The Rally: A Novel

by Carla Vass

Professional overachiever Charlie has spent the last four years consumed with building Flutter, the dating app she co-founded in college with two classmates. Despite Charlie's own lack of dating experience—she's never even had a boyfriend—Flutter is instantly successful. Perhaps too successful. After rejecting the romantic advances of her co-founder, Charlie finds herself unceremoniously ousted (probably just a coincidence).
     Devastated and directionless, she books a last-minute flight to Europe to join her best friend on the Rally—an extravagant road trip where an eccentric cast of characters drives classic cars and parties their way through breathtaking locations. Despite feeling out of place among the glamorous guests, Charlie relishes her new freedom and indulges in the hedonism of the Rally, including a budding romance with financier James, the charming nephew of one of the organizers.
     But just as Charlie begins to debug her malfunctioning life, she discovers that James was involved in her ousting. Reeling from yet another betrayal, Charlie realizes she can’t out-drive her past. To move forward, she must confront difficult questions about trust, love, and find a way to redefine her future on her terms.

Genres: Romance, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 29, 2026

Reviews

[Alya]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The Rally by Carla Vass
Publication date 29th September 2026
Thoughts | 3.5 ⭐️
I'm conflicted on how to rate this one; when the author kindly reached out to me about this book she told me that she had read The Wedding People review and thought I might like this one; which I did but it just didn't have the same affect on me, I didn't resonate with the the characters the way I had thought I would going into this.

I enjoyed the glamorous feel this plot had to it, rich people partying booze ect kinda reminded me of The White Lotus series, having recently started it and finishing season one it was nice to be back into that atmosphere. However the part that had me invested in the most was the emails and figuring out who had sent them.
If you're ever in the mood for a read that makes you feel like your on holiday while reading then I definitely recommend this book.
I would like to read more from this author in the future.

Plot Summary
Charlie; a successful entrepreneur who is unexpectedly pushed out of the dating app she helped create. Lost and heartbroken, she travels to Europe to join her best friend on a glamorous road trip called the Rally. There, she enjoys a new sense of freedom and begins a romance with James, but another betrayal forces her to face her past. Charlie must learn to trust again and figure out what she truly wants for her future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

My Bookstagram

[Eve Tsak]

DNF 45%
I’m sorry I felt like this had so much potential. and it does like don’t get me wrong but maybe I’m just not in the right frame but I think it was kind of hard for me to follow because there was so many characters introduced because it’s very much like the White Lotus. But I didn’t know at a point who is who and I think that atmospheric ideas to just weren’t working for me in terms of playing out and I was just getting a bit lost and kind of I wasn’t intrigued anymore. However, I was intrigued with the emails that she was receiving and I wanted to know then what ended up happening with her and James so I’m a bit conflicted but right now I’m just going to stop reading because it’s not helping.

[Anabelle]

Perfect end of summer read. THANK YOU MOLLY!!!!!!! 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[Paula Storm]

I want to gather all my friends and join the Rally. Glamorous people, tons of booze, not a care in the world. Well, unless you count Charlie’s career nosedive. Honestly, I could’ve done without all the startup investment speak. And she does present a really weak woman who although started her own company, got sexually harassed out of it and seems to suffer a panic attack at every turn (unrelated to the copious amounts of alcohol and drugs imbibed on the trip). If you remove these elements, sign me up for the next Rally!

[EM R]

cross-posted to my review blog

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for giving me a free ARC of this book to read.

I tend to be particularly fond of narratives that are the complete and total opposite of my own life because they allow me to turn the escapism up to 100. That’s a major reason why I enjoyed the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in a way that I haven’t enjoyed any other movie in a long time. The other reason is, well, Benicio Del Toro.

In a related vein, The Rally by Carla Vass introduces us to a bunch of wealthy people who take a two-week road trip through Europe, drinking, fucking, and drugging their way through several countries. The absurdity of their behavior is what makes it so entertaining.

The book focuses on Charlotte, co-founder of a startup dating app who gets pushed out of her own company by the men in charge. They give her a pretty bad deal: Take the payout, sign the NDA, and never work in tech again, or walk away with nothing and risk being sued if she ever speaks out. What do you do in that situation? The answer is “something impulsive.” She joins her friend Lina on the Rally, which consists of a bunch of wildly rich business owners, models, and celebrities taking Europe by storm in their favorite classic cars—no vehicle under 40 years old permitted.

Throughout the journey, Charlotte keeps receiving cryptic emails threatening her to take the deal, preventing her from fully leaving her woes behind in the States. Alongside dealing with that, she starts cozying up to one of the Rally-goers, James, who is a workaholic like her, while navigating the ever-shifting interpersonal dynamics of the other characters.

While I appreciate the mesmerizing quality of this book that makes it feel like a never-ending vacation, including the scenery and food descriptions, there are other things that aren’t so fun.

How do I say this? Charlotte became annoying the further I got. I was about to add that she acts like she’s hardly been around a man before, but the book summary literally says she’s never had a boyfriend, so. To her credit, she does acknowledge this.

Her behavior is off-kilter. One minute she’s super confident and sunning topless on a yacht like the other women, and the next minute—depending on whichever man is present—she turns into a shy and lost wilting flower. That is her entire problem and the crux of her character arc; men completely influence her life and her choices, regardless of whether they’re doing it on purpose.

Maybe I don’t have enough grace for Charlotte. She’s adopted the “grin and bear it” act through years of workplace misogyny, and combining this with her lack of experience in dealing with men on a non-platonic level, she views men through an oddly naive lens. James steadily gets closer to her in a way that’s more than just “road-trip buddy” friendliness, but she’s constantly second-guessing things and making up he’s just being nice excuses. Later, another man pushes and injures her at a party, fracturing her ribs and all—and this isn’t the first time he’s put his hands on her—yet for a moment, she tries to brush it away as maybe I accidentally tripped and fell.

But maybe my real lack of patience is because it seems impossible for me to pick up a book with a female protagonist without being subjected to a scene of sexual violence somewhere along the way. The world may never know.

This book largely struggles from not fully developing its characters, which isn’t helped by the expansive cast. Charlotte and Lina are best friends, and we’re presented with several of their childhood anecdotes, but I never feel sold on their relationship. It doesn’t help that Lina spends most of her time with one of the Rally guys, Matt. To be as tight-knit as they supposedly are, the two women hardly interact through the first 70% of the book, and certainly not in any meaningful way.

Similarly, I’m not moved by any of the side characters or their backstories. I’m not even moved by the story of Charlotte’s parents dying. All of this information feels like it was inserted because the author knows it’s important to give the characters body, but it doesn’t land emotionally. There’s more telling vs. showing; we’re told Lina and Charlotte are childhood friends, and we’re told that Charlotte occasionally misses her dead parents, but it doesn’t get much deeper than that. The disagreement and later-occurring heartfelt talk between Lina and Charlotte flow at such a quick pace that there’s no chance to emotionally connect with either of those moments.

I also don’t love the banter between James and Charlotte. I’m not sure I enjoy the banter between a lot of romantic leads, honestly, whether it’s movies or books. It comes off as try-hard sometimes—or plain irritating. Why does there have to be a smartass quip after every other thing someone says?

Ultimately, this book’s plot is pretty straightforward and you can predict how it’ll end from a mile away, but that might be part of the appeal for people who like quick and simple reads. The parts where everyone’s perpetually drunk and partying are the most interesting to me, but since these activities are what they spend all of their time doing, things can get repetitive. And don’t expect too much in the way of character development for anyone who’s not Charlotte.

As a side note, I remain hung up on the fact that Charlotte just barely knows who Freddie Mercury is but is familiar with other pop cultural references, such as quoting from the movie The Silence of the Lambs. How does that happen? (I could also survive without the Harry Potter references, which I can’t believe authors are still doing in 2026. Why are y’all hell-bent on giving that woman added attention and money?)

Pick up this book if you like:

🚗Rich people behaving badly
🚗Vacationing/road-tripping stories
🚗Girlbosses
🚗“Reinventing myself” success stories
🚗Vacation romances

Pass it by if you don’t want to read about:

🚗Sexual harassment, physical assault
🚗Driving while intoxicated (like…A LOT)
🚗Workplace misogyny
🚗Infidelity, side-character love triangles
🚗An unexpected amount of startup/corporate jargon

[RUTH Maus]

The Rally has one of those premises that immediately feels glossy, cinematic, and dangerously good for anyone who has ever thought, “Maybe fleeing to Europe would fix me.”

Charlie, freshly ousted from the dating app she co-founded, joins her best friend on an extravagant classic car rally through Europe, surrounded by luxury, parties, beautiful scenery, and the kind of people who seem like they have never once had to check their bank account before ordering another drink. Honestly, as an escapist setup? Very strong. Very “pack sunglasses and unresolved trauma.”

The strongest part of this book for me was absolutely the atmosphere. Carla Vass does a great job capturing the glamor of the rally itself: the classic cars, the European locations, the wealth, the freedom, the slightly surreal feeling of being dropped into a world where everyone is beautiful, chaotic, and possibly hiding something. The setting has a polished, sunlit, champagne-slick quality that made the book easy to sink into.

I also liked the idea of Charlie’s arc. A professional overachiever who has poured her whole self into building something, only to be pushed out and left wondering who she is without it, is a compelling setup. Her lack of dating experience as the co-founder of a dating app is also a fun irony, and I was interested in seeing her confront ambition, betrayal, trust, and reinvention.

That said, while I enjoyed the world of the book, I wanted more from the characters and plot. A lot of the emotional beats felt somewhat surface level, and I kept wishing the story would dig deeper into Charlie’s interiority, her relationships, and the fallout of the betrayals she experiences. The bones of a really sharp, glamorous, emotionally messy story are here, but I wanted more complexity and development to fully invest.

Still, The Rally is stylish, atmospheric, and easy to read, especially if you enjoy luxury travel settings, classic cars, complicated rich people, and stories about women trying to rebuild their lives after professional and personal upheaval.

A solid 3-star read for me: loved the vibe, wanted a little more under the hood.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Mary]

Book Title: The Rally
Author: Carla Vass
Publishers: Union Square & Co. + Hachette Audio  
Pub Date: September 29, 2026
Dates Read: July 30, 2026 – August 29, 2026

🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: First of all, I find Vass’s story to be so inspiring. Goldman Sachs to Uber to Waymo to her own startup?! Girl has game, and she brought it to writing. I was incredibly impressed with the fact that The Rally is a debut, and her writing hooked me from the first page. I was instantly mad for what Charlie was going through, and then we get taken into the world of the uber-rich, fancy cars, and looooooots of alcohol. There was nary a moment when I didn’t want to drink a glass of wine or champagne while I was reading, and it kind of made me feel like an alcoholic by proxy. 🤣 The romance piece doesn’t come until much later in the book and is quite the slow burning/unassuming kind until we get close to the end. I loved all the buildup, and I think it made it even sweeter.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster, and I was thankful it was humorous while still having plenty of depth. I loved how Charlie changed and evolved as the story went on, and I was basically in full fist-pumping mode by the time we hit the end. This does have a romance, yes, but it is about so much more than that. Also? I really want to go on a car rally through Europe now…

🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: N/A (but you better believe I will be listening when it comes out as a reread!)

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: N/A
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️.5

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Mal]

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square for the advanced reader copy

Charlotte "Charlie" Walker's life is in tatters: her co-founder of Flutter, a dating app, has found a way to push her out of the company she's given her life to. Trying to hang on to the shreds of her dignity she accepts when Lina, her best friend, invites her to The Rally--an extravagant European road trip filled with expensive cars, quirky characters, and lots of booze. When Charlie gets close to James, one of the other people on the trip, she starts to envision a life beyond Flutter. But when a shocking revelation about how she was ousted from her company--and how multiple people at The Rally are involved--she has to decide who she wants to be and how she's going to live her life moving forward.

This was an excellent debut novel. There were some typical debut issues (the last part of the book felt a little too neatly wrapped up, given how much chaos the author released on the characters), but overall this was a really fun story set in a twist on the world of the 1%. Charlie was a layered and intriguing character who also acts as the eyes of the reader (her life has been adjacent to wealth but she doesn't breathe the same air they do). Trying to keep track of all the players in The Rally was hard but didn't feel necessary in order to get the gist of everything constantly being on the edge of exploding. The author also did a good job of portraying Charlie's panic attacks with a realistic but not overly schmaltzy touch. This was a fun story and I'm looking forward to seeing what Carla Vass comes up with next.

The Rally is out September 29, 2026

[Tiffany]

Thank you to netgally and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled with this book from start to finish. I would have liked a bit more depth and characters who were more captivating and complex.

To begin with, the opening—where the female protagonist gets fired from the dating app she created—was strangely similar to Emma Gannon's Table For One. The plotlines are almost identical, which took me aback at first; perhaps a good editor would have noticed that two books with such similar premises were slated for publication in the same year... While the rest of the story differs, the similarity was still striking.
I really struggled with the behavior of the female lead and all the other characters. There was so much alcohol and drug use—and for what? It added nothing to the story, and I felt like the author was trying to justify her characters' excessive habits. Furthermore, I found the protagonist to be a non-entity; she is surrounded by characters so much more flamboyant than she is that she gets lost in the shuffle and becomes uninteresting.
I don't think the author has ever been to Europe, because drinking that much and driving under the influence is illegal there. Several times, characters say things like "it's okay, we're in Europe," but I have to point out that this is simply not true. It is strictly prohibited.

I found the pacing extremely odd for a romance novel; the actual romance doesn't happen until the very end. Also, why are they in love? They talk once, sleep together, and—bam—they're in love and the book is over.

The author used to work in finance, and I think she’d be better off going back to it.

[Hayley Downs]

The Rally had such a unique premise, and I was immediately drawn in by the glamorous European setting and the promise of a high-stakes, suspenseful story. While I enjoyed the overall concept and thought the author’s writing was strong, I found myself wanting a little more depth from both the characters and the plot.

For much of the book, I struggled to fully connect with the characters, and at times their repetitive cycle of partying, drinking, and questionable decisions made it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in what happened to them.

That said, the author’s writing kept me turning the pages. Even when I wasn’t completely sold on the characters, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the setting, and the way the story was told. Once the mystery and suspense elements started to come together, I was much more engaged and appreciated how everything connected by the end.

Overall, this wasn’t a standout read for me, but it was still an enjoyable one. I liked the author’s writing style enough that I’d definitely pick up another book from them in the future.

[Gracie]

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC of this book.

The cover? Stunning. Absolutely spectacular!

I liked the bio (hence why I requested it)and was interested in the story. I did somewhat feel like the bio was a bit of a spoiler and told the reader a few things that could have been discovered simply through reading the story.

The mystery plot line was very interesting and kept me turning the page because I wanted to find out who was sending the emails. The story atmosphere was very much like the TV show White Lotus (which I enjoyed) so that was fun.

My only gripe would be the character development, I felt like I wasn’t able to connect/understand the characters fully and I think that is partially to do with the fact that they aren’t fully fleshed out. And neither are their relationships with each other; as is the case with her best friend who we are TOLD is her best friend but there isn’t a lot of supporting evidence.

Overall, decent book and I’d read more from the author.

3 stars

[ELENA]

Carla VassThe Rally: A Novel
A triumphant debut by Carla Vass.

If you need a book that feels like a luxury vacation with a side serving of bile, this is it! The Rally was impossible to put away. It follows Charlie, a tech founder who trades a messy betrayal for a classic car rally across Europe with a "group of lunatics."

The sensory details are incredible—you can practically feel the Mediterranean breeze—but the story has real teeth. It dives into the awkwardness of dating when you’ve spent your life building an app for it, and the darker side of high-society glamour. Seeing Charlie navigate her social anxiety while rediscovering her power was so inspiring. That happy ending? Absolutely earned. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Patty]

I probably could have given this a five, but I've been told I'm too generous with my stars...but suffice it to say its a book I read over two days (shoutout to summer break) because I wanted to know how it was going to end. It was like if Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow became a beach read, was a rom com and featured a wild two week vacation with strangers. I realize those things don't sound at all like they go together, but somehow I think it worked...and it made me actually want to read rather than just sit around and watch TV...so there's that...also note there was a some spice, but this was more of a slow build romance than anything.

Also thank you ALA Annual 2026 for providing me with this ARC :)

Also also, the edition of this book I have features a red cover...not whatever color is on the cover shown here.

[Reader]

Charlie is an easy protagonist to root for, she’s driven, socially awkward in ways that feel relatable, and trying to navigate a world that doesn’t always reward competence fairly. Also relatable. Watching her rebuild her confidence after being pushed out of her own company was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The European settings are tempting… I found myself looking up some of the locations while reading. Car rally’s are a real thing and seem like a really fun way to explore.

Most of all, I appreciated that the book felt easy to read but never shallow. Alongside the champagne, sports cars, and scenery, it’s asking bigger questions about trust, success, friendship, and what it means to create a future on your own terms.

[Raphaela]

I rarely devour a book in a couple of days, but this was such a good read. The Rally makes me wanna pack my bags and call a good friend and go on a big adventure, and then start a new company. There is a relatable theme in this book about the challenges that come along with being a female leader, and there’s also primarily a theme around courage and faith in doing what’s right not what’s easy. And it’s all wrapped up in a glamorous, fun plot, tracing through small towns in Europe lots of rosé and champagne and glam. It’s a fun read if you’re on holiday I think you gotta bring this book and if you’re not on holiday, just be prepared to swipe your credit card because you’re gonna be booking a trip to Europe in no time.

[Reader]

THE RALLY by Carla Vass is the escapist novel of the year. A start-up co-founding protagonist in crisis joins champagne-slugging rich people behaving badly in vintage cars racing around Europe. With the wit of a Gilmore Girl, the deals of Succession, the slow burn of your favourite romance and a serious plot point bubbling beneath the surface, this is the novel to pick up when you don’t know what to read or gift to your friend who is scrolls enviously through Euro Summer reels.
A clever story with memorable characters and immersive writing, I enjoyed this book so much I did not want The Rally to end! On sale September 29th, pre-order now.

Thanks to Carla, & Union Square & Co. for the advance reader copy - I truly loved every moment with this book.

[Zuzana Jurisova]

A really delicious and escapist read! I really did not have a clue about car rallies but I quickly became so immersed in this world that I read the book in one sitting. The author painted such a vivid and seductive picture and I really feel like I was on the adventure alongside Charlie. Also, the descriptions of all of the glamorous places Europe made me drool and now I need to look up how to get into the world of vintage car rallies, because it feels so glamorous. Traveling, luxury, rich people drama- what more could you ask for? Watch out Elin Hilderbrand, I think this author is coming for your crown and I can’t wait to read more!

[Beverly Wolff]

Several years ago while in Tuscany I was visiting a small village for lunch when a rally of cars and glamourous, wealthy people as described in this book arrived, hence, my interest in this story to begin with. I absolutely loved it. The characters are positively party people, mostly a little on the mature side, and they were just as interesting as I would have imagined people with this type of wealth and lifestyle would be like. They drink a lot of expensive liquor, do drugs and eat wonderful food and are living their vacation time to the fullest. I would love to tag along!

Thank you NetGalley and Carla Vass for the ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

[tara • tarasbookworld]

Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for the copy of this book! This was not on my radar in the slightest (aka I've never heard of it) so what a pleasant surprise that I absolutely LOVED it.
The mess of characters gave White Lotus vibes (though sometimes hard to follow who was who). The roadtrip through Europe coastal towns was a dream and made me insanely jealous. But this felt more like a romance with the plot and FMC finding herself and deciding what to do with her future. But the romance was chefs kiss, with the tension, the banter, the fuck it moment and a dreamy dreamy MMC. I absolutely loved this.

[Karina Perilla]

Absolutely devoured The Rally. It feels like pure escapism at first (I love how Charlie just YOLOs her entire time) but then it pulls you into a much more emotional story.

The main character is compelling, watching her navigate being pushed out of the company she built while trying to hold onto her sense of self felt incredibly real. The tension between the glamorous chaos of the rally and the very grounded questions of power, identity, and betrayal kept me turning pages.

And the romance!! It’s a true slow burn in the best way.

[Chloe]

I thought this would be a 5 star to be honest.

Not a bad read by any means but I wanted a little more depth. The storyline was a little repetitive (drive a bit, drink a lot, be unpleasant, reference "that night" with no explanation, use corporate jargon and repeat). The amount of drink driving/driving hungover/driving after taking an outrageous amount of drugs really put me off. I'm not sure how we are meant to root for these characters when this is how they're behaving literally every day.

Stunning cover though.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Caroline Medeiros]

So so SO fun!! Super super highly recommend this book. The characters are cool and interesting with witty dialogue, the romance is really well-paced, and the setting is incredibly glamorous across many gorgeous destinations. This book makes you want to immediately head to Europe and eat and drink and sip champagne at all these fabulous spots, hopefully also as part of a classic car rally and the crowd that accompanies these rallies - who knew this was a thing?! Definitely read this book and enjoy entering this world - it’s a huge treat and and an excellent story.

[Gabriela]

The storyline felt different than anything I've read when it comes to romance in the sense that the story dives into how the wealthy spend their time and its various characters - good to bad! The story also touches on the tech/start up industry and how ruthless it can be to women. Where the book really hooked me was with its humor which had me giggling. The romance plot took a little long to develop for my liking since it was left towards the end. Overall, a fun fast-paced read.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC.

[R F]

I read this in two sittings and honestly just wanted to stay inside this world longer.

I never heard of a classic car rally before this, but it’s super glamorous. Dramatic driving, glamorous hotels and characters.

But what I liked is that all the partying never felt empty. There’s an undercurrent of tension the whole time, like something is just slightly off beneath all the luxury.

If you’re looking for a very fun read with a bit of bite, this absolutely delivers.

[Natalia Valderrama]

This book is fab. Like, I let TV raise my child while I read through it for multiple hours at a time, good. Pure escapism at its best. If you love Crazy Rich Asians, White Lotus, Devil Wears Prada, etc etc etc, this is for you! The author really plops you down into a Slim Aarons-esque European romp. The writing is so vivid you can see and feel it. It’s chic, smart, witty, and fun. A++ world-building!

[Nika Mikhaylov]

An incredibly fun book about rich people behaving badly. The book is so good. The behavior is so bad. How. Delicious. And amongst the glamour and debauchery, you still come out on the other end feeling like you learned something—that Charlie, the FMC, taught you a very important lesson on handling the tech industry like a badass.

Also, I booked a trip to Europe about halfway through. The settings are !!!!!!

The love interest is very sexy. Enjoy ;)

[Alisha]

This was such a fun, fast read. At times it felt a little too short, perhaps a bit superficial, but there were a lot of moments where that worked well. I think some of the love story between James and Charlie could have been explored deeper, not drawn out too long, but their declarations of love felt very quick. I really enjoyed this, the goruo of people and their shenanigans remind me of a modern day “The Sun Also Rises” with all the aimless wandering and drunken escapades.

[Kristina Kamen]

I absolutely inhaled this book. I brought it with me on vacation with the full intention of "reading it at the beach" but what ended up happening was me reading it while brushing my teeth, while in the shower, at the restaurant hiding it behind a menu... I just couldn't return to normal life until I finished it. Which I did, in 24 hours.

The setting is to die for, the premise is unique, the characters are super interesting, and the romance is just perfect. Five stars all around!

[Reader]

A contemporary story about a young woman dealing with a loss in business who then goes on a car rally in Europe. While the characters deal with real feelings, the narrative maintains an ultimate sense of optimism. It’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling "light" once you read the final page.
A terrific read!

[Molly Galler]

Charlie and James’ chemistry is off the charts. The tension between them is what keeps you hooked. Charlie is a recovering tech startup founder. That’s a world I’m intimately familiar with, so that helped me immerse. Most of the book is set on a summer trip in Europe, so prepare for delicious escapism.