Painting the Lines

July 20, 2020
King debuts with a delightful, character-driven rom-com about two underdogs working toward redemption. Author Amalie Warner‘s career has stagnated after her bestselling debut. She needs another hit to prove to herself and the world that she’s still got it. After a surprise encounter with Julian Smoke, a washed-up tennis star who drunkenly proclaims his dream of competing in the U.S. Open, Amalie thinks she’s found the perfect inspiration for her next novel. She’ll help facilitate Julian’s return to the game by finding him a private coach, and he’ll serve as the basis for her new hero. Her hotel-mogul father agrees to finance the project on one condition: if Amalie’s novel isn’t a bestseller, she will give up her writing career and come work for him instead. With both their dreams on the line, Julian and Amalie grow close through early morning training sessions and novel “Write Nights,” forming a friendship that teeters on the edge of something more. But just as Julian finally opens up to Amalie about his troubled past, Julian’s coach bans Amalie from attending practices, limiting their time together. Though the premise is far-fetched and the ending feels rushed, King proves herself an expert at balancing chemistry and tension to create a couple readers will root for. Fans of slow-burn romance will be swept away.