Rock the Boat

In this charming if predictable debut novel (after the memoir From the Corner of the Oval), three 30-somethings try to get their lives on track. Kate Campbell has “given all of her twenties” to her boyfriend in New York City. Then he leaves her, which also spells the end of her job at his family’s public relations agency. Kate returns home to Sea Point, N.J., and her old bartending job at a thriving hotel owned by Jo Hoffman. Miles, Jo’s son, who’s been floundering in San Francisco with an unused business degree, soon returns in order to prove to his mom he can take over the family business, and to help out his friend Ziggy Miller. Ziggy’s stayed in Jersey all along, working with his contractor dad, Zeke. But when Zeke dies of a heart attack while fulfilling a client’s request for “the world’s most savage man cave,” he leaves the books a mess and Ziggy unmoored. That is, until Ziggy catches up with Kate. While it’s no surprise that things turn out just fine for Kate, Miles—who develops an interest in cooking—and Ziggy, Dorey-Stein captures a strong sense of their feeling stymied now that their glory days have passed them by. It’s a modest story, but it delivers on its promise. Agent: Becky Sweren, Aevitas Creative Management. (June)