SMASH, a new standalone forbidden contemporary romance from New York Times Bestselling Authors, Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland, releases October 25th!
Scroll down for an excerpt!
Some love stories aren’t about finding the right person—but what happens when you find them too late…
A new, shockingly forbidden standalone from New York Times bestselling authors Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland…
Sometimes one floor is all that separates the life you planned from the life you never saw coming…
Moving to New York with my boyfriend, Calder, was supposed to be a fresh start.
A new city. A new job. A beautiful brownstone in Brooklyn we’d call home. The beginning of our forever.
There was just one catch: Calder’s best friend lived in the apartment downstairs.
Rafe—a gifted artist who smashed glass into masterpieces. With his unruly blond hair and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me, he was impossible to ignore.
He was also completely off-limits.
Yet somehow, every walk past his apartment or trip to the basement laundry room turned into another deep conversation neither of us ever wanted to end.
At first, it was innocent.
Then I found myself looking forward to running into him again.
Before long, I was creating opportunities to be around him.
Somehow, Rafe and I made each other feel seen in ways neither of us expected.
I tried to ignore our connection, reminding myself that Calder’s best friend was the last man on Earth I could ever fall for.
But with every stolen moment, that lie became harder to believe.
Maybe some love stories aren’t about finding the right person—but what happens when you find them too late.
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EXCERPT:
Copyright © 2026 by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland
There was a beat of silence. For some reason I continued to stand there. Rafe looked at me for a few more seconds, like he was deciding something. Then he lifted his chin, gesturing toward the hallway. “You just got back from a run?”
I nodded. “First one since I left Montana.”
“How was it?”
“Definitely different. There are so many people out on the streets.”
He smiled. “There’s an art to dodging the slow walkers and people glued to their phone. You’ll pick it up.”
“I’m guessing I’ll also learn to stop apologizing to people I cut around. I think I said ‘I’m sorry’ a hundred times on an hour-long run.”
“Dead giveaway you’re from out of town.”
I laughed. “That and the fact that I’m wearing purple. What is it with everyone wearing black in New York? Especially women. They’re all in black pants, black leggings, black tops, black coats, black purses…”
His eyes flicked over me again—this time I definitely didn’t imagine it. “I like that you wear color.”
My stomach did a small, traitorous flip. “Thanks.”
Another pause stretched between us, this one charged in a way I couldn’t quite explain. Then Rafe walked to the table and grabbed his shirt, pulling it on. It made me wonder if he’d caught himself looking at me and felt wrong—exactly the way watching him felt for me.
“I, uh, I’m sorry Calder and I didn’t make it to your girlfriend’s show the other day.”
Rafe smiled. “Not my girlfriend and not a big deal.”
“How was it?”
“Good. I like plays better than musicals, but it was fun watching someone I know become someone else onstage.”
Maybe that’s why it sometimes felt like he was watching me—because being around him turned me into someone else. Or maybe this was the real me. I wasn’t sure who the hell I was anymore.
“Any good plans for the week?” he asked. “You start your new job soon, right?”
I nodded. “The Monday after next. I’m planning to hit a different museum each day as I count down.”
“Nice. I love museums. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I used to beg my babysitter to take me to the Museum of Natural History. I’ve probably been there fifty times over the years. It’s still one of my top two favorites.”
“What’s the other one?”
“It’s called the Noguchi.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
He nodded. “It’s in Queens, so it’s not as popular as the museums in Manhattan that the tourists hit. It has a lot of sculptures, but the best part is the outdoor garden. It’s one of the most peaceful places in the five boroughs.”
“I’ll have to check it out.”
“It’s a good place to think. Or not think.”
I laughed. “I might need both of those this week.”
He held my gaze for a second, like he understood more than I’d said out loud. “Yeah…you should go.”
I shifted my weight, suddenly aware again that I was still lingering in his doorway. “Thanks for the recommendation.”
“Anytime.”
Another pause. Why wasn’t I leaving?
Rafe smiled. “I was just going to make some breakfast. Want to join me?”
I thumbed toward the hall. “I should probably get upstairs and shower.”
“You sure? Your boyfriend texted and told me to keep an eye on you while he’s away. I think that might include making sure you don’t start any more cooking fires.”
“I didn’t start—”
Rafe laughed. “I’m teasing. Go take your shower. I’ll have breakfast ready when you’re done. Consider it payback for helping my aunt.”
I hesitated. I should’ve said no, even though everything in me wanted to say yes. But I didn’t. “Okay. I’ll be quick.”
“No rush.”
I forced myself to start up the stairs.
It’s just breakfast.
No big deal.
Calm down already.
Heck, Calder told him to look out for me.
Still, I took a little more time in the shower than usual and let my mind wander to places it shouldn’t. When I got out, I wrapped a towel around myself and started digging through my drawers for something to wear. One drawer, then the next, and eventually moving onto the closet.
I blew out a breath.
I was being ridiculous. Who cares what I wear? I was going downstairs to eat eggs, not attend a black-tie event.
And yet…
I sprayed on a little perfume. Took a few extra minutes fixing my hair. Put on eyeliner when I normally just brushed on a bit of mascara. By the time I got dressed, it felt like I’d crossed an invisible line I hadn’t meant to step over.
Or maybe I had.
I shook the thought away. It’s just freaking breakfast. I grabbed my phone, took one more glance in the mirror, and headed back downstairs.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Vi Keeland:
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Find Vi here:
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Penelope Ward:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
Find Penelope here:
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