Choosing You by Linny Mack

A grown-up, emotionally rich romance about choosing yourself—and then choosing love when it finally shows up in a way that feels safe. Choosing You follows a 41-year-old heroine who’s “single on purpose,” a country singer coming home with a deadline, and the kind of connection that’s been waiting under the surface for years.

Melanie Glick is 41, happily independent, and done with being anyone’s second choice. She bartends at The Ugly Mug, writes songs she’s too scared to perform, and keeps her life quiet—especially since her best friend Cara died and everything stopped fitting the way it used to.

Then Josh Cote—Cara’s brother and a country singer chasing inspiration for his first solo album—blows back into Cape May for the 25th anniversary of his sister’s death. He swore he’d never return, but grief has gravity. When he sees Melanie again (and the tattoo on her wrist in Cara’s handwriting), it’s instantly clear: this isn’t nostalgia. It’s unfinished.

A spare room becomes late-night talks. Shared grief turns into heat. And what was supposed to be temporary starts feeling like home—until Josh’s deadline, Melanie’s walls, and a long-buried secret threaten to wreck what they’re building. If they want a future, they’ll have to face the past—together.