Bitter Sweet

In this nuanced debut, Williams explores the allure of a toxic relationship between a young publicist and much older author. Charlie Turner, 24, has been a rabid fan of world-famous author Richard Aveling, now in his 50s, since she was a preteen, so she’s thrilled when the London publisher she works for assigns her to his new book. Charlie’s relationship to Richard’s work runs deep— his novels helped her climb out of a depression following her mother’s death when she was 16. When Charlie and Richard meet, their attraction is immediate. Though he’s married, they begin seeing each other. As time passes, however, Richard grows more critical and controlling of Charlie, isolating her from her friends and taking out his frustrations on her. Charlie, in turn, becomes obsessed with Richard, which drives a wedge between her and her concerned friends at the publishing firm and puts her job in jeopardy. More than a story about the pitfalls of power imbalances in workplace romances, the narrative plumbs the depths of Charlie’s desire and rootlessness, exploring how her family dynamic might have shaped her relationship with Richard, given that she never knew her father and her stepfather has started a new family with a younger woman. Readers will be moved. Agent: Jenny Bent, Bent Agency. (July)