What do you get when you cross a nervous bride, a chain-smoking, former pageant-queen aunt, and two cans of Aqua Net? A “perfect” New England wedding day in 1984.

At least, that’s what everyone keeps telling Julie Winfield. She’s marrying Doug, her sweetheart since sixth grade, and he couldn’t be a more dreamy hunk. They have a romantic past and a bright future. He’s going to be a doctor and Julie is going to have 2.5 kids and enough money to get her hair set every week at the Cut ‘n Curl. Everything has been planned down to the last rose petal. So why is Julie thinking about trading her high heels for Converse and running like hell?

Well, Julie’s picture-perfect life isn’t as flawless as it appears. She’s got a domineering mother, a serious issue with standing up for herself, and a deep, dark S-E-C-R-E-T from her past that is threatening to eat her alive. And all it’s going to take is one snarky, highly-unimpressed—but strangely alluring—wedding singer to send Julie catapulting over the edge.

Through flashbacks to her high school and college days and glimpses into the “happiest day of her life,” Julie will learn to put her foot down and take what she wants. Because one thing’s for certain—JULIE WINFIELD IS NOT GETTING MARRIED TODAY.

This book is a sapphic historical romance that features strangers-to-lovers, a runaway bride, and an ending that is hopeful, if not quite HEA. Listeners should note a content warning for period-typical prejudice/language and uncomfortable sexual situations.