The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch

Firkins (Marlowe Banks, Redesigned) delivers a charming friends-to-lovers romance that runs surprisingly deep. When Imogen Finch was a child, her psychic mother prophesied that she would be destined for perpetual second place—and a lifetime of disappointments has, to Imogen’s mind, proven that prophecy true. Her relationships inevitably fail, and her harried days consist of juggling several jobs while taking care of her demanding mother. Then the only boy who ever really mattered to her returns to town, and Imogen decides to make the best of what she knows will be a doomed relationship. World traveler Elliot Swift has done everything he can to distance himself from his hometown and his cold parents, but when a family emergency brings him back, he finds friendships he still values and a second chance with a love he always thought was unrequited. But can romance conquer both Elliot’s lifetime of wanderlust and Imogen’s curse? Happily, the more time these two spend together, the more Elliot helps Imogen see that she’s the one who’s been putting herself second. To get her happy ending, she first needs to learn to love herself. It’s a strong message, and Firkins drives it home well. Readers will fall in love with the emotional depth of this outing. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Lit. (Oct.)