Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance Rom Com Book Box with Tote

On a cross-country road trip, an expert in romantic comedies finds herself living one in a funny, refreshing, and flirty novel about really falling in love by USA Today bestselling author JJ Knight.

Kelsey Whitaker knows every hit rom-com by heart and why they work. It's her job. As a casting assistant to a fearsome boss nicknamed the Demon, Kelsey creates chemistry with perfect leads. Let the tropes take it from there. So where's the meet-cute in her own life? That she'll have to make happen herself.

With the help of her best friend and wingman, Zachery Carter--a total Hemsworth, even if his career is ebbing--Kelsey trades in her big-city stilettos for small-town tennies and hits the back roads. Somewhere between Hollywood and her Alabama roots, she's determined to strategically stumble into the arms of an all-American flannel-wearing, decent-hearted, rustic boy next door. It's a blockbuster blueprint for success! Isn't it?

It's all a secretly smitten Zachery can do not to tell Kelsey she's looking for love in all the wrong places. If she really wants a happy ending, they may have to do a little rewriting, town by town and mile by mile. Together.

“Okay, we have lots of meet-cutes to try on my unsuspecting future husband.” Kelsey scribbles in her notebook. We've just finished a rom-com marathon.

“What’s the top one?” I ask.

“Trip and fall.”

“Classic. Next?”

“Get rescued.”

“Excellent. He can be a hero. What else?”

“Get caught doing something embarrassing.”

“That will be no problem for you,” I tell her.

Her leg shoots to the side to knock my foot off her ottoman. “Hush.”

"You know I love every klutzy move you make."

She tilts sideways to lay her head on my shoulder. “See, this is what I love about you. You enjoy my awkwardness.”

“I'm team Kelsey all the way.”

Her arm leans against mine. We're close. Closer than co-workers should be.

But she feels good there. If only we weren't plotting all the ways she’ll meet her future husband.