Unexpectedly Bookish: A Brother's Best Friend, Workplace, Plus Size Small-town RomCom

After years in corporate architecture that stifled his creativity, Reed Berry is moving to Fairwick Falls and chasing his dream: opening a cozy bookstore.

His plan? Design a bookstore that sparks wonder and a love of reading on a shoestring budget.

The hitch? Pearl Bishop—his new assistant, and the human embodiment of a “Do Not Touch” sign. She’s all dark eyeliner, piercings, and attitude sharp enough to cut glass. And Reed? He’s sunshine and golden retriever charm, which seems to make her want to throw him out the nearest window. 

Good thing he has his anonymous, late-night confidant—impossibly_bookish—to escape to. His steamy, secret online fling gets him in ways Pearl never would. 

PEARL

Pearl Bishop doesn’t do sweet. She’s all death metal tattoos, piercings, and black lipstick—a girl who’s perfected the art of keeping people at a distance. 

Especially good guys like Reed Berry. 

He’s her brother’s best friend, her new boss, temporary roommate, and the poster boy for annoyingly cheerful. But the way he looks at her? Like she’s the only woman who exists? It’s messing with her carefully crafted armor. 

But Pearl’s got bigger problems, like scraping together enough cash to start her allergen-free bakery and dodging her nosy neighbor, who works at City Hall and is hell-bent on stopping both the bookstore and her bakery with permit red tape.

The only person who sees past her sarcasm and ink-stained armor is her online confidant, hemingway_cansuckit—a guy she’s been swapping filthy, flirty messages with for months. 

The one she’s been falling for, text by text. 

The man she’s agreed to finally meet in person next month.

Featuring:

Black Cat / Golden Retriever (Opposites Attract)

Workplace

Plus size FMC

Virgin MMC 

Brother’s best friend

Roommates (Forced Proximity)

Epistolary + Hidden Identity (Shop Around the Corner)