Know You by Heart

A meticulously planned marriage of convenience falls apart in Marcelo’s touching second Heart Resort romance (after It Takes Heart). The story begins five years into the marriage between Chris Puso and Eden Chan—meaning their time together is almost up. Following Chris’s parents’ death, Chris, the eldest Puso sibling, was shocked to learn that their will arranged for him to receive part of a large inheritance upon his wedding and the rest after being married for five years. Family friend Eden proposed they marry and split the money 50/50, giving Chris the chance to save his family’s struggling North Carolina resort and Eden the opportunity to focus on her writing. The friends draw up a contract outlining the rules for their partnership—but neither consider what will happen if they fall in love. Now that they’ve built a life together, will they really be able to walk away? Alternating between past and present, the story doesn’t shy away from the messy reality of the lovers’ situation, with neither able to admit the way their feelings have grown or differentiate between what’s pretend and what’s true. It’s a grounded take on a favorite trope that makes it incredibly easy to root for the protagonists’ romance. Agent: Rachel Brooks, Bookends Literary. (Apr.)