99 Percent Mine

Thorne (The Hating Game) pours just the right amount of boy next door meets rebel girl into this slow-burn romance. Darcy Barret has always been in the shadow of her twin brother, Jamie, and when it comes to Jamie’s best friend, Tom Valeska, Darcy is sure she only has 1% of his heart. The three have been friends since Tom got locked out of his house and turned up on Jamie’s doorstep when they were eight. Darcy knew from the moment she met him that Tom was special, and has spent 18 years nursing her unrequited crush on him, which is made all the more painful when he gets engaged to his girlfriend, Meg. When Tom arrives unexpectedly to head the remodeling of Darcy’s deceased grandmother’s house, Darcy can’t help but fall for him all over again. Then Tom confesses that he and Meg have broken up, and Darcy decides this is her chance to win the other 99% of his affections. Their sexual chemistry is hard to ignore, and Darcy’s snarky comebacks are the highlight of this novel. The mounting drama leaves a little to be desired, as Darcy and Jamie’s sibling rivalry, Darcy’s inability to stay in one place, the house remodel, Tom’s struggling mother, and Darcy’s heart problem at times distract from the central plot. However, fans of Thorne’s previous work are sure to enjoy the witty dialogue and gradual friends-to-lovers tug-of-war. (Feb.)