Bed Chemistry

McKenzie’s fun if somewhat implausible debut takes the “there was only one bed” trope to new extremes. Über-practical Ashleigh Hutchinson “studied chemistry so [she] could rationally explain every feeling with science.” After witnessing her father’s infidelity and her parents’ painful divorce, she took her sex therapist mother’s advice to separate lust from love and embrace one-night stands over relationships. When she loses her teaching job on the last day of school, she applies for a paid sleep study to help cover her summer bills—only to arrive and learn that the study is exclusively interested in couples. Enter Xander Miller, a close college friend with whom Ashleigh shared one unforgettable hookup before commando-crawling away the morning after to avoid talking about feelings. Xander hopes the study will help cure his insomnia and agrees to fake being in a committed relationship with Ashleigh so they can both participate. As they share a bed every night for four weeks, old feelings resurface. The fake dating contrivance strains credulity a bit, especially due to Xander and Ashleigh’s poor acting skills and initial awkwardness around each other. Readers who can suspend their disbelief, however, will appreciate the duo’s witty banter and palpable sexual tension. It’s a promising start. Agent: Elizabeth Rudnick, Gillian MacKenzie Agency. (Dec.)