STORY SYNOPSIS
Our story begins when Sara Miller, a 24-year-old copywriter employed at a prominent Manhattan advertising agency, unexpectedly crosses paths with Heck Archibald IV, the 28-year-old heir to the formidable Archibald banking dynasty. This chance encounter in a bustling New York City café weaves their destinies together, creating a unique sanctuary where they can unmask their true selves.
While Sara harbors dreams of leaving an indelible imprint on the literary world, she finds herself trapped in a tragicomic dichotomy between her youthful optimism and the stark realities of adulthood, where practical concerns like paying bills often eclipse grand ambitions. Conversely, despite his inherited wealth, Heck rejects any semblance of corporate life, opting instead for the tranquil existence of being an art restorer.
Through shared passions for music, film, TV series, and writing, and despite being entangled in separate serious relationships, Sara and Heck find solace in each other during their regular café meetups over brinner (breakfast for dinner). Their interactions, however, remain confined to this café, void of exchanged phone numbers, social media handles, or addresses. They discuss their dreams in this space, like Sara's aspiration to move to Paris to pen her debut novel. This profound bond prompts them to question whether their current lives align with their envisioned ideals.
Heck encouraged Sara to seize the opportunity while it was still an option for her. They didn't realize they had fallen for each other until that painful night when Sara bid her farewell and moved to Paris.
In the ensuing months, Sara and Heck navigate their separate yet intertwined paths – Sara in Paris and Heck in New York – each exploring their quests for happiness and dreams. They wander aimlessly, pondering what life might look like if they actually end up with each other.
This possibility becomes reality when Heck resolves to seek out Sara in Paris. Their reunion is marked by joyous moments, dancing in the Parisian rain, and exploring the city's enchanting streets. However, the harsh reality of their lives soon intrudes, compelling them to return to New York to tackle the lives they had abandoned. And so they thought.
Read the first 3 chapters of the novel for free
Reading Playlist
By Mike Dee and Justine Castellon
01 Apartment Story (The National)
02 Not For All The Love In The World (The Thrills)
03 NYC (Interpol)
04 Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys)
05 Today (Fruit Bats)
06 Cartwheels (The Reindeer Section)
07 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (The Smiths)
08 Dancing On My Own (Robyn)
09 Changes (Antonio Williams, Kerry McCoy))
10 Where DO I Go From Here (Sophia Fitch)
11 I Can't Win (The Strokes)
12 Eternal Summer (The Strokes)
13 Marching Bands of Manhattan (Death Cab for Cutie)
14 You And Me Song (The Wannadies)
15 Moving (Pete And The Pirates)
16 You Could Be Happy (Snow Patrol)
17 I Want You (The Kooks)
18 Paint The Silence (South)
19 Hell N Back (Baker)
20. Little Motel (Modest Mouse)
21 What Sarah Said (Death Cab for Cutie)
22 Fair (Remo Zero)
23 Cry (Cigarettes After Sex)
24 How to Say Goodbye (Paul Tierman)
25 We Fell in Love in October (Girl In Red)
26 Lost In You (Ash)
27 Many The Miles (Sara Bareilles
28 Transatlanticism (Death Cab for Cutie)
29 Dosed (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
30 Can We Still Be Friends? (Todd Rundgren)
31 Si tu vois ma mere - Slow (Sideney Bechet, Les Annees Bechet)
32 Gravity (Embrace)
33 Complainer (Choir Boy)
34 Sunshower (Chris Cornell)
35 Chocolate (Snow Patrol)
36 Everybody Here Wants You (Jeff Buckley)
38 Got You – Where I Want You (The Flys)
39 Trouble Sleeping (The Perishers)
40 Run (Snow Patrol)
41 No One's Gonna Love You (Band of Hourses)
42 Bady Did a Bad, Bad Thing (Chris Isaak)
43 Enough To Get Away (Joseph Arthur)
44 I Will Follow You Into the Dark (Death Cab for Cutie)
45 I'm Not Sorry (Morrisey)
46 It's Only Life (The Shins)
47 Love Is A Verb (John Mayer)
48 All The Wine (The National)
49 Every Beginning Ends (Noah Cyrus, Benjamin Gibbard)
50 Never Tear Us Apart (The National)
51 Delicate (Damien Rice)
52 Dreams - Take 2 (Fleetwood Mac)
53 You Are Not Alone (Curtis Stigers)
54 Everything I Am Is Yours (Villagers)
55 Seul Ce Soir (Swing 41)
56 8 – Circle (Bon Iver)
57 Being In Love (Wet Leg)
58 Sleeping In (The Postal Service)
59 Linger (Freedom Fry)
60 Make No Mistake (Keith Richards
61 Weird Fishes / Arpeggi (Radiohead)
62 Moon River (Frank Ocean)
63 Will You Please Be There For Me (The Reindeer Section)
64 Our Swords (Band of Horses)
65 End (Slex Somers, Sigur Ros)
66 Guitar Romantic Search Adventure (Wallows)
67 Drive (Deftones)
68 Bad Decisions (The Strokes)
69 Why Does It Always Rain On Me? (Travis)
70 Big Sur (The Thrills)
71 A Life Less Ordinary (Ash)
72 You Remind Me of Home (Benjamin Gibbard)
73 Fair (Remy Zero)