Meryl Wilsner

Talk about a slooooow burn!

Jo is the showrunner and head writer for a hit TV series, and in line to write the next big action movie, if she can convince the world that a Chinese American woman can write a blockbuster action film. Emma is Jo’s assistant and when Jo asks her to accompany Jo to the SAG Awards to help deflect some the attention currently on her, Emma can’t say no. But they are caught on film sharing an laugh, which looks quite intimate, and suddenly all Hollywood is gossiping about the two of them. Is there something there that maybe Jo and Emma weren’t totally aware of?

Well, is there something there? That question takes a long time to answer in this book. But it’s not an obnoxious wait to get to the good stuff (smooching). It’s actually a very interesting and fraught journey. Obviously, there is a power imbalance between Jo and Emma, as Jo is Emma’s boss, that needs to be dealt with. There’s Jo’s ambitions, and Emma’s somewhat ambivalent desires for her own career in Hollywood. There’s also an age imbalance-- Jo is older and hesitates to think that she would be desirable to someone Emma’s age. Wilsner also introduces some external conflicts, so there is actually quite a bit going on in this book but it never feels harried or rushed.

What’s great about the book is actually the time is takes for the relationship to develop. Jo and Emma miscommunicate or misunderstand each other, but then take the time to figure things out. They talk. They apologize, when needed. They develop a friendship. Sometimes, romance novels isolate the leads in order to intensify the connection between them-- not here. Both Jo and Emma have outside friends and family to rely on and it only strengthens the connection between them.

Would I have liked to get to the kissing a little earlier? Heck yeah! The romance doesn’t really blossom until about 85% of the way through. But I still enjoyed the journey.… (more)