Behind the Scenes

Starred review from October 3, 2022
This gentle, satisfying contemporary romance from Stetz-Waters (Satisfaction Guaranteed) about two perfectly gorgeous, perfectly talented professional women stumbling into one another at an animal rescue fund-raiser and becoming the perfect balm for each other’s hurts is escapism with no apologies. Rose Josten is 38 and prepping as efficiently and predictably for her midlife crisis as she does for her job as a Portland, Ore., business consultant. Ash Stewart, 40, is a brilliant filmmaker trying to get back in the game both romantically and professionally after a devastating car accident and divorce. Rose’s offer of a free one-hour consultation turns into love almost effortlessly, and though it’s not all smooth sailing from there, the entirely believable bumps in the lovers’ road are very much not the point. Nor is this the kind of rom-com dependent on over-the-top pratfalls. Instead, Stetz-Waters woos reader with unabashed sweetness lavishly sprinkled with girls’ gossiping nights, punk rock T-shirts, and a running gag about Pottery Barn decor. The result is irresistible wish fulfillment that will surely leave readers with a smile. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

November 1, 2022

Two women navigating past traumas fall in love during the process of pitching a film about two women falling in love while navigating past trauma. Rose Josten is a savvy business consultant (and secret ASMR artist) whose younger adult years were dominated by ensuring her sisters' well-being in the wake of their parents' deaths. After a chance meeting and a well-timed request, she's brought in to help director Ash Stewart convince an investor to fund Ash's first solo project after separating from her producer ex-wife. Stetz-Waters (Satisfaction Guaranteed) effectively balances Rose's struggle to make her own happiness a priority with Ash's gradual journey toward regaining her self-confidence after a messy divorce and a disabling accident. Readers who relish dark moments and misunderstandings may be disappointed, as potential conflicts between Rose and Ash are resolved within pages through forthright conversation--but this open communication is appropriate to the characters, who are both emotionally generous yet worried about having their own secrets revealed. VERDICT Recommended for libraries where feel-good, low-conflict contemporary romances are in demand.--Katelyn Browne

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Starred review from December 1, 2022
Two successful career-minded women kick off a tender romance at an animal rescue fundraiser, but they must contend with lingering grief and heartbreak to reach their happily-ever-after. Thirty-eight-year-old Rose Josten is an affluent consultant at Integral Business Solutions with a deep love for her rescue pugs and the finer things in life. While attending a fundraiser for the Humane Society, she meets a mysterious woman who, on first impression, seems very much her opposite. Ash Stewart, who's 40, feels more at home in ripped jeans and band T-shirts than designer clothes, but from the first time she meets Rose, their banter is flirtatious and easy even though Ash is still carrying the emotional remnants of a divorce and limping from a particularly horrific car accident. A talented filmmaker, she's hoping to finally see an important and personal project come to fruition. When Ash approaches bombastic billionaire Irene Brentworth to contribute funding, she knows it's a long shot. Surprising no one more than Ash herself, Irene is interested and asks to see a more fleshed-out proposal. Hoping to help Ash get ready for the big pitch, her friend and employee Emma reaches out to the highly sought-after Integral for a consultation. When Rose agrees to take the job, she has no idea she'll soon be reunited with the mysterious woman she chatted with at the fundraiser. Most of the conflict is internal, with Rose concerned about hitting her midlife crisis and Ash trying to rebuild her professional career. It's lovely to see a romance between two women older than their 20s. Rose and Ash are settled in their careers and their passions and are confident about who they are and how they want to be perceived by those around them. Stetz-Waters balances humor with a touch of charming satire; the words sweet and earnest are just the start to describing this slow-burn romance. A delight from start to finish.

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