Salty, spiced, and a little bit nice

A woman finds the courage to rebuild her life in Timoti's touching debut. Ellie Rae Pang's overbearing and über-successful parents expect her to accept a marriage proposal from their business partner's son and join the family's East Coast dynasty. Instead, Ellie uproots her life to pursue her dream of opening a bakery specializing in healthy treats tailored to customers who, like her, are managing diabetes. She thinks she's found the perfect spot in Port Benedict, Wash., far from her controlling family. But there are two problems: the space she rented sight-unseen is in desperate need of renovations, and Alec MacKenzie, her brother's former best friend and Ellie's longtime crush turned mortal enemy, happens to live in town. Alec needs a fake girlfriend to help fend off the advances of his business partner. Though Ellie still feels the sting of his rejection 10 years prior, she agrees to play the role in exchange for his help fixing up the bakery. Though there are perhaps one too many plot contrivances easing the way of their enemies-to-lovers relationship, the push and pull between the leads feels both authentic and electric, and it's a joy to witness Ellie come into her own. Timoti is an exciting new voice in romance. (May)

DEBUT Ellie Pang finds herself at the center of viral attention after publicly rejecting an arranged-marriage proposal. Seeking escape from her controlling family and their plans for her future, Ellie pursues her dream of opening a health-conscious bakery in a new town. The story gains complexity when Ellie reconnects with Alec Mackenzie, her childhood crush, who mysteriously disappeared from her life years ago. Their fake-dating arrangement, designed to help them both navigate professional and personal challenges, serves as a perfect catalyst for exploring their unresolved history and growing attraction. A strength of Timoti's novel is her nuanced portrayal of type 1 diabetes, avoiding common stereotypes while realistically depicting the daily challenges of chronic-illness management. Timoti's handling of family dynamics and intergenerational relationships also feels authentic and adds depth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance between Ellie and Alec develops naturally, enhanced by their shared history and current circumstances. VERDICT Timoti skillfully blends romance with meaningful discussions about family expectations, chronic illness, and cultural identity in her strong debut.--Michelle Mistalski