends, and complicated-but-loving families. The core of the book grapples with the question of just what constitutes happiness and how to strike the right balance between work and life. Fans will be happy to settle into this cozy rom-com and its comfortably unfolding story.
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