The Unplanned Life of Josie Hale

Eding (Unbound) walks the line between women’s fiction and romance with this sweet and goofy celebration of chosen family and learning to be an adult. Substitute teacher Josie Hale is 30, newly separated from her husband, and unexpectedly pregnant, when she randomly reconnects with both her high school best friend, Kevin, and her undisclosed high school crush, Ben, now roommates, and ends up moving in with them under the terms of a “Corn Dog Pact” to get their financial, career, and love lives together within the year. Between nacho making and late-night TV bingeing, Josie helps Ben connect with his visiting 11-year-old daughter, and the three roommates prepare the household for Josie’s baby. Meanwhile, Josie and Ben work through the embarrassment and potential opportunity of realizing their old crush was mutual. Eding infuses her playful story with heart and teasing goodwill between the friends instead of sexual tension. The fantasy here is of being supported, rather than seduced. Readers looking for low-heat second-chance romance will be charmed. Agent: Katie Salvo, Metamorphosis Literary. (May)