Found Time

Thriller writer Goldstein pivots to romance (after The Wayside, written as Caroline Wolff) with this moving and memorable tale of unexpected second chances. It kicks off in 1993, when college student Lili is eagerly anticipating seeing rising star Jeff Buckley in concert in New York City’s East Village. While waiting for the show to begin, she locks eyes with Reid, an aspiring filmmaker who, dressed in a suit, looks out of place in the crowd. A brief conversation leads to a passionate weeklong affair before Reid returns to California for an exciting job opportunity. Thirty years later, the pair happen to meet again at a Jeff Buckley tribute concert, both there with their teenage daughters. Goldstein makes their reunion feel both fated and grounded, explicating the realistic burdens and life experiences that have shaped the characters’ choices. Nineties nostalgia and great use of the New York setting add to the fun, as do Lili’s and Reid’s children, who take it upon themselves to play matchmaker. Readers will find this heartfelt and achingly romantic. (Mar.)