Lucy Bowen has had enough of romance. After one too many failed relationships and a complete lack of Prince Charmings, she’s given up on the idea altogether. Well, almost. Working for New York’s biggest romance publisher, Heartwarming, means she can’t escape love stories, and she definitely can’t give up her dream of a long-overdue promotion.

But when Heartwarming’s star author, Ruby Jones, threatens to jump ship thanks to a creative rut and dwindling book sales, Lucy’s boss steps in with a bold plan: send Lucy on a research trip to a charming lakeside town to drum up inspiration for Ruby’s next novel. The catch? Lucy has to live out a picture-perfect small-town romance – or at least gather enough material to fake it.

Before she can say happily ever after, Lucy finds herself swept into the quirky, chaotic world of small-town life. There are nosy neighbours, unexpected friendships, and yes, a spark – okay, several sparks – with Liam, the infuriating town heartthrob. But as fiction starts to blur with reality, Lucy faces her biggest challenge yet: will she stick to the script or finally take a leap of faith in her own love story?