I wrote the first draft of Keep in Touch during the height of the pandemic. I vividly recall when the rules changed, and we were allowed to walk for leisure. I’d spent some of the lockdown falling in love with the television series Normal People. Not long after this, I was allowed to go for a walk by myself for the first time. It sounds ludicrous years later, yet that moment was pure freedom. After months of being at home with a lively puppy, a troublesome kitten, and a fiancé working long days, this moment was different. I’ve since been diagnosed as neurodivergent, and as someone who sometimes masks even when with those closest to me, walking alone was a revelation. As you can imagine, being away from everyone also caused an explosion of creativity.

My thoughts were full of Normal People, first crushes, meeting someone who could change your life forever at the moment when your future could go one way or another, yet never seeing them again. That day, Keep in Touch was born.

It wasn’t only inspired by Normal People. Programmes, films, and books like Dawson’s Creek, Dirty Dancing, Heartstopper, and One Day have also influenced my story. I, too, had those teenage crushes that were epic love stories. Let me know if you remember your first love and what difference they made in your life. Are you still in touch?

As this is a book and not real life, we’re lucky enough to see what happens when the first loves, Lucie and Chris, bump into each other eight years after their first meeting. This is where we find out if they’re soulmates or people destined only to have that one-time connection.

Keep reading to see an excerpt from the book when Lucie and Chris first met.

Keep in Touch is for anyone, young or old, of all nationalities. However, British readers may see some familiar touches, including references to a particular British double act and a historic motorway diner.

Please do share any social media posts you see about Keep in Touch. And be aware that those who struggle with anxiety may find it particularly interesting and helpful.

Suddenly the passenger door of the stranger’s Peugeot 206 opened, and another guy got out. This one was much younger and reminded her of the cute doctor from ER. Her mum made her and Emma watch it with her when their dad was working late. Lucie secretly enjoyed it. Their mum was always so chatty and relaxed during those programmes. The guy appeared the same age or maybe a little older than Lucie. His jeans hung low on his hips, and his fitted T-shirt hinted that he was lean, but maybe that there were muscles there too.

“Dad, our lodge is down there, number ninety-two,” he called out with a hint of a Bristolian accent.

“Okay, Chris,” the man listening to her dad shouted back. Suddenly some squirrels by their dad’s car chattered and barked.

“They’re totally doing an impression of Dad.” Emma pointed out the gesticulating one to their mum, whose shoulders shook with laughter again.

Lucie turned back to the other window. The guy called Chris walked past Lucie’s dad’s car, a rucksack on his back and a tennis racket in hand. Lucie’s eyes locked on his. They were bright green and sparkled like jewels. His hair was wavy and short. Was it soft too? As he passed her window, he looked at her, and the sides of his mouth turned up in a smile. Dimples appeared in his cheeks. Lucie smiled shyly back as a heat prickled her skin.

He continued walking past the car, and she forced herself not to turn and stare. Her cheeks were burning, and her belly fluttered. She held her breath and shoved her hands beneath her bum to sit on them and stop the need to pull at her clothes or ponytail. What was going on with her body?

“The little squirrel has beady eyes like your dad,” her mum whispered loudly, but Lucie barely heard her. Emma and her mum’s laughing got louder.

Even sitting on her hands, they twitched beneath her. She dropped her head and smiled to herself as the torrent of emotions rushed through her.

Her dad was back. The driver’s door opened, and the rush of air flipped her ponytail and cooled the back of her neck. Sweat beaded her forehead, as a chill cascaded down her body.

“Right, he’s going to move his car out of the way,” their dad said while blustering his way back into the car. His face was red, his brows still furrowed. “What are you laughing about, Kathleen?”

“Nothing, just a cough,” she replied while fake coughing between chuckles. Emma coughed along too, oblivious to Lucie’s turmoil.

“I guess he didn’t get a rocket to Uranus after all,” Emma whispered in Lucie’s ear.

“Who? Dad?”

“No,” Emma replied conspiratorially. “That guy who got out the car. That’s the one from the party who jumped in the pool. I can’t believe he’s here.”

Emma quickly forgot Chris as she whispered something about the Daniel Craig squirrel in her mum’s ear, but Lucie couldn’t forget him.

Don’t turn around. If that Chris guy sees you staring, he’ll laugh at you.

As the car pulled away, Lucie turned to glance out the back window. Chris stood there, looking back at her with his beautiful green eyes. He waved with his free hand, his dimpled grin wide. She refused to move her hands and wave back. But as she stared at him, the tiniest smile crossed her face as their car disappeared away from him and farther into the woods.