Choc Lit signs three 'sizzling' rom-coms by debut author Lily Parker

Choc Lit, which is part of the Joffe Books group, has signed a three-book deal with debut romcom writer Lily Parker.

Editorial director Emma Grundy Haigh acquired world rights directly from the author. The Lorella Belli Literary Agency will be handling the translation, audiobook, film and television rights. The first book, The Best Wrong Move, will be published simultaneously in e-book and paperback in 2025.

"Olivia, a vibrant, young morning show anchor based in New York City, proposes to her long-term boyfriend, Rex, as part of The Good Day Show’s Valentine’s segment," the synopsis says. "He shocks the world by saying no on live television. Faced with viral backlash of the video clip and social memes seen by millions of people, Olivia escapes the unwanted attention with a two-month sabbatical on the North Shore of Hawai’i [...] After checking in, she discovers that her ex-almost-fiancé, Rex, is renting the townhouse unit on the other side of her oceanfront Airbnb, and he’s somehow wasted no time in getting a gorgeous new girlfriend named Juju."

The synopsis adds: "Olivia doesn’t want to spend the next two months living next door to her ex, but when she tries to end her rental reservation early, the Airbnb owner, George, comes over to discuss it. Unbeknownst to her, the owner turns out to be the hunky surfer who helped her inside the day before."

Grundy Haigh said: “Some things are simply meant to be: I met Lily at an author’s conference in Las Vegas and immediately knew I wanted to work with her. Lily’s books are everything I love in romance: ferociously funny, gorgeously told and, best of all, deliciously spicy. I couldn’t be more delighted that Lily has decided to publish with Choc Lit. Her debut, The Best Wrong Move, is a sizzling escapist romance that’s all set to woo readers and leave them panting for more.”

Parker added: “Accepting a three-book deal with Choc Lit has been serendipitous from the start. Meeting Emma and immediately feeling a mutual enthusiasm for each other’s work has felt like nothing short of a dream come true. I can’t wait to team up with the brilliant minds at Choc Lit to bring my debut, The Best Wrong Move, out into the world!”