April 27, 2020
Rockaway (How to Hack a Heartbreak) skewers social media fantasies in this timely romance. Bree Bozeman, a 25-year-old college dropout, is barely getting by: she’s eking out a living delivering takeout for GrubGetters and her boyfriend ditched her to join a cult. But she’ll do what it takes to keep living in her bohemian San Diego neighborhood, especially when she meets her new neighbor, Trey Cantu, a dreamy pro-surfer. After Bree’s ultra-organized older sister convinces her to read the bestselling book from self-help guru and social media sensation Demi DiPalma, Bree starts an aspirational Instagram account (@BreebytheSea) that soon gains a large audience and gives her life a new direction, as an influencer. But as she grows closer to Trey, he expresses concern. His influencer ex-girlfriend used him as a prop to punch up her own Instagram, and he doesn’t want history to repeat itself. Besides, can new followers and freebies from brands she doesn’t care about really fix Bree’s life? Rockaway balances sarcastic humor with psychological depth, making it easy to care about her misguided heroine. Fans of smart romantic comedies will be pleased. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.
April 15, 2020
When Bree Bozeman dropped out of college and started working as a food delivery driver, it was supposed to be temporary. Four years later, she's still at it until her car breaks down. She then decides to follow lifestyle guru Demi DePalma's Aspirational Action Plan and begin manifesting her dreams into existence. At first, it seems to be working: her new neighbor is a hot pro surfer, and her Instagram is gaining traction. When small companies start reaching out with offers to "#collab on Insta," Bree wonders if being an Instagram influencer is her destiny. But crystals and oils and positive affirmations can't make all her problems go away. Though lacking in subtlety, Rockaway's follow-up to How to Hack a Heartbreak (2019) is a light and breezy tale set mostly in Pacific Beach, San Diego, that thoughtfully examines the downfalls of social media and wellness culture. Most of the issues are dealt with on a surface level and the ending is predictable, yet this is still fun, inventive, accessible, and destined to be a pleasurable beach read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)