Miranda in Retrograde

This grumpy sunshine contemporary from Layne (Passion on Park Avenue) brims with wit and warmth. Astronomer Miranda Reed is approaching Neil Degrasse Tyson levels of fame thanks to her approachable and entertaining teaching style, so it’s a big shock when she’s denied tenure at the fictional Nova University. Forced into taking a one-year sabbatical and crashing at her aunt’s Manhattan townhouse, she throws herself into an entirely unscientific endeavor: astrology. Since she no longer trusts her own judgment, she’ll allow her horoscope to make her decisions for her. Meanwhile, she takes on tutoring clients, including astronomy-obsessed Kylee, and meets her new neighbor Archer, a reclusive artist who enjoys painting by night on their buildings’ shared roof. As Miranda and Archer form a tentative, bickering friendship, she begins dating Christian, Kylee’s knight in shining armor of a father. But is their relationship really written in the stars? What begins as a bog-standard rom-com quickly develops subtleties and nuances as Miranda undergoes some serious personal growth. The result is a rich tale of self-discovery and empowerment, complete with a romance that readers will root for. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency (Aug.)