this will EASILY end up being one of my top ten books for 2023. i can’t remember the last time i loved a book this much. frankly, i don’t know what to do with myself rn. i’m not okay, not even a little bit. i love leo and mary with everything inside of my soul, and i knew from the very second i met them that i would.

this trope (? if you can call it that) of like It’s Always Been You, I’d Wait a Thousand Years for You, Second Chance-ish, We Were Almost There, Emotional Breakdown Inducing, Visceral Pain and Longing, all-encompassing love stories just grasp my heart and refuse to let go. i wish i could actually, explicitly define it. whatever it is, kandi steiner just wrote 400 beautiful pages of it. i don’t know how, but she hit the nail right on the head.

i’m going to miss this little friend group so much, but i’m ecstatic for her new hockey series. it really feels like she’s hit her stride within the sports romance niche and i’m excited to see how she approaches the much adored hockey romance.

this book will remain with me for a loooong, long time, and i already can’t wait to read it again. a million bajillion stars.