In her first novel for adults, Katie Cotugno (How to Love), author of seven bestselling YA novels, invites readers to look beyond the tabloid headlines. Birds of California is a character-driven contemporary romance featuring two actors who once starred as siblings in the titular family drama series. Once known for drunken exploits and fights with paparazzi, Fiona St. James has been hiding from the spotlight for years when her agent calls her to pitch a reboot of the show that made her famous--and wrecked her mental health.
Sam Fox is desperate to find work to support his sick mother, but after reconnecting with Fiona and seeing her genuine fear, he's not interested in pressuring her to sign on. Cotugno deftly employs dual narratives in Birds of California: Fiona knows why she acted out in the past and readers will have some inkling as well, but Sam is privy only to what Fiona chooses to reveal to him.
Cotugno is known for tackling hard issues with nuance and care in her young adult novels, and this adult romance is no different. As the characters grow closer and photographers rediscover Fiona, Sam learns the truth of her past and is forced to reevaluate his assumptions as Fiona grapples with her PTSD. This is not a romantic comedy, but Cotugno does lighten what could have been a melancholy story with plenty of get-to-know-you banter and steam. Birds of California is a poignant reminder that people--and their stories--aren't always as they appear. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer