Alice Rue Evades the Truth

Zipps puts a fresh, queer spin on a classic rom-com setup in her thoroughly enjoyable debut. As a night-shift receptionist at an office building, the most excitement Alice usually gets is when her secret crush, Nolan Altman, comes in to work—until the night Nolan collapses in the lobby and hits his head on the floor. After Alice’s frantic 911 call and inexpert CPR, the ambulance whisks Nolan away. Later, his entire family turns up at her desk to meet the woman who saved his life, and whom the paramedics identified as his girlfriend. The Altmans are eager to welcome Alice into their lives while Nolan remains unconscious; meanwhile, Alice has been so lonely she doesn’t correct their assumption. Keeping up the ruse comes with several complications, however: she’s never even had a real conversation with Nolan, and if he wakes up, the whole thing falls apart. Worse, Nolan’s butch sister, Van, is the most attractive, magnetic woman that Alice has ever met. As Alice’s lie grows, Zipps dextrously handles the many layers of complicated interpersonal tension and, ultimately, sticks the landing. This flawed but lovable heroine is sure to win hearts. (Oct.)