The Seat Filler

Wilson (Roommaid) balances the quirky with the heartfelt in this adorable rom-com. When dog groomer Juliet Nolan reluctantly agrees to help her bestie by pinch-hitting as an unpaid seat filler at a Hollywood awards show, she doesn’t expect to be seated next to Noah Douglas, the movie star of her adolescent fantasies. Noah makes an arrogant first impression, and to take his ego down a peg Juliet pretends to have no idea who he is. Their resultant banter is teasingly flirtatious, but Juliet’s sure it will end with that one chance encounter. A week later, though, Noah calls her, needing “emergency dog grooming services.” Their second interaction builds on the spark of the first, ending with Noah asking to see her again in a “non-dog grooming capacity.” Juliet is tempted, but feels she must refuse due to a closely guarded secret—trying to kiss anyone leads her to have panic attacks, keeping her from any kind of physical intimacy. Juliet’s fears and inexperience are respectfully handled and don’t detract one bit from her spunk—or from her arsenal of snappy comebacks. Noah, meanwhile, is a heartthrob of a hero with a penchant for quirky socks and sugary cereal—and some touching vulnerabilities of his own. Their resulting romance is sweet, comic, and well-earned. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (Apr.)