LIFE DERAILED
*SELECTED AS AN AMAZON FIRST READS
Editor's Choice in ROMANCE! And OUT NOW!
A visionary AI program upends a woman’s love life and career in a moving, funny, and thought-provoking novel about connection, friendship and family, and the resilience of the human heart.
Remi Russell knows this playbook all too well. She’s seen it unfold five times over her six years at The Sophisticate, a once prominent but now struggling women’s magazine. So when the publication needs rescuing yet again, an intriguing new chief digital officer, Jason Ashbloome, arrives with a revolutionary plan beyond the usual workforce cuts. He proposes integrating MAUDE, an innovative AI software, to make the magazine more efficient. Remi fears she could lose her job to a machine, and worse, the magazine she loves might lose its humanity altogether.
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As a recent widow whose heart has been as empty as her dating-app inbox, Remi takes MAUDE for a test drive and asks it to revamp her profile in the hopes of healing from the loss of her college sweetheart, who died three years earlier. Fueled by wine and bittersweet memories, she makes a plea to MAUDE (and the universe!) to help her find someone just like him. The AI-assisted update pays off big-time when she receives a message from Noah the next day. He embodies everything she’s been seeking—intelligence, humor, adventure, and altruism—and he’s ruggedly handsome to boot.
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While her connection with Noah deepens, tensions at work escalate to a boiling point. Jason is determined to prove that AI can be as genuine as real people, while Remi strives to protect the very soul of The Sophisticate. But when a discovery about Noah’s true identity forces her to question everything she once believed, she must finally confront her own grief, embrace the unexpected bond she’s forming with the last person she ever expected, and find the courage to set a life derailed back on course.
Life Derailed Reviews
"From the authors of The Last Phone Booth in Manhattan comes a modern twist on You’ve Got Mail. Written with their signature wit and multifaceted characters, Life Derailed explores themes of connection, love, and loss that will pull at readers’ heartstrings and leave them swooning." — Maria Gomez, Editor
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"Life Derailed is the story I’ve been craving – full of laughs, sweet lessons, and reminders that not even the most advanced algorithms can predict nor spare us from life’s pains or mimic the healing power of human connection." — Stephanie C. Call
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"This book had it all! It was funny and emotional and so well crafted, I couldn’t put it down. I LOVED the idea of exploring how AI is making its way into our world and the impact it can have on our humanity. But more so than all of that, I genuinely laughed out loud at so many moments - between Remi and Jason, Remi and her girlfriends, Remi and her mom (who is an absolute HOOT!) - all of it was relatable and heartwarming. I cannot wait to read more from these authors!" — AK, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"Sometimes it’s hard to get lost in a book, you feel the writer trying so hard to bring the story together. But this one kind of felt effortless. I didn’t hear the author in this story, I forgot I was reading something someone intentionally wrote. A great story just pulls you along and you’re in, whether it’s happy or sad. And it’s nice to read a “love story” that isn’t filled with garbage." — JEM, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"This book was spectacular! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick read that has humor and real emotional depth. The relationships and friendships were believable and interesting, and I feel like the authors used clever details to lay strong groundwork for the story they told. I'd actually be interested in re-reading it to see how much I missed and how many other things went unnoticed until the twist at the end (which I really didn't see coming!). Great book from two authors who are certainly making a name for themselves in the genre!" — JC, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"As someone who lost my husband two years ago, this book deeply touched my heart. The author's raw emotions of sorrow, anxiety, and eventual healing felt profoundly personal. Her journey of grief and resilience resonated with me on an intimate level, making this an incredibly powerful and moving narrative." — Tigerlil, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"I usually read murder mysteries or police procedurals but decided to try something different. I often find stories about people’s lives to be humdrum to boring, but found this to be absolutely riveting, funny, sad and oh so charming. Such a wonderful book, giving me a good happy feeling. Great!" — Little Bird, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"I love a book that has me laughing out loud in one chapter and crying out loud in the next." — Mary Smith, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"The writing is quick-witted and engaging, with humor that feels both fresh and genuine. The dialogue between characters—especially between the narrator and her colleagues Molly and Carrie—is filled with sharp banter and pop culture references that will resonate with fans of The Bold Type or Younger. The pacing is brisk, and despite the humor, the story hints at deeper emotional layers, especially through the mention of the protagonist’s late husband and her nostalgic reflections on their life together." — Dr. Y, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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"I really enjoyed this book. The writing was lovely and I didn't want to put it down. Several complex ideas and emotions were at play and handled quite nicely." — Lisa Tallant, AMZ Customer, Verified Review
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