In the Likely Event

Yarros (Hallowed Ground) expertly tugs at the heartstrings in this emotional military romance. Izzy Astor and Nate Phelan first meet in 2011 on a flight transporting Nate to basic training at Fort Benning and Izzy to Syracuse University. Their immediate and intense connection is cut short when their plane crashes and, after helping each other to survive, Izzy is whisked into emergency surgery and the Army comes to collect Nate. The pair unexpectedly reunite in 2021 Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy, now the aide to a visiting senator, during a fact-finding mission. Alternating between both narrators and timelines, Yarros explores the horrors of war and the aftermath of traumatic experiences. Her authentic characters feel equally strong and vulnerable, and their will-they-won’t-they hits all the right notes. A well-drawn supporting cast—especially Serena, Izzy’s photojournalist sister, and Julian, Nate’s best friend—underpins the poignant romance. Readers are sure to be moved. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (Aug.)