If, like me, you were introduced to Penny Reid’s romantic comedies through her Knitting in the City series, then you’ll be delighted to know that Bananapants, which features the next generation of the couples in those stories, hits all the same high notes. But it’s not all laughs, as there are some serious mental health conditions faced by the characters, and day to day struggles that ground the story even while hijinks ensue. The effect is a story that brought to me to tears and cheers, and reminded me of why I love Penny Reid’s writing.

Ava Archer, daughter of Fiona and Greg Archer (Happily Ever Ninja) is a tax attorney who still misses her best friend from childhood, Desmond Sullivan, son of Janie and Quinn Sullivan (Neanderthal Seeks Human). Just when they’d been on the cusp of a friendship turning into romance as teenagers, Des abruptly left Chicago and cut off all contact, breaking Ava’s heart.

When a wealthy co-worker who looks very similar to Ava, proposes that Ava take her place at a society party, Ava jumps at the chance to do something wild and crazy to get her out of her funk. After all, there’s no chance anyone there will recognize her.

In the years Des has been gone, he’s become a high-tech thief, helped by his father’s friend Alex and the resources of his estranged father’s security company. For a hefty fee, he’ll rob from the rich and give to the equally rich, usually from people who deserve it in some fashion, and he only steals what his target can afford to lose. Plus, he’ll always do what’s needed to help his friends, including his current mission;  a friend has had some technology stolen by a tech billionaire and Des is determined to get it back. It’s why he’s returned to Chicago.  Having infiltrated the circle of high society billionaires, the last person he expects to see at a party is Ava, in a wig with a fake accent. And since she’s gotten the attention of the bad guy Des is pursuing – who has a stalkerish history with women – he has no choice but to protect her by blowing her cover.

Thus after a ten year hiatus, Des and Ava are back in each other’s circles, but there is no immediate reconnection. Des is still closed off. Ava’s feelings for him are still complicated by the hurt of his leaving and cutting her out of his life. Their respective parents are thrilled to see them talking to each other, thinking that finally the two will rekindle their friendship and fall in love, as they’d always hoped would happen back in the day. And there’s a stalker billionaire interested in Ava who Des is going to have to take down faster than he’d expected. Will Des and Ava find their way back to each other on this rocky path to true love?

Whew! Lots of feelings! Yes, it’s a bonkers romantic comedy, with lots of laughs and crazy situations, and danger and action and sexy times and all of the things that make Penny’s books so endearing to her fans. On the more serious side, we find out that Ava struggles with anxiety, and more critically, that Desmond has a severe bipolar disorder, one that has been stable for the last few years but is the reason he left Chicago. He’s attempted suicide, he’s on medication, he experiences on-page panic attacks, and the portrayal of his character’s struggles is very real and heartfelt (cue the tears on my part, especially his estrangement from his father, Quinn, who, is a fan favourite from Neanderthal Seeks Human). When Des left Chicago, and Ava, it was with the realization that even though he cared deeply for her, he had to take care of his mental health without any expectations of success from other people, and the only way to do that was to focus on himself and leave her out of the equation. But now, back in Chicago and having gotten his mental illness under control, his true feelings for Ava, his love for her, come to the surface and are reignited.

In trying to keep Ava from danger while pursuing his own mission, they spend time together and Ava, even with how badly her heart was broken, can’t resist letting Des in again, little by little. And he eventually tells her why he left. Opening up to her heals the rift between them, and Ava decides to take a chance on loving Des again, even with the expectation on her part that he’s still going to leave Chicago in the near future. Steamy scenes ensue and parents get excited about their kids being together (those parts are really funny). But there is still danger and action and other family ties to consider, leading to a very satisfying conclusion and happy ending for the couple. I don’t know if the author has planned any more glimpses into the lives of the Knitting in the City offspring, but I’ll wholeheartedly wish for more.