Even If the Sky Is Falling

Six couples risk their hearts when they believe the world is coming to an end in this beguiling linked collection. After a NASA scientist accidentally sets off an alarm alerting to a significant threat of falling debris, the world shelters in place, bracing for disaster. The threat of imminent doom leads exes to reunite in McCoy’s “All the Stars,” rivals to realize their true feelings in Denise Williams’s “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better,” and a long-simmering crush to come to a boil in “Keep Calm and Curry On” by Farah Heron. “My Lucky Stars” by Lane Clarke follows feuding first-year law students Jones Miller and Dianna Ellis, who release their animosity in the wake of the disaster, leading to a first lesbian encounter for Jones. In both Charish Reed’s “Bunker Buddies” and Sarah Smith’s “Interlude,” unlikely couples take cover together, and the close spaces and heightened emotions spark love. The high-concept premise is clever and original, and each of these six couples is easy to root for. Full of intense passion and diverse characters, this is sure to be a hit. Agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)