Georgie, All Along

Clayborn (Love at First) spins a gentle tale of two people who set out to find themselves and stumble into love along the way. Georgie Mulcahy is only back in her childhood hometown to help her best friend through the last few weeks of her pregnancy. At least, that’s what she’s telling herself. After losing her glamorous but grueling job as a celebrity personal assistant, Georgie’s no longer sure what she wants out of life. When she rediscovers her teenage diary, however, she’s reminded of a time when she knew just what would make her happy. Levi Fanning, meanwhile, spends his days trying to redeem himself in a small town that remembers his rebellious teen years all too well. When a series of flukes leaves him and Georgie as unexpected roommates, the now shy and disciplined Levi tries to keep a respectful distance—until he’s inevitably sucked into Georgie’s chaos. The two agree to work through Georgie’s high school bucket list, and chasing her teenage dreams helps them to find grown-up happiness. Readers shouldn’t expect a rom-com (there are few laughs here), but the smooth, vivid prose makes it easy to invest in the protagonists’ well-rendered character growth. This introspective romance is a treat. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (Feb.)