I was eagerly anticipating Laurie and Theo’s story and I wasn’t disappointed with this entertaining and engaging friends to lovers romance. Little nuggets about them have been dropped throughout the entire series and it was an absolute delight to finally see these two wonderful characters get their own HEA. They just needed to stop being oblivious to what was right in front of them to see what everyone else has always thought was there.

Theo is the most delightful sassy and shiny femme brat who has mastered the art of pouting whilst Laurie is a “mild mannered gothic gentleman” who knows how to handle a bratty Theo. They work and share a flat together and once they embrace the changing dynamic of their relationship things get very steamy. There’s some minor angst from outside the relationship which is soon resolved, plenty of friends adding their thoughts into the mix, the taxidermy menagerie increases and a heartwarming HEA that left me smiling.

Charlie Novak has the ability to tell a story that fully immerses you into the world of Heather Bay and it’s fun and quirky inhabitants. It feels like they are giving you a much needed hug.