THE NATURE OF LOVE

Coming May 11, 2027 by Macmillan

For fans of Page Powars and Rachael Lippincott, this action-packed, whirlwind romcom stars two polar-opposite teammates who must navigate an off-the-grid survival competition, natural disasters, and very inconvenient crushes in the Oregon wilderness.

Falling in love wasn’t in the survival guide

Zane Kerrigan is a troublemaker. Well… according to his strict dad, who ships Zane off to summer camp instead of a tropical family vacation. Even worse, he quickly discovers hikes and mosquito bites pale in comparison to the Wilderness Trials: Northwest Juniors a grueling off-the-grid survival competition where contestants spend weeks trekking through Oregon’s harshest terrain. Worst of all? He’s paired with Leif “Nature Prodigy” Mackenzie.

Leif is nothing if not a by-the-book survivalist. When given the chance to compete for a full-ride scholarship and impressive cash prize, they jump at it. Alongside their best friend Cam, Leif aims to conquer the wilderness—even if their disability doesn’t always cooperate—so Zane’s addition to their team is an unwelcome surprise. After all, Zane thinks “roughing it” involves an air mattress and porta potty.

As daunting survival challenges and natural disasters force the polar opposites to work together, Leif and Zane realize their differences could be the key to success—and their initial bickering sparks an unexpected connection. But in a competition where only one team can win, falling for your teammate might be the riskiest move of all…

  • An illustrated book cover for The Nature of Love by Sydney Langford. Two teenagers stand hand-in-hand in the foreground of a sweeping mountain landscape, looking at one another with warm smiles. On the left is Leif, a white nonbinary teen with short curly ginger hair and freckles. They’re in a red short-sleeve shirt, khaki shorts, and a blue hiking backpack. Their left leg has a black ankle-foot orthosis brace. On the right is Zane, a white teen with shaggy brown curls. He wears an orange fleece shirt, black pants, hiking boots, and a yellow backpack slung on one shoulder.

    Behind them stretches a vibrant Oregon-inspired landscape. A snow-capped mountain towers above a blue lake, surrounded by dense evergreen forests. Rolling green meadows in the foreground are filled with colorful wildflowers in shades of purple, red, yellow, and white, creating a bright, summery scene.

    The title, The Nature of Love, appears across the blue sky in large red lettering at the top. In the upper right corner, the tagline reads, "Falling in love wasn't in the survival guide." Sydney Langford’s name is at the bottom in large white letters.

  • This book includes mentions of (minor) outdoor-related injuries, abusive family dynamics, and ableist bullying (challenged).

Pre-order The Nature of Love!

Fan Art + Moodboards!