An astronomy professor must learn how to accept romance in her life. Her sweet younger cousin on the brink of her wedding is just the one to play matchmaker.
This summer beach read proves that opposites do attract. A smart and hilarious enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, this book spins the original tale of Much Ado About Nothing from Shakespeare into an academic romance, ending with a surprising twist.
This is the story of two cousins: one with stars in her eyes, the other with her eyes on the stars…
Beatrice is a stubborn, no-nonsense astronomy professor at a small college in wine country. While working toward her tenure, she spends an inordinate amount of time avoiding Ben, an annoying librarian she believes wronged her when they were students. Their rapid-fire exchanges could almost be mistaken for chemistry, if he hadn’t done that unspeakable thing so many years ago.
Her younger cousin Heron is a wistful senior in college. The opposite of Beatrice, she is a hopeless romantic, pinning her hopes on a future with her boyfriend. After he proposes on a magical night at her father’s winery, Bea is worried her younger cousin is making a mistake. Heron responds to Bea’s criticism with a matchmaking scheme designed to show Bea the upside of romance.
Bea and Ben are the subjects of a hilarious opposites-attract experiment, while Heron begins to question whether marriage is the right choice. Her world comes crashing down when she is at the center of a campus scandal, reigniting anxiety from her mother’s sudden departure so many years ago.
As Heron and Bea deal with the fallout from the scandal, each finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about the best course for the future. Eventually, each woman must make a choice: Bea between the comfortable role of merry spinster or a fulfilling partnership; Heron between marriage or reaching for a new dream.
Amy Dressler’s whip-smart debut novel is not to be missed, a tour de force of female empowerment, romantic comedy, and family friendship as she turns Shakespeare upside down in an unexpected and brilliant way for a new generation of women.
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, STEM romance, Academic feud, Small town college romance
Reviews
“Dressler draws from a classic enemies to lovers tale in her sparkling debut.” – Publisher’s Weekly – Read the full review
“Highly recommend as a feel good, beach read.” -– Larissa Otteraa, 5 Stars, Book Sirens
“Dressler’s writing is both smart and laugh-out-loud funny, particularly in the verbal sparring between Beatrice and Ben, the librarian she loves to hate.” Abigail L, Librarian, 5 Stars, NetGalley
“I truly loved this book and couldn’t put it down. An adaptation of my favorite Shakespeare play could have gone very well or very badly, and fortunately this one nailed it. Really a lovely and extremely re-readable book, one that’s going high on my recommendations list.” – Bonnie, 5 Stars, Goodreads
“If you’re looking for laughs, love, and a few lessons in astronomy, this book’s got your name on it.” – Sue, 5 Stars, NetGalley
“Amy Dressler has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more in this world ‘ – Kathryn M., Reviewer, NetGalley
“I loved this modern re-telling of Much Ado About Nothing! Our familiar couples and characters are present in convincing present-day garb.” Tjsjohanna, 4 Stars, LibraryThing
“This was a great story about women in different stages in life and their resilience.” – heatherdhahn, 4 Stars, LibraryThing
“A nice light romantic comedy.” – oriocookie, 4.5 Stars, LibraryThing
“I don’t generally read contemporary romance, so I was surprised with a five star review.” – nowimvengeful, 5 Stars, Book Sirens
“All in all a funny and entertaining book that I enjoyed very much – really a perfect summer beach read.” – Ulli, 4 Stars, Book Sirens
“How to Align the Stars kept me up past my bedtime and sent me off to sweet dreams.” – Bethh, 5 Stars, Goodreads
“*Chef’s Kiss* I loved it!” – Brittney, 4 Stars, Goodreads
“A wonderfully romantic read.” – bagejew, 5 Stars, LibraryThing
Publication date: June 4, 2024. Genre: Womens Fiction, Contemporary Romance. Paperback and ebook. Print ISBN: 978-1-956498-10-3.
About the Author
Amy Dressler
Amy Dressler writes contemporary fiction featuring heroines who wrestle their emotional baggage while maintaining a sense of humor.
Media and Press
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