Cara Tanamachi. The Second You’re Single. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2023. 288 pp. ISBN 78-1250842268. $16.99

***

Having just listened to a When in Romance episode focusing on holidays, this Valentine’s day story feels timely. Freelance writer Sora pledges to stay single during the month of February to avoid Valentine’s Day and all of its trappings and disappointments, and #gosolo goes viral. The initiative is ill-timed with reconnecting with a crush from elementary school, Jack, who is all grown up and an accomplished baker recovering from his divorce to a very manipulative person.

Jack seems too good to be true, but is the real deal and everything Sora ever wanted: kind, considerate, loves her plus-size body, they share a sense of humor and sense of adventure. She is having trouble trusting and is suspicious of his conniving ex. But most of all, she needs to decide if she should hold to the “no-dating in February” rule that she’s commemorating in a column that will hopefully launch a regular feature and allow her to do the kind of journalism she’s really like to sink her teeth into.

This was a solid romance with funny moments and descriptive detail–Jack’s concoctions are mouthwatering. Sora and Jack were fully realized characters and even supporting characters had a complexity and depth, from Sora’s sister to Jack’s friend.

I received a free advance reader’s edition of #TheSecondYoureSingle from #NetGalley.