A Barista’s Guide to Love & Larceny
Dani Lionet is no stranger to working hard. But now she’s attending her dream magic university, and must manage classes, shifts at the local cafe, and maintaining her partial scholarship—all while trying to keep her unique ability under wraps. That way, no one else can take advantage of it like her parents used to. So when a visiting professor calls Dani out on her ability, she’s terrified.
Yet, it seems Professor Silva just wants to pay Dani to use it to investigate a soon-to-be-released lucid dreaming product with horrible side effects. Dani is hesitant, but she needs the money, and it would help her new friend who was part of the product’s clinical trials. Plus, she has a swoony distraction in Kass, a mage and her endearingly cute new regular at work. . .even if she can’t tell him about her ability or extracurricular activities. Though the fact that he seems interested in her as well is uncharted territory for Dani since, thanks to her parents, she never lived in one place long enough to have a real crush.
Can Dani help with the professor’s “group project,” learn to embrace her ability, and get to know Kass? Or will it all fall apart?
Additional information
| Genre | Fantasy, Romance |
|---|---|
| Age | Young Adult |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
| Imprint | Feiwel & Friends |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format(s) | Hardcover |
| Author | Caroline Bonin |
| Release Date | 13 January 2026 |
| Release Month | January Releases |
| Author Identity | LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent |
About the Author
Caroline Bonin writes books about big, magical feelings and girls who glow in the dark. She studied the Irish harp and creative writing at Oberlin College, and received a master’s degree in digital marketing from Arizona State University online. When not writing or reading, you can find her playing video games, lifting weights, hiking, sewing, or exploring local coffeeshops. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her partner and their three cats: Poptart, Nightingale, and Laura Bailey. A Barista’s Guide to Love & Larceny is her debut novel.
She is represented by Emelie Burl at Susan Schulman Literary Agency.
