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For fans of Tessa Bailey comes a steamy debut sports romance following an Olympic downhill skier and the sexy risk-taking ski mountaineer she hires to train her for a new event. But when their chemistry threatens to disrupt her carefully planned life, will she stick with her schedule or let her life veer off course in the name of love?
Kit Schuster has been bombing downhill on skis since she was two-and-a-half, and becoming the most decorated woman on the slopes has made the decade of competing across multiple continents and grueling race schedules worth it. She doesn’t look anywhere but straight ahead of her—on the racecourse and in life. But a younger rival now has her looking over her shoulder. To solidify her place in history, Kit decides to enter in the newest Olympic event of ski mountaineering, giving her eighteen months to prepare for the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Asher McClendon grew up dangling from rock faces in Yosemite, and he stuns his followers with daring climbs up the world's most remote peaks before skiing down their steep ridges. He lives for the high-stakes thrills that come with ski mountaineering. When he agrees to coach a legendary alpine skier at his home outside Lake Tahoe, he's more intrigued by the paycheck than the woman. That is, until she arrives to stay in his guest cabin.
Far away from the perfectly groomed ski slopes of European resorts, Kit’s routine and laser focus get a major detour—by Asher's training regimen and their growing attraction to each other. Before she realizes it, everything in Kit’s life is veering off course. Faced with an insurmountable hurdle and no ski lift in sight, they must both determine what they’re willing to risk for love—even if it’s their careers.
“Off Course is a sexy, snarky love letter to all things snowy, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bring the heat! Full of fun banter, fantastic forced proximity, and a truly lovable supporting cast, this book has everything you’re looking for and more.” —Lana Ferguson, New York Times bestselling author of Overruled and The Game Changer
“Off Course rips out of the start gate with crackling chemistry. You'll love the rugged, rule-breaking hero. Sharp edges, deep snow, and characters so real they ache.” —Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author of Thrown for a Loop
“My kingdom for more romance heroes willing to talk about poop! You know that thing when a book hooks you so quickly and thoroughly that it becomes your entire personality until you’re finished? Off Course by Julie Cook is that kind of ride. This story about a fiercely determined and staunchly regimented Olympic downhill skier and the adorably chill mountaineering trainer she hires to get her ready for a new competition is like laying down first tracks on a bluebird day: fresh, brisk, and fun as hell. Off Course is a sweet, steamy, perfect sports romance. And I’d follow Asher McClendon up any mountain.” —Jess K. Hardy, author of the Bluebird Basin series
“Off Course is an absolutely immersive dive into the terrifying-yet-fascinating culture of ski mountaineering, from backcountry dirtbags to the all-consuming discipline needed for Olympic competition. Kit and Asher's love story, thrown straight in the middle of these worlds, showcases the love and lessons we can find when we push ourselves outside of our comfort zone—even when the road to those lessons looks nothing like what we expected. A story that will stick with me for a long time.” —Anita Kelly, author of Something Wild and Wonderful
"I’m calling it: Julie Cook is a romance writer to watch! Her immersive prose, pitch-perfect banter, and deeply relatable characters had me hooked from the first page. If you loved the drama, the sacrifice, and the celebration of the winter Olympics, drop what you’re doing and pick up Off Course." —Maggie North, author of Fossil Feud
"Julie Cook's debut, Off Course, sparkles like the sun glinting off white snow. I love the patient, expansive romance between Kit and Asher, two hypercompetent people who bring different strengths into the relationship and really see each other for who they are. The skiing details are so immersive I almost felt like I could tackle a downhill myself (almost)! I left this book with a smile on my face and the absolute certainty that Kit and Asher will love each other forever the only way they know how — fully and fiercely." —Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of The Art of Catching Feelings
Julie Cook writes about food and music, then remembers she’s writing a romance novel and cuts most of that out. A South Carolina native, she moved from Southern California to Rochester, New York, which is not south of anything except Canada. With her husband, three kids, and dog, she thrives in the summer, survives in the winter, and writes early in the morning. Find her on Instagram and tell her your favorite Sandra Brown novel, sports documentary, New Yorker cartoon, or SNL sketch.