Canelo has signed two standalone contemporary romances by Caroline Khoury. Editorial director Emily Bedford bought world English language rights from Kate Burke in a two-book deal. The first title, STILL UNWRITTEN, is out in paperback and ebook in February 2024, followed by the second book in 2025.

STILL UNWRITTEN stars K-pop star JC, lead singer of soon-to-be global sensation JYNKS. To Francesca, he's Choi Jae-Seung, the new barista at her London coffee shop. When her agent tells her that she has 48 hours to find the passion missing from her auditions to land the acting role of her dreams, Jae-Seung offers to help. Together they embark on 'a journey that will not only test the limits of their dreams, but also stoke the embers of the forbidden attraction between them.'

Caroline Khoury said: ‘I am thrilled to be continuing my writing journey with Canelo and know that STILL UNWRITTEN - my K-pop inspired romance - is in excellent hands with my new editor Emily Bedford. I was completely blown away by Emily's passion for the novel and believe she has the vision to take my writing to the next level. This book is very close to my heart and takes you on a journey from the suburban London town I grew up in to South Korea, Sicily and North Carolina. I am beyond excited to partner with the excellent team at Canelo to bring Francesca and Jae-Seung's love story to readers.’

Emily Bedford said: ‘I couldn't be more excited to work with Caroline; the moment I picked up STILL UNWRITTEN I knew I had something special on my Kindle. From her warm and deeply human characters, her ability to bring any setting - be it New Malden or Seoul - to crackling life on the page, to the sizzling chemistry between Francesca and Jae-Seung, there is so much to love about Caroline's writing that I cannot wait to share with readers. As a big K-pop fan myself, this is an absolutely dreamy romance for me to have the opportunity to publish!’

Kate Burke said: ‘I'm so excited about this deal. Caroline and I were blown away by Emily and Canelo's brilliant pitch, and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on STILL UNWRITTEN!’

Caroline Khoury is also author of romances IT MUST BE LOVE (Century, 2022) and ALWAYS YOU, which Century will publish in print and Bolinda in audio in April 2023.

Jennie Rothwell, editor at Arrow Books, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Caroline Khoury’s debut novel, IT MUST BE LOVE, as well as an untitled second from Kate Burke at Blake Friedmann. German and Russian rights have also been snapped up to IT MUST BE LOVE.

IT MUST BE LOVE is a will-they-won’t-they commercial women’s novel spanning fifteen years and six cities. Abbie and Oz first meet when they are students from very different backgrounds, and their connection is unmistakable. They drift apart when Oz moves back to Turkey, but Abbie can’t shake the feeling that Oz might have been ‘the one’. As the years pass, it seems unlikely that they will ever meet again but fortunately fate has other ideas… delicious in its delivery and utterly heart-warming, IT MUST BE LOVE is an ode to second chances that you simply won’t be able to put down.

Jennie Rothwell, editor, said: ‘The moment I read the first page I knew IT MUST BE LOVE was a book that I had to publish. I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions as I raced to finish it and I was instantly drawn to the locations Caroline had chosen for Abbie and Oz. I am so excited to welcome Caroline to Arrow, and can’t wait for readers to fall in love with Abbie and Oz, and their story.’

Caroline Khoury, author, said: ‘It is a dream come true that IT MUST BE LOVE has found a home at Arrow and I’m honoured to be working with Jennie and the team. I really loved writing this story and I can’t wait for people to read it.’

Kate Burke, agent, said: ‘I'm delighted that Caroline has found such a great publishing home with Jennie and the Arrow team. Her life-affirming, romantic novels are a breath of fresh air and I can't wait to see them published!’

IT MUST BE LOVE will be published by Arrow Books in February 2022.

About the Author

Caroline Khoury is half Lebanese, half Welsh, and moved to the UK as a baby to escape civil war in Lebanon. Having lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo and New Jersey, she recently moved back to the UK. Her hobbies include travelling, art, dancing, climbing mountains, collecting stationery, and watching Turkish soap operas. Her writing was shortlisted in the Trapeze/eHarmony love story competition 2018.

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