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17 days and 05:52:11
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Tropesick
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 05:52:11
10 copies available
U.S. only
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 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 listeners’ favorite
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
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 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 listeners’ favorite
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
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
4 people are currently reading
4671 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Okie
2 books160 followersHi, I’m Lauren Okie, and I write messy, hard-fought love stories. My debut, THE BEST WORST THING, is out now. Look out for TROPESICK, coming summer 2026, and follow me on IG (@laurenokieauthor) to keep up with my nonsense.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 16, 2025
A genius, magical exploration of grief, addiction, and love. Not the words you’d use to describe such a scenario but truly those three capture the spirit of Lauren Okie’s sophomore novel. I adored this story, it will live in my heart for a very long time. Not only is it a fresh take on the tropes we love so well, it is a heart-achingly beautiful portrayal of love as it explores dark themes with a guarantee of a happily-ever-after. Katie and Tyler’s story is one that echoes the harsh realities of life and how love perseveres, how love and light find their way. This propulsive and tear inducing story that will have you hooked until well after you’ve finished the last page because it is so unflinching in its depiction of life, it doesn’t shy away from the dark and sad realities we face when tragedy strikes. I love how raw and vulnerable this story is, these characters are, it cuts right to the soul, the core of humanity and how we are all people just wanting to be loved, romantically, platonically, all of it, all the way. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
December 28, 2025
Lauren Okie making me enjoy a dual pov first person book? And I throughly vibe with the man’s perspective?? crazy work!!!! This was well written and I enjoyed Katie and Tyler’s love story. Lauren’s character work is my favorite part of the story and the pool scene (omg the pool scene!!)
There’s a twist that happens in the last third that I’m still mulling over and kind of took me by surprise. Although the harder I think about it, the more the clues were there all along. Much to think about!!!
There’s a twist that happens in the last third that I’m still mulling over and kind of took me by surprise. Although the harder I think about it, the more the clues were there all along. Much to think about!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
this was amazing and so unique. this was written so beautifully, between poetic, and lyrical with so much meaning. it had everything you’d want in a romance, banter, moments of humor, sweetness, sadness, and of course tons of romance tropes. i annotated my galley copy and had so much fun doing so, thank you to the publisher for that 💖
while it is romantic, it definitely had the deeper themes of grief and healing from losing a loved one to addiction. my heart ached for them both. that last 10% was wow 🤯 i can’t even grasp how beautiful yet heartbreaking this was. katie and tyler both were grieving with so much pain while also slowly learning to heal and forgive
katie is a completely normal twenty five year old girl, likes glitter and flirting with boys at nyc bars, but she’s also a ghostwriter for a best selling romance novelist named meredith. then tyler walks back into her life and her bedazzled decade crumbles. they haven’t spoken to each other since the overdose death of her older brother.
tyler was her brother’s best friend and katie the girl next door, but now he is a sleeve-tatted, ivy league-educated, and aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober and her writing partner for the summer. as genre conventions require, they soon find themselves removed from manhattan and writing their love story in “forced proximity” at meredith’s isolated southampton home. as the summer unfolds, the tropes they have written begin to play out in their own lives.
tropes: grumpy x sunshine, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, kissing in the rain, second chance romance, only one bed, forgiveness, found family
content warning: grief and addiction
🌞📖🌧️❤️🩹🌇
while it is romantic, it definitely had the deeper themes of grief and healing from losing a loved one to addiction. my heart ached for them both. that last 10% was wow 🤯 i can’t even grasp how beautiful yet heartbreaking this was. katie and tyler both were grieving with so much pain while also slowly learning to heal and forgive
katie is a completely normal twenty five year old girl, likes glitter and flirting with boys at nyc bars, but she’s also a ghostwriter for a best selling romance novelist named meredith. then tyler walks back into her life and her bedazzled decade crumbles. they haven’t spoken to each other since the overdose death of her older brother.
tyler was her brother’s best friend and katie the girl next door, but now he is a sleeve-tatted, ivy league-educated, and aspiring literary fiction novelist, nine years sober and her writing partner for the summer. as genre conventions require, they soon find themselves removed from manhattan and writing their love story in “forced proximity” at meredith’s isolated southampton home. as the summer unfolds, the tropes they have written begin to play out in their own lives.
tropes: grumpy x sunshine, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, kissing in the rain, second chance romance, only one bed, forgiveness, found family
content warning: grief and addiction
🌞📖🌧️❤️🩹🌇
November 25, 2025
The most insane romance I've ever read (effusively complimentary). Lauren Okie really did the thing with this one. The writing made me want to throw up, both poetic and lyrical, but also razor sharp. The plot work - I couldn't believe it. I finished it this morning and turned back to page 1 and then I just put my head in my hands and was like...how TF did she pull this off. It's romance, it's lit fic, it's speculative - it's perfect.
We are so lucky to live in a world where Lauren Okie is writing books, because this is dizzingly ambitious, beautiful, risk-taking actual art. DAMN!!!! One of the most impressive books I've read in a really long time.
We are so lucky to live in a world where Lauren Okie is writing books, because this is dizzingly ambitious, beautiful, risk-taking actual art. DAMN!!!! One of the most impressive books I've read in a really long time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
was craving a contemporary romance and this one HIT. it was such a page turner that I finished it in one day. fast-paced, well written, and has two deeply flawed characters who unintentionally mend the broken pieces from inside themselves throughout the story. you read it and go “yeah, THAT’S love.” ✨🫵💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lauren is writing the hard-won, life-affirming romances of my dreams. I can't wait for everyone to read!
December 9, 2025
Beautifully written, darkly funny, and super hot.
A romance with teeth, depth, longing, class commentary, beautiful settings, cutting humor... Tropesick has fun with everything we love about romance novels while being about so much more. A must-read!
A romance with teeth, depth, longing, class commentary, beautiful settings, cutting humor... Tropesick has fun with everything we love about romance novels while being about so much more. A must-read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews