New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy brings her signature angst, drama, and humour to a new standalone romance.
Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Elle Kennedy’s Girl Abroad, which is out February 13th 2024.
When nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year in London, it’s the perfect chance to finally slip out from under the thumb of her beloved but overbearing retired rock star father. She’s ready to be free, to discover herself – but first off, to meet the girls she’s rooming with. That is, until she arrives at her gorgeous new flat to discover those roommates are actually all boys. Charming, funny, insufferably attractive boys. And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.
Abbey has never considered herself a rulebreaker. But soon, she’s lying to her father about her living situation and falling for not one, but two men she can’t have: her rugby-player roommate and a broody musician with a girlfriend. Not to mention, her research for school has gotten her tangled in a deeply hidden scandal of a high nobility family, surrounding her in secrets on all sides.
If there’s any hope of Abbey finding love, answers, or a future in London, she’ll have to decide which rules – and hearts – might be worth breaking . . .
Jack invites himself in, his long stride eating up the space between us. The glassiness in his eyes and whiff of lager on his breath says he went out with the boys after his match.
Nearly every stitch of clothing I own has been tossed around my room, so I start putting things on hangers and folding the rest to place into drawers.
“How was the game?” I ask.
“We humiliated them. Their girlfriends will never be sexually attracted to them again.”
“Oh. Pity.”
Pushing fabric aside, he picks through the piles of clothes on my bed. “Got a date?”
“Jamie set up a meeting for me with Benjamin Tulley to ask him some questions for my research.”
“He’s good in a pinch, our Jamie. When’d that happen?”
“He texted me when Nate and I were in Surrey.”
“Right. Your private chauffeur Nate.”
“Stop making a thing out of it. I needed a lift and he offered.”
“Twice.”
I grab a stack of shirts and shove them in my drawer. It’s my turn to avoid his gaze. “Is that a problem?”
I thought I’d kept my attraction to Nate well-hidden for the most part. But if it’s become obvious to Jack, chances are others have noticed too.
And if Jack believes I’m chasing another girl’s boyfriend, what must he think of me?
Because he can’t be jealous.
That’d be silly. Right?
“Do whatever you like, Abbs.”
I catch him watching me in the mirror. “Next time I need a last-minute ride to the country, you’ll be my first call.”
“I like the blue one.” He comes to stand behind me with the dress in his hand. Slowly, I turn to accept it. “It looks nice on you.”
It’s back again, that insistent desire I’ve tried to tamp down. The one that makes me wonder what his hair feels like between my fingers. The ache to run my hands across his chest. To have his touch against my skin. It sneaks up on me. Blindsided.
How does he do that?
And why can’t I ever get a handle on what he’s feeling? I can never tell if I’m imagining the chemistry between us. If it’s just in his nature, his personality, to be flirtatious. Most of the time I’m convinced that’s the case. But then he goes and looks at me like this and I start to doubt myself.
He steps closer.
“What are you doing, Jack?” I ask through a dry throat.
“Not doing anything, Abbey.” But his eyes are gleaming with mischief and a few pints.
I gulp. “Lee wouldn’t like knowing we’re alone in here together.”
“No,” he agrees thickly. “I’m sure there’s a house rule time limit on having boys in your room.”
“If there isn’t, then there should be.”
A hint of a smile touches his lips. Then he licks them, and my heart rate triples. I’m not sure who moves first, but before I get a whole breath in, he’s got my hips pressed against my dresser with both hands and his lips are centimeters from mine.
“This is a bad idea,” Jack whispers.
“Terrible,” I whisper back.
