Daydream

About:

Daydream is a contemporary romance novel, set in England, following Mayu Lateef, our plus size, South-Asian protagonist as she tries to carve her own path. But when her parents refuse to grant her freedom without a husband, she strikes a deal with the one man she should avoid—her relentless, infuriating boss.

CEO Alexander Bauman doesn’t do relationships. He can ruin or remake lives with less than a phone call. But Mayu? She challenges him, unnerves him, reminds him of the man he once wanted to be. So he breaks his own rules, schemes his way into her life—and her home—vowing to love her forever, much to her annoyance.

As Alexander’s deepest secret unravels and Mayu’s shame over cultural expectations surfaces, they vow to be perfect strangers. But between stolen glances and stubborn hearts, they discover that despite their flaws, they were made to undo each other—in all the right ways.

Tropes:

Grumpy X Sunshine, Slow Burn,

Fake Dating, New Love, Holy Spice.

Romance | Complete | Querying

89,000 words

—by Umikan

Comparative Titles

The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood

A grumpy-sunshine dynamic where emotional awkwardness blossoms into nurturing love, mirroring the gentle healing arc of Daydream’s leads.
Spanish Love Deception, Elena Armas

Fake dating, workplace tension, and rich travel backdrops. Like Daydream, it balances soft opulence with deep emotional payoff.
The Hating Game, Sally Thorne

Office-set banter meets heartfelt slow burn. At its core, it’s about being seen—and loved—for exactly who you are, much like Daydream.

“nothing too untoward happened…”

Neon hotel sign at night on a building with lit windows. Scene where Alexander and Mayu (AlexanderXMayu) are in Denmark on an office trip, in Daydream by Umikan, UKN.

A table set with white flowers, candles, and glassware overlooking a mountainous coastline at sunset. Scene where Alexander and Mayu (AlexanderXMayu) are on a romantic office trip, in Daydream by Umikan, UKN.

Close-up of a bouquet of pink roses with ruffled petals. Representing the scene where Alexander fills Mayu's office with flowers in the novel Daydream by Umikan, UKN. (AlexanderXMayu)

Looking up at tall glass skyscrapers in a city skyline, some with illuminated windows and a cloudy sky. Representing the scene where Mayu walks to her new job during the first scene of the book Daydream by Umikan, UKN. (AlexanderXMayu)

—Alexander Bauman, Daydream

Daydream Reviews:

“I love your author voice, especially the duality of spicy scenes and modest dialogue.”

— Betareader.io, A.R.
“To see a romance featuring brown protagonists that wasn’t about ‘struggle’ is refreshing. I enjoyed the foreshadowing from both MCs. Excited to see more.”

— Betareader.io,H-Cha
“Okay. It was sexy, then I cried. Thank you.”

— Betareader.io, A.R.