When Joss Met Matt

January 19, 2015
Cahill’s sweet contemporary romance debut traces the seven-year friendship-with-benefits between Jocelyn Kiel and Matt Lehrer, from their first meeting in college to the present day. The narrative begins with Joss preparing to confess to Matt that she’s developed romantic feelings for him, then brings readers up to speed on their relationship—and their failed romances with other partners—via episodic flashbacks. The format removes most of the potential tension from the question of what will happen between the pair, but there’s delight in seeing their intimacy develop in ways that readers will recognize, even if the characters themselves are slower to understand. Occasion­ally Joss and Matt come across as painfully judgmental jerks in their dealings with other lovers, particularly those who don’t fit their narrow definition of normal, but mostly they and their relationship are as sweet and light as the “sorbet sex” they enjoy together. Readers looking for a cozy, predictable rendezvous will be contented. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency.

February 1, 2015
Sorbet Sex. Funny name, great idea. At least that's what Joss and Matt think when they begin their interesting arrangement. When Joss's high-school sweetheart cheats on her, she tries (unsuccessfully) to get over him by hooking up with a random guy. After this epic failure, the two best friends decide that whenever one of them needs to cleanse her or his sexual palate after a failed relationship, the other will be there to help out. No expectations. No attachments. Just two friends trying to navigate a fierce dating world. With all of their rules and boundaries clearly laid out, Joss and Matt left one important rule unspoken: never fall in love with each other. The classic story line of friends turned lovers gets a fun twist in Cahill's first romance, a delightful new adult read told in flashbacks and full of witty banter. Readers will root for this unconventional couple and enjoy tracing their six-year relationship from start to finish.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)