December 6, 2021
Painter’s cute adult debut (after the YA novel Better Than the Movies) features a couple whose chemistry via text message complicates their IRL relationship. Through a comedy of errors, Olivia Marshall loses her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment all in one day. She moves in with her brother until she can get back on her feet—but this means putting up with his dickish (and scorching hot) roommate, Colin Beck. Meanwhile, she finds work writing a parenting column for the local newspaper, having failed to correct her editor’s assumption that she has children of her own. When Olivia receives a suggestive text from an unknown number, she quickly sets the sender straight—but their immediate witty rapport means neither wants to stop texting. Soon she’s exchanging daily messages with “Mr. Wrong Number.” While their texts lean flirtatious, she’s happy to stick to an on-screen relationship with her anonymous confidant. Then Colin accidentally sees a text on Olivia’s phone—and he’s shocked to discover that she is his own “Miss Misdial.” He decides to ghost her instead of complicating their relationship—but Olivia doesn’t give up so easily. Olivia’s over-the-top clumsiness feels like a relic of rom-coms past, but her chemistry with Colin sings. This is sure to charm. Agent: Kim Lionetti; Bookends Literary.
June 1, 2022
After Olivia Marshall inadvertently torches both her apartment and her life during a self-care "burn your cheating ex's mementos" garbage can fire that gets out of control, she's forced to move in with her brother and his best friend, the incredibly handsome, rich, and irritating Colin Beck. Colin sees her only as her brother's annoying little sister, a point he makes abundantly clear every time they interact. Thankfully a flirty text from a person Olivia only knows as Mr. Wrong Number helps keep her in good spirits as she navigates a new job, her new living situation, and the tension between her and Colin. Unbeknown to Olivia, Colin has discovered she is the Miss Misdial he's been sexting all these weeks, and now he has to decide what's next. VERDICT Narrators Callie Dalton and Andrew Eiden are familiar rom-com voices, bringing Olivia and Colin to life through their dialogue and texts, although some listeners might find the jokes and cat fishing a bit mean spirited. The latest from Painter (Better Than the Movies) is a fine choice for libraries where rom-com audiobooks circulate well.--Elizabeth Gabriel
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