Bookouture signs two-book rom-com deal with debut author Joseph

Bookouture has signed a high-concept romantic comedy, The Near Miss (working title), plus one more book from debut author Lily Joseph.

Commissioning editor Nina Winters signed world all-language rights from Clare Coombes of the Liverpool Literary Agency. The first book will publish in July 2024.

Winters describes the “northern rom-com acquisition” as “packed full of heart and fun, with no shortage of heart-warming and laugh-out-loud moments". She said: “I couldn’t be more excited about this brilliant, high-concept idea – it has a fabulous hook and I know readers everywhere are going to fall head over heels for it.”

Author and dentist Joseph, was born and raised in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and now lives in the North Yorkshire countryside.

She said: “While dentistry itself isn’t the typical background for a writer, I find that working with lots of diverse and varied people is amazing inspiration. The Near Miss was inspired by a real-life close encounter with a window dropped from a first floor, which posed the question – are we sometimes only seconds away from a twist of fate that can change our lives? And if so, are we sometimes only inches away from that one important person without even realising?”

Coombes added: “I loved this book from the first reading – making me think of Impossible meets One Day [Hodder & Stoughton], while combining a small-town Northumberland community and an escapist Italian setting.”