If you have any admiration or love for Shakespeare, read this book. Honestly even if you don't give two craps about Shakespeare, read this book. It has sadness and beauty and its so freaking cute. I find myself smiling and giggling while listening to the banter in this book. There's a sadness in the characters' history, but they are wonderful and well-loved characters who haven't let their traumas kill their personalities. The way in which each character discovers a love for the other is just so beautifully slow and painstakingly written to perfection. There isn't an immediate fire between the two, but this wonderful friendship that blossoms. Also, normally I hate it when small kids are in romance books. They draw attention away and interrupt the story, but that is not at all the case here. I find myself in love with the little girl and wish to see more written like her. This is an adorable Holiday book that I may read over and over again each December.

FYI - This does deviate from my normal reading in that there is literally zero spice within the book.

Quotes:
“Somehow a little bit of lunacy is creeping into my life, and I quite like it.”

“She does that - speaks before she thinks. She will say ‘you cannot rely on Belle Wild for much’ but that’s not right. You can rely on Belle Wild for so many things that she doesn’t seem aware of. To have your back when it's needed. To make each day fun. To make the most miserable bugger, and yes I include myself in this, laugh in the depths of winter. And she’ll always tell the truth, even though sometimes it pinches. Sometimes it pinches a whole damn lot.”

“I know I should be comfortable being me, but it's hard to break down three decades of feeling inadequate overnight.”

“If people know you, they love you. It's impossible not to.”

“I remind myself that this is the year I am letting go of baggage. I am accepting him as he is, flaws and all. I will only ever have one dad, and I should be mature enough to make the most of it.”

“There’s nothing he loves more than a little external validation from another man.”

“That maybe, just maybe, it isn’t me that is the only failure in my life. Maybe my parents have let me down a little…. Just because nothing I do is good enough for them, doesn’t mean I’m not good enough for me. ”

“I look under the table for an escape and then picture myself crawling on the flocked carpet on my hands and knees, like all heroines in rom-com movies ever. Although, without the rom, and not really feeling the com.”