Not the Plan

Maggie Award-finalist de Cadenet (Getting His Game Back) offers a fresh workplace romance that flips the script. Isadora Maris, an ambitious chief of staff for a California state senator, has her sights set on a plum job in Washington, DC. All is going according to plan when she meets sexy Karim Sarda, who is working as a temporary aide to Isadora’s boss’s rival. Their relatable meet-cute begins with lots of chemistry and sexual innuendo as the two try to keep their distance but are constantly brought back together. Narrator Zenzi Williams channels the characters’ personalities, from their awkward first meeting through their steamy encounters. Williams ably captures the communication challenges, past trauma, and insecurities that come into play as their relationship unfolds. They have both been deeply hurt, but together, they may be able to find happiness. Some difficult topics, such as gaslighting and emotional abuse, as well as political scenarios, appear.