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July 31, 2023
Katz’s unfocused debut reunites childhood best friends turned enemies Liyah Cohen-Jackson and Daniel Rosenberg. The pair first bonded as two of the only people of color at their Jewish summer camp and shared a memorable kiss. Unfortunately, Liyah is convinced that Daniel gossiped about making out with her the next day and then stole her ideas for a campwide competition—and she’s held a grudge for 14 years. It’s a fairly mild offense, and Katz wisely has Daniel prove his innocence early into the couple’s reunion. Once this flimsy premise is out of the way, however, the plot meanders. The couple are thrown back together when Daniel, a digital marketing strategist, is hired to help Chicago’s Field Museum, where Liyah works, and though both are now ready to explore their relationship, they worry about mixing business and pleasure. The stakes of this workplace flirtation feel low, as it’s unclear how fraternizing would threaten either character’s career. Meanwhile, a late reveal about Liyah’s traumatic past adds depth and emotion, but feels a bit abrupt. Despite this uneven plotting, the characters themselves charm, and Katz admirably surrounds her protagonists with a very diverse found family. There are some good ideas here, but they don’t quite come together. Agent: Jessica Mileo, InkWell.