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Published 2025 by Bramble (US) & Pan Macmillan (Australia & NZ)
OUT NOW
Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice
Crazy Rich Asians meets Always Be My Maybe in this deliciously sugar-free rom-com from debut author Cynthia Timoti.
She's salty, he's spice—there's no room for sugar in this fake relationship, but it may be sweeter than they think ...
Ellie Pang has had enough of her controlling family who has been micromanaging her life since her type 1 diabetes diagnosis. When her parents orchestrate a public proposal from their business partner’s son, a proposal that goes humiliatingly viral, Ellie escapes to the other side of the country to put her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery into action. After all, she’d done her research. How hard can it be?
She hits a snag when her storefront turns out to be a dump and in need of major renovations. Worse, the only person who can help her turn things around is Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and the man responsible for crushing her teenage heart ten years ago.
But Alec has a proposal of his own: he needs a pretend girlfriend in order to cement a business deal. All they need to do is feign love and affection, while trying not to maim each other. As the thin line between hate and fake-madly-in-love starts to blur, buried secrets resurface, and Ellie must learn to trust her heart.
Reviews
Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice
“[A] touching debut ... The push and pull between the leads feels both authentic and electric, and it’s a joy to witness Ellie come into her own. Timoti is an exciting new voice in romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A strength of Timoti’s novel is her nuanced portrayal of type 1 diabetes ... Timoti’s handling of family dynamics and intergenerational relationships also feels authentic and adds depth to the narrative... Skillfully blends romance with meaningful discussions about family expectations, chronic illness, and cultural identity in her strong debut.”
—Library Journal
“It was an awe-inspiring journey ... A powerful encouragement to any reader who needs that final push to take back the reins, silence the critics, and live life to its fullest.”
—The Romantic Comedy Book Club
“Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice shines with its fresh, authentic approach to chronic illness and complicated family relationships. A joyous celebration of immigrant cultural identity serves as a meaningful backdrop to Ellie’s hard-won battle toward independence, self-confidence, and an empowering romantic relationship. Cynthia Timoti is an exciting new voice in contemporary romance fiction, and I look forward to reading more of her work!”
—Washington Independent Review of Books
“A must-read if you love baked goods as much as you love HEAs.”
—Fangirlish
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Published 2026 by Bramble (US)
OUT MAY 2026
How to Find a Guy in Five Weddings
It’s 27 Dresses meets Sonya Lalli’s The Matchmaker’s List in this delightful romcom where she doesn’t believe in love…he’s determined to prove her wrong—by being her matchmaker!
Kimiko Halim thinks happy endings only exist in fairy tales. But her late grandmother’s will specifies settling down as a condition to inherit her yarn store, and the family’s legacy is the only thing that matters. Kim’s plan is simple: find a guy, date him until the store is hers, then gently uncouple from the poor, unsuspecting victim.
But the clock is ticking, and her dates have been more frogs than princes. When Rob Carmichael, a perpetual groomsman and self-proclaimed proponent of happily-ever-afters, overhears Kim’s cynical view of love, he’s baffled. Having been surrounded by happy relationships all his life, Rob convinces her that he can find her a soulmate in one of the next five weddings he’s going to.
What can possibly go wrong?
