More than friends. Less than official. Definitely complicated. The first unputdownable romcom from Stormzy's #merkybooks. 'Bridges the gap between Bridget Jones and Insecure ' Stylist ' Marks a bold new voice. I was hooked from start to finish'. Caleb Azumah Nelson, author, Open Water and Small Worlds 'ESSENTIAL' Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us When the love of her life shows up with a girlfriend, Tia decides it's time to put herself out there. Expectations of dating apps are low, so it's a surprise when she instantly connects with handsome photographer Nate. He's everything she's looking for; he makes her feel safe, seen, and desired. Tia assumes they're on the same page - the only catch? They're yet to have The Talk. In a generation that's normalized competing over who cares the least, can Tia overcome her fears and lay her cards on the table, in the pursuit of something real? 'Fun, fresh, and endlessly relatable, this is the most empowering rom-com of 2023. Run don't walk to get a copy!' Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop and The Love Square An utterly compelling, massively relatable and completely entertaining trip through modern romance. The beauty of Taylor-Dior's writing is how brilliantly it centres personal growth as well as emotional vulnerability . I devoured it! ― Sareeta Domingo, author, Who's Loving You: Love Stories by Women of Color The best rom-com I've read in a very long time . The novel explores finding yourself in your twenties amongst unclear relationships that I know many will find relatable and utterly compelling.' Sara Jafari, author, The Mismatch Fun, fresh, and endlessly relatable, this is the most empowering rom-com of 2023. Run don't walk to get a copy! ― Laura Jane Williams, author, The Love Square Warm, intimate and often hilarious, Rumble is a brilliant and distinctive storyteller. The Situationship marks a bold new voice. I was hooked from start to finish. ― Caleb Azumah Nelson, author, Open Water A relatable, fun and refreshing read. Loved every page of it! ― Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author, Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?  Perfectly captures the messiness of modern dating. ― Gal-Dem Taylor-Dior Rumble has managed to capture the modern dilemma of an undefined romance. ― Black Ballad   Taylor-Dior Rumble is a writer, born and raised in South East London. She started her journalism career at BBC News at the age of 18 and has since gone on to produce and cover stories ranging from the politics of Black hair to colorism in Hollywood. This is her first novel. 1 1 Tia had been to the toilet three-and-a-half times since she’d rushed home from work. The first time was as soon as she walked through the door and begged her sister to hurry up and get out of the bathroom. The second time was after she had got out the shower, the third was while her concealer was drying, and the half was when she thought she had to go, in the middle of drying her hair. She spritzed her round face with a fin- ishing spray and swiped layers of brown gloss onto her plump lips, and Tia was finally ready for the night ahead. She took a deep breath while smoothing down the sides of her knitted dress that held on to her hips, disguising her bumps and hugging her curves in all the right places, admiring her reflection and the slit that drew attention to her left thigh. She gave herself an approving nod while fluffing out her curls once more – she had to look flawless. Her primping was disturbed by a text from her best friend Hannah, asking for the reservation time again despite Tia having sent it to the group chat that morning. She rolled her eyes and replied, reminding the squad not to be even a second late: everything had to be perfect tonight. After months of texting, countless voice notes, and many hours spent overanalysing everything he posted on his Instagram Stories, Tia couldn’t wait to welcome Aaron back home with wide-open arms, and wide- open legs if he wasn’t too tired from his flight. But even if he was, anything remotely close to the kiss they’d shared the night before he left would be all that Tia could possibly want after eight months of being apart. It had been the longest the two had ever gone without seeing each other, but since he was now back at his parents’ house, just a couple of roads away from Tia’s, they could slip right back into their old routine. In fact, she had already planned to try and synchronise their journeys home after work, maybe grabbing a drink at her favourite bar or showing him the best places to eat near his new office. She couldn’t wait, she thought to herself while adding the final touch: a pair of gold hoop earrings. The restaurant she’d chosen sat on the corner of a bustling high street by Deptford Market, humble and unassuming in its location, but chic and cosy on the inside. Bare walls, dark wooden floors, and dim string lights that hun