+ One by Brian Baleno

Investment banker Jake seeks to reconcile his workaholic habits and his life with girlfriend Kara as they navigate their maturing relationship in modern Chicago. Jake loves the thrill of making deals for his clients, while Kara teaches and volunteers. As narrator Jake informs the reader in + One, they are soul mates. Yet Jake can’t quite put Kara ahead of his work, often arriving late to dates and missing important events, putting their relationship at risk.

Author Brian Baleno weaves a poignant story that would be familiar to most modern couples. At the heart of +One is the eternal question: What do I want out of life? As Jake becomes a valued – and well-compensated – asset to his firm, Kara sees him struggle to make room in his life for her. Jake’s instinct to put his needs first give the story a growing sense of conflict that moves the story swiftly toward its conclusion.

Baleno surrounds Jake and Kara with friends and family that help fill in their personalities: A widower with sage advice, a young-at-heart father, an angry roommate, and the new girlfriend with an attitude. The novel benefits from these enlightening interactions, and Baleno strengthens his story by give each character surprising details of their own.

All in all, + One is a breezy read. It’s not breaking new ground with this tale of a relationship’s problems, but it’s this familiarity that is at once recognizable and comforting.