Rachel Weiss's group chat

Appelbaum's clever, slow-burning debut pairs a discouraged millennial with her wealthy neighbor in a modern Pride and Prejudice riff. On the cusp of turning 30, Rachel Weiss feels like she's fallen behind in life: stuck in a "dead-end tech job" she hates with a history of bad relationships and newly graying hair. Her mother, meanwhile, is desperate to set her up with Christopher Butkus, the irritating, stuck-up tech millionaire who's buying the house next door. Luckily, Rachel has both employer-mandated therapy and an exuberant group chat with her friends to keep her going. But when a video of Rachel and her older sister, Jane, a newscaster, both blackout drunk and apparently making light of #metoo allegations goes viral, Rachel's life and her friend group begin to fall apart. To Rachel's surprise, the one person she's able to confide in is Christopher, who shows her an unexpected thoughtful side. Appelbaum's focus on friendship sets this retelling apart, with long text conversations between Rachel and her besties providing ample humor. Rachel herself is a flawed and often frustrating heroine, but it's a joy to see Christopher bring out her better side. The result is a fun and joyous romp. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Whalen Agency.

DEBUT Rachel Weiss's year is off to a terrible start. Despite having great friends, a thriving social life, and a job that pays the bills, she is dating the latest in a string of men who continually let her down. To make matters worse, Rachel's mother keeps trying to set her up with new neighbors' son, a successful tech multimillionaire who instantly gets on Rachel's nerves during their first meet-not-so-cute. When Rachel's group of longtime friends from college begin to grow apart and the group chat disintegrates, Rachel's lifeline disappears. Feeling like her life is spiraling even more out of control, she reaches out to the millionaire next door for support and discovers that he might not be the person she initially thought he was, leading Rachel to wonder if her perfect match was right in front of her all along. VERDICT Despite a nuanced exploration of the struggles of maintaining friendships as an adult, this debut novel from Appelbaum struggles with its unlikable main character, stilted dialogue, and the uneven pacing in its romantic plotline.--Whitney Kramer