The Small Stuff

Davidson’s quirky debut rom-com cleverly charts the zig-zagging path of its eventual lovers. The cinematic narrative cuts between a variety of seemingly unconnected Angelenos, peripheral characters who are slowly revealed to be instrumental to pushing food critic Maggie Mills and scientist Josh Allen toward each other. The pair’s first remembered meeting happens at an auto body shop after separate traffic accidents, where they exchange flirtatious banter before each mistakenly heading home with the other’s paperwork. The mix-up throws Maggie and Josh back together—and they’re shocked to discover that they’ve been consistently just missing each other since Maggie was 13 and Josh was 15. But when Josh is offered a plum job in Europe, will he choose to prioritize his personal or professional life? Davidson’s large supporting cast is the real charmer here, especially Josh’s romantic father, Mel, who provides the novel’s thesis: there’s “no such thing as an accident.” This unconventional path to happily ever after is sure to stick in readers’ minds. (Apr.)