The Plus-One List: A Novel

by Amy Ewing

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Ewing comes a steamy new vacation romance perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s The Paradise Problem.

Eloise, who struggles with anxiety, strongly prefers the company of her senior rescue dogs to people. But when her best friend announces she’s getting married in Mexico City and every guest must have a date, the pressure is on. Using an exclusive “plus-one list,” Eloise winds up with Agustín, a charming journalist and immigrant who recently moved to New York City from Mexico.

Agustín is on a mission to write the article of his career, but to do that, he’ll need to snag an interview with a man who’s proven impossible to track down. His only chance is to catch the source unaware at the upcoming “wedding of the century.” At first, being Eloise’s plus-one seems like the perfect solution, a purely transactional arrangement. Eloise is not looking for romance, and Agustín sees no need to tell her about his true motives for coming to the wedding. 

As they play tourists in Agustín’s hometown, sampling smoky cocktails and delicious street food and meeting his family, Eloise slowly comes out of her shell. Suddenly, her blossoming trust in Agustín starts to grow into something deeper. But if Agustín wants to keep that trust, he’ll need to come clean—before their fragile connection is broken forever. 

The Plus-One List is a deeply vulnerable and intimate romance novel that will make readers long for a dazzlingly romantic summer vacation.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

As the daughter of a librarian, books were a crucial part of Amy Ewing's childhood.
She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, and her young adult fantasy novel The Jewel became a New York Times and international bestseller.
She is the author of The Jewel triology, The Cerulean, and The Irish Goodbye, her debut novel for adults. Her next adult romance, The Plus-One List, will be published in October 2026.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advance copy of The Plus One List.

This was such a wonderfully adorable, feel good romance.

The multicultural aspects were amazing and the incredible descriptions of each setting really gave this a unique vibe that I truly enjoyed. The characters, the atmosphere, the food, the family all came together to add to the story.

I loved the way the relationship between Agustin & Eloise developed. Their story was the type of fun, flirty, slow burn that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. Agustin was the perfect green flag MMC

The 9th floor New York neighbors were the exact type of quirky & unexpectedly friendly bunch that Eloise didn’t know she needed and I loved the way they all came together.

And the dogs! Oh, how I loved the dogs! Eloise’s pack of rescued seniors were the true stars of story 🐾🐾🐾🐾

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Plus-One List • Amy Ewing

One phrase: fake date, real feelings, rescue dogs 🐶💕

This was such a cute and easy summer read.

The Plus-One List follows Eloise, a woman with social anxiety who would honestly rather stay home with her senior rescue dogs than attend a lavish wedding in Mexico City. But when her best friend announces that every guest needs to bring a date, Eloise reluctantly uses an exclusive plus one list.

Enter Agustín, a charming journalist who recently moved to New York City from Mexico.

At first, their arrangement is practical. Eloise needs a date. Agustín needs access to the wedding for a career making interview. Neither of them is supposed to catch feelings.

Naturally, feelings arrive anyway.

I really liked that the romance grew alongside the characters’ personal struggles instead of taking over the entire story. Eloise’s anxiety felt like a genuine part of who she is, not just something tossed in for conflict, and I loved seeing her slowly come out of her shell.

Agustín was such an easy book boyfriend to love. His optimism, patience, and support for Eloise were so sweet, and I loved the way he helped her feel safe enough to try. His hidden agenda adds tension, but it never overwhelmed the heart of the story.

The Mexico City setting was also such a highlight. The food, the cocktails, the family chaos, the tourist moments, all of it gave the book so much warmth and personality.

But the true stars?

The senior rescue dogs.

They had their own little personalities and quirks, and I smiled every time they showed up. I also loved Eloise’s neighbors and the way they became a kind of found family for her. Those relationships made the story feel even softer and more comforting.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
💕 plus one arrangement
✈️ vacation romance
🇲🇽 Mexico City setting
🐶 senior rescue dogs
🫶 anxiety rep
📰 journalist MMC
🌮 street food dates
🍹 smoky cocktails
👨‍👩‍👧 big family chaos
🏡 neighbor found family
🌤 coming out of her shell
💞 soft summer romance

📚 Read this if you like:
Vacation romance, fake date energy, anxious heroines, optimistic book boyfriends, Mexico City settings, rescue dogs with personality, found family neighbors, family chaos, and romances that feel warm, sweet, and easy to sink into.

This was fun, tender, summery, and made even better by the senior rescue dogs.

#ThePlusOneList #AmyEwing #VacationRomance #ContemporaryRomance #BookReview

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

I did not expect to like "The Plus-One List" by Amy Ewing as much as I did! Quite realistic, if you ask me. If you've never experienced anxiety of any kind, if you've never experienced specific kinds of trauma, you might think certain things about Eloise (FMC) and the way she acts. I totally understood her as someone who experiences anxiety daily. This book is a great example of not just social anxiety. itself, but how it manifests itself in every facet of someone's life. I love how selfless Eloise was in her quest to save dogs that no one else seems to want because they are old or grumpy or incontinent, etc. I loved her endless dedication to her pups and providing them a wonderful life for as long as they have left. Honestly, I have thought about doing that in my life, and this sort of gives me a template for what it might be like! The way she loved those dogs was so, so sweet and wonderful. Each one had a special personality, and I loved reading about each of the members of The Pack! I hated how her past shaped how she was in the present, and I felt so bad for her growing up without parents or guardians to show her love and affection. Agustín (MMC) was such a lovely, wonderful, patient, kind MMC (minus the one glaring issue - the lie about his grandfather). I enjoyed seeing him slowly come to care for her, giving her the room to freak out if she needed to, giving her the grace to be herself, giving her the strength to know she can do things despite her anxiety telling her she can't. It was so easy to get invested in them getting together! Also, how fiercely he came to adore her dogs! Swoon!! I loved their journey to Mexico for Eloise's best friend's wedding. The scenes in this trip are full of vibrant culture, incredibly detailed descriptions of settings and food and dogs and buildings. This book is the perfect mix of humor, dog shenanigans, anxiety representation, romance, and character growth. I found this to be mostly fast-paced (maybe a little *too* fast-paced by the end!), a quick read to be sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Ewing, and Alcove Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

The Plus-One List was such an enjoyable romance. It had all the things I tend to like in this genre—fake dating, plenty of banter, characters who slowly let their walls down, and a relationship that felt like it grew through genuinely getting to know each other rather than just instant attraction.

I really liked Eloise and Agustín together. Their chemistry felt natural, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop while they each worked through their own insecurities. I also appreciated that Eloise's anxiety was part of her story without becoming the whole story. It added depth to her character and made her feel very real.

One of my favourite parts was the Mexico City setting. It wasn't just somewhere the story happened to take place—it felt woven into the novel through the food, family, celebrations, and atmosphere, which made it feel much more immersive.

It didn't become an all-time favourite romance, but I had a genuinely good time reading it. The storyline follows some familiar romance beats, but they're handled with warmth and enough emotional depth that I stayed invested the whole way through.

If you enjoy fake dating, destination weddings, slow-burn romance, and characters who help each other grow into more confident versions of themselves, I think this is well worth picking up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.75 stars

[Jen Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️

Eloise has been living with high anxiety for most of her life. She doesn't go out if at all possible, doesn't know her neighbors, and has one friend Rachel and her rescue dogs. Rachel is getting married and Eloise needs to travel to Mexico and give a speech at a large wedding. She needs a plus one, and Agustín has just been added to the list and is in desperate need to attend this wedding. Their first few meetings didn't go over well, but Agustín was persistent. He won over her neighbors, Rachel, and finally Eloise. They have a slow burn relationship that begins as a transaction, that then turns into Agustín being her safe person , friend, and confidant, and then to a person she loved and was her home. Agustín needs to connect with a long lost family member to secure an interview for an article, but as much as he wants this closure for himself and his family, he needs to protect and keep Eloise safe and happy just as much. Agustín was so caring and helped Eloise grow and start really living through nurturing and patience and love.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Plus-One List in exchange for an honest review. The writing style was hard for me to connect with at first, but I love how understanding and care the author took with Eloise's condition and how good Agustín was for her.

[Melanie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Money Hungry Mama follows Eloise, a woman with social anxiety who would much rather spend time with her senior rescue dogs than attend a lavish wedding in Mexico City. When every guest is required to bring a date, she reluctantly uses an exclusive plus-one list and is matched with Agustín, a journalist who has his own secret reason for attending the celebration. Their arrangement begins as a practical solution but becomes much more complicated as they explore Mexico City together, sharing street food, meeting family, and slowly lowering their guard.

I liked that the romance grows alongside the characters' personal struggles instead of overshadowing them. Eloise's anxiety feels like a genuine part of who she is rather than a plot device, and Agustín's hidden agenda creates believable tension without overwhelming the relationship. The setting adds plenty of warmth and personality, especially during the scenes spent exploring the city together. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. The senior rescue dogs were my absolute favorite part of the story. They had their own personalities and quirks and made me smile every time they popped up. I also loved the the neighbors in Eloise’s apartment and how they helped her to come out of her shell and became family. Agustín was an easy book boyfriend to love. I loved his endless optimism and support for Eloise and how much he helped her to overcome her anxiety. I also really enjoyed the details of Mexico City and everything that went along with it, including Agustin’s crazy family. Overall, this was a fun and easy summer read.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

This cover really got my attention. I don't know why, but I dig the pool floaties.

This sounded like a lot of fun, like it would be entertaining and dramatic. But sadly, I found the characters to be a bit too flat. They made it hard to get super invested in the story.

I liked the overall premise, but I didn't find it as interesting as it could've been/as I was expecting.

As I like to say, I think it needed a little more oomph.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[TinieeBookstack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik it’s kinda cliche to say, but I didn’t expect to get attached to this book this much.

Eloise has social anxiety and she doesn’t let people into her little world. But everything changes, right?

I really loved the self-growth throughout the story. Not everyone or everything is perfect and that’s life, right? “Perfectly imperfect.”

The friendship in this book was sooo gooodd. Like, this is what best friends are supposed to be.

If you’re looking for a contemporary romance with a slow burn, the one-bed trope and a beautiful self-growth journey, go for it!

[Jen Nagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars I loved this story! The author did a beautiful job building these very likable characters. I found myself cheering for Eloise as she tackled her social anxiety. The stories from the pack of her senior dogs had me laughing out loud. Her quirky neighbors end up being a fun support system and of course the very lovable Agustin- he’s the best. The mix of culture and characters was a delight!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early read!

[Erin Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
I could not put this book down! Anxiety rep, NYC, geriatric dogs, and more. Definitely a slow burn that I could not get enough of. I love the progression of their relationship, and Eloise’s growth throughout. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[The Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a maybe. This book made me question things that I’m not sure on how I would rate the book. I wasn’t a fan of the book. I did like that it felt cozy and the diversity in it.

[Shannon Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Good representation of social anxiety. I appreciated the MMCs work to help the FMC feel comfortable in social settings without pushing her to do anything she would be too uncomfortable with. I also liked that along with a romance, the book was found family with all of the tenants on her floor.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some books feel like a warm hug, and The Plus One was exactly that.

From the very first chapter, I fell in love with this story. Eloise’s anxiety felt so authentic and compassionate, never defining who she was but instead showing how she navigates the world. As someone who appreciates honest mental health representation, this one completely won me over.

And can we talk about the senior rescue dogs? They absolutely stole my heart. Every scene with them added so much warmth and personality that I found myself smiling every time they appeared.

The relationship between Eloise and Agustín developed so naturally. I loved watching two people who were each carrying their own worries slowly find comfort, trust, and joy together. Their chemistry was sweet without feeling rushed, and getting to experience Mexico City through Agustín’s eyes made the setting feel vibrant, cozy, and full of life. I was craving the street food and wanted to tag along on every adventure.

But what really made this book special was the sense of found family. Every character felt like someone I’d want to spend more time with, and by the end I realized I didn’t just love the romance—I loved the entire group. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to any of them.

This was heartfelt, funny, comforting, and full of hope. I genuinely could not put it down, and when I finished, I wasn’t ready for it to end.

If you love fake dating, anxiety representation that feels real, adorable rescue dogs, found family, and romances that leave your heart completely full, don’t skip this one.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced arc!! ❤️

[Tanmeet Samra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I would give this book 4 stars rounded up. It was a very pleasant read and I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did! The characters were so lovely, including the background characters and everyone was so wholesome and lovely. I did like that situations weren’t drawn out and this book had a very healthy pace to the story (unlike how some books have dramatic breakups and it takes a few chapters to resolve - which is annoying for me). This book also made me want to travel to Mexico and made me very hungry lol. Overall, I thought this book was very well done and I would read more books by this author! Grab a margarita, err, shall I say a mezcal and a taco and read this book!

[Sarah Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘴-𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵 by Amy Ewing

This was a pretty decent book, though I didn’t like how emotions felt through by both main characters throughout the book were suddenly, neatly resolved within the last twenty or so pages.

DISLIKES:
- Joe Rogan reference 😒 Stop making things political - this wasn’t even necessary to advance the story or description of Eloise’s mindset. Take it out.
- Didn’t appreciate Augustín’s irreverence toward the church and especially toward God


I have included some cautions below this line, which could be considered spoilers. Please do not read further if you wish for your reading experience to be completely unspoiled.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••





CAUTIONS: POTENTIALLY UPSETTING OCCURRENCES IN THIS BOOK:

opening sequence refers to pet euthanasia, death of a pet just prior to start of book offpage

•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

[Linda Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

They both need dates to a wedding that is happening in Mexico City. Eloise needs one because if she doesn’t have a date, it means bad luck to the new bride (her best friend). And Augustin needs one to try to get an interview from a man that will be attending. The bride-to-be sets up a bunch of different dates for Eloise, but there’s only one guy she hits it off with – Augustine. So they both get what they want- maybe.
They plan on spending time together to get Eloise more comfortable. She suffers from anxiety/panic attacks. Before the wedding, he cooks for, takes care of her when she’s sick and walks her dogs. They are both attracted to each other, but Eloise is not interested in a relationship. She prefer to only leave her apartment for grocery runs and to walk her dogs. But, she can’t keep from stealing glances at him and he actually has her daydreaming of them together. Before the wedding he also is slowly breaking down her walls, taking her out to dinner. She feels and looks better.
Then they go to Mexico City for the wedding and they not only give into their feelings, but she meets his family, goes out with him without the wedding party. Just when she thinks everything could not be any better, she finds out why Augustine really came to the wedding, and it wasn’t for her. It takes a bit for her to realize no one is perfect, not even Augustine. So, the question is will she forgive him and live her best life or go back to the way she was living?
This is a must read if you like opposites attract, taking chances, getting out of your comfort zone, mental health rep, and of course a happily ever after.

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloise's best friend is getting married and she has to have a date to the big event. Augustin needs to get to that wedding to get a quote for the article he's writing about his grandfather for The New Yorker. They meet through the Plus One list and despite Eloise's severe anxiety come to an agreement about the wedding. However she doesn't know about his reason for wanting to attend and it all comes out in the middle of the reception.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Eloise and Augustin. There was nothing rushed about it, while they get to know each other over several months, Amy Ewing keeps a steady pace with her story telling and doesn't let things drag on. I both understood Eloise's reluctance for social interactions and found her frustrating at times but Augustin was so patient with her. I loved how he helped her understand what to expect while in Mexico in a way that wouldn't overwhelm her.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eloise no necesita aventuras. Está convencida de que su vida en Nueva York, rodeada de perros rescatados y lejos de cualquier drama es más que suficiente. Por eso, cuando es invitada a una boda en la Ciudad de México se ve obliga a buscar un acompañante.

Agustín tiene una meta importante: terminar una investigación que podría impulsar su carrera periodística. Para lograrlo necesita acceso a un exclusivo evento lleno de personas influyentes y una invitación inesperada parece ser la solución perfecta.

Lo que ninguno de los dos anticipa es que un acuerdo sencillo puede complicarse cuando las conversaciones dejan de sentirse obligatorias y la compañía de la otra persona empieza a convertirse en algo que esperan con ganas.


..................


No me gusto como se justifico lo que hizo el abuelo.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute romance. I loved the anxiety representation, and how it was such a key aspect of the book without being the character's only personality trait. The found family aspect was also amazing, as well as the dogs.

[☆Laura☆]

Me sentí mal por Eloíse cuando iba a dar el discurso, pero no puede vivir su vida dependiendo de Agustín. Tenía que aprender a hacer las cosas por sí sola.

Entiendo que tiene ansiedad, pero aquí me enojo porque huyó y dejó sola a su amiga, esa misma amiga que la ha apoyado en todo y que jamás la ha avergonzado. Y lo único que tenía que hacer era estar con ella en su boda. O sea, Rachel tuvo que ir a buscarla para ver cómo estaba al día siguiente de su boda, en lugar de disfrutar su momento. Ni siquiera fue Eloíse quien le envió un mensaje para explicarle lo sucedido, fue Rachel quien intentó comunicarse con ella.

[R Seykora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick and romantic read. A maid of honor requires a plus one date, but is uncomfortable around people. Some how she finds the right plus one to bring her out of her comfort zone and changes her life. I loved how the author provides readers with dual perspectives.