Daddy Issues

About Daddy Issues

Sometimes love shows up where you least expectit—right next door.
A jaded twenty-something is stuck living at home, herlife on pause, when a single dad becomes her newneighbor, and unexpectedly sets her life—and herheart—into motion in this modern love story from thebestselling author of You, Again.

Praise for Kate Goldbeck:
“This debut romance ticks all the boxes of a must-read, with plenty of bite giving it edge.” Kirkus (*starred review*)

“A masterclass in banter.” – Rosie Danan, bestselling author of The Roommate

“Fresh, witty, and utterly romantic.“ – Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

“You can’t help but enjoy every second of the ride.” NPR, “Books We Love in 2023”

At 26, Sam Pulaski expected to be thriving in her academic career, living on her own in some exciting city. Expectations, meet reality. She has massive student loans from studying art history, a dead-end service industry job, a situationship that’s equal parts intoxicating and toxic. And she’s been crashing in her mom’s condo—at least it’s not a basement?—for the last five years. If she can finally get accepted into a PhD program and get out of Ohio, the adult life that’s been on hold for half her twenties will finally begin. 

Her mom’s new neighbor, Nick, is the ultimate grownup. His adult life began the moment his nine-year-old daughter, Kira, was born. Her happiness is Nick’s only priority, especially in the wake of divorce. There’s nothing he won’t do for Kira–including giving up his globetrotting career for something more stable…like managing a chain restaurant. 

Sam has zero interest in an ultra-dependable guy pushing forty; frankly, she’s a little afraid of kids. But with just one thin wall separating the two condos, Nick proves difficult to avoid. His quiet confidence forces Sam to grapple with the other men in her life: her emotionally derelict friend-with-benefits and her actually-derelict father. As her unexpected connection with Nick heats up (and steams up his minivan windows), Sam finds herself falling fast for a man whose life is steady and settled–while hers is anything but.