Um, am I allowed to write a review that’s entirely heart eyes emoji? Because that’s how I feel about this book! I really enjoyed THE WEDDING DATE and this book, starring secondary character Carlos, is even better.

It’s filled with lines and even whole scenes that had me laughing out loud and reading to my partner (that sour cream scene 😂).

Beyond that, it was far from your stereotypical romance novel (and I say that with the love of someone who reads a fair bit of romance). Carlos isn’t hyper masculine, yet also not a beta male. Carlos is also as fully formed and complex a character as Nik, rather than being just Generic Handsome Man With Occasional Feelings. There isn’t a central secret one is keeping from the other - the tension all comes from the normal uncertainty of a new relationship. It’s practically relaxing.

I loved Nik’s group of girlfriends. The friendships felt lived in and real. It’s also effortlessly diverse. It never felt like “and now we are talking to the Asian friend.”

My only quibble is that some of the dialogue felt stilted. Characters sometimes spoke in overly complicated sentences I don’t think real people would say in service of getting exposition out there.

I do need a book about Courtney and her cupcake shop like, yesterday, though!