Aurora

McGeown debuts with an emotional, character-driven take on the soapy romance trope of amnesia. Keelin Jax is terrified when her wife, Elena Ricci, is admitted to the hospital after being hit by a bus. But nothing can prepare her for Elena waking up from surgery with no memory of the last eight years, asking not for Jax but for the playboy ex-boyfriend who ran away while Elena was pregnant. Elena’s surgeon suggests Jax keep their life together a secret while Elena heals, and Jax agrees, pretending to be Elena’s roommate and a single mother to their son, Jamie, who’s confused about why his mother doesn’t remember him. Elena quickly settles into a routine at her office job, but it takes longer than expected for her to recover her memories of Jax and Jamie. Meanwhile, Elena’s homophobic parents reenter her life and push her to reconnect with her ex-boyfriend, and Elena, now back in the closet, becomes increasingly confused by the chemistry she feels with Jax. The far-fetched premise grows less believable with each lie Jax tells Elena about their lives, but the tension between the two women is gripping and their easy family dynamic with Jamie—even before Elena knows she’s his mother—is sure to win readers over. McGeown’s off to a strong start. (Nov.)