Nandini Varma owns the only bookstore in town and is content with hiding her awkward self behind bestsellers. What she doesn't know is that her favorite author has moved near her, and that perhaps she could finally have a love story of her own, even if it's an awkward one. ***** Ryan Callahan wants to move on from his writing career and just work for the police. It's hard though, when the town's book lady happens to be a huge fan of his. She's smart, funny, beautiful, and kind - a lethal combination. He wants to get to know her more, but something seems to be holding her back. Who is this mysterious woman that Ryan can't stop thinking about? Content/trigger warning: This story contains themes of sexism and verbal abuse. [[word count: 70,000 - 80,000]] Cover designed by Joe Resch

❀2022 Watty Shortlister❀ ❀𝗔𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗲́𝗻 𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻̃𝗼𝗹❀ Much against his will, River Allen can't drag his gaze away from the new student, seventeen-year-old Dawn Gray Brooks. It isn't that she lives in a ragged, teal dress, and carries a thick, leather fairytale book around. There is something hidden in her faraway expression... Something he can't figure out-which leads him to follow her to Elsie's Lake. What he finds will change his life forever. ❀ Dawn Gray Brooks knows how to keep secrets. She doesn't tell anyone anything. Not a word about how she can float away from her body and watch the world unfold. She doesn't tell anyone about her daily talks with Dad either. Why? Because he's dead. Dawn knows better than to explain about her voices... Until River comes along, and Dad's words start to disappear. This boy refuses to leave her alone, keeping her in the now, clinging to reality. But for how long? ❀ Forget me Lots tell the adventures of a watery boy that has fallen for a whirlwind girl. A heart-wrenching journey brimming with love and grief, family, and friendship. It explores the bewildering places our minds can take us and will remind you of your own first love and how deep it pulled you under. ❀Wattpad picks: Hidden Gems ❀ONC Honourable Mention ❀ONC Amb's Pick ❀ONC Long listed ❀ONC Shortlisted ❀Featured in Wattpad Stars Profile: Young & Starry-Eyed ❀Featured in Wattpad's Official Profiles:Cupid, StoriesUndiscovered and Romance. ❀Editors' pick feature February 2021❀ ⚠️𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗴