At First Spite

The adorable opener to the Harlot’s Bay series from Dade (Ship Wrecked) delivers all the laughs of a well-crafted rom-com while gracefully portraying characters struggling with mental health issues. Sparks fly when Athena Greydon meets Matthew Vine. Too bad they’re at her engagement party to another man and Matthew turns out to be her fiancé’s older brother. The pair clash upon discovering their connection to each other, especially as Athena’s fiancé, Johnny, has told her all about Matthew’s efforts to stop the marriage, citing Athena’s inability to stay in a job without getting restless. Flash forward eight months and Matthew has succeeded: the engagement is off. But Athena’s already sunk all her savings into buying the tiny spite house wedged in next door to both brothers’ properties, which was supposed to be a wedding present from Athena to Johnny. Matthew soon realizes he was wrong about Athena and does his best to make amends for blowing up her plans and maybe even breaking her spirit—even as Athena sets out to get revenge by blasting monster erotica audiobooks at all hours, arranging creepy dolls in her windows, and rickrolling Matthew on the radio. Even when at odds, however, the pair share an intense attraction, enhanced by a shared intellectual curiosity and a deep understanding of each other’s anxieties. Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this charming love story will have readers clamoring for another visit to Harlot’s Bay. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Feb.)