Mikaella Clements

Onjuli Datta

Daisy Jones and the Six meets Crazy Rich Asians in this escapist, swoon-worthy debut novel of a famous actress embroiled in a fake tabloid romance, confronting the challenges of being a woman of color in Hollywood and the notion that she might actually be in love. Faking a love story is a whole lot easier than being in love . . . The world can see that international A-list actress Whitman ("Win") Tagore and jet-setting playboy Leo Milanowski are made for each other. Their kisses start Twitter trends and their fights break the internet. From red carpet appearances to Met Gala mishaps, their on-again, off-again romance has titillated the public and the press for almost a decade. But it's all a lie. As a woman of color, Win knows the Hollywood deck is stacked against her, so she's perfected the art of controlling her public persona. Whenever she nears scandal, she calls in Leo, with his endearingly reckless attitude, for a staged date. Each public display of affection shifts the headlines back in Win's favor, and Leo uses the good press to draw attention away from his dysfunctional family. But pretending to be in a passionate romance can only lead to one thing . . . trouble. So instead they settle for friendship, with a side of sky-rocketing chemistry. Except this time, on the French Riviera, something is off. A shocking secret in Leo's past sets Win's personal and professional lives on a catastrophic collision course. Behind the scenes of their yacht-trips and PDA, the world's favorite couple is at each other's throats. Now they must finally confront the many truths and lies of their relationship, and Win is forced to consider what is more important: a rising career, or a risky shot at real love? THE VIEW WAS EXHAUSTING is a funny, whip-smart modern love story set against the backdrop of exotic locales and the realities of being a woman of color in a world run by men.

The View Was Exhausting

Feast While You Can

For readers of Nightbitch and We Ride Upon Sticks, this strange and sexy novel of queer love in a small town is an unsettling reminder that the horrors of modern life is a monster ready to possess us all. Angelina Sicco was born and raised in Cadenze, an ugly little mountain town that's dead most of the year. Determined to be content with her lot in life, she walks her mongrel dog, attends her brother's heavy metal concerts, holds court in the local dive bar, and does everything she can to bait hot, queer women to her sleepy, conservative hometown. But on the night of a family party, Angelina runs into the sternly handsome Jagvi, who's back in town for a spell. Upon Jagvi's arrival, an ancient evil is awakened, and a monstrous force infiltrates Angelina's life. Only Jagvi’s touch repels it — the final trigger for a secret, passionate romance. This monster feasts on all the messy bits that naje up a life, and Angelina Sicco’s life has never looked tastier. What will Angelina do to protect her future–and at what cost?

'Effortlessly cool, razor-sharp and crazy fun - I couldn't put it down' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six 'The complex, Hollywood love story we've all been waiting for' EMILY HENRY, bestselling author of Beach Read 'A glamorous power ride through fame, misogyny and racism, with a swoony romance' JULIE COHEN 'I loved the chemistry' FRANCES CHA, author of If I Had Your Face --- THEY CANNOT BE TOGETHER AND THEY CANNOT BE APART. Whitman 'Win' Tagore and Leo Milanowski are the greatest love story of our time. International movie star meets the beautiful son of a millionaire. Their kisses write headlines and their fights break the internet. Nobody needs to know it's not real. Win knows that Hollywood demands perfection - especially from a woman of colour. Leo just wants to enjoy life, and shift press attention away from his dysfunctional family. Together they control the narrative. Except this time, on the shores of Saint-Tropez, Leo is hiding a secret that is about to send Win's world spinning. Now everyone's dream couple must confront the messy reality of their relationship. Just as they're starting to realise that they might actually be falling in love... THE VIEW WAS EXHAUSTING is a bold, swoon-worthy and utterly modern debut novel about truth, fame and privilege - and how we love now. 'A book to read in the sun with a glass of wine and nothing else to do all day. Fun, sexy and totally gripping' LAURA KAY, author of The Split 'Deft, funny and tender, The View Was Exhausting is as smart as it is swoon-worthy' JULIA ARMFIELD author of Salt Slow 'Funny, warm and gorgeously written...I was totally swept away' JANE HEALEY, author of The Animals at Lockwood Manor 'A sexy, scorching treat - fresh and ultra modern, I devoured it' VICTORIA GOSLING, author of Before the Ruins

The Hottest Love Story of the Summer

"A pure delight! Effortlessly cool, razor sharp, and crazy fun--I couldn't put it down."--Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling authors of Daisy Jones & the Six "The complex, Hollywood love story we've all been waiting for--I couldn't get enough."--Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation Faking a love story is a whole lot easier than being in love . . . The world can see that international A-list actress Whitman ("Win") Tagore and jet-setting playboy Leo Milanowski are made for each other. Their kisses start Twitter trends and their fights break the internet. From red carpet appearances to Met Gala mishaps, their on-again, off-again romance has titillated the public and the press for almost a decade. But it's all a lie. As a woman of color, Win knows the Hollywood deck is stacked against her, so she's perfected the art of controlling her public persona. Whenever she nears scandal, she calls in Leo, with his endearingly reckless attitude, for a staged date. Each public display of affection shifts the headlines back in Win's favor, and Leo uses the good press to draw attention away from his dysfunctional family. Pretending to be in a passionate romance is one thing, but Win knows that a real relationship would lead to nothing but trouble. So instead they settle for friendship, with a side of sky-rocketing chemistry. Except this time, on the French Riviera, something is off. A shocking secret in Leo's past sets Win's personal and professional lives on a catastrophic collision course. Behind the scenes of their yacht-trips and PDA, the world's favorite couple is at each other's throats. Now they must finally confront the many truths and lies of their relationship, and Win is forced to consider what is more important: a rising career, or a risky shot at real love? The View Was Exhausting is a funny, wickedly observant modern love story set against the backdrop of exotic locales and the realities of being a woman of color in a world run by men.

Onjuli Datta

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