The Ballad of Darcy and Russell

Gr 9 Up–On the eve of a cross-country move for college, Darcy makes an uncharacteristic decision: to attend a music festival with a high school acquaintance. After said acquaintance abandons her for more exciting activities, Darcy heads home to California on a bus—which ends up breaking down in a remote town in Nevada. Darcy’s phone is dead, she’s out of money, and there isn’t another bus home until tomorrow—the same day she’s supposed to fly across the country. In her quest to find a phone charger, she meets Russell, with whom she shares an instant connection. Darcy’s always dreamed of a love-at-first-sight romance, and, as she and Russell spend the day exploring the small town hunting for a phone charger and getting to know one another, she thinks she’s finally found it. Romance fans may think the connection seems a little too perfect, but when an impulsive idea goes sideways, Darcy learns that things with Russell aren’t so perfect after all. As secrets are revealed and choices are made, both Darcy and Russell will have to decide if this new romance is destined to be confined to one moment in time, or a part of their futures. This novel is full of the signature witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud humor, complex family relationships, and sweet romantic moments characteristic of a Matson rom-com, though the story does at times feel long-winded.