Tropesick

by Lauren Okie

Tropesick is a meta‑romance that follows 25‑year‑old ghostwriter Katie Caruso and her childhood neighbor Tyler McNally as they reunite to co‑write a love story for reclusive bestseller Meredith Bradford. Set in a secluded Hamptons estate, the pair discover that the classic romance tropes they are scripting—forced proximity, second‑chance love, grumpy/sunshine, forbidden romance, and more—begin to manifest in their own lives. As they confront shared grief over Katie’s brother’s overdose, Tyler’s sobriety, and lingering trauma, the novel becomes a love letter to the genre, blending contemporary romance with a touch of magical realism while exploring themes of forgiveness, addiction, and the power of storytelling.