In some ways, Cali has it all: top of her class in a global company's management training, a supportive family, crazy good looks. Unfortunately, her unapproachable facial expressions and walled-off nature built an unimpeachable fortress: "We all have our versions of armor." That is, until she brings cinnamon rolls to the hot guy who lives above her new apartment. Turns out a graphic novelist with Tourrettes has the key to certain gates—and only some of it involves a former bullying victim living out his revenge fantasies on the gorgeous blonde below.

Such is the premise of Beth Morton's THE AWKWARD AGENDA. Determined to fix her (at her request), Simon devises challenges along with his loveable cast of friends to help Cali connect with the awkward experiences that will help her open up. All he has to do is avoid his growing feelings for the one person who seems able to calm his tics. Ultimately, the real question is how vulnerable either is willing to be.

Morton explores this with sensitivity and depth. A beautiful cast of characters, each person with unique and sweet stories of their own, pulls the reader in like getting the scoop at brunch. Off-screen happenings never feel like an information dump; instead, they provide enough context to appreciate the quip and endear the reader to future iterations of these characters.

Romance in Morton's tale offers just enough space to keep things interesting; there is a great balance of tease, yearning, and payoff. “If I kiss you right now, will it ruin whatever it is between us?" and  "But I want you to kiss me anyway” are two of the best lines to read in a will-they-won’t they moment, a well-earned respite from two characters denying their truths repeatedly. The conflicts presented are reasonable and heart-wrenching, and Simon and Cali are a duo worth cheering for (along with their comic counterparts, Mad and Twitch).

In the end, THE AWKWARD AGENDA is both a romantic comedy and a book about finding a group of truly supportive friends. This pleasing romance makes room for love in the midst of sorrow, disability, and mental illness.

Beth Morton's THE AWKWARD AGENDA is a satisfying adventure through grief, disability, and mental health that features loveable characters, gripping conflict, and plenty of swoon in an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers' tale.

~ Melodie Coulter for IndieReader