Lauren Okie

In this lush, slow-burning romance, two childhood neighbors, connected by a shared tragedy, unexpectedly reunite to ghostwrite a love story for a reclusive author. Spending the summer at her secluded Hamptons estate, they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they’re crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in real life. Katie Caruso is a completely normal twenty-five-year-old girl. At least, for the past eight years, she’s tried to be. She likes glitter and sequins and flirting with cute boys at New York City bars. She’s also a ghostwriter for Meredith Bradford, the bestselling romance novelist of all time. But then Tyler McNally walks back into Katie’s life, and that bedazzled facade crumbles at her platform-sneakered feet. Katie and Tyler haven’t seen or spoken to each other since the overdose death of Katie’s older brother, a standout MLB pitching prospect. Tyler was her brother’s best friend, and Katie—naturally—was the girl next door. But now, Tyler is a sleeve-tattooed, Ivy League–educated aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober . . . and Katie’s writing partner for the summer. As genre conventions require, Katie and Tyler soon find themselves removed from Manhattan and instead writing their love story in “forced proximity” at Meredith’s isolated Southampton home. As the summer unfolds, the tropes Katie and Tyler have written into their novel begin to play out in their own lives. Call it destiny, fate, or magic itself: It’s clear their love story is unfinished. This time, though, they’ll fight for their happy ending. Heart-wrenching and tender, Tropesick is a love letter to the romance genre. With a wink and a nod, Okie has packed the novel with readers’ favorite tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine Brother’s best friend Girl next door Forced proximity Forbidden love Kissing in the rain Groveling hero Second-chance romance Slow burn Only one bed

A Novel

Tropesick

Emma Hak-Kovacs

I wanted, all of a sudden, for him to tell me what he and Meredith were up to. Not because I hadn't figured it out, but because I wanted to hear it from him. Because liked the way he told stories, and I liked the way it sounded when the stories he told were only for me.

I let out the slightest chuckle. "You were right. Turns out it was a love story all along."

She laughed. "Yes, well, most stories are. Even when we do not care to admit it."

"For God's sake, Tyler. That girl loves you. She doesn't want someone better. She wants you better! She loved you at your absolute worst. Can you imagine how much she'll love you once you forgive yourself? When you start oving her the way she deserves? When you start loving her all the way?"

Tropesick quotes

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