This review was published on Lost in a Good Book https://wp.me/p3x8rS-2WO

I honestly don’t know why I wait so long to read Hall’s novels because they are all so wonderful that I feel like I could have been revelling in their complexities and intricacies for longer if I had dove in sooner. I instantly fell back in love with these characters and Hall has made their next stage together better than ever. The previous events have been woven is so it never feels like a recap. You get caught up with the relationship between Lucian and Oliver and the comments of the past book never feel clunky or jarring. The natural reminder works in world and is a great way to remind readers what has happened before and why these characters are the way they are.

What makes this series so special is the demonstration that emotional issues are complex and ongoing, nothing is fixed overnight. Through the light humour and the adorableness between these two, Hall manages to cover serious topics without ever changing the tone or becoming preachy. The issues that are important to Oliver and Lucian reflect their character and it’s a wonderful way to highlight the concerns of real life through characters, see how there is no 'one size fits all' solution, and more importantly, how one issue can be viewed differently by people in the same community.

To be fair, all the characters are a mess in their own way. It is greatly reassuring to see this in people who aren’t teenagers. People in their late twenties and thirties are allowed to be a disaster too and while they can have serious jobs and marriages you are allowed to be imperfect. For all my own overreactions to minor plot points I did love these characters, faults and all. Hall’s writing makes you envious of their friendship and makes you wish you had these kinds of relationships and friendship groups. The ride or die of your teens can still happen as an adult and found family is very much a thing even with real family nearby. 

I knew this was going to be a five star book three quarters of the way through. Hall has created another amazing book and chapter in Lucian and Oliver’s story. I am so glad to add this book to my shelf. I might seriously need a reread of book one as well because almost immediately I fell back in love with these two adorable fools and I am too impatient for book three to get my next fix.