I don’t know how to rate this book. There were enjoyable parts, things that made me laugh and squeal, and then a few problematic stuff. Which is honestly something I should just expect when it comes to romance, but every time I am still disappointed.

I absolutely loved Lucy and her smolness. Just a couple pages in, I was already in love because as Gretal said, I felt “represented”. It’s rare to have a main character in a book be short. And Lucy is a tiny five feet and she’s adorable. I love how she dresses like a librarian, especially considering she works in publishing, and she’s a fun perspective to read from. She’s strong and feisty, which helps to make up for her smolness (a thing I didn’t actually mind because it made for more fun back and forth banter). She’s also a hard worker and really passionate about book publishing, and that made me want to squish her and put her in my pocket. I love how she really wanted the promotion and was working so hard to get it and wouldn’t let Joshua get in her way no matter what. She didn’t forget herself and her dreams just because there was now romance in the picture.

She is a little weird. She likes to smell Joshua a lot, which I found to be slightly disturbing. Though Josh smelling like pine or whatever after he just worked out is so fake, I rolled my eyes. In reality, Lucy was just drenched in Joshua’s disgusting post-workout sweat, which is so eww.

But I love how she stood up for Josh at the end and let Anthony hear it. She absolutely destroyed him, and I was actually sitting with my mouth open. Anthony deserved that and worse. I cannot imagine a father practically ignoring his son for his entire life just because he wasn’t planned to be born in the first place. And to see Josh work so hard to get his approval and notice made me really feel for his character. It hurt and I could imagine how hurt Josh must feel, and it did make some of his characteristics make more sense. He is your typical brooding, emotionless love interest, that is until a beautiful little lady forces him to confront the darkest parts of his soul *rolls eyes again, but it’s fine really, I guess*

We have a lot of tropey scenes, some of which were fun to read, others made me sigh. The elevator scene was kind of random I will admit. I was not expecting it and was actually really enjoying Lucy and Josh purely hating each other. But then we get this scene and I’m like what is this? This isn’t realistic?? Also aren’t there cameras in elevators?? Didn’t the elevator maintenance guy, or whoever, see them? How wasn’t their “thing” spread around the office immediately? Then we have the typical “oh no she is sick and has no one to care for her scene” which is kind of cute, but then Lucy gets weird, but she also has a fever, but she gets really weird and spills out a lot of her feelings, but we get a softer side of Josh too? It was okay, but it was pretty obvious Josh had feelings for Lucy considering he was literally having Lucy sit in his lap while his doctor brother checked out if she was okay. Anyway…There are a lot of moments of the two of them staring. I have trouble looking people in the eye, but the amount of times these two lovebirds notice each other’s eye colour and just stare for hours is a bit creepy. But fine. Cause romance.

Then we have Josh being a typical possessive, controlling male. He gets so jealous of Danny, literally threatens him in person and sometimes just in front of Lucy. He takes Lucy’s phone from her when she’s talking to Danny and hangs up on him. He also does this thing where he tells Lucy to kiss him and if she doesn’t like it to tell him??? I don’t know if people find these things romantic, but I hate the jealous trope. It’s overdone and annoying. Danny and Lucy ended things off pretty well and yeah Danny might still have feelings for her and flirt with her, but there’s no need for Josh to act this way. I guess people will say he’s insecure because he’s so dark and moody no one wants to be in a relationship with him, that’s why he’s so obsessive cause he wants Lucy for himself. I just don’t find that to be an attractive quality at all. It was annoying and a little concerning. Actually a lot concerning.

I did see the end coming. I knew Josh had already quit his job and forfeited the COO position to Lucy. It was nice, I guess? Lucy deserved the promotion more than him tbh. She’s worked so hard and people actually like her and respect her. I do wish we could have gotten a scene with Lucy and Josh visiting her family at their strawberry farm. I’d love for her dad just to say any name that starts with a J other than Joshua just to annoy Josh even more.

Overall, giving this 3 stars. It had cute moments. I loved all the references to Lucy’s tininess. Those were probably my favourite. And I really enjoyed Lucy’s relationship with Helene. It was so sweet and supportive, and Helene really cared for her. I wish we got more of their friendship because those were my favourite scenes to read. The romance itself had some nice moments. It was definitely addicting to read (hence resulting in me missing my stop and having to get home 40 minutes later than I normally would have). I learned a lot from Josh. Firstly, I need to be cleaner and neater than him. Also, I am totally going to have a white board with meals planned for the week the second I have my own place. So excited, I can’t wait.