A Storybook Wedding

Micciche’s sparkling sophomore outing (after The Book Proposal) follows aspiring YA writer Cecily Jane Allerton, who cares far more about landing a book deal than landing a man. Cecily’s thrilled to earn a scholarship to Mathias University’s MFA program and study under the acclaimed Nate Ellis, “a PEN Award winner who is disturbingly 1) young and 2) handsome,” but she’s entirely unprepared for the harsh critiques of her more literary-minded peers, who dismiss her as a genre writer. Meanwhile, writer’s block and imposter syndrome plague Nate, whose editor is furious at him for repeatedly blowing deadlines. He’d hoped the teaching gig would help him reset, but, having never gotten an MFA himself, he too is shocked by his students’ snobbery. The budding friendship and simmering attraction between Nate and Cecily takes a turn when they drunkenly kiss at karaoke—a moment that’s caught on camera, landing Nate’s career in hot water. Cecily discovers a loophole however: the college’s fraternization rules make an exception for teachers and students who are married. It seems like a simple solution—they just have to convince everyone they’re in love. Micciche’s portrait of the writerly world rings true and Cecily’s outsider status in academia elicits both laughter and sympathy. Micciche’s fans will eat this up. (May)