Girl Abroad

December 11, 2023
Bestseller Kennedy (The Graham Effect) delivers an angsty and addictive new adult romance. Abby Bly, 19, the only child of formerly hard-partying rock star Gunner Bly, grew up “hearing the stories of his many exploits but having no stories or exploits of my own, coddled and sheltered in the hermetic seal of his guilt and regrets.” So she leaps at the opportunity to spend her sophomore year of college at Pembridge University London, finding a flatshare online with three female roommates. But when Abby arrives on their doorstep, she realizes Lee, Jack and Jamie are men. Despite the momentary shock, Abbey soon seamlessly fits into the household, falling for her rugby-playing roommate Jack, a hunky Australian—and also for Nate, a musician who’s part of their friend group. (“My erratic pulse is now confused as to which guy it’s pounding for.”) After Abbey buys an enigmatic painting at an estate sale, she’s caught up in the mystery behind it—even attending a royal ball with Lord Benjamin Tulley, one of the original owner’s heirs. Kennedy skillfully keeps readers guessing which suitor Abby’ll end up with and the mystery painting provides some welcome additional intrigue. The London setting, charming heroine, and well-drawn love quadrangle make this a treat. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary.

January 15, 2024
A rock star's daughter decides to study abroad in search of her own experiences, finding romance and intrigue along the way. For 19-year-old Abbey Bly, having a rock star for a father isn't as glamorous as it seems. For one thing, she shares her name with Abbey Road, and for another, the only version of the famous Gunner Bly she knows is the helicopter parent she lives with in Nashville. Hoping to find her way outside her father's sphere of influence, Abbey decides to spend a semester in London studying European history at Pembridge University. Promising to keep her father updated on every aspect of life abroad, Abbey heads to her shared apartment expecting to find three female roommates...only to find that she's actually living with three men. Afraid that Gunner will order her home, Abbey decides to keep Lee, Jack, and Jamie's gender a secret (lucky their names sound androgynous!) and sets her sights on adventure. While working on a research project about a mysterious painting and adapting to Britain's drinking culture, Abbey finds time to explore a little romance despite her housemates' strict no-fraternizing rule. First there's Jack, a commitment-phobic Australian hottie who can't seem to stay away from Abbey; then there's Nate, a sexy bassist who keeps forgetting he's taken. Toying with nonexclusive relationships and exploring her sexuality, Abbey can't help but feel excited about all the experience she's gaining, but has she really, truly found herself? Kennedy's novel is a page-turner--who wouldn't want to travel to a foreign country and meet interested potential lovers down the hall? Abbey is a relatable character who yearns to stand outside her father's shadow, and though the love triangle is a focal point, it never outshines the heroine's growth. A spicy novel that's a must-read for fans of a British accent.

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