Heart the Lover

This late September 2025 release is both follow-up and prequel to King's 2020 novel Writers and Lovers: here we see Casey, during her college years, first discovering she wants to be a writer, and then again many years after the events of Writers and Lovers, so we can see where life has taken her. The first line in this first-person narrative is, "You knew I'd write a book about you someday;" the "you" is her first love. The tone is reflective and compassionate as Casey—having received jolting news that sends her mind barreling back to events from decades before—reflects on old friendships and a formative romantic relationship, past decisions that altered the course of her life, and the potential to both give and receive forgiveness. This felt wistful and wise as Casey examines the issues that matter most to her, and incidentally, to me—partnership, parenting, calling. Bonus: so many books are referenced in these pages; I loved that it inspired me to read so much under-the-radar literature.