When my almost boyfriend “friend zones” me and cancels our date four days before the big ‘Summer of Love’ fundraiser I decide to try something new. To help heal my broken heart and get in a better headspace for the meeting with my big coloring book publisher tomorrow, I cast my very first spell of intention.
Unfortunately, it backfires. Now I have no date, I’m fired from my own project, and my beloved late Uncle Theo is suddenly talking to me in my head. I have no idea if he’s real, or I’m going crazy.
Worse yet, my too-handsome-for-his-own-good, famous, former summertime bestie just showed up next door for the summer. I’m still furious with Rune for ghosting me a decade ago. Now he’s using his old nicknames for me and acting like no time has passed.
But maybe Theo’s right. Maybe bribing Rune to be my fake date Saturday night is the win/win solution I need. I just won’t think about how my two best and worst dates ever were with Rune, even though technically they weren’t dates.
Crave character driven, sexy, slow burn, atmospheric, small town, witty bantered,
messy truth-telling and relearning how to be “friends again” romantic adventure? Stay a Spell might be just the summer reading holiday you’ve been looking for!
Arcs sign ups coming in June 2026!
Tropes: Magical Realism, Slow Burn, Small Town, Found Family, Second Chance, Former Childhood Friends, Childhood Crush, Forced Proximity, Fake Dates, Witty Banter, Friends to a marvelous array of first kisses, Art Girl Journey, Hollywood Celebrity/Out of her league, Horses, Gardening, Cooking.
Trigger Warnings: Anxiety. Grief. Thinking/Talking about the death of a loved one. Parent, Boss, and Mentor Narcissism.