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Back After This by Linda Holmes is a story that I had a hard time putting down. (Who needs to sleep?)

"Cecily works as a producer for a company that makes podcasts. Her boss, Toby, offers her a chance to host her own show - but there's a catch. First she has to work with Eliza Cassidy - a relationship influencer. Eliza will set Cecily up with Twenty first dates. All of them will be recorded and packaged as a podcast and everyone will know what Cecily is like on a date. Can she do it? Can she put up with the embarassment and indignity to save her friend's job? Is it worth it for her own show? And what happens with this guy she keeps running into? What does she do with those sparks?"

This book has a podcast flavor but it's more about the people making podcasts. Cecily is a character that seems to be exceptional at what she does, never settling for anything less than great. But that carries over into many aspects of her life with sometimes negative consequences.
Holmes makes these characters seem like real people. It feels like you could run into Will and Cecily on the street (probably chasing Buddy, the Great Dane) We all know a Justin - someone full of themselves and taking credit for your work. I like what happened to him.

One thing I like about Holmes stories is that there is just enough left vague at the end. Everything is not tied up with a neat bow and I can imagine some of the ending I want for these characters.

Add this book to your list this year.