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The Daphne Project
Daphne Patterson hasn’t just hit rock bottom—she’s faceplanted. At thirty, she’s an unemployed librarian, betrayed by her fiancé, and stuck living with her overbearing mother. To say she needs a fresh start is an understatement. When she unexpectedly inherits a house from her long-lost great-aunt Florence in the quaint town of Cobb, Maine, she sees her chance. The plan? Settle the will, sell the house, and rebuild her life—far away from her family.
But Cobb has other ideas. As Daphne settles into Florence’s home, memories of the one summer they spent together resurface—books, to-do lists, and crackling vinyl records. The more she uncovers, the more she realizes how little she knew about her great-aunt, especially when a mysterious clue makes her question Florence’s supposed suicide.
Between eccentric townsfolk, unexpected discoveries, and a mystery she can’t ignore, Daphne’s plans take an unforeseen turn. With the help of new friends, plenty of coffee, and a few surprises, she just might find the belonging she’s been searching for. But if she stays lost in stories instead of writing her own, she might miss out on the real-life happy ending waiting for her in Cobb.
Review of The Daphne Project
If you’re looking for your next coming-of-age novel and want to travel through the pages to the coast of Maine, The Daphne Project is exactly what you need. It’s a delightful story layered with familial tensions and the complexities of friendship, capturing the emotional push and pull of growing up and finding your place. Jacqui Lents weaves in a charming small-town atmosphere. Plus, there’s a light mystery threaded throughout that adds a fun whodunit twist. It was everything I wanted in a book - heartfelt, immersive, and wholly satisfying.
KARA INFANTE
Host of award-nominated podcast, Bookish Flights
The Daphne Project is a treasure! It is a delightfully humorous and charming tale of a bookish, yet confused, young lady searching for truth. As Daphne searches for answers in her treasured Aunt Flo's passing, she not only learns the unknown stories of her aunt's life, but also the truths of her own. This book strums the heart strings while tickling the funny bone all at the same time. A cute, relatable, and quirky self-discovery jam-packed with friendship, community, calamity, and love.
Review of The Daphne Project
Sonia Moore
BookTuber of the channel @Soniawithani
Recent Manuscripts & status
Bob Friday is a man of many words but little courage. Agoraphobic and unable to leave his home in suburban Michigan, Bob has carefully constructed a life indoors but increasingly feels the pangs of his cloistered existence. After watching a travel program on TV with his hard-working and crotchety housekeeper, Ruth Pryun, Bob hatches an outlandish plan: offering Ruth the opportunity to be his travel proxy. In exchange for free trips, she needs only to report to Bob the details of her adventures so he can enjoy them vicariously.
The temptation to overcome a bitter and traumatic past emboldens Ruth to accept the bizarre arrangement. Her first trip, to Stratford, Ontario, sets off a chain reaction. New relationships and encounters await both homebound Bob and journeying Ruth. Through individual experiences and their growing friendship, Bob and Ruth realize this experiment could ignite a final chance to remake their lives. Will these mid-lifers learn that the ideal time for stepping outside their comfort zones is better late than never?
STATUS: Editing - release summer 2026
Untitled
STATUS: In Development
Those Who Are Called to the Sea
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