4.5 stars.

Okay...first off, this did not go ANYTHING like I expected from the blurb. And guess what? I'm totally not mad about it. In fact, I think it was actually better than I could have expected. This is much less of a contemporary romance and much more of a contemporary tale of friendship. And it's great.

The writing is good and measured and well thought out (though there are admittedly moments of tangential thought...I could have done without the seagull scene, thank you very much). The characters were well-constructed and balanced (though Dannie and David's lifestyle and relationship are very much not my style). Dannie is a great lead character. She is driven and focused and well-suited for her career in corporate law. It's also clear early on that her friendship with free spirit Bella is something that lends itself so that they can each learn things from the strengths of the other.

There is a lot wrapped in this narrative that presents representation for New York City, particularly with regard to restaurants/food and specific neighborhoods. This didn't mean a whole lot to me other than creating atmosphere, but (assuming accuracy) would likely be endearing/nostalgic for a New Yorker.

The plot moves at a comfortable speed with good emotional moments and has a strong ending that was honestly just right. It wasn't what I was expecting, but...again...not angry about it. It fit and it worked quickly to assuage any "icky" feelings that might have otherwise cropped up. I really enjoyed thing and, though I'm not a huge contemporary reader, I'm definitely going to be reading more Rebecca Serle.