This was my first Sherry Thomas book but rest assured it won't be my last. I did enjoy this second chance romance between two people who were (almost unapologetically) flawed. They both made mistakes in the past. I think Leo more so than Bryony but she wasn't without her flaws either. And they both realized on their own that their marriage could have been saved the first time around had they simply communicated and acknowledged it to themselves and each other.

I also appreciated having Bryony being a doctor and Leo a professor because it showed that they also had an intellectual connection in addition to an emotional and physical one. The background of the story was a par of history that I didn't know so I also enjoyed learning about that as much as I could considering what it was.

However, there were a few drawbacks the biggest one of which is that both parties had an issue with consent and what it actually was. Leo more so than Bryony although she wasn't without her...I'll say missteps...it was still jarring and took me out of the story whenever it was referenced or mentioned on the page. And Bryony's stubbornness and short-sightedness about something is what caused them to get in the middle of the conflict that was the second act of the story. But it was still engaging enough for me to finish and I would re-read it again. It was one of those that yeah it took away from the overall experience and rating. But I've DNFed books for less which to me shows the strength of Thomas's writing skills.