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My Wingman #1

My Wingman

"My Wingman" A Debut Novel from women's fiction author, Tessa King

Life had never been easy for Clover. With the loss of her mother at birth and her grandmother's descent into dementia, she felt like she was constantly dodging curveballs. But nothing could have prepared her for the devastating heartbreak of losing her best friend and soulmate, Elliot. Crushed by grief, Clover is encouraged by her rebellious friend Reese to escape to an enchanting town where coffee flows freely and friendships spark like fireworks. Here, she meets Sadie, a kind single mom, and reconnects with Everett, the charming brother of her late friend. As she navigates unexpected connections and is haunted by ghostly glimpses of Elliot, Clover must decide whether to hold on to the past or take a leap of faith towards a new future. Join Clover on her journey of healing and rediscovering love, because sometimes the best wingman is the one that stirs your soul.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2025

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About the author

Tessa King

1 book5 followers
Tessa King is an emerging author whose debut novel, My Wingman, explores themes of courage, and the journey of rediscovering happiness after grief. With a professional background in laboratory science, Tessa brings a unique perspective to her storytelling and enjoys analyzing rich, emotional narratives.
When she isn't writing, you can find her supporting her husband at the dragstrip, indulging in her passion for coffee and books, or enjoying quality time with her beloved German Shepherd, Preacher. Residing in the Midwest, she admits to having a terrible green thumb and is still mastering the art of knitting. However, she shines in the art of sarcasm and delights in baking sweet treats. A devoted Detroit Lions fan, Tessa embraces life with humor and heart, inviting readers to join her on her literary adventures.

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5 stars
26 (78%)
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4 (12%)
3 stars
2 (6%)
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1 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer Glancy.
29 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2025
I recommend this book, it's an grief emotional journey. I loved it, it's so refreshing to read!
Profile Image for McCayleigh Daniels.
14 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2025
This book completely stole my heart. My Wingman is the kind of story that sneaks up on you—grief, healing, found family, and just the right touch of ghostly magic. Clover felt so real, and her journey was both heartbreaking and beautiful. I adored the cozy small town vibes, the layered characters, and how the story gently unfolded with moments of laughter and love. Tessa King’s writing is emotional in the best way—tender, relatable, and full of charm. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something that’ll make you cry a little, smile a lot, and believe in second chances. 💫
Profile Image for READER VIEWS.
5,443 reviews452 followers
July 30, 2025
Clover is devastated to unexpectedly lose her platonic soulmate and best friend, Elliot. With the death of her mother at birth, combined with the steady decline of her grandmother’s health due to the onset of dementia, she is no stranger to grief and heartache. Forced to re-evaluate her life and at a crossroads, Clover takes a trip to the charming town of Franklin, Tennessee. However, encountering old ghosts is never easy, and she must learn to live and laugh again in order to move forward.

With characters who tug at your heartstrings and strong emotional resonance, My Wingman by Tessa King is an enchanting, inspirational novel. There is an otherworldly, almost ethereal quality to the writing, with Clover oftentimes spotting signs of angels in her surroundings—such as the stained-glass windows in the church she enters in Franklin, and the monument of a young angel she encounters as a child. This recurring motif acts as a symbol of hope and spiritual guidance, stemming from forces beyond human understanding or control.

Despite passing away in the early stages of the book, Elliot’s influence and continuing presence are at the heart of this poignant story. In life, he acted as Clover’s wingman and best friend; now that he’s gone, she has to adapt and start afresh. The non-linear narrative structure oscillates back and forth between past and present, offering the reader key insights into Clover’s relationship with Elliot before he died. This creates suspense, which keeps the reader hooked throughout the story.

King has a talent for creating three-dimensional, relatable characters. Clover’s grief is palpable, yet her determination to forge her own path amid adversity is admirable. Her complex relationship with Elliot is explored in heartrending detail, and the narrative is infused with a sense of loss and longing. Clover’s interactions with Elliot’s flirtatious playboy brother, Everett, are equally engaging. Unlike Elliot, Everett is hard to read; his feelings toward Clover are a constant source of intrigue. Other characters—such as free-spirited roommate and close friend, Reese, and upbeat café owner, Sadie, along with her cute daughter, Poppy—broaden the narrative, offering Clover opportunities for friendship, healing, and a fresh start.

With its detailed emotional reflection and focus on self-transformation, My Wingman will undoubtedly appeal to fans of women’s fiction. A close first-person point of view provides compelling and intimate insights into the central protagonist’s thoughts and feelings. This allows us to identify with Clover, rooting for her all the way.

Heartfelt and moving, My Wingman will stay with you long after the final page. Written with a magical, gossamer touch, this is a story not to be missed by those who believe in the power of fate and promise of love. Poignant and tender, yet also cozy and uplifting, Tessa King’s romance novel will transport you to a new celestial realm.
Profile Image for Timea B.
59 reviews6 followers
May 18, 2025
If you are looking for a soulful read that will make you tear up with joy and sadness (in no particular order), look no further than Tessa King’s “My Wingman.” A refreshing young adult romance, this debut novel beautifully captures the complex dynamics of friendship, love, loss, and self-fulfillment.

The book reveals Clover’s tangled life, filled with grief, love, and uncertainty. After losing her mother at birth, learning that her grandmother has dementia, and mourning the tragic death of her soulmate friend Elliot, she feels overwhelmed and lost.

Encouraged by her vibrant college friend Reese, Clover escapes to the charming town of Franklin, where she makes new, meaningful connections like Sadie, a warm-hearted single mom and her new best friend (and Sadie’s daughter), Poppy. Everett, Elliot’s brother, also re-enters her life.

As she navigates grief and new friendships, Clover’s life path splits and she must choose a future for herself. While Chicago’s warm familiarity is a comfortable choice, she feels an alluring magnetism of building a fresh start in Franklin. She faces a life-changing decision, and things only get more complicated when she begins seeing visions of Elliott’s ghost, leaving her to question not just her choices, but her sanity.

While the book deals with many big topics, these are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the narrative, creating a smooth texture. The fictional lives of the characters feel tangible and relatable. To different extents, we all experience these big, life-changing events, and live within their shadow.

Tessa King takes a very detailed and introspective approach to growing out from under the shadow of loss. Although no longer physically in your life, lost loved ones are incorporated into your essence, forever companions.

What makes “My Wingman” truly stand out is the depth of feeling woven into every page. It’s clear that a great deal of heart went into crafting this story, and even more powerful is the range of emotions it stirs in the reader. Just as the main character, Clover, brings luck to those around her, Tessa King offers something just as profound to her readers: hope.
105 reviews13 followers
June 1, 2025
In her soul-stirring debut, My Wingman, Tessa King crafts a beautifully rendered story of grief, healing, and rediscovery through the lens of a young woman grappling with loss. Clover, a pre-med student burdened by the death of her platonic soulmate, Elliot, and the slow decline of her grandmother to dementia, is no stranger to pain. Yet, this isn’t merely a novel about grief - it’s a quiet and deeply authentic journey toward hope. When Clover unexpectedly travels to the quirky town of Franklin, she finds herself slowly unfolding again, surrounded by new friendships, an echo from the past, and an unexpected tether to love.

King’s writing is emotionally charged yet delicately restrained, creating space for the reader to breathe through Clover’s experiences. From the story’s melancholy opening to its tender revelations, the prose is rich with lyrical beauty and resonant honesty. Grief is not treated as a hurdle to overcome, but as a constant companion - sometimes heavy, sometimes transformative. The characters Clover meets in Franklin—especially Sadie, Poppy, and Everett (Elliot’s brother) - form a vibrant patchwork of community that contrasts beautifully with her inner chaos. Their presence, alongside Clover’s ghostly visions of Elliot, complicates and deepens her emotional journey, echoing how our past, no matter how distant, lingers in the quietest corners of our future.

What makes My Wingman unforgettable is its emotional authenticity. Every scene feels deeply lived, every choice Clover makes rings with the truth of someone fumbling their way back to life. Tessa King doesn’t just write about moving on—she writes about carrying your losses with you in a way that transforms rather than diminishes. This is a book that doesn’t flinch from sadness but still makes space for laughter, friendship, and the subtle magic of second chances. My Wingman is a poignant reminder that even through grief, love finds a way to re-enter our lives - sometimes quietly, sometimes as a ghost, and sometimes, as a wingman.
Profile Image for Abhay Singh.
1,144 reviews85 followers
June 4, 2025

⚫️Tessa King’s My Wingman is one of those novels that quietly weaves its way into your heart and makes itself at home. At its essence, it’s a tale about grief but even more so, it’s about how we keep moving forward after loss, how we discover new reasons to rise each day, and how love of all shapes and sizes can help us find our way back to ourselves.

⚫️The story centers around Clover, a young woman who has faced more than her fair share of heartache. She lost her mother at birth, is gradually losing her grandmother to dementia, and has recently had to say goodbye to her best friend and soulmate, Elliot. Her world feels heavy until she takes a brave step and relocates to the quaint town of Franklin, seeking a fresh start.

⚫️In Franklin, Clover encounters a colorful array of characters who gradually help her piece herself back together. There’s Sadie, a nurturing single mom, and Everett, Elliot’s younger brother, who brings both comfort and a bit of confusion. Throughout it all, Clover continues to see Elliot—his ghost appearing during moments of doubt, loss, and tender love.

⚫️What makes this book truly special is how authentic everything feels. The grief, the awkwardness of healing, the joy found in the little, everyday moments Tessa King captures it all with a gentle honesty that’s hard to resist. Clover’s journey is far from easy, but it’s incredibly relatable. Anyone who has experienced loss will find fragments of their own story within hers.

⚫️If you’re in the mood for a novel that’s heartfelt, sincere, and filled with hope along with a hint of the ethereal My Wingman is definitely worth snuggling up with. It’s the kind of story that softly reminds you: even amidst heartbreak, there’s always a path forward.

Happy reading ❤️✨
Profile Image for Misty Knapp.
147 reviews2 followers
June 1, 2025
Clover has lost several people who are dear to her, and now her grandmother suffers from dementia. This is her journey through life with grief as her constant companion. Unexpectedly, she loses her best friend, Elliot, her Wingman. They had promised to be each other’s wingman and had planned their lives out, including to getting married, living next door, and raising their children to be best friends.
With the support and love of family and friends (especially her best friend’s brother, Everett), she slowly heals, all the while knowing grief will never leave but will just become duller. Clover is encouraged to take a trip to Franklin, one that she and Elliot would have taken together.
While there, she works through questions such as what she’s to do with her life (she enjoys teaching yoga with her friend, but she wants to finish her degree and become a doctor).
It is while there, she believes she sees Elliot… is it a trick of the mind? Is she going crazy, or is it grief? Clover gets the answer to those questions when she returns to Chicago for a friend’s wedding and stops by a store to pick up something Elliot ordered shortly before his accident.
What a surreal ride that is, and a final piece to the puzzle of helping Clover’s healing. I would recommend this puzzle not only because the reader feels they are right there, but I feel it would help anyone struggling with grief.
Profile Image for Caroline Musyoka.
98 reviews4 followers
June 23, 2025
Tessa King, author of My Wingman has done an incredible job of weaving in different life experiences of various people to come up with this impactful read. This story was enthralling to say the least. The characters in the book connect with each to contribute to the general narrative and thematic development of the plot. I can say that this was a very simple read for me in that it was pretty straightforward. There was no use of complex language hence making it easy to understand and follow through. This is a story of hope, resilience, love and connections. It is a testament that one can experience happiness in the most bizarre and unexpected situations. When Elliot dies, Clover’s life takes an unexpected turn. At the beginning, things are difficult for her as she tries to find a way to move on. However, it feels like Elliot’s presence is always with her which is reassuring as well as troubling. Her friend Reese, is always there to comfort her during these times. I feel that the author has divided this story into three segments, each one with its own clear emotional arc. The emotions are heavy at the beginning but mellow down towards the end of the story. This depicts that there is always light at the end of the tunnel in any dark situation. This is women’s fictional book that I can truly recommend!
231 reviews12 followers
June 2, 2025
A Heartwarming Story of Grief and Healing

This isn’t usually the kind of book I'd go for, but I’m glad I got to read My Wingman. It’s a warm, emotionally layered story about navigating grief and finding small pockets of hope along the way. Clover’s journey is quiet but powerful, and it pulled me in more than I expected. Her relationship with Elliot felt incredibly real, and the depth of their bond made her heartbreak even more moving. Even in her heaviest moments, there’s a softness to her story that keeps you rooting for her healing.

Tessa King writes in a way that makes it easy to connect with Clover’s pain. You don’t just read her grief, you feel it. If you’ve ever lost someone, there’s a good chance you’ll see parts of yourself in her. I loved how the book didn't rush her healing but instead gave space for all the messy, confusing parts of grief. The small-town setting, new friendships, and quiet connection with Everett gave the story light when it needed it most. It’s emotional without being overwhelming, and honest without losing its hopeful tone.

If you enjoy heartfelt reads that leave a lasting impression, My Wingman is one you should definitely check out.
Profile Image for Madison Briggs.
3 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2025
this book was a beautiful story of loss, healing, family, and love.

it follows clover after dealing with the loss of her best friend and soulmate, elliot. clover was discovering who she was and making big plans for herself and her future in a new town. a true fresh start surrounded by kind supportive people. this book does a great job of going through the stages of grief, it’s not linear and there are times clover struggles more than others to cope with the loss of her best friend. we experience each stage of grief with clover. she continues dealing with the loss and her future without him throughout the book and it’s touching. the last third of the book was so intriguing and i really enjoyed the introduction of axel as well. i love how clover really found a family in her new friends and opened herself up to love. the healing throughout the book and especially in the final few chapters was beautiful.

all that said, elliot truly was the best wingman.
Profile Image for Laura.
39 reviews5 followers
March 1, 2026
#bookloungereviewteam
#Grief, #resilience, #starcrossed
Clover is finishing her last year in college in Chicago when her best friend and rock, Elliot is killed in a car accident. Thrown into a talespin, she has to deal with her grief. Prior to his death, the two had planned to visit the town of Franklin, near Savannah Georgia, where Clover's grandmother was living. Everett, Elliot's younger brother encourages Clover to go the Franklin anyway. She agrees and begins to move on with her life. Coming to Franklin opens a whole new life for Clover, where she makes new friends, gets a job, and even is able to pursue her dream of opening a yoga studio.But she has a lingering feeling that Elliot is still looking out for her. Prior to his death, Elliot tells Clover that he sees her with his brother, and this statement continues to plague her for months. Check out the conclusion of this tale, in My Wingman by Tessa King .
199 reviews9 followers
May 23, 2025
My Wingman is a beautiful journey of healing and overcoming the pain of grief. It focuses on Clover, a young pre-med college student, as she tries to overcome the loss of her best friend Elliot and move on with new friends.

This book is a melancholy read, but also quite uplifting. From the very first page, it opens with a funeral (although not the funeral of her best friend), revealing to us Clover’s almost avoidant nature. In many ways, the novel is a documentation of the stages of grief, experienced through Clover. Author Tessa King takes readers on a healing journey through her vivid, emotionally charged charged writing style. The pacing is perfect—Tessa knows when to move the story along quickly, and when to keep us experiencing the turmoil in Clover’s mind.

I love this read for its emotional take on the healing journey. Truly impressive.
113 reviews10 followers
June 1, 2025
"My Wingman" by Tessa King is a delightful, inspiring, and feel-good read.
The main character, Clover, is going through a difficult time in his life and has had personal losses. But a new location and new relationships bring love and new adjustments to her life. Love warms and heals, as the title implies. Warmth, love, inspiration, and optimism abound in her healing path. It makes reading more pleasant and joyful.
Narrative is smooth and engaging. Characters are well written and developed and relatable. An incredibly heartwarming read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christal Hubbard.
89 reviews
February 24, 2026
This is a story about how grief can soften into hope. How love can bloom from broken places. And how sometimes the most beautiful chapters are written after the hardest ones. The friendship among the characters were so genuine.

Truly the sweetest read.
Profile Image for Tessa King.
Author 1 book5 followers
Read
May 20, 2025
As the author, I will not rate my own book, but I'm excited to share it with readers and would love to hear your thoughts!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews