Till There Was You

Hameroff’s sweet if slightly underbaked debut kicks off when career-focused aspiring chef Lexi Berman meets budding musician Jake Taylor during a night out in New York City. The pair click and spend the night together—and then the next day and the day after that as well. It’s a full weekend of sex, laughter, and Lexi’s to-die-for blueberry pancakes. Come Monday, however, Jake leaves for L.A. to try to make a name for himself. Lexi expects Jake to call, and he does. For a while. Then he signs a record deal and his lead single—“Blueberry,” a song Lexi is sure is about her pancakes—blows up. Now the only time Lexi hears from Jake is when he’s on the radio. A year later, however, Jake appears on Lexi’s doorstep, fed up with his controlling management and driven back to her by the thought “when was the last time you were happy?” As their spark inevitably reignites, their blossoming relationship is tested by the paparazzi and Lexi weighs whether falling in love is too much of a distraction from her goals. Lexi’s conflict feels a bit flimsy, and the quick pace rushes through some key emotional beats, but it’s a fun premise and the characters charm. Hameroff shows promise. (Feb.)