Ohhhhh. I… did not connect with this one. I absolutely adored Pucking Around and everything else I’ve read of Emily Rath’s, but this one didn’t do it for me. I liked Ryan a lot, and I didn’t even truly dislike Tess, but her self-sabotaging was next level to the point that it was hard to read. And just constant. Things that felt like they should have been larger plot points— especially for Ryan, like his dyslexia, his family— felt like they got shoved aside in favor of her self-sabotaging. Even her insane horrible ex (who honestly was written too well, so uncomfortable) seemed secondary to Tess fucking things up for herself. And while we got a vague sense of how manipulative her MIL was, I never truly understood why Tess was putting herself through hell for her. Or why she was still working at that law firm? And the plots that weren’t shoved aside were the smut (👍) and the sea turtle non-profit (👎😴). We dealt with Rachel being a bit self-sabotaging in the last book, but this one took that and dialed it up to eleven for Tess.

I also kinda hate Tess & Rachel’s relationship? They do seem sort of overbearing and toxic for each other. However I loved seeing glimpses of the Prices here, as well as Poppy’s upcoming triad. But if I never know another character’s zodiac sign again, it’ll be too soon. However, I am still EAGERLY anticipating Pucking Sweet more than ever now.