about ordinary things

This week, I finished up the last of my developmental edits for my next book, Every Ordinary Thing, which comes out on March 2nd. I’ve been writing this book in some capacity since last summer, and it feels a little—actually very—surreal to be sitting on the other side of it now with a manuscript that’s fully written.

I’ve talked about this before (most thoroughly in this post), but there were so many times, particularly as I worked through a period of depression in 2024 and 2025 (scary to say that out loud, but that’s what it was, clinically!) , where I did not see myself publishing another book again. Where I wondered if I could ever write again, never mind share it with an audience.

So when I say that this book existing is miraculous—and I do say that often—I really, truly mean it. I love it because it exists, full stop. I love it because my brain and I worked together to create it, and so often the two of us aren’t in lockstep. So often we fight with each other like sisters—like, god I love you but I cannot live in this house with you anymore (this house being my body, of course). But my brain and I also love a love story. We love the idea of being loved for who we are, whether we’re fucking up or sick or protecting ourselves in ways that might be self-damaging or telling ourselves lies. My brain and I tell these stories because we want to believe in them, because we want to love ourselves exactly that way, too: not in spite of, but because. In totality. I love this book because my brain gave me something beautiful: the ability to finish it. To prove to myself that it was actually possible.

Of course I hope you love it, too! But I feel very lucky to be sitting here, writing this newsletter, being the one to love it first. One thing I did as a source of motivation was write myself a card to open once I’d finished, with a note made out to future me who was on the other side of my deadline. I opened it today and read the last lines a few times: “I’m so proud of you. I hope you’re proud of you, too. Love, Jess.” Sometimes it’s hard to remember that every version of me is rooting for me, but this was a really nice reminder.

from me to me

At any rate, I cannot wait for you to meet Summer and Dylan on March 2nd. Every Ordinary Thing is my love letter to the ways in which letting yourself be seen and known is terrifying and transformative. It’s about letting yourself be loved down to the tiniest detail, and finding someone who will always ask for more.

Here is the official blurb:

Two longtime friends work to make something extraordinary together, professionally and in love, in the newest romance from the bestselling author of The Ex Vows.

Summer Beckett is as temporary as the season she’s named after. While she’s accepted that she’s never the chosen one when it comes to her personal life, she’s determined to get there in her video production career. When a family friend tells her about a high-profile freelance gig that promises to make her more in-demand, she leaps at the opportunity.

That is, until she finds out the client is Dylan Parker, Major League Baseball’s most charming pitcher, her brother’s best friend…and the man she nearly kissed two years ago, until she realized nothing permanent would come from it. She’s been avoiding him ever since, but now he’s insisting she’s the only person he trusts with this project.

Taking the job means being in unbearable proximity to Dylan for a month, nearly the exact circumstances that almost cost Summer her heart last time. But it also means putting her work in front of a massive audience—just what she needs to level up professionally. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, leaving her no choice but to sign on.

Summer knows her time with Dylan is short-lived, as are the benefits they add to their friendship when their connection inevitably heats up. But Dylan keeps pulling her closer, and as the end of the month approaches, she has to decide if she’s brave enough to believe they can have something extraordinary…and lasting.

And a few additional details about it:

• friends to lovers

• brother’s best friend

• temporary roommates

• they both take the art of noticing very seriously

• features an inordinate amount of quiet devotion

• single POV with interstitials

• allegedly my spiciest yet

It’s up on Goodreads if you’re hankering to put it on your Want to Read shelf (this is very helpful to me personally because it shows my publisher that people are interested in my work, even after being gone for 2.75 years 😅).

We’re still a ways out from early reader copies and NetGalley and indie bookstore preorder campaigns, all of which I’ll tell you about when it’s time, but for now, I just love that they exist.

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Now, for a couple pieces of exciting news!

First, ALL of my books are currently on sale in some form!

• The ebook version of You, with a View is on sale on Amazon for $1.99, today through Friday, June 26th. You can get it HERE.

• The ebook version of The Ex Vows is also on sale on Amazon for $1.99 through Friday, June 26th. You can get it HERE.

• Every Ordinary Thing is 25% off through the Barnes & Noble preorder sale. You can get it HERE using code PREORDER25.

• The Twelve Loves of Christmas, the holiday anthology I’m part of, is also 25% off through the Barnes & Noble preorder sale. You can get it HERE.

Second, I’m going to be extremely outside this summer and fall, hanging out with my friends! Please come be with us:

• Sunday, June 28th: I’ll be in conversation with my best friend, Lavanya Lakshmi, to discuss her spectacular debut, Leave and Come Back. There are a few tickets left which you can get here!

• Tuesday, July 7th: I’ll be in conversation with Laura Marie Meyers to discuss her wonderful debut, The MASH Up. You can get tickets here!

• Thursday, July 23rd: I’ll be in conversation with Shirlene Obuobi to discuss her amazing new release, Die For Me. You can get tickets here!

• Saturday, August 15th + Sunday, August 16th: I’ll be at Knotty Con in Sacramento! You can get tickets here!

• Tuesday, August 25th: I’ll be in conversation with Joss Richard to discuss her delicious new release, Let’s Kiss and Tell. You can get tickets here!

• Saturday, October 3rd: I’ll be in conversation with Lyla Sage to discuss her fabulous new release, Free Falling. You can get tickets here!

And finally, one of my very favorite books from one of my very favorite people is out today! In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson is gorgeous and full of longing and set in Ireland with a hot Irishman who would give you the sweater off his delicious back. Please go pick it up, request it from your library, etc!

Okay that’s it, love you, hope you’re taking good care of yourselves.

xoxo

jess