The Marriage Narrative

How much of reality TV is real behind the scenes is the question at the center of this fun contemporary from Kann (The Romantic Agenda). Entrepreneur Zinnia is too busy for dating and decides to approach marriage as a “merger”; she’s looking for a sensible partnership, not a giddy love match, and she gives herself 30 days to get it done. Her best friends, Grace and Fiona, think she’s insane—until Zinnia meets fellow entrepreneur Jordan, who’s seeking a similarly passionless arrangement, though for a very different reason. The rest of his family has been starring in a Kardashian-style reality show for years, and though he remains close with them, he doesn’t appear on camera, leading the public to dub him “the estranged son.” Now, however, the family hopes to keep Jordan’s sister Sadie’s twin pregnancy out of the news with a splashy distraction: Jordan’s emotional return and surprise engagement. As Jordan and Zinnia’s marriage of practicality becomes a public spectacle, the lines between performance and reality blur, with Zinnia joining Jordan’s family, saving his sister from a stalker, and unexpectedly finding real love. Zinnia’s strength of will and self-respect make her an admirable heroine while Jordan’s depth and eventual devotion are swoon-worthy. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these two. (Nov.)