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Table of Contents
About The Book
In this sharply funny solo debut, an aspiring lawyer is forced to work alongside the opposing counsel in her best friend’s divorce case, which leads to the biggest irreconcilable difference of all: love.
Beatrice Nilsson has a lot to be angry about. The wage gap, the pink tax, the repayment schedule on all those student loans…the list goes on. But that anger is also what makes her such a good friend—the perennial sidekick who fights for her loved ones’ happily ever after, even while conveniently neglecting her own. So when the marriage of her two best friends falls apart—and the divorce proceedings get ugly—Bea is ready to step in and help pick up the pieces.
First on her to-do list? Storm the office of Nathan Asher, her friend’s ex-husband’s lawyer, and tell him exactly what he can do with his divorce petition. But what should end with a few choice words and a slam of the door soon spirals into uncharted territory when Nathan shows up at her NYU Law office a few days later. As a newly-minted adjunct professor––and her new colleague––he proves to be annoyingly intelligent, relentlessly patient, and unfairly attractive. Bea still hates him, of course, but it’s not long before that hate begins to feel a lot like something else.
There’s just one issue: when you’ve spent your life focusing on everyone else’s love story, it’s not easy to take the starring role in your own. And as uncomfortable truths emerge about the divorce that started it all, Bea must choose whose happily ever after to protect: everyone else’s or her own.
Beatrice Nilsson has a lot to be angry about. The wage gap, the pink tax, the repayment schedule on all those student loans…the list goes on. But that anger is also what makes her such a good friend—the perennial sidekick who fights for her loved ones’ happily ever after, even while conveniently neglecting her own. So when the marriage of her two best friends falls apart—and the divorce proceedings get ugly—Bea is ready to step in and help pick up the pieces.
First on her to-do list? Storm the office of Nathan Asher, her friend’s ex-husband’s lawyer, and tell him exactly what he can do with his divorce petition. But what should end with a few choice words and a slam of the door soon spirals into uncharted territory when Nathan shows up at her NYU Law office a few days later. As a newly-minted adjunct professor––and her new colleague––he proves to be annoyingly intelligent, relentlessly patient, and unfairly attractive. Bea still hates him, of course, but it’s not long before that hate begins to feel a lot like something else.
There’s just one issue: when you’ve spent your life focusing on everyone else’s love story, it’s not easy to take the starring role in your own. And as uncomfortable truths emerge about the divorce that started it all, Bea must choose whose happily ever after to protect: everyone else’s or her own.
About The Author
Photography by Monika Normand
Emily Harding is one-half of the writing duo behind the For the Love of Austen series, including Emma of 83rd Street and Elizabeth of East Hampton. She is a graduate of Emerson College with degrees in both creative writing and film. After working over fifteen years in television development and production, she found her way back to writing. Emily lives in Dallas with her husband, two children, and an incredibly spoiled Texas heeler.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (July 1, 2025)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668082751
Raves and Reviews
"Flawless. Harding is set to be a rom-com powerhouse.”
– Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan
“The set-up! The snark! The spice! Emily Harding had me at 'storming the office of her best friend’s ex-husband’s divorce lawyer' and kept me cackling all the way through. This book is an absolute delight.”
– Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
"Inject this cynical angry woman into my veins! How Freaking Romantic is truly for the ragey girls among us, and I loved every second of it. Emily Harding writes the scrappiest, wittiest, most heartfelt characters to root for, and we’re all the luckier for it."
– Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances
"With biting wit, a tender and truthful take on modern adulthood, and a romance that threatens to burn up the pages, How Freaking Romantic is one of my favorite reads this year. This book made me an Emily Harding fan for life."
– Sarah Dubb, author of Birding with Benefits
"Emily Harding has a forever fan in me! Harding’s prose absolutely sparkles in her delightful yet deeply resonant solo debut. I fell in love with her heroine Beatrice from the very first page. Heart-strong, hilarious, and hard-wired to her principles even when most might waver, Bea is used to being the friend who takes care of everyone else. Watching her relationship with Nathan bloom is the perfect antidote for anyone who ever wondered if they are too loud, too quirky, or just too much. With Bea and Nathan’s exceptionally original, oh-so-swoon-worthy love story, readers will be reminded that even when life is complicated, the best type of romance should be simple. I simply loved this book."
– Becky Chalsen, author of Kismet
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): How Freaking Romantic eBook 9781668082751
- Author Photo (jpg): Emily Harding Photography by Monika Normand(0.1 MB)
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