Ps: I Hate You

This touching and humorous enemies-to-lovers contemporary from Connolly (Fall Back into Me) argues for the power of love to comfort and heal even in life’s bleakest moments. When Madeline Sanderson’s older brother, Josh, dies of cancer, she relies on sarcasm and dark humor to cope with the immeasurable loss—a defense mechanism she has no problem brandishing when reunited at the funeral with Josh’s infuriating (and annoyingly handsome) best friend Dominic Perry, “the man who did an impressively thorough job of breaking [her] heart” at 19. After Josh’s funeral, Madeline looks forward to returning to Seattle, where she can continue happily avoiding Dominic, but her brother’s final wish disrupts her plan: she and Dominic must travel to the eight states her brother never got to visit to scatter his ashes. Though Madeline’s prickly inner monologue and biting dialogue occasionally feel forced, the balance of irreverent humor (to transport the ashes, Madeline buys “the high-quality Rubbermaid on our way here. Only the best reusable storage containers for my brother”) and heartfelt slow-burn chemistry make this a sweet and memorable story of found family. Readers are sure to be moved. Agent: Lesley Sabga, Seymour Agency. (Dec.)