Courting Greta

(Paperback)

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A tender, cheer-inducing debut novel about two lonely people who dont believe in romance, but who finally decide to give love a chance.

Samuel Cooke knows most women wouldnt give him a second glance even if he were the last man on earth. Hes the cripple with crutches, the nerdy computer genius every female past puberty feels compelled to mother. So when he leaves his lucrative career to teach programming to high schoolers, romance definitely isnt on his radar.

Perhaps thats why Greta Cassamajor catches him off guard. The sarcastic gym coach with zero sense of humor is no beautynot even on the inside. But an inexplicably kind act toward Samuel makes him realize she is interesting.

Samuel is certain she wont accept his invitation to dinnerso when she does, hes out of his depth. All he knows is that hell do whatever it takes to keep her as long as he can. Pretending hes got his class under control Easy. Being vulnerable enough to admit why he ditched his programming career for teaching Um, no. That would require honesty. And if theres one thing Samuel cant exist without, its the lies he tells himself.

In this poignant, witty debut, Ramsey Hootman upends traditional romance tropes to weave a charming tale of perseverance, trust, and slightly conditional love.

Reviews

Hootman's terrific debut, a most unlikely romance, involves a 34-year-old crippled computer geek and a middle-aged Sue Sylvesterlike gym teacher/basketball coach with a penchant for addressing him as "Mr. Cooke." Samuel Cooke joins a Northern California high school's faculty to teach programming classes after taking a 10% stake in the successful software firm that formerly employed him. Despite being warned against gym teacher Greta Cassamajor, a 46-year-old who towers over and outweighs him, he feels strangely attracted to her. Recognizing Greta's prickly nature and uncompromising attitude, Samuel nonetheless sets out to navigate a relationship with her. He has the outward social graces she lacks, but hidden underneath is fear, anger, and self-pity, particularly over the congenital birth defect that forces him to use elbow crutches and ankle braces. While Samuel faces the school's unprincipled principal, outdated computers, and difficult students, Greta proves remarkably perceptive and caring. By the end of this surprisingly sweet, if sometimes bitter, novel, Samuel has started to appreciate everyone else he has on his side, including his housekeeper, who helps him woo Greta, a nosy fellow teacher, and an old boss who advises him that "in real life, you spend a lot of time on your ass." -- Publisher's Weekly
Samuel is a shy, withdrawn computer programmer in need of a change in his life. He thinks a new town and a teaching job will do the trick, but when he falls for Greta, the school's imposing tomboy gym teacher, he discovers that change can come from unexpected places. In this charming, unconventional first novel, an unlikely pair stumbles down a rough road of romance and self-discovery with all the emotional and physical baggage that middle age -- and disability -- can bring. VERDICT: Hootman gives the readers a refreshing, original love story about two socially awkward yet utterly fascinating people. Fans of John Green's quirky lovers in The Fault in Our Stars or this year's hot adaptation, Matthew Quirk's Silver Linings Playbook, will want to check this one out; arriving just in time for summer, it will make a perfect beach read. Highly recommended. -- Leigh Wright * Library Journal *

Author Bio

Ramsey Hootman grew up in a small Northern California town. After spending a year in China teaching Business English to adults, she went to work as a travel writer and married her own programmer. They have one child.