The Boy Toy

August 10, 2020
Marsh (Long Way Home) delivers an enchanting interracial rom-com between a stuttering stunt man and a dialect coach in Melbourne, Australia. White stunt man Rory Radcliffe hopes to help his former speech therapist open a center for underprivileged kids, but to make a meaningful financial contribution, he’ll first have to land the latest job his agent’s put him up for: as the host of a reality show. To prepare for his first ever speaking audition, he’s assigned to work with dialect coach Samira Broderick—who also happens to be his recent one-night stand. Indian divorcee Samira refers Rory to her cousin so that she can resume her liaison with the hunk who’s 10 years her junior. Samira’s only in Melbourne for six months, making a long-term relationship impossible (despite what her meddling mother might say), and the no-strings-attached arrangement suits Rory just fine. Confident they’re on the same page, Samira and Rory begin spending as much time together outside of the bedroom as they do between the sheets—and things quickly get complicated. Marsh eschews intense drama in favor of slow-burning anticipation, drawing readers in with vivid descriptions, witty dialogue, and a fleshed out depiction of Indian family culture. The result is a winning romance. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary.

November 1, 2020
A 37-year-old Indian Australian woman's assumptions about love and relationships are shaken by a White stuntman 10 years her junior. Physical therapist Samira Broderick moved from Melbourne to Los Angeles in the aftermath of a painful divorce, needing to get away from her Indian mother's relentless matchmaking. Almost a decade later, she has returned, leaving her bustling LA practice to work for her cousin's new health and fitness enterprise. Samira resents her mother's involvement in her failed arranged marriage and dislikes her mother's interference in her currently floundering love life, but she still hopes her return can help heal old wounds. With a plate so full, Samira is not looking for anything permanent when she has a one-night stand with Rory Radcliffe. Rory moves on from partners quickly because he feels the need to hide his stutter--a need that's also forced the talented stuntman to avoid roles requiring him to talk. But when he gets an opportunity to audition as the host of Renegades, a reality show touted as Australia's "next big thing," Rory decides to find a dialect coach and make an attempt. Though they had a wonderful night together, Rory decides to forget about Samira and focus on the audition--but his plans are derailed when he discovers that she's his coach. Marsh turns an insightful and sensitive lens on the role of the body in matters of self-image and love. But Samira and Rory are so wrapped up in the caprices of their own hearts, minds, and bodies that there's little room for them to truly discover each other. Marsh tries to sketch a portrait of Indian culture by including references to various food preparations, but she misses the opportunity to comment on the complexities of community ties in the Indian diaspora, where judgmental attitudes can co-exist with support and empathy. A faltering story rescued by an engaging premise.

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