Spin

In her charming debut, Québecoise litigator McKenzie introduces readers to Kate, a woman approaching 30 who still lives like a college student, complete with the binge drinking, and is still waiting for her life to begin. She gets an interview for her dream job as a music writer at the Line magazine, but it happens to coincide with her 30th birthday, and she shows up to the interview still drunk from the previous night’s festivities. Blowing her one shot at career success sends Kate into a spiral she’s only brought out of by a call from the Line’s sister publication, Gossip Central, with a gig that’s right up her alley: they want her to go to rehab and write an undercover expose on a Lindsay Lohan–like celebrity named Amber. Kate’s stoked to get a reprieve, and a promise that if she does well, they’ll find a position for her at the Line, post-rehab. However, complications arise when Kate befriends Amber and soon realizes that the celebrity may not be the only one who needs to get sober. With fresh, fast-paced storytelling and a personable, self-deprecating protagonist, McKenzie whirls a perfectly indulgent tale. Agent: Abigail Koons, Park Literary Group. (Feb. 7)