When I stumbled upon this older woman hires younger man to be her nanny romance, I immediately wanted to read it thanks to Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon.

That said, this was darker and far angstier than Rafe, and while that is not usually a problem for me and this book came out a few years before Rafe, I think I just wasn't quite in the mood for Unsuitable.

I enjoyed the characters and really liked Audrey, who constantly has to justify her choices to everyone around her and does it in the best way she can. I also like Reece, who is just trying to make it as a nanny and eventually open his own daycare (or kindy, as it is called in the book), and have everyone take him seriously.

What I didn't like was how fast Reece went from falling out of love with his current girlfriend to being obsessed and in love with Audrey, as I felt they barely spent any time together before this occurred. And, once some of "secrets" came out, I found Audrey's judgment on what was scary and inappropriate for her and her young daughter to be a bit suspect.

So, Reece flipping out, getting in your face and storming off in a rage isn't dump-worthy, but him beating up six dudes who are trying to jump him are? I dunno. Reece's rage made me a bit anxious, and some of the scenes with Audrey's daughter also made me anxious and sad.

Stuff with kids is a trigger for me, so it kind of hurt my enjoyment of the story.

That said, I really liked the sparking romance between secondary characters and hope they have their own book, and overall Ainslie Paton has become an author I very much enjoy.

Content warning

Spoiler

for fighting, hints of infidelity (Reece wants Audrey while still with his current girlfriend, Reece makes out with one of Audrey's friends when they are broken up), child endangerment (Audrey contracts viral meningitis and Reece has to break into the house because Mia thinks her Audrey is dead and can't wake her up - she's three), fat jokes, but not mean spirited ones, about Audrey's best friend. Maybe some more?