The Freshman Parents is going on tour and having a cover reveal with Rachel's Random Resources, if you wish to participate please contact me on rachel@rachelsrandomresources.com with your name, blog name, preferred post type and availability.
The Freshman Parents by Ko Porteous
Genre: Contemporary Later-in-Life Romance. Enemies to Lovers Romance
Tour Dates: 13th - 24th July 2026
Publication Date: 10th July 2026
Estimated Page Count: 310
Standalone First book in The Empty Nester Series
Author Content Warning: Not within the book, but death from a driving accident is a back story and there is a brief reference to suicidal ideologies.
Formats available: Epub and limited UK paperbacks
Types of post available: Reviews (preferred) and basic promo / spotlight posts
They're off for the time of their lives. But are you?
Book #1 in The Empty Nesters Series.
Single parent Heather isn't neurotic (honest!) - she's simply dreading the day her only child leaves for university - so her meticulous checklists grow longer by the hour. When she seeks advice on a parents' forum, she clashes with Scott, a single dad whose "helpful" statistics and assertions about “helicopter parenting” leave her fuming.
Move-in day delivers the ultimate surprise: their daughters aren’t just roommates – they are self-declared "besties for life". Suddenly, Heather and Scott are thrown into a begrudging alliance.
As they navigate the new status quo, Heather's instinct to organise meets Scott's philosophy of letting go. Their practical text messages about mattress toppers and emergency supplies evolve into conversations about dream jobs and bucket list aspirations. Despite their intentions to avoid relationships at all costs, unpredictable events keep throwing them together, meaning Heather and Scott find it increasingly difficult to ignore each other...
About Ko Porteous
Ko Porteous lived in a tiny fishing village in the north of Scotland before moving to Edinburgh aged 10.
Ko loves meeting people with interesting stories to tell and is constantly on the lookout for knotty story themes, particularly involving women navigating the messiness of life. She has worked as a Research Chemist, Assistant Chef, Teacher and School Leader.
As well as writing, Ko works as a Business Manager and provides listening services for a mental health charity aiming to reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.
In her free time Ko loves to run, meditate and travel; preferably all on the same day.
Ko has been married for 25 years, has 2 children of her own and is now navigating her own empty nest.
The Freshman Parents is Ko’s debut novel and is the first in ‘The Empty Nesters’ series.
Follow Ko Porteous
Instagram: Ko Porteous
Facebook: Ko Porteous
Blog Tour Schedule
Confirmed blogs will appear here.
13th July
BookescapeswithBabsW67
Bookish Jottings
jen_loves_reading
14th July
Splashes Into Books
Sammlxlibrary
@readswith_hollie
15th July
Stacey-Ann Says
Books, Life and Everything
Bookworm86
16th July
@nicolasmith1987
Bookish Dreams
calmstitchread
17th July
Jan's Book Buzz
Littlemissbooklover87
One More Chapter
18th July
TBHonest
Kate Kenzie Writes
Christian Bookaholic
19th July
karen_loves_reading
@lornabookfan
@plumbobmummy
20th July
Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews
Chick Lit Central
@5mins_forme
21st July
Left on the Shelf
I Heart Books
Tealeavesandbookleaves
22nd July
Leannebookstagram
hazel_andthe_bookmountain
Bookshortie
23rd July
Pickled Thoughts and Pinot
@mrse2017
@book.lover1486
24th July
kirstyreviewsbooks
But I Smile Anyway
@emmas_books_and_more