The Second You're Single: A Novel

Cara Tanamachi

Jan 2023 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

Most Anticipated Romance by Buzzfeed

Cheerfully irreverent, bitingly funny, and filled with romantic charm, Cara Tanamachi's The Second You're Single is all about navigating the most romantic month of the year, and how love always seems to arrive when you least expect it.

Freelance writer Sora Reid believes in inertia. She’s the odd one out in a close-knit family of go-getters, including her Japanese-American mom, who hints about her need to lose weight, and her soon-to-be married, overachieving younger sister, who needs her to have a date for the wedding, since a wedding party couples' dance with their Scottish great uncle Bob simply won't do. For Sora, minimal input, minimal expectations is the way to go. She’d rather stay at home with her insufferable neighbor and her adorable pitbull.

The one thing that disrupts her inertia: an intense dislike for Valentine’s Day. What is it with the commercial love machine? Why do we pin our hopes on one romantic day, when staying home with a package of bacon and a bottle of tequila would be way better? Sora’s been betrayed and disappointed more than once and her heart is starting to feel like her Grandma Mitsuye’s antique Japanese ceramic bowl, with its many gold-filled cracks.

When her pledge to stay single in February inspires readers to #gosolo, Sora has a responsibility to empower her readers. But relationships aren’t built to last, so it shouldn’t be that hard. Right?

Enter Jack Mann. A muscle-bound baker who looks like he lifts logs on the weekends, Sora hasn’t thought of Jack since they were in elementary school together. When they see each other at the local grocery store and the attraction hits hard, Sora knows she has to shut it down, quick. She can’t #gosolo AND get the guy. She can’t let down her readers. And relationships always end, so why should Jack be any different–even though he’s confounding all her long-held expectations of love?

“Riotous, whip-smart, and original. Read this happy-making book if you love yourself.” —Jayci Lee, Author of Booked on a Feeling

Ratings and reviews

I went into this book blindly. Once I figured out what it was about, I was a little worried that I would absolutely hate it. I was thinking it would be cringy and predictable. I was completely wrong. Don't get me wrong, there were parts that were a bit predictable, but not in a bad way. I also wish there were parts that were elaborated just a bit more. I won't go into specifics. I really enjoyed it very much. (More on blog: Star's Books & Tea)

I just loved this romantic comedy with all its funny/serious characters: the boss whose every statement is a question, the downstairs mean girl, the bridezilla sister, the downstairs frat boys, the too good to be true love interest, and the Go Solo February writer (Sora). The story is so engaging and sometimes just so funny. If Sora was a real person, I would love to meet her. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Like humor? Romance? If so, you'll not want to miss The Second You're Single. Cara Tanamachi has provided readerswith a well-written book populated with fun, lovable characters. Kudos to Ms. Tanamachi for her snappy, fresh dialog that kept a smile on my face from cover to cover. Sora has had a string of bad Valentine's Days and is writing a GoSolo daily blog for Slick. Jack had a crush on Sora from kindergarten and when she's close enough for him to tempt her with his samples at the grocer

About the author

Cara Tanamachi lives near Chicago with her husband and five children (two by biology and three by marriage), and their 85-pound Goldendoodle, Theodore. Raised near Dallas, Texas by her Japanese-American dad and her English-Scottish American mom, she was the oldest of two children (the debate still rages whether she or her brother are currently the family favorite). The University of Pennsylvania (Go Quakers!) grad worked as a newspaper reporter, and then published many novels under the name Cara Lockwood, including Dixieland Sushi, I Do (But I Don't), and Pink Slip Party. A former single mom, she spent eight years dating (hilariously and awkwardly) before finding the love of her life on Bumble (yes, Bumble!). She believes we all could use a little more happily ever after.