Love by the Book: A Novel by Jessica George (Hardcover) (PREORDER)

Fiction - Women - Friendship - African American and Black

RELEASE DATE: 4/7/2026 (WILL SHIP DIRECTLY FROM OUR SUPPLIER'S WAREHOUSE)

Friendship is the love story you can count on.

Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy’s creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone―and unable to find her next book idea.

Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, Simone doesn't have time for a robust social life. All she needs is her close-knit family―but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.

When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn’t exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for―if only they can let each other in.

Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life―and can Remy help Simone recover all that she’s lost? In Jessica George’s heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love.

AUTHOR BIO: 

Jessica George is the New York Times bestselling author of Maame. She was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield.

Review Quotes:

"A captivating and emotionally rich novel exploring sisterhood, friendship, love and betrayal. I was gripped from the outset." --Fiona Williams, author of The House of Broken Bricks

"As ever, Jessica George's astute eye and wry wit make for a refreshing read that's equally as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Love by the Book goes deeper than just celebrating friendship--it delves into the challenge of navigating its inevitable shifts as we grow older. An endearing story that's bound to resonate." --Mikki Brammer, USA Today bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

" Love by the Book reads like a rom com for platonic friendship. After Maame, Jessica George brings us another fresh look at young women's lives. Love by the Book offers a charming and nuanced take on contemporary friendships, putting the spotlight on the value of different kinds of love in people's lives. A celebration of women's friendships and families, in various configurations." ― Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

"Friendships are often the central relationships of our lives; why are they usually treated as storyline B in novels? Not in this transporting new novel by Jessica George. As enveloping, soul-filling and moreish as an evening with a friend, Love by the Book challenges us to take a closer look at adult friendship and platonic love. As is true with the best friend-dates, I couldn't wait for evening to come so I could hang out with Remy and Simone (and especially with Remy's mom). This novel might just inspire you to put yourself out there and ask a new friend out to dinner." ―Emma Knight, bestselling author of The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus