Books
Into the Midnight Wood
Out January 2026
A whimsical fantasy romance about two mismatched roommates whose fragile—and definitely not romantic at all—balance is upended by an impending family wedding and an otherworldly danger in the nearby enchanted wood.
There are at least 100 things wrong with Meredith Schwarzwelder. In fact, keeping track of these things is the only way David Carew has managed to remain living with him for as long as he has. Meredith is an irredeemable eccentric who flirts with everyone in his path (#3 on the list), cries at anything (#35), makes the worst coffee in the world (#70), and talks to mice, or imagines he does (#50).
It’s bad enough living with such a person on the edge of the Midnight Wood, but when magic starts to seep from the wood and a dark being emerges with a sinister plan involving Meredith, David decides that it’s time to leave the cottage, and his roommate, behind. Then Meredith’s brother gets engaged to the daughter of David’s boss, and David sees an opportunity: If he can insert himself into the festivities, maybe he can advance his career and get himself out of a personal rut.
With wedding bells sounding and the dangers of the Midnight Wood encroaching, David realizes there’s much more hiding beneath the surface of his roommate’s seemingly carefree charm, and that perhaps his own exasperation carries more fondness than he’d like to admit.
Cozy, sharp, steamy, and poignant, Into the Midnight Wood is a contemporary queer fairy tale about the masks we wear, the stories we tell, and the powerful need for true, honest connection to heal old wounds and new.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD release?
INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD will be available in January 2026 from Dutton/Penguin Random House in the US and Viking/Penguin in the UK.
What kind of book is this?
INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD is a queer contemporary romantasy that is intended for adult readers.
What, specifically, do you mean by queer? What are the identities of the main pairing?
The main character, David, is a cisgender gay man. With the love interest, Meredith, that question is a bit more tricky to answer. In-story, he rejects the use of identity labels, but falls generally under the nonbinary umbrella and experiences romantic attraction to all genders.
What is the tone of the book? Is it a romcom?
The tone is frequently comedic, but the story also touches on heavier topics, including family estrangement, grief, bigotry in various forms, and mental health challenges.
What is the spice level?
There are multiple open-door scenes.