People Pleasing by Hannah Bonam-Young

Release Date: January 5, 2027 A sweet and soulful romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Out on a Limb and People Watching about two childhood friends reconnecting, healing from their past, and falling for the people they’ve become. Nadia Kablukov does not want to go home. But when her brother Nik calls in his emergency favor and asks for help opening his new brewery, Nadia heads back against her better judgment. This means facing her former next-door neighbor, best friend, and first love: Aleks Truss.  Nadia knew Aleks was going to be around—he is Nik’s business partner, after all—but seeing Aleks standing on her brother’s front porch, she realizes that she might not be able to bury her feelings forever. Aleks longs for simpler days, when Nadia was only a stone’s throw away and life felt less overwhelming. Now, working together at the brewery, Nadia and Aleks find themselves falling back into old routines, despite the time and distance between them. Aleks is still able to see through Nadia’s hardened exterior—and she’s still able to get him out of his ruminating thoughts like no one else can.  But Nadia, burdened by the past, isn't sure she could ever stay and Aleks isn't sure if he has the strength to ask her to. So giving in to anything more between them will only cause more pain when it’s time to say goodbye again, right?