M. K. Lewis The Never List

Madelaine Brown loves love - just not in real life. After her mom walked out when she was nine, she decided it was safer to admire romance from a distance. Ever since, she's been all about theory over practice. Unfortunately, life keeps handing her one very annoying exception: Jake West. They've been forced together since childhood - babysat together, spent summers together (fighting), went to the same school, and even landed in the same classes. And through it all, he's remained her finest form of torture. He's adventurous (stupid), flirty (well-rounded), a bit reckless (gets away with the stupidest things), and popular (she still doesn't understand how). When Jake's long-term summer fling dumps him for someone new, he's desperate to save face. Meanwhile, Madelaine's got The Never List - a running list of things she swears she'll never do because, well, she's a chicken (his words, not hers). A deal is struck: she'll fake date him to make his ex (and Madelaine's longtime enemy) jealous, and he'll help her "get a life." But between the fake smiles, forced proximity, and way-too-real moments, Madelaine starts to realize that maybe some things on The Never List aren't so impossible after all. A deal, a list, and way too many almost-kisses - because when life keeps throwing you at the same person, maybe it's not a coincidence. Maybe it's just really bad timing... or something dangerously close to love.