September 6, 2021
Lowell’s debut ably combines blazing-hot eroticism with tender romance and sometimes-painful realism. Charlotte Hilaire received a PhD in art history from Yale several years ago and now works a frustrating job as a courier for a New Haven art museum. The job sends her on far flung trips, but prevents her from seeing the sights. When a blizzard strands her in Madrid while on assignment, she reaches out to Adrianna Coates, a professor at UCLA currently on sabbatical in the city and one of the few other queer women of color in their field. Their fond memories from graduate school quickly ignite into blistering passion, but being together long-term will require one woman to sacrifice her job and coast for the other. Lowell paints sharply observed portraits of both long-distance relationships and the world of academia, warts and all, the struggles of which sometimes bring down the mood, clashing with the sweet sexiness of Adrianna and Charlotte’s budding relationship. Occasional side conflicts fizzle out in ways that may be entirely realistic, but also feel fairly unsatisfying. Still, the endearing development of the relationship itself makes this worth checking out. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds.
September 15, 2021
When museum courier Charlotte Hilaire is unexpectedly stranded in Madrid for a few days, she reaches out to Adrianna Coates, a former grad school classmate of hers who is currently there on sabbatical. They are swept into a whirlwind romance that is blissfully steamy. When Charlotte returns to the states, the pair have to navigate a cross-continental relationship as they count down the days until they can see each other again. As their feelings develop into love, they want to find a way to be together in person more often, but their careers pull them in different directions. Lowell's thoughtful romance debut takes place in several exciting locales, including Spain, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The relationship is sexy and mature, while the story also authentically explores the trials the pair faces as queer women of color within the worlds of art, academia, and museums. Lowell's romance between two educated and charming women will resonate with anyone who has juggled careers and love.
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December 10, 2021
DEBUT A courier for an art museum, Charlotte Hilaire is stuck in Madrid thanks to a blizzard, and she risks contacting her secret crush from Yale graduate school, who happens to be on sabbatical there. Art historian Adrianna Coates offers Charlotte her guest bedroom to wait out the storm. The two quickly move from catching up on the past several years to having a brief but intense affair before Charlotte heads back to New Haven. Both Charlotte and Adrianna know they have found their match, but can they make their relationship work at such a great distance? VERDICT Debut author Lowell doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties that Charlotte and Adrianna, who are both Black queer women, encounter in their professional and personal lives, making this a mature, honest, and erotic romance that will have readers admiring what these two smart and determined women accomplish.--Eve Stano, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN
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