I finished my romance novel featuring a main character with Tourette's
Hi folks,
Over the last year, I've posted several questions on this subreddit to accurately portray a main character with Tourette's syndrome. The book is done! It has been edited, proofread, and reviewed by two sensitivity readers. I'm not releasing it till March, but I wanted to make it available to members of the subreddit because you have all been so incredibly supportive and informative! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
If you are interested in receiving an advanced e-reader copy, please feel free to fill out the below form and I will send it to you: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPXJI0egMG04HwQI7_8vHxhtNpvVQpVQbGu4S5V_B7n0HGrQ/viewform?usp=header
About the book:
The Awkward Agenda by Beth Morton
Cali Barton is sick of playing a background character in her own life. Her plan to rock the world at her new job falls flat after she overhears her co-workers gossiping about her for being standoffish and her boss decides to coach her on her “approachability.”
Enter Simon Goldberg, her upstairs neighbor. While Cali spent her childhood flying under the radar, Simon’s Tourette syndrome taught him to roll with the punches. Simon believed he had made peace with his diagnosis. But when the company publishing his graphic novel wants him to go on tour to promote his work, Simon is panicked at the prospect. Television appearances? He'll either make a fool of himself or become, ewww, an “inspiring story.”
When Simon comes across Cali, he offers to help her break out of her comfort zone by taking her on a tour of the kind of awkward experiences she’s avoided. Helping her makes him realize just how closed off his own life has become, and having someone to laugh with makes opening up far easier.
In the whirl of their adventures, they learn to see themselves, and each other, for who they really are. But trusting themselves doesn’t come easy, and letting go is the hardest trick of all.
Posted Oct 2, 2025, 1:42 PM UTC