What can I say? I'm Shane and Ilya trash and I'm not sorry. Heated Rivalry is still the best, but I thought this was a great follow-up (some weird plot issues notwithstanding) and I remain frothing at the mouth for more of them. There are a lot of perhaps goofy wish-fulfilling fanservice things, but once I instructed myself to stop cringing and let the soft animal of my body love what it loves, I enjoyed this immensely.

Spoiler

And of course I cried like a baby at "safe inside your heart. I believe it." Just kill me it'd be kinder.

I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING. Oh my fucking god I’m dying. Dead. Deceased. This was way too good.

So I don’t usually like continuing couples in books but now I’m starting to question why the fuck not because this was everything.

I will say this: I was absolutely (and kinda unreasonably but turns out realistically) panicked the entire book that they’d be outed. Super stressful for me. I know it’s “just a book” but I'm obsessed with Ilya and Shane and just want them to live happily ever after, ok? Because after a secret relationship for 11 years, they deserve everything.

I’ve been a long distance relationship before and the fact that they had tripods to video sex with each other is so adorable and thoughtful. I cannot. Please give me the scene where they have a conversation about it. Please.

I loved that Ilya was open to getting help for his depression. I think Shane should go too for his issues (maybe anxiety and maybe disordered eating). Honestly, I related to both of these guys. It just made them both seem so real and complex and dynamic and loveable. I get why people don’t like Shane in this one but I loved both of them. I mean obvs Ilya is my fav but I don’t hate Shane because of what they’ve gone through. Their bumps in the road made their happily ever after that much sweeter.

Sigh. I just adored everything about this. The banter. The dogs. The hot smexy times. The plane scare. The pining. Babysitting. The proposal. The fucking trophy room. The wedding. I. Loved. It. So. Much!!!!

Also Roger Rozander.

I’m a tiny bit mad I haven’t read this before but/and I think I read it at the perfect time for me.

Six stars and I will re-read this entire series, buy the print copies, and audio books because I want to enjoy them every way. Let me have my happiness.

I can’t write a coherent review yet, I just wanted to say that this book was everything I hoped for and more.

4.5