36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You

What if there were a scientific way to kick-start romance? A psychological study done in the 1990s (with the mood-killing title “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness”) is the jumping-off point for this rom-com, inspired by a writer who used the study’s 36 increasingly personal questions to find love. (Her essay appeared in the “Modern Love” column in the New York Times and went viral.) Grant’s romantic leads are stereotypical: Hildy is studious and clumsy, and Paul is a bad boy with a teardrop tattoo on his cheek. The novel begins with a researcher explaining that the study is being updated for the digital age, and Hildy and Paul go through the questions, which range from silly to sober, over several days instead of a single session. The story is written mostly in dialogue conveyed via text messages, emails, and images (not seen by PW), making for a fast-paced read. The mutual probing unearths some secrets and painful history, but the takeaway is a meet-cute story that offers lots of laughs and a message about looking past appearances to make a connection. Ages 13–up. Agent: Fiona Kenshole, Transatlantic Agency. (Oct.)