Toni and Addie Go Viral

This contrived contemporary from bestseller Marr (Reluctant Witch) finds history professor Toni Darbyshire reeling in the wake of her father’s death, which left her on the hook for his $200,000 debt. Her best friend suggests she write a novel as a way to make money, and Toni admits she already has one written. That same night, she happens to meet Addie Stewart and is instantly enthralled, leading to a one-night stand. The encounter is memorable enough that Toni renames her main character after Addie. She also manages to find Addie’s email address and the pair keep in touch over the next year as Toni’s Victorian-era lesbian detective novel hits it big. Toni never mentions the book to Addie, so she’s shocked when Addie shows up to audition for the leading role in the TV adaptation. When the production team heads to a hotel dedicated to recreating the Victorian era, the venue requires that Addie and Toni fake-marry each other to avoid the “scandal” of sharing a room without being wed. Photos from their pretend wedding go viral online, forcing the women to finally face their feelings. The setup strains credulity, and Marr creates a lot of friction between her central couple while leaving their happier, sweeter moments largely off-page, making it difficult to root for these two. Readers will struggle with this. (Aug.)