Best-Selling Author’s Novel Ranked Among ‘Most Anticipated’ by TIME

Nina DerwinFri, April 3, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC

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(Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)

Best-selling author Robinne Lee is making a highly anticipated return to fiction and readers are already taking notice.

Her upcoming novel, Crash Into Me, has been ranked among the "most anticipated" books of 2026 by TIME, signaling strong early buzz ahead of its July release. The recognition places the book among the year's most talked-about titles, driven by both reader excitement and industry anticipation.

Lee is best known for her debut novel The Idea of You, which became an international bestseller before being adapted into a hit film starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. The movie drew more than 50 million viewers globally in its first weeks on streaming, becoming a major success and introducing Lee's storytelling to an even wider audience.

Now, nearly a decade later, Crash Into Me marks her first new novel since that breakout success. The story follows Cecilia Chen, an aspiring photographer who relocates from Paris to Los Angeles with her husband, a filmmaker, and their children. But when a car accident connects her to a mysterious former model named Anouk, long-buried secrets begin to surface.

"I have been crafting Cecilia Chen's story for well over a decade, taking multiple breaks along the way — occasionally for years at a time,” Lee told PEOPLE. "But in 2019, I began to work on this current iteration — a seductive narrative about power, privilege, betrayal and desire, viewed from a perspective we don’t often see."

The novel blends romance, suspense and psychological tension, exploring themes of power, desire and identity. TIME describes the book as an "erotic suspense" story set against the glossy backdrop of Los Angeles, highlighting Lee's signature ability to capture complex emotional dynamics.

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"The opportunity to write women characters who contain multitudes will always appeal to me," Lee added. And I’m excited for readers to get to know Cecilia and Anouk as intimately as I do."

Beyond her writing, Lee has built a multifaceted career as an actress and producer, with roles in films like Hitch, Seven Pounds and 13 Going on 30, as well as appearances in television series including Being Mary Jane and Kaleidoscope.

With Crash Into Me already earning early recognition, Lee's return to the literary world is shaping up to be one of the standout publishing moments of 2026, one that readers have clearly been waiting for.

Crash Into Me is set to hit shelves on July 7 and is now available for preorder.

Related: Best-Selling Author's Novel Is Projected 'Biggest Book of the Season'

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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