Release day is finally here! I thought nothing could top sending my first book out into the world, but you know what? I really love this book. Every time I start reading it again, I don’t want to stop.

My Second Impression of You was inspired by a stupid-awful thing that happened (I broke my foot walking down some stairs I somehow didn’t see), and then I wrote a lot of it while sitting in the hospital beside my best friend after her stroke (love you, Chrissy!).  And then I revised it during the pandemic, with my kids doing school from home and my husband here as well.

So there were a lot of hard things going on while I was writing this book, but despite that–or maybe because of it?–writing Maggie brought me so much joy. Maggie is not like me AT ALL. She’s full of drama and emotion. She jumps right into things without thinking. She’s sure she knows everything. (Okay, maybe that’s me a little, but isn’t that everyone? 😉) I hope she’ll bring you joy too!

In case you still don’t have a clear idea what My Second Impression of You is about, I recorded a one-minute summary.

I hope you’ll pick up a book and read my Acknowledgments, because I thank a whole bunch of awesome people in there. But just to name a few: my agent, Elizabeth Bewley; my editors, Allison Moore and Camille Kellogg; cover illustrator Jacqueline Li; cover and book designer Jeanette Levy; and everyone else at Bloomsbury. Also my critique partners and beta readers for this book: Kip Wilson, Carla Cullen, Beth Ellyn Summer, and Amy Trueblood. And obviously my friends and family, especially my husband, Greg, and kids, Luke and Anna. I don’t always use their names, but this book is dedicated to them, so the secret’s out!

My Second Impression of You is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook today. The audiobook is narrated by the amazing Kimberly Wetherell, who captures Maggie so well!

I hope to see some of you at my events over the next week, starting with my launch party tonight! All books purchased at these events are eligible for my preorder campaign, which runs through Sept. 26. Remember to submit your receipts at http://bit.ly/mysecondimpression to receive a bookmark, three character stickers, and enter for the grand prize (thespian mask necklace, Best Day Ever hat, stuffed unicorn).

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Central
Launch Event at The Novel Neighbor (with cake!)
7905 Big Bend Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63119
Registration is recommended but not required here

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Central
In Conversation with Jennifer Lynn Alvarez at Parnassus Books
3900 Hillsboro Pike Suite 14, Nashville, TN 37215
Registration is required here

Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, 2 p.m. Central
Signing at Main Street Books
307 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
No registration required

Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, 5 p.m. Central
In-person event at Left Bank Books
399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108
Registration is requested here
Attend virtually at Left Bank Books’ Facebook Live Page or YouTube Page

Thank you so much for your support! I hope you love the book as much as I do. If you do, please leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. You can leave a review at Amazon and B&N even if you purchase the book elsewhere. Reviews make a huge difference for authors, helping more readers find the book.

And remember: Don’t text and walk!

(That will make more sense once you read the book…)