Sammy Espinoza's Last Review: A Novel

"A music critic pining for her ex-girlfriend targets her high school crush for a career comeback and a chance at revenge in this fresh and original enemies to lovers romance debut. What could possibly go wrong? Sammy Espinoza is known for her smart and hilariously cynical music criticism, and she has a successful column to prove how notoriously hard to please she is in the music biz. But when her singer ex-girlfriend breaks up with her via song on stage, Sammy is willing to do anything, even jeopardize her career, to win her back. But her grand gesture, a fawning review on her column, doesn't accomplish much--she's still single and now her reputation is in the gutter. She has one last chance before her editor cuts her column. Luckily, Sammy has the perfect plan to get her edge back. Rumor has it that Max Ryan, home-grown rock star and Sammy's former high school crush, is back home in Ridley Falls, Washington, recording his highly anticipated but hugely secretive solo album. This is enough to get Sammy our of Seattle and on a Greyhound headed to Ridley Falls, the tiny town she swore she'd never come back to. Exclusive access to Max's new music would guarantee Sammy's professional redemption and, even better, give her the opportunity to serve some long-awaited revenge to the first person who broke her heart. When Sammy does run into Max... he doesn't even remember who she is. Sammy pretends this is all for the best. If she can play the part of tourist from the big city, she can gain his trust, let him "show her around," listen to the album, eviscerate it in her column, and be done with this whole mess in a week"--
With her life a raging dumpster fire, music critic Sammy Espinoza, to guarantee her professional comeback, arrives in Ridley Falls, Washington, to gain exclusive access to former rock god Max Ryan’s first ever solo album—and get revenge on this man who ghosted her after an unforgettable night together. Original.
“A sexy, funny, sweet story about second chances and found family . . . I fell in love with Ridley Falls and everyone in it.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers“This immersive tale will have everyone flipping pages.”—Good Morning America ONE OF THE BEST ROMANCE NOVELS OF 2023: Cosmopolitan, USA Today A music critic stuck in a spiral of epic proportions targets her teenage crush for a career comeback and a chance at revenge. What could possibly go wrong?Sammy Espinoza’s life is a raging dumpster fire. Her desperate attempt to win back her singer ex-girlfriend has landed her in hot water at work, and she has one last chance before her editor cuts her column. Luckily, Sammy has a plan to redeem herself, but it won’t be easy.Rumor has it that Max Ryan, the former rock god, is secretly recording his first-ever solo album years after he dramatically quit performing. And it just so happens that he and Sammy have history: Right before Max got his big break, he and Sammy spent an unforgettable night together.Exclusive access to Max’s new music would guarantee Sammy’s professional comeback and, even better, give her the opportunity to serve some long-awaited revenge for his traumatic ghosting.But Max lives in Ridley Falls, Washington, and Sammy has history there as well: a family that never wanted her and a million unanswered questions. Going back would mean confronting it all—but what else does she have to lose?