Once Upon a Breakfast Show (Stephanie MacFie, Text Publishing)

Stephanie MacFie’s debut, Once Upon a Breakfast Show, is a charming second-chance romantic comedy set in the dynamic world of Melbourne breakfast radio.

Emily Blake is one half of Mack & Blake, the unfiltered radio duo praised for their willingness to turn their personal lives into entertainment. But after sharing a few too many first-date disasters and feeling like the comic relief in her own life, she decides to ask her listeners for help.

Emily met Leo at a music festival 13 years earlier and, after a whirlwind week together, was left with a lasting reminder of their fleeting romance: her daughter, Morgan. What begins as an unlikely search for her mystery man becomes a city-wide obsession to track down Leo.

Drawing on MacFie’s 15 years in Australian media, Once Upon a Breakfast Show is an entertaining glimpse into the world of radio, showcasing on-air banter and the people behind the scenes, resulting in a well-developed cast of characters. The present-day narrative is cleverly strengthened by flashbacks to Emily and Leo’s time together, providing clues as to who he may be while also showing how immediate their connection was.

Fast-paced and easy to finish in one sitting, MacFie’s debut explores the messiness of love, the reality of single-parenting and the possibility that imperfect lives can find perfect endings. For readers who enjoyed BK Borison’s First-Time Caller and Rachel Lynn Solomon’s The Ex Talk, as well as Mhairi McFarlane’s books.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Lisa Schuurman is an editor, writer and book reviewer working in the publishing industry. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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