It was published on March 31, 2015 by Avon and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at number 6.

James based the heroine partly on her own younger self, "a plump, funny wallflower with a secret career writing romances".

[3] The protagonists of the novel, Mia Carrington and Evander "Vander" Brody, were childhood acquaintances whose parents were involved in a long-term affair.

The prologue details Mia's humiliation when, at age 15, another acquaintance ridicules her for writing a love poem to Vander.

If she does not marry within the month, custody of her crippled nephew, Charlie, will revert to his evil uncle.