I have no idea who it was, and I will feel bad about this forever, but… I saw one post about this romance on #bookstagram. Just one. And I added it to my TBR because the person wrote a glowing review and I like to have romances on deck for when I’m in the mood. And I wish so badly that I could thank whoever it was because this novel was stunning. I’m so glad I flippantly added it to my TBR and got around to reading it! It deserves wayyyyy more hype. 

 

I don’t even know how to describe what all this book did. There was reclaiming oneself after years of losing your identity within another person. There was coming of (later) age and learning you are worth it just as you are. There I redefining relationships between parents (parental figures) and children. There is sexual tension and steaminess. There are shitty cheating partners. There is lost love. There is unrequited love. There is messy love and drama. And there is the beautiful, all-encompassing passion of finding the right person to love. In this case, it’s got that specific and unique passion that comes with both people being artists. 

 

I fell right into all of it. I can’t get over how Black was able to bring is just so many different types and shapes of love. She brings to tangible life the way that love can lift you up and how it can smother you and how sometimes is just hurts, but most especially it can be everything, when it’s a (re)discovering love for oneself and allowing oneself to be loved and learning how to love someone else in a way that works for them but doesn’t diminish you. BEAUTIFUL. 

 

More tangibly, the writing was great. The dialogue was authentic to how people actually talk (such a cornerstone make-or-break for me as a reader), the pacing was spot on (for all the relationships, but especially that central one between Rachel and Nathan), and the drama was at “can’t look away” levels.  I definitely didn’t hate the maturity of the romance either – there were roadblocks and the third act breakup, but the characters handled it all believably and with reasonable communication and I am always here for that. Thematically, the discussions of art and interrogations of the policing of Black women’s bodies/sexualities, as well as some (not wholly original, but more definitely accurate) commentary on political figures and the privileges of old money, were all effectively made and smoothly woven into the greater story. 

 

The romance was compelling and genuine, with a side of the “real life/serious” plot and a writing/dialogue style that I think will appeal to fans of Seven Days in June. I truly cannot believe how this book isn’t being read and talked about more. It was altogether spectacular. 

 

“Tragedy was indiscriminate and ruthlessly patient, waiting until you let your guard down to strike.” 

 

“But what was the point of playing by the rules while everyone else broke them?” 

 

“Love wasn’t a free fall, it was surrender.” 

 

“…instincts were your heart trying to be heard over your head. If you ignored them too often, they would eventually go quiet.” 

 

“But no one got to keep stolen moments.” 

 

“Mistakes aren’t debts we owe to other people. They’re just part of living.” 

 

“Love would be so much easier if it were perfect, if it came to you at just the right time from exactly the right person. But love was rushing to capture dawn with brushstrokes. It was an untouched photograph slightly overexposed and gorgeously flawed in all the ways that made it real.” 

 

“…being in love in selfish. It’s all about how good you feel, and what you want. Giving love is selfless. So no one cares if you want to say the words or not. What matters is whether that person needs to hear them.” 

 

“Hating someone you love only makes you smaller. Those feelings take up so much room.”