Sunk in Love

McBreen’s emotional sophomore novel (after Wedding Dashers) centers a marriage on the rocks. Roslyn has had difficulty coping with the death of her mother, a struggle which eventually leads to her asking Liam, her husband of nine years, for a divorce, which she hides from her family. Then her grandparents ask Liam to officiate their vow renewal during a Hawaiian cruise. Fearing their reaction to news of the split, especially given her grandfather’s disappointment when she dropped out of medical school to embark on a now-faltering writing career, Roslyn asks Liam to pretend they’re still happily married for the duration of the week-long vacation. Trapped together in tight quarters, the two confront the misunderstandings that led to their breakup—and indulge in some sizzling sex. Mutual revelations and reignited lust give them both cautious hope they can salvage their marriage—if fear, lies, and family obligations don’t get in the way. McBreen dives into the complexity of long-term relationships to deliver a roller coaster of a second-chance romance full of believable external pressure and swoon-worthy moments. This charms. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary. (Jan.)