We’re thrilled to share the news that Publisher Kathryn Taussig has acquired World English rights in ebook, paperback and audio from Laura Bennett of The Liverpool Literary Agency for two quirky romantic comedies from debut author Sylvia Leatham.

The first book, which will publish in autumn 2025, follows Maeve McGettigan, a jaded employee at an Irish tourism company in Dublin who is unexpectedly tasked with babysitting a cutting-edge robot called Kobi. Before long, Kobi is wreaking havoc in Maeve’s office with his lack of social skills and tendency to loudly announce uncomfortable truths in team meetings.

As Maeve gets to grips with this new reality, she finds herself increasingly attracted to Kobi’s developer, handsome American-born Josh – but is everything between them as it seems? It’s a funny, quirky, feel-good story for fans of The Love Hypothesis and The Rosie Project. Sylvia’s work has been long-listed by Mslexia and Novel London. A second comedy, The Jump, will follow in 2026.

Sylvia Leatham says,

“I’m excited to have found a publishing home at Storm, and I’m thrilled to be working with editor Kathryn Taussig and all the team. I can’t wait for readers to meet Maeve and the Go Ireland gang, and to join them as they navigate the chaos of love, work and robots.”

Kathryn Taussig says,

“When this book made me laugh out loud several times on first read, I knew I had to publish it. I absolutely love Sylvia’s quirky, sweet, heartfelt and intelligent romantic comedy, and can’t wait to publish it! I know readers are going to adore Maeve and her accident-prone robot sidekick Kobi.”

For more information about Sylvia Leatham and her writing, you can check her out on X, Bluesky and Instagram.