Can't Wait for A Most Unfortunate Happenstance

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Most Unfortunate Happenstance

By: Esther Hatch

Expected Publication: June 24, 2026 by Arbory Press

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Will the storm that brought them together be the scandal that tears them apart?

Captain Frederick Calder has finally secured the means and standing to propose to the woman he has dreamed of since the day they met—and a house party offers the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with her.

But a violent storm on the road to Blackwell changes everything. The cold and damp strike Frederick down with a sudden and violent return of the ague.

Evelyn Blackwell, traveling to her family’s estate to secure a suitor for her disgraced cousin, is caught in the same storm and forced to take refuge alone in an abandoned cottage. The door flies open to reveal a fevered stranger who promptly collapses at her feet. She keeps vigil through thunder, darkness, and delirium, certain he may not survive.

But he does survive and in the morning light, they promise to leave as strangers, hopefully never to see each other again, bound only by the secret of a shared night together.

However, days later, Frederick arrives at Evelyn’s house party. Now they must spend weeks together while Evelyn balances arranging a match for her cousin with memories of that night—memories Frederick does not share.

The longer they spend in each other’s company, the more Evelyn wonders if her cousin’s happiness can come only at the cost of her own—and whether the storm that brought her and Frederick together has set her heart on a course to be broken apart.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!