Ten years ago, he shattered her heart. Now they're writing their next chapter... together.   Rylee Lynch is stuck. Still living in the small Minnesota town she swore she'd leave, she spends her days caring for her younger brother and mourning the literary future her late father dreamed for her. California, graduate school, and the Great American Novel? Not even close.   Then Carson Meyers walks back into her life.   He was the high school golden boy who left her behind without a second glance. Now, he's a single dad with a past full of regrets—and the last person Rylee expects to see across the aisle of her graduate writing class.   When they're paired as critique partners, it's like fate is forcing them to confront the story they never finished. But the real plot twist? A secret agreement to become each other's "side project"—a no-strings, no-feelings, keep-it-casual arrangement they both swear won't lead to heartbreak.   Yet with every late-night writing session and stolen moment, buried secrets begin to surface. Old wounds are reopened. And the story they're telling on paper starts to feel a lot like the one they're living.   Because falling in love was never part of the plan... and neither was the truth that could ruin everything.   Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Annabel Monaghan, The Side Project is a smart, sexy, and emotionally layered novel about second chances, unfinished stories, and the risk it takes to rewrite your life. Finalist: The Chatelaine Romantic Fiction Awards and Indies Today Book Awards " The Side Project is one of the most ambitious romance novels I've read in a long time. It's the story of real life, real ambitions, fears, conflicts, complications - Osterkamp is a genius at doling out complications and drawing her readers in for an emotional journey that makes it impossible to stop reading. " --Barbara Conrey - USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye and My Secret to Keep "A wonderful story of second chances, family, secrets, and unlikely friendships. I found the writing sharp and the relationships swoony. Fans of a good romance will read this one in a day!" --Rochelle Weinstein, best-selling author of What You Do to Me "A rom-com set in a creative writing class?! Yes, please! This is a great read for anyone who loves books and writing...and romance." --Award-winning author Kimberly Packard "This book left me with a giddy smile on my face. While a love letter to romance and all its tropes , the other relationships in The Side Project also touched my heart with their complexities, including parental, sibling, and an unexpected female friendship. It's sure to keep you warm this winter!" --Meredith Schorr, author of Someone Just Like You " The Side Project is a satisfyingly smart, tantalizing, perfectly paced romance. And like the friends-with-benefits protagonists, this novel will leave you craving for more ." --Donna Norman-Carbone, award winning author of All That is Sacred and Of Lies and Honey "A high school-crush-turned romance faces adult complications in the exciting contemporary novel The Side Project . " --Foreward Clarion ★★★★★ A heartwarming story about second chances and the courage to follow your dreams...a sweet romance to curl up with on a rainy evening." -Readers Favorite ★★★★★ " The Side Project shines as a heartfelt exploration of love and the art of writing."-- The Book Commentary ★★★★★ "Sparks will fly and hearts will break, but you're guaranteed a good time with The Side Project. " --Indies Today Why The Side Project Makes a Great Book Club Pick   The Side Project is more than a second-chance romance—it's a nuanced exploration of ambition, loss, creative identity, and the emotional risks we take for love. Laurel Osterkamp brings wit, warmth, and emotional intelligence to every page, making this novel ripe for discussion. Book clubs will find a lot to unpack, from the complexities of parenting and caregiving, to the blurred lines between fiction and truth, to the subtle power dynamics in revisiting a former flame.   Set in a small Minnesota town and shaped by a unique writing workshop premise, The Side Project invites readers to consider how the stories we tell—about ourselves and to each other—can either limit or liberate us. With layered characters, surprising tenderness, and just the right dash of drama, this book offers the perfect mix of heart and depth for a book club conversation.   Starter Discussion Questions  (For the full list of discussion questions and a printable version, go to laurellit dot com. It's under "Awesome Bonus Materials.")   Rylee is torn between pursuing her dreams and caring for her brother. How does the novel portray this tension between ambition and obligation? Have you ever felt similarly torn between two paths? - Carson and Rylee have very different memories of their high school relationship. What does this say about the subjectivity of memory in relatio