One Week Later

by K.J. Micciche

In this emotionally gripping tale, two writers meet on vacation and spend a perfect week together, falling immediately, deeply in love. But when they accidentally lose contact, both fly back home to do as writers do: write about it. What could possibly go wrong?

Two years ago, romance novelist Melody Adams and aspiring author Beckett Nash had a whirlwind romance on a dream vacation to Aruba. She was with her ailing mother; he was on a personal writing retreat, trying to finish his very first novel. But their seven-day love affair unraveled when a cascade of mixed signals and disastrous timing caused them both to miss their flight home. Unable to reach each other, both concluded they were being dumped at the worst possible moment.

Then, they each wrote a book about it.

Now, two years later, Beckett has skyrocketed to fame while Melody's been labeled a copycat. Reviewers call her book a “cheap knockoff” of Beckett’s “debut masterpiece.” The only way to set the record straight is to reconnect and clear up the confusion. But Beckett is engaged to someone else, and Melody is drowning in a maelstrom of her own unresolved feelings. Reuniting with Beckett Nash is about the last thing she needs in her life right now. What's the point, anyway, since they've both moved on...right?

Genres: Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Emilie]

One Week Later was not my favorite book. First off, I was confused by the storyline with Birdie's ghost. She just happens to know how Beckett's book ends? That magical realism element of the story didn't mesh with the rest of the book. I also had a problem with the main characters not seeing each other until 77% into the book. There were too many flashbacks and book excerpts. I did think it was neat that we got Beckett's POV through his book's snippets. The romance was extremely rushed, and because of that, I didn't feel any emotional depth between Melody and Beckett. I never got a good sense of who they were, and I didn't connect with their characters. They both fell flat. What ruined this story for me was Beckett. He gave off major red flags. He had no right to be annoyed with Melody for not wanting to kiss him when she thought he was engaged. Why would I root for a couple when cheating is a possibility? He also got upset when she didn't read his book right away...like grow up dude! The whole fiancé plotline didn't need to be included in the story. Honestly, the whole fiancé storyline made Beckett look even worse. I don't care that she cheated on him, the timing of everything was gross. So, you're telling me I'm supposed to be happy when Beckett ends an engagement and proposes to Melody weeks later? It is mind boggling to me that Beckett and Melody ended the story engaged after knowing each other for two weeks. If you can't tell by this review, this book made me angry. Thank you for listening to my TED talk. Thank you to Edelweiss and Cosmo Reads for the ARC. 

[Prapti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two years ago, romance novelist Melody Adams and aspiring author Beckett Nash had this whirlwind, week long romance in Aruba — she was there with her sick mother, he was trying to finish his first novel — and everything fell apart when mixed signals and awful timing made them miss their flight home. They couldn’t reach each other, assumed the worst, and then both ended up writing books about their time together. Now Beckett’s become a literary star while Melody’s been branded a copycat, and the only way to clear the air is to reconnect… except he’s engaged, she’s overwhelmed, and neither of them is exactly eager to dig up old feelings.

The misunderstanding that pulled them apart gets cleared up pretty early, not directly, but because he tells her to read his book to find out. And from then on, that’s exactly what she’s doing for most of the story: reading his book, reacting to it, dealing with her feelings about it, snippets from Beckett’s chapters so we get his side, and more than necessary flashbacks.

What ended up frustrating me the most was just how heavily the book relied on the past. I expected some of it based on the blurb, but I didn’t expect that much. After a point it became too much, and I found myself losing interest and wanting to skip ahead to when they’d finally meet again in the present. And to add to it, they don’t even meet in the present for nearly 80% of the book. If I had known that, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up at all. The author spent so much time building the past that the present ended up feeling rushed in comparison, especially the ending.

I also think the whole “Beckett is engaged” plotline either needed to be scrapped or handled very differently. The way he casually announced in a magazine that he proposed because he “didn’t want her to leave,” only for his fiancée to find out he wrote an entire book about someone else, was… wild. Then he immediately follows that breakup by declaring publicly that he wants Melody? It all felt way too easy and honestly a bit ridiculous.

And while we’re here, Beckett expecting everything to smoothly fall back into place with Melody didn’t sit right with me either. He kept insisting she was the only one who mattered, but he was the one who got engaged. No one forced him into that decision. Nothing he says erases the fact that he made that choice, and Melody had every right to pull away.

By the time they actually reunited, I was so annoyed that I didn’t even want them together anymore, but of course, once he ended things with his fiancée, everything just slotted neatly back into place. And then he’s proposing again within a few days? Spare me the “soulmates” rhetoric.

I also didn’t really understand the storyline with Melody talking to her mother’s ghost? or memory? or whatever it was meant to be. She explicitly calls it a ghost at one point, and I just didn’t get how that fit. The idea itself could have worked if handled differently, but here it just felt out of place.

All that said, I do think the writing itself was strong. The snippets from Beckett’s book were genuinely well done, and readers who enjoy emotional, reflective romance might click with this more than I did. But overall, it really didn’t work for me personally.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two writers meet on a plane trip to Aruba. Melody Adams is a romance novelist/teacher and traveling with her sick mother. Beckett Nash works for the government (the park system?) and is an aspiring novelist. They hit it off and have an amazing weeklong whirlwind romance over the course of their vacation. This is a book written in two different timelines–in the modern day, Melody is a teacher, just finishing up a romantic comedy complete with HEA about her romance with Beckett (called Nash in her book!) but some of the details are similar to a book Beckett just published and she is freaking out because people are accusing her of plagiarism or worse, so her publishing team wants her to do an interview with Beckett and clear things up. Problem is, she had a really bad falling out with Beckett and hasn’t spoken to him since Aruba. The flashbacks show you their romance from meet cute at the airport, until the bitter end and how they did not get their HEA.

I thought this was a really good book. I really liked the dual timeline structure because it revealed information slowly. Like you know somethings are going to happen (like her mother passes away, and they break up) but you aren’t sure HOW they happen. It was definitely not a rom com, but a more emotional romance novel similar to Love and Other Words (also with multiple timelines!).

Melody and Beckett were fine as romance leads. Melody felt a little generic, but Beckett was such a sweetheart and a total romantic. It was interesting to see how they changed from the past to the current day. Birdie, Melody’s mother was a stand out, she was a very well drawn– a humorous and eccentric character without overpowering the plot. Other side characters were fun, I would read an entire book about Evan, her publicist.

My sole complaint is how the simple the resolution seemed–it’s hard to explain without spoiling the plot but it seemed to resolve fairly quickly. But overall, this was a very enjoyable book. Recommended for people who like Christina Lauren’s more emotional books. (There may have been some tears reading this book.)

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and CosmoReads for the ARC.

[Migdalia Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance writer Melody is going on a once in a lifetime trip- one week in Aruba to de-stress and spend quality time with her terminally ill mother. On the flight there she meets Beckett, an aspiring author on a solo writing trip. Sparks fly between them right away and they end up spending every day together, falling head over heels for eachother. But when they return home, they unexpectedly lose contact, each brokenhearted and believing the other ghosted them.

Two years later, they’ve each published a novel about their time together, with Beckett’s book making him an overnight literary star, while Melody is accused of plagiarizing his work. Now they must meet to clear Melody of the accusations and in the process they learn the truth about what really happened after they last said goodbye.

Told through alternating timelines -flashbacks and present day- as well as excerpts of Beckett’s book, this heart-wrenching novel deals with heavy topics of family drama and grief while still managing to be an escapist beach read. This multilayered and sexy love story set in a lavish tropical locale will appeal to readers featuring travel and bookish storylines.

Thank you to the publisher, Cosmo Reads, for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Harlee]

Two writers meet on vacation and spend a perfect week together, falling immediately in love. But when they accidentally lose contact, both fly back home to do as writers do: write about it. What could possibly go wrong?

I thought this was a super cute read - but unfortunately…forgettable. I had a good time reading it but I don’t think I will ever think about it again. The dialogue was a little cringe and cheesy but cute. By no means do I think this is a bad book, just not for me!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

[rachel x]

"In this emotionally gripping tale, two writers meet on vacation and spend a perfect week together, falling immediately, deeply in love. But when they accidentally lose contact, both fly back home to do as writers do: write about it. What could possibly go wrong?"

oooooh