Can't let her go

Friends travel a rocky road to love in this frustrating sapphic romance from Alexander (Can't Resist Her). Barbershop owner Patricia "Peaches" Monroe is content to admire science-minded manicurist Jamie Hunt, one part of their mutual friend group, from afar. One evening, Jamie drunkenly expresses her feelings. Peaches initially rejects Jamie, preferring to explore the idea of a relationship when Jamie is sober. Determined to prove her feelings, Jamie shows up at Peaches's barbershop and publicly invites her on a road trip to explore the colleges she's thinking of applying to. Peaches agrees, and the road trip opens the door to romance--until a disagreement launches a series of miscommunications that curtail their efforts to get together and sets a sour tone. Peaches, who is struggling to get over an ex who used her sexually, has reservations about starting a relationship, while Jamie has some familial issues to work through, and neither woman is particularly adept at communicating her wants or needs. Alexander aims for emotional depth, but the disagreements--both major and petty--seem endless and reconciliation comes too late. Readers will struggle to root for this couple. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (June)

Peaches and Jamie have a lot in common, which makes the pair the center of their shared group of supportive friends in Texas. They are both independent, career-driven individuals. Peaches owns her own successful barbershop, but her family constantly reaches out for assistance, which wears down her ability to do things for herself. Jamie's dream is to own her own nail salon, all while she looks for support, acceptance, and understanding from her family after coming out to them. Then Jamie and Peaches decide to pursue a relationship and break the boundaries of their friendship, but they'll also have to navigate the complexities and challenges their families impose on them. While this book helpfully shows ways readers can handle difficult conversations and understandings of different identities, there is not enough chemistry between the two main characters. VERDICT This slow-burn, inclusive, friends-to-lovers romance highlights LGBTQIA+ and Black characters. While a much different pace from Alexander's previous romance, Can't Resist Her, the story is charming with realistic complexities that occur in budding relationships.--Michelle Mistalski