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Birding with Benefits

A Novel

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About The Book

A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.

Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.

Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.

About The Author

Photograph by Reneé Bibby
Sarah T. Dubb

Sarah T. Dubb is a writer, public librarian, parent, and activist living the dream with chickens and desert tortoises in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. She is the author of Birding with Benefits and Love at First Fight. Visit her at SarahTDubb.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Gallery Books (June 4, 2024)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781668037843

Raves and Reviews

“This book is unqualified joy! … Readers will absolutely relish watching the love between John and Celeste take flight!”

– –Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The True Love Experiment

“Pensive and playful, tender and steamy…This one is a gem.”

– –Kate Clayborn, USA Today bestselling author of Georgie, All Along

“The slowly simmering romance that blossoms between plucky heroine and heart-of-gold hero results in some love scenes that are as hot as the desert sun in July.”

– –Booklist, starred review

“This romance is so soft and gentle… it’s worth tuning in to see how these birds of a feather find their way to each other."

– –npr

“Dubb pulls off the fake-boyfriend trope with ease and mines her own experiences with birding in Tucson to add authenticity… Dubb is a writer to watch.”

– –Publishers Weekly

“Read Birding with Benefits at your own risk—once you’re immersed in Sarah T. Dubb’s gorgeously drawn world, you’ll never want to leave….This will stay at the top of my all-time favorite list forever.”

– –Jessica Joyce, USA Today-bestselling author of You, With a View

“Birding with Benefits takes its time, will make you blush, will make you want to go BIRDING (I have never been so hot for birds in my whole life). My heart is about to explode after reading this beautiful book.”

– –Alicia Thompson, USA Today-bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

“This lovely debut about mature characters manages to be both comforting and sexy.”

– –Kirkus

"An effervescent celebration of discovery. Heavy on the heat and tender as can be, BIRDING WITH BENEFITS expertly captures the thrill of finding love in a new season of life."

– –Livy Hart, author of Planes, Trains, and All the Feels

“Birding with Benefits is a joy from start to finish! Sarah T. Dubb is a fresh, fun new voice in contemporary romance, and I can't wait to see what she does next!"

– –Jen DeLuca, bestselling author of the Well Met series

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