How the Story Goes

Forrester’s poignant debut brings together two writers struggling to rebuild their lives. Mystery author Whit Longacre is a grieving widower whose late wife, Helen, the author of a bestselling children’s fantasy series, entrusted him with finishing her final book. Unfortunately, he’s had writer’s block since she died and despairs of fulfilling her legacy. Meanwhile, new in town Merritt Pryor left an MFA program after ending an exploitative relationship with a professor who has since pilloried her in a new bestselling novel. The pair meet at Whit’s daughter’s school, where Merritt is substitute teaching, and Whit soon realizes that Merritt is the ideal person to help him finish Helen’s books. As this creative partnership develops, Forrester nimbly handles Whit’s fears of disloyalty to Helen if he falls in love again, as well as Merritt’s anxiety about relationships and exposure as the book about her gains more attention. There aren’t many moments of levity to lighten the heavy emotional load, but the appealing protagonists and well-drawn supporting characters prove easy to invest in. Readers looking for a bookish romance will appreciate this tale of resilience triumphing over fear of commitment. (May)