Review: The conclusion to the Dreamland Billionaires trilogy is bittersweet! 

 

Cal and Alana’s relationship is everything! Their alternating viewpoints allow the reader to piece together their joint pasts, the moment their childhood friendship turned into something more, and the fallout that tore them apart. Asher makes it clear, however, that the two still have lingering feelings for each other in the present, no matter how bad their reunion was. I appreciated how Asher naturally intensified these feelings over the long summer period Cal spent in proximity to Alana at the family lake house as part of receiving his inheritance. Though agonizing, the slow rekindling of Cal and Alana’s romance is worth its weight in hundred dollar bills. 

 

“Final Offer” proves that it is much more than a romance novel by broaching topics like substance addiction. Asher takes great care in capturing Cal’s dependence on alcohol to overcome his grief and anxiety. Through his point-of-view, the reader is exposed to Cal’s internal battle with himself and the commitment he makes to stay dry. I appreciate Asher for not sugarcoating reality by taking her time detailing Cal’s road to recovery. 

 

Like her other novels, “Final Offer” features diverse characters. Alana was born in Barranquilla, Colombia before moving to the United States with her mother and sister when she was seven. Asher showcases how Alana’s culture is an integral part of her identity by writing her dialogue in Spanish and familiarizing the reader with Columbian dishes she is fond of making. I enjoyed learning about this piece of Alana’s identity and region of the world I did not know much about prior to reading “Final Offer.” 

 

Another piece of Alana’s identity is being a single parent. Cami, her adopted daughter, is her world. I loved how Asher uses Alana and Cami’s relationship to show that family isn’t always comprised of parents and their biological children, but can simply be the people we choose to be in our lives. Alana’s devotion to her daughter’s happiness over all else really moved me. 

 

I’m sad to say goodbye to this series, but equally excited to dive into the spin-off, “Love Redesigned”!