I truly wish I could rank this one higher. In the first half I was sure this was going to be 5 stars. But then the second half hit, and I felt a drop in quality that I just couldn't ignore.

The second half happens to be when the romance plot picks up. I really loved all the non-romance parts of this book - I loved the complicated family dynamics, the exploration of grief, the close-knit friend group. I think those were particularly strong in the first half, and Yasmen is really a well-built, complicated character and I truly enjoyed getting to be in her head as she waded through her losses and rebuilt her life. 

I think a lot of my problem is honestly with Josiah. I don't hate him completely, but he ended up getting on my nerves so much. It's that sort of complicated thing where you get where he's coming from, but he also completely exhausts you, and I found myself getting so frustrated by the way he treated and thought about Yasmen. 

By the time the book finished I honestly wasn't sure their problems felt wrapped up enough for them to get back together, and it's mostly because of Josiah. I also felt the ending was rather abrupt and their problems weren't adequately talked through. Mostly I just felt like there was going to be a problem again some point in this relationship and I think I know who's going to be at fault.

I still mostly enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong! I just think one half was distinctly stronger than the other. Am I talking about the chapters or the main couple?