Alive and Kicking

Rachel Cramer prefers quiet nights, familiar routines, and absolutely no surprises. But when her adventurous sister Richie dies far too young, she leaves Rachel a parting gift: a bucket list of all the things she never got to do—and a gentle nudge from beyond to start living boldly. Tasked with honoring her sister’s wishes, Rachel finds herself juggling her not-so-glamorous job at her grandparents' sewage pump company (yes, really) and an unexpectedly viral social media presence that has the internet flushing with laughter.

Enter TJ Doyle, midfielder for the Boston Buzzards and professional life avoider. Off the field, TJ is lost—adrift in endless scrolling, shallow content, and a growing sense that something’s missing. He’s not sure what he’s searching for, but he knows it’s not more of the same.

Number 8 on Richie’s list? Meet TJ Doyle. And when their paths collide, Rachel and TJ—polar opposites on paper—begin to challenge each other in all the right ways. As they stumble toward connection, healing, and maybe even love, they’ll discover that sometimes, the best goals in life aren’t the ones you plan.