About this Event
Join Rainy Day Books at Unity Temple to celebrate Abby Offsides with Jenna Bush Hager and author Anna McCallie!
Event Logistics
This event takes place in Unity Temple's Sanctuary and includes a conversation between Jenna, Anna, and a moderator about Thousand Voices publishing and Abby Offsides.
Doors Open - Event doors open at 5:30 p.m. While you may queue outside the venue, no access to the event space will be granted ahead of this time. If you have any accessibility concerns that preclude you from standing in line, please reach out to [email protected] to arrange a separate entry.
Signed Books - Event books will be PRE-SIGNED by Anna McCallie, and you will receive your pre-signed book upon check-in. There will be no personalization line or photo line following the conversation.
ADA Accessibility - This event is hosted in the historic Unity Temple. While the Sanctuary space is ADA accessible, some seats are not (including the entire balcony). We offer specific ADA tickets to meet attendees' needs. Please read through the ticket options carefully if you have any concerns. You may also reach out to [email protected] for one of our staff members to personally assist you with your ADA needs or arrange for early entry.
The Book
Abby Offsides
In this witty and heartfelt debut, a woman’s impulsive journey across the pond after a broken engagement leads her to a new love—and a new version of herself.
Seeking a fresh start after leaving her cheating fiancé, Abby McIntyre makes a series of spontaneous decisions: She quits her job. She books a one-way flight to the UK. She even gets bangs!
Newly arrived in Liverpool, she lands a job with the Mersey Football Club and meets Lachlan Ramsay, the recently recruited Scottish star midfielder. Both lonely in a new city, the pair bond quickly, and Abby finds it nearly impossible to deny their chemistry—despite the nagging guilt she feels about Lachlan’s mysterious wife who didn’t relocate with her husband.
When Abby’s housing falls through, Lachlan insists she move into his massive penthouse. As they spend almost every waking moment together, Abby wonders if it’s possible that the world-famous footballer could be falling for her, too. But with her job and his marriage dependent on them staying firmly in the friend zone, can Abby risk being caught offside?
Crackling with witty banter and palpable sexual tension, Abby Offsides is at once a smoldering, slow-burn romance and a nuanced exploration of one woman’s journey to reclaim her own dreams and desires after years of living life on autopilot.
On Stage
Jenna Bush Hager
Jenna Bush Hager is the co-host of TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle and the founder of the wildly popular Read With Jenna book club, which has introduced millions of readers to breakout authors and bestselling books since its launch in 2019. In 2022, she launched her production company, Thousand Voices, in partnership with NBCUniversal’s Universal Studio Group. She later expanded the brand with Thousand Voices Books, a co-venture with Random House Publishing Group, through which she publishes titles across its imprints. Jenna is also the author of ten books and a #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Author, Anna McCallie
Anna was born in Boston and moved to the small town of Stilwell, Kansas, as a child. She has a B.A. in Arabic from Harvard University and an M.A. in international environmental policy from the Fletcher School, yet has never managed to have a job related to either of those subjects. She lives in London, and when she’s not writing, she can be found solving crossword puzzles, badgering her friends to go to pub quizzes, and watching a tremendous amount of football. Abby Offsides is her first novel.
Together with founder Jenna Bush Hager, Thousand Voices x Random House Publishing Group champions authors throughout their careers, guiding debut writers and emerging voices from acquisition to publication (and beyond) across a wide range of genres, including romance, suspense, romantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, and memoir.
Abby Offsides is published through Thousand Voices x Random House Publishing Group.
Event Sponsors
AesthetiCare has served Kansas City since 2001, and in that time has grown to become one of the largest aesthetic centers in the country.
With four convenient locations in Kansas City, Liberty, Lenexa, and South Overland Park, we’re committed to providing exceptional aesthetic services that deliver results you’ll love. Our long-standing dedication to our clients has made us a trusted name in the industry, and we can’t wait to help you discover your best self.
Event Partner
Do Good Co. is a curated consignment boutique non-profit that believes in making a difference in Kansas City. By combining their passion for community connection with a focus on sustainability, they tackle social and ecological concerns. The boutique's clothing is generously donated by members of the community, allowing Do Good Co. to give new life to vintage and contemporary garments that might otherwise end up in landfills. 100% of their proceeds go directly to local charities that support children and pets in need.
Please Note: There are no refunds for this event. If you are unable to attend, your book will be available for pickup at Rainy Day Books starting the following day. If you are not local, we'll be happy to mail it to you upon request. Thank you for your support!
We will hold your event book in-store for a maximum of 6 months following the event. If you have not retrieved your book in that time period, it will be donated.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street, Kansas City, United States
USD 30.25 to USD 287.72











