Play for Me

An athletic trainer falls in love with a world-renowned pianist in this refreshing rom-com from Hubscher (If You Ask Me). After trainer Sophie Doyle’s decision to bench the Red Sox’s star pitcher costs the team the World Series, disgraced Sophie accepts a job at a New England boarding school where she is assigned to an apartment with three male roommates. With an undiagnosed injury to his hand, maestro Jonas Voss is now conducting the high school orchestra. Despite a rocky start followed by a series of misunderstandings, this adorable duo develops a sincere friendship, with Jonas’s quirks and grumpy demeanor making him lovably mysterious while Sophie is an affable open book. Sophie helps Jonas regain his ability to play, and Jonas encourages Sophie to stand behind her decisions. Unusually for a romance, this is told only from Sophie’s point of view, but Hubscher cleverly makes Jonas’s feelings clear beneath his often cryptic responses. Hubscher hits a home run with this sweet opposites attract story of new love healing old wounds. Agent: Sharon Pelletier, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (June)