Crashing the A-List

Down-on-her-luck editor Clara Montgomery stumbles her way into celebrity romance in this frivolous romantic comedy. Unemployed and desperate, Clara is clearing out abandoned storage units for extra cash when she comes across the decades-old records of an escort service and sees a face she recognizes: British actor Caspian Tiddleswich, who will remind readers very much of Benedict Cumberbatch. Clara recklessly uses the contacts of a publicist friend to reach Caspian and tell him about the find, but her drunken attempt to reassure Caspian that she has no intentions of blackmailing him go horribly awry. Shortly after, the angry actor shows up at her door, leading paparazzi to peg her as his secret new girlfriend. The two endure a torturous mutual hatred as he extorts her in revenge for what he thinks is her scheme to force him to date her, but as their true intentions start to become clearer, the two become genuinely close. Though the book is light on substance and its central relationship is pretty toxic, those looking for beach vacation fluff might find it suitable. (July)