There’s Always Next Year by Leah Johnson and George M. Johnson
This is a powerhouse, absolute dream of a writing duo. That they’re teaming up to write a holiday rom-com makes my dark heart light up.
Andy was going to shed her too-serious persona on New Year’s Eve, but everything she planned fell apart after she got her car stolen, threw up on the person she’s been crushing on, and lost her phone in a fish tank. It’s now time to hurry to do everything she can to save the family business from local gentrification, fix everything that happened the night before, and figure out how she feels about the new girl next door.
Then there’s Dominique, who is about to score a major brand deal in his influencing work. It’s the kind of deal that would help secure the future of him and his family. But then some unresolved feelings about a former best friend bubble up, and he can’t hide them from anyone. It’s tough living in a small town and being close to people like his cousin Andy, who has always seen Dominique’s most authentic self. Can Dominique score this deal without selling himself or anyone else out?
This is a novel with two points of view and two different romances that emerge. It’s also a story about living as your true self and honoring what it is you really want—not what others expect of you. —Kelly Jensen