Woof to this one. Listen, there are things I liked— chronic illness reps solid (even if they did discover the keto diet for epilepsy, SURE), I didn’t entirely guess the bad guy, and at least Gabriel’s “I’m too kinky for her” crisis had some basis… but not enough. That initial set up to the mystery was HEAVY handed, and let’s be real, worst spy names ever. I appreciate Callaway’s creativity in sex scenes, but great googa mooga, let them bang before the wedding. Also the misogyny keeps misogynying. Period appropriate? Probably, but I’m over the “don’t put the women in danger except when convenient” angle. And the FMCs gotta keep banding together despite those silly protective menfolk. 🙄

Also I’m going to keep reading Callaway but my jury is out on the child characters who then become MCs deal. Just cause Hyacinth Bridgerton worked doesn’t mean this should always be a thing, imo.