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A swoony, grown-up, and utterly charming romance I loved
"One & Only" by Maurene Goo surprised me in the best way
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Happy weekend! I’ve got a few announcements today. First, our March book club pick is Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash, a buzzy debut novel about a dysfunctional family. Thanks to everyone who voted last week, you’re in for a good one. I just started the book last night and had to be practically peeled away.
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You can join our book discussion in a few ways:
Online: A post with a discussion thread will go up at the end of March. This will be open to paid subscribers. Since I’ll be on leave, the thread will be pre-scheduled.
In person: If you’d like to meet other readers in person, you can join our Geneva/BFF chat (it’s free to join) and post a message in the book club meetups channel. You can also ask to meet up in our Substack subscriber chat (you have to be a paid sub to start a thread).
On that note, I’m extending my 20% off subscription promo for the next 72 hours, so it’s a perfect time to join in — and, importantly, help me buy so many diapers. There won’t be another offer until mid-summer:
As a reminder, my maternity leave begins next Friday (!!), and Elise Hu will be stepping in as my interim editor. Downtime will be in your inbox once a week, and we have a strong lineup of newsletters and exciting guests ready for you.
Lastly, thanks to everyone checking in on how I’m feeling - I’m feeling pretty good…and very ready for this baby to arrive. And no, the nursery is still not done, but I’m feeling very zen about it. Second time around vibes?
—Alisha
P.S. A recent reader chat thread I loved: Paris travel recs. And I’m looking for the best nonstick pan recs for frying eggs, please.
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Downtime Reads
This week I read…
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One & Only by Maurene Goo. I listened to this on audio as a palate cleanser after reading a dark thriller (which I reviewed last week). It delivered completely on the heartwarming vibes I was looking for and went above and beyond. It surprised me in telling a love story in a unique way that didn’t feel too formulaic or slumpy, one of my usual complaints with romance books I’ve tried in the past.
The novel’s protagonist is Cassia Park, who comes from a long line of matchmakers. Cass and her Korean-American matriarchal family run a matchmaking agency in LA called One & Only with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The source of their confidence? They have a centuries-old family secret, of course: they can see into a person’s past and find their “fated,” the one they are meant to be with. Don’t let this magical realism bit throw you off. It was woven beautifully into the story without feeling jarring, cheesy, or like a desperate plot device.
One & Only is a love triangle story: Cass, who’s just about to turn forty, is torn between a younger, 28-year-old man she has a sexy fling with named Ellis, and a more grown, “appropriate for her age” man with movie-star looks named Da