Falling in Love Has Never Been This Awkward (or This Fun)

Maya Grover is thirty-three, underemployed, over-caffeinated, and just trying to keep her houseplant alive. Between bad jobs, blind dates gone horribly wrong, and the heavy shadow of grief, she’s convinced she’s destined to stumble her way through adulthood. Then a pact with her best friend changes everything—launching her into a new job, a new community, and an unexpected connection with Ethan, a man who makes croissants and chaos look equally irresistible.

Maya Grover thought quitting her soul-sucking job and surviving a string of bad dates was progress—but falling for her best friend’s brother was definitely not in the pact. Between grief, new beginnings, and the messy business of figuring out love, Maya has to decide if she’s brave enough to choose joy when life is anything but simple.

Ethan never expected Maya to crash into his life—messy, hilarious, and exactly what he didn’t know he needed. But old grief clings hard, and convincing her she’s more than enough may be his hardest fight yet. Told from Ethan’s perspective, this companion novel reveals the weight, the hope, and the quiet love story unfolding between the laughter.