They say write what you know, and Meg Cabot has got that down.
I just ran out of stuff to say about New York and Indiana.
Ive plumbed the depths of Genovia about as much as you’re able to.
Credit: Lisa DeTullio Russell
Its going to take a while to let that well fill up again.
I accidentally enrolled in this class called Bridal Boot Camp, which I did not know.
It was just a convenient time for the class, she laughs.
HarperCollins
Cabot imagined what might happen if a heterosexual male signed up for the same class by mistake.
There, he meets a young woman who is preparing for a wedding and sparks fly.
The exercise elements presented a unique challenge for the cover design that Cabot did not anticipate.
HarperCollins
Its about how the island fares during what is basically Hurricane Irma.
Ive renamed it because I didnt want the storm to sue me, she jokes.
Thus, the title of the book was born.
WithNo Judgments,she returns to traditional narrative fiction.
The book is set during a hurricane.
Theres no cell service and no internet, so they cant text each other or anything, she explains.
For Cabot, her heroes are no longer specifically nerds so much as equal, respectful partners.
Im steering more towards the guy doesnt have to have a ton of money.
Maybe the girl should be trying to make the money.
Because that seems to be happening in relationships more and more.
To me, I would not feel safe and secure in that kind of relationship.
I would want to have my own money and have both partners contributing equally to the housework.
Bridal Boot Campdebuts May 28 andNo Judgmentsreleases Sept. 24.
Read below for an exclusive excerpt fromNo Judgments.
Thats really nice of you.
But Im not going anywhere.
Bree, Caleb said.
Theres a Category Five hurricane headed straight for you.
Its not headed straight for me.
Its headed for Miami.
Little Bridge Island is only a hundred and fifty miles south of Miami.
The storm could change course at any time.
Thats why they call the hurricane track the cone of uncertainty.
He wasnt telling me anything about the weather I didnt already know.
But it was typical of Caleb to feel it necessary to mansplain.
Thanks for your concern, I said coolly.
But Ill take my chances.
Take your chances ofdying?
Do you really hate me that much?
This was a good question.
Caleb Foley had had his good points: like me, hed loved a good painting.
His family owned one of the largest private collections of nineteenth century Impressionist works in North America.
Hed also been great in bed, always waiting politely to orgasm until after I did.
But when Id needed him mostwhich was definitelynotnowwhat had he done?
Too little, too late.
Its nice of you to offer.
I ignored his question.
But like I said, Im not going anywhere.
But what would be the point?
I knew what Caleb would say about Gary.
But it also felt right.
Besides, I added, instead.
No one here is evacuating.
Use Your Cell Phone?
One person whos not so good at following the rules?
The last one, anyway.
Ed bellowed at me from behind the counter.
I whipped around and saw him glaring at me.
He stabbed a thumb at my cell phone, then the glass side door.
Take it outside if its that important.
Look, he said to whoever was on the other end of his call.
But youre going to have the window boarded up anyway.
So its not going to make any
The rest of his conversation was lost as he stepped outside.
Sorry, I mouthed to Ed.
Then, to Caleb, I said quickly, Listen, Im at work.
I never should have picked up in the first place.
I only did because .
WhyhadI picked up, especially since Caleb and I hadnt spoken in months?
What had I been expecting, an apology?
Was I ever going to learn?
Ill talk to you later, okay?
As in, never.
Ive got to talk to younow.
Is she all right?
But shes the one whos been bugging me to call.
I should have known.
not after the way wed ended things.
Maybe Id been the one whod ghosted.
What else could I have done, though?
Now I was heading for the door againthe Mermaids side door.
Neither of them could imagine what was so important that Id dare take a call during the morning rush.
I hardly ever got calls anyway, so this was a first.
A first that was probably going to get me fired.
Caleb, look
Shes really worried about you, Bree.
It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing.A little late for that.
You know your mom pals around with all those meteorologists from the station, he went on.
She says they tell her this one is a real monster.
If there were such a thing as a Category Six, this would be it.
Except that Drew Hartwell didnt look particularly worried.
What was wrong with me?
And yet Caleb, at least, still didnt know a thing about women.
Or at least the one he was currently speaking to.
I can tell her youre fine all you want, Bree, Caleb was saying into my ear.
But she isnt going to stop calling.
And that it shouldnt take a Category Five hurricane for you to realize it.
Is that what she says?
It sounded exactly like something my mom would say.
In the meantime, Im perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
I dont need help from her, or anybody elseespecially you.
Well, thats just great, Bree.
Now Caleb sounded offended.
Excuse me for caring.
Thats not what I said, and you know it.
Theres a difference between not caring and calling me a liar.
I never called you a liar, Bree.
I just said that maybe it was all just a bad dream
A bad dream?
Something about that calm, azure blue water always seemed to help me find my equilibrium.
I dont want to get into it again, Caleb, I said.
I need to go back to my job, or Ill lose it.
Oh, wouldnt that be a tragedy, Caleb sneered.
Yourwaitressingjob that you dont even need.
But fortunately, Drew still seemed preoccupied with his own call.
At least, I hissed at Caleb through gritted teeth, Ihavea job.
Oh, was that supposed to be a blow to my feelings, Bree?
Dont even try it, I snarled into the phone, because Im not leaving Little Bridge Island.
Then I hung up on him.
Copyright 2019 by Meg Cabot.
Reprinted with permission from HarperCollins, Inc.
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