Meet Ashley Winstead

We’re excited to introduce THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE (May 9, 2023; Harlequin/Graydon House), the laugh-out-loud rom-com about learning to embrace living outside your comfort zone. This new novel from acclaimed author Ashley Winstead is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood –and a perfect choice for a terrific summer read—and we’d love for you to feature Ashley and her forthcoming book in conjunction with its launch.

From the acclaimed author of FOOL ME ONCE comes a romantic comedy that takes the fake boyfriend trope and adds a school librarian with a dash of Texas politics…

As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed—the humiliation is a wake-up call.  She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?

Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Logan is audacious and filterless, making him Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm—and in their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly— flees.

Alexis is bewildered until breaking news hits: pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot politician challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious images are poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: to squash the scandal, he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

“Sparks fly and laughs abound as Winstead rides the line between enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance tropes. Readers will want to snap this up.”—Publishers Weekly

“A love story for every truly hot mess… A romance with bite, wit, and heart.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Winstead offers a sharp and witty rom-com styled novel in the vein of HBO’s The Flight Attendant and Julie Valerie’s Holly Banks Full of Angst… Fool Me Once is a gem.”—Booklist

ASHLEY WINSTEAD holds a Ph.D. in contemporary
American literature and a B.A. in English and art
history. She lives in Houston, Texas, where she
drinks red wine and dreams up novels. Her
previous novels include FOOL ME ONCE, THE LAST
HOUSEWIFE, and IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR ONLINE
Website: AshleyWinstead.com
Twitter: @ashleywinstead
Instagram: @ashleywinsteadbooks
Goodreads: Ashley_Winstead