Insta-family By Linda Kage -

: Seeking a sense of family for her child, Lucy turns to Duke’s older brother, Vaughn Merrill. Key Themes & Features

: Kage is praised for creating "imperfect" characters who feel like real people. Vaughn is particularly noted for his depth, struggling with "survivor's guilt" while falling for the one woman he feels he shouldn't. Insta-Family by Linda Kage

: Lucy Gamble grants a "sympathy sex" request to a dying coworker named Duke. : Seeking a sense of family for her

: Reviews from Goodreads and Amazon describe it as "heart-breaking" yet "heart-warming," balancing intense grief with Kage’s signature humor. : Lucy Gamble grants a "sympathy sex" request

: While the plot features over-the-top drama, the romantic development between Lucy and Vaughn is described as a "steady" and "beautiful" bloom. Reader Perspective

is a contemporary romance that explores the messy, emotional intersection of grief and new beginnings. Released on December 8, 2021, the novel serves as a spin-off of the author’s popular Forbidden Men series, following Lucy Olivia—the daughter of Noel and Aspen from To Professor with Love . The Story: A Heartbreaking Setup