The Seven Year Slip

With this poignant, magic-infused contemporary romance, Poston (The Dead Romantics) explores love, grief, and the courage it takes to create one’s “own adventure.” As a publicist for a boutique Manhattan book publisher, Clementine lives for work, splitting her limited personal time between her parents and her coworkers, and grieving the recent death of her larger-than-life, Auntie Mame-esque aunt, Analea. Analea left Clementine her “century-old” Upper East Side apartment, which she often described as a place where “time pinched in on itself,” but she also warned Clementine not to fall in love within its walls. Clementine learns that her aunt’s kooky stories are true when she wakes up to find young chef hopeful, Iwan, also in residence—though he’s living seven years in the past. What follows is an easily flowing and often unpredictable romance. The magical element adds a cool twist on the gradually building central relationship and Poston’s depictions of grief ring especially true and are sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings. This is an emotional delight. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary (June)