Missed You the First Time
At 25, Dani Galler just gave up everything—an apartment she loved, a job she liked, and a long-distance boyfriend she wasted years planning to marry. Starting over means figuring out her next career move, finding a new place to live, and maybe, fingers crossed, falling in love again.
What she’s not looking for is pity—especially from Jake Litman, her doughy, bespectacled childhood friend from Jewish summer camp. Back then, he followed her everywhere, eager for her advice and friendship. Now, a decade later, he’s reappeared, transformed into a Greek god of a man with a penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan and a girlfriend who makes Zendaya look just okay.
Desperate to reclaim the confidence of her camp days, Dani obsesses over tracking down a teen magazine article she’s convinced launched her pubescent glow-up. If she can rediscover that spark she may avoid her worst-case scenario: moving home to live with her parents and work for her suddenly successful brother.
As Dani and Jake revisit shared memories, and their connection intensifies, Dani starts to wonder if the life she’s chasing isn’t about rediscovering who she was—but embracing who she may become.
What she’s not looking for is pity—especially from Jake Litman, her doughy, bespectacled childhood friend from Jewish summer camp. Back then, he followed her everywhere, eager for her advice and friendship. Now, a decade later, he’s reappeared, transformed into a Greek god of a man with a penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan and a girlfriend who makes Zendaya look just okay.
Desperate to reclaim the confidence of her camp days, Dani obsesses over tracking down a teen magazine article she’s convinced launched her pubescent glow-up. If she can rediscover that spark she may avoid her worst-case scenario: moving home to live with her parents and work for her suddenly successful brother.
As Dani and Jake revisit shared memories, and their connection intensifies, Dani starts to wonder if the life she’s chasing isn’t about rediscovering who she was—but embracing who she may become.
Praise for Missed You the First Time"MISSED YOU THE FIRST TIME is a smart and funny friends to lovers/second chance slow-burn romcom filled with snappy dialogue, Jewish joy, and great characters. Reading Julia Carpenter's debut is like catching up with an old friend from summer camp: nostalgic, entertaining, and time well-spent." Meredith Schorr, USA Today Bestselling Author of RoomMating
"MISSED YOU THE FIRST TIME is catnip for romcom fans — sparkling banter, chaotic-cute shenanigans, and the kind of swoon that makes you kick up your feet. It’s a fizzy, feel-good binge you’ll want to text your group chat about before you’ve even finished chapter two." Heidi Shertok, Unorthodox Love and Match Me if You Can. "I LOVED this book! It’s a joyous celebration of old friendships—and the complications that arise when they become new loves. There are plenty of laughs amidst the juicy tensions, and page-turning, heart-warming twists." Diane Gottlieb, editor of Manna Songs: Stories of Jewish Culture & Heritage |
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"A sweet and hilarious slow-burn romance perfect for anyone who had a summer camp crush and daydreams of reconnecting with them. I adored Dani's journey towards finding love and herself. Julia's writing is full of life and all of the sweetness that makes a romance novel great!"
Chayla Wolfberg, author of Late Night Love
Chayla Wolfberg, author of Late Night Love