The Only One
ISBN: 979-8993150307
Publisher: Tribeca Press
Publication Date: 11/10/2026
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
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Eden Russo is lucky in many ways, but her life is far from perfect. She can’t remember a time when her devoted father, Marty—the owner of a popular Brooklyn restaurant—and her protective brother, Drew—an aspiring lawyer—weren’t at odds. She also has no memory of her mother, whose death continues to cast a shadow over the family she left behind.
Eden hopes to attend her dream college next year, and she cherishes her bond with Marty, Drew, and her best friend, Libby King. But she’s concerned about Libby’s attraction to Shea Dwyer, an alluring young man with a troubling history.
Eden’s opinion of Shea evolves as the truth about his past is uncovered, causing painful rifts in treasured relationships. Even more difficult are the challenges she faces when her world is unexpectedly shattered. While Eden struggles to hold on to everything that matters, she gets closer to the love she has always hoped to find.
About the Author
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is the author of Other Words for Love, published by Random House (Delacorte Press); New Money, published by Macmillan (St. Martin's Press); Independently Wealthy, published by Macmillan (St. Martin’s Press); Charmed, published by Tribeca Press; Always and Forever, published by Tribeca Press; and The Only One, which is forthcoming from Tribeca Press on November 10, 2026.
In addition to writing fiction, she has contributed celebrity interviews and reviews of books, films, and TV series to Pop Matters and also a contributor to Women Writers, Women’s Books.
Lorraine is originally from New York City, and a graduate of the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in education and English. She currently resides near Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. Visit Lorraine online at lorrainezagorosenthal.com
Connect with Lorraine
Praise
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BEHIND THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR
Stay tuned for a #LitLIftMiniAuthorChat with bestselling author (a favorite), Lorraine Zago Rosenthal and her latest captivating novel, THE ONLY ONE!
Coming November.
My Review
SECRETS. SIBLING LOYALTY. SECOND CHANCES.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Brooklyn, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal masterfully explores the complexities of family dynamics and the intricacies of forgiveness. In a narrative where secrets surface and relationships are tested, she illustrates how sometimes, worlds must shatter before they can be authentically reconstructed, revealing the resilience of the human spirit.
Intro
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal returns to the contemporary young adult scene with The Only One, a grounded, deeply emotional, and bittersweet coming-of-age story. For readers who loved the raw vulnerability of her debut Other Words for Love and the complex social dynamics of New Money, this novel bridges those worlds perfectly. Set against a vivid New York backdrop, THE ONLY ONE provides a masterclass in how family friction, secrets, and first loves shape who we are when our world unexpectedly shatters.
The Hook
Seventeen-year-old Eden Russo is the fragile bridge keeping her family from imploding. But when a mysterious family friend with a criminal past returns to her Brooklyn neighborhood, the unstable peace cracks wide open, unearthing secrets that threaten to break her bonds forever.
Elevator Pitch
The story follows Italian American teen Eden Russo as she navigates her final year before college while trapped in the crossfire of a bitter, lifelong feud between her restaurant-owner father and her law-student older brother. When her best friend falls for Shea Dwyer—a troubled young man just released from prison—Eden's efforts to protect everyone she loves unlock a chain reaction of painful rifts, shocking family revelations, and an unexpected path toward true love.
Setting
A richly textured, atmospheric Brooklyn, New York. The story breathes life into the neighborhood through the sensory warmth of Marty’s popular local Italian restaurant contrasted against the cold, rigid realities of legal ambitions and the lingering shadow of past trauma.
Vibe
Emotional, authentic, and bittersweet. It blends the cozy, high-stakes comfort of tight-knit neighborhood drama with the heavy, lingering angst of unresolved family grief.
Genre
Contemporary Young Adult / Realistic Fiction / Family Drama.
Themes
~The Burden of Sibling and Filial Loyalty: Being caught in the middle of people who love you but hate each other.
~The Repercussions of Hidden Truths: How keeping secrets to "protect" family ultimately destroys trust.
~Grief and Absence: The invisible, persistent shadow cast by a mother who died too soon.
~Redemption vs. Reputation: Society's hesitation to allow someone with a troubled past to truly start over.
Standout Characters
~Eden Russo: The empathetic, practical protagonist desperate to keep her family whole while trying to claim her own future.
~Libby King: Eden’s feisty, short-tempered best friend who comes from a fractured home and becomes fiercely infatuated with a newcomer.
~Shea Dwyer: The alluring, enigmatic newcomer with a car-theft record whose presence acts as the catalyst for the family's underlying tension.
~Marty Russo: Eden's devoted, hardworking father and restaurant owner, whose fierce protectiveness borders on a stubborn refusal to let go of old grudges.
~Drew Russo: Eden's fiercely protective, law-aspiring older half-brother, whose deep-seated resentment toward Marty creates a permanent battlefield.
Author Writing Standout
Rosenthal's greatest strength lies in her ability to create authentic dialogue and portray realistic family dynamics. She captures the complex and messy rhythm of a fractured household without outrageous plot twists. Instead, she allows the tension to build naturally through conversations that feel entirely genuine. Her work reflects the intricate relationships within a deeply loving, albeit complicated, family.
Takeaway
You cannot sacrifice your own peace to act as a lifelong mediator for the people around you; sometimes, worlds have to break before they can be rebuilt on honest foundations.
Title Significance
The Only One underscores Eden’s isolating role as the solitary anchor connecting her father and brother. It also represents her personal journey to finding that unique, singular person with whom she can finally share her unvarnished truths.
Metaphors
~The mother’s necklace is a fragile, beautiful piece of the past that Eden holds onto, symbolizing both her deep longing for a mother she barely knew and the heavy weight of family history. Just as the necklace represents a beautiful memory tangled up in painful warnings, Eden’s family is bound by a deep love that is constantly choked by unspoken truths and old grudges.
~The family restaurant. It is a place built on the warmth of feeding others and fostering community, yet behind the kitchen doors, the people running it are emotionally starving for peace and reconciliation.
Why You Should Read
If you crave a story where family dynamics are just as crucial, messy, and high-stakes as the love interest, this is a must-add to your bookshelf.
My Thoughts
Having read all of Lorraine Zago Rosenthal’s novels, The Only One feels like her most mature and grounded contemporary work yet. The tension between Marty and Drew is so sharp you can practically feel it radiating off the page, making Eden’s exhaustion completely relatable. Shea’s introduction injects a perfect blend of mystery and romantic tension that keeps the pages turning effortlessly. A beautiful, character-driven story where the author skillfully balances heavy family fracture with a soaring, hopeful romance that reminds us why Lorraine Zago Rosenthal remains a trusted master of contemporary fiction.
Verdict 5/5 Stars #CoverLove
"THE ONLY ONE is a beautiful, bittersweet, character-driven story where the author masterfully balances heavy family fracture with a soaring, hopeful romance— reminding us why Lorraine Zago Rosenthal remains a trusted master of contemporary fiction!”
Recs or read alikes
~Always and Forever by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
(Her recent release; excellent if you want to transition from her YA to her women's fiction, featuring similar themes of bitter generational conflict, New York family secrets, and hidden romantic feelings).
~Charmed by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
(Her women's fiction novel exploring childhood scars from a contentious family fracture, secrets long hidden, and a lingering Brooklyn-based yearning).
~Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
(Her debut YA novel; perfect for readers who loved the raw New York teen experience, first heartbreak, and navigating changing social worlds).
~Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
(For a protagonist navigating the overwhelming shadow of family friction, a sibling's mistakes, and finding her own voice).
If you have not read her work, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (a fan and long time favorite author having read all her books & the honor of interviewing her), is highly recommended. She elevates the same realistic and highly grounded stories as authors Joyce Maynard, Emily Giffin, Rebecca Serle, or Julie Buxbaum, where characters deal with everyday anxieties. Rosenthal, who holds a background in psychology, similarly prioritizes deeply flawed, emotionally complex characters navigating family dynamics and social transitions reflected in her novels.
Stay tuned for a fun #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat ride (my blog/website/newsletter) with Lorraine as we welcome back to the lift on pub day, Nov 10 where we go behind the scenes of the book & talented author. Do not miss it.
Special thanks to Tribeca Press and the author for sharing an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Nov 10, 2026
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