No words A novel

Bestseller Cabot's third Little Bridge Island rom-com (after No Offense) tackles weightier issues than it can support but is nevertheless buoyed by its effervescent elements. Bestselling author Jo Wright thought she and fellow bestseller Will Price hit it off two years ago, so she was outraged when he belittled her books in an interview shortly thereafter. When she's invited to the Little Bridge Island Book Festival in the Florida Keys, she only agrees because she's assured Will won't be there. Of course, he turns out to be an integral part of the festival, which means Jo finally has to confront him. Some elements of the plot don't quite cohere, as the romantic arc is slow to start and then unfolds in just 24 hours. Occasional shifts into a surprisingly dark tone also detract from the charm, as when, early on, Jo momentarily suspects that Will might be grooming teenage girls. Still, witty prose, an entertaining cast of diverse characters, and a romance that's enchanting once it actually develops mean this mostly playful escape is sure to please the author's fans. Agent: Laura Langlie, Laura Langlie Literary. (Sept.)

At Little Bridge Island's first annual literary festival, the attending authors create enough drama to fill several novels. Jo Wright, author of popular children's book series Kitty Katz, Kitten Sitter, is not feeling as perfectly "pawsitive" as her plucky feline heroine. She's been dealing with terrible writer's block ever since Will Price, author of several supersuccessful maudlin romances, bad-mouthed her books to a reporter from the New York Times. Now prone to wearing all black and embracing a less-than-sunny approach to life, Jo is way behind on her deadline for Kitty Katz No. 27 and in need of funds to move her ailing father out of New York City and to a warmer climate. So, when Jo receives an unexpected invitation--complete with $10,000 stipend--to the Florida Keys for Little Bridge Island's first literary festival, she can't really justify turning it down. There's only one downside: Will Price is not only attending the festival, but he's also its largest donor. Jo, along with a zany cast including magician/fantasy author Garrett Newcombe and her best friend, YA novelist Bernadette Zhang, are all charmed by the island's hospitality and the festival's fancy events. But when Jo and Will's past animosity seeps into the present and unsavory rumors come to a head, Little Bridge finds itself in the eye of a "purr-fect" storm. This third trip to Little Bridge--following No Judgments (2019) and No Offense (2020)--puts Cabot's trademark wit and vibrant characters on full display. While some key facets of the plot are underdeveloped--the explanation for Will's unsavory behavior is unsatisfactory, as is Jo's extreme reaction to it--the charming small-town setting, intriguing hate-to-love romance, and authentic look behind the scenes of a literary get-together make for a winning combination. This frothy, made-for-summer read earns its place poolside. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.