This was truly the easiest 5 stars I’ve given all year! Like yall, this book is SO GOOD!! I already know I’m not gonna have the words to accurately explain how much I loved this book or give it to praise it deserves but I’m still gonna try! First, I’m just gonna predict right now that this book with be, at least, in my top 3 reads for the year (which is a big thing to say at the beginning of February but it’s seriously just that good)! 

Second, Julie & Elle were both such easy characters to root for on their own and together from the very start! They were both so well fleshed out, so relatable, so vulnerable and flawed, and I just really loved both of them so much! I loved getting to see both of their journeys evolve as the story progressed and even though they both had such different life experiences and different struggles, they also had similar trajectories and vulnerabilities. Julie learning to trust herself and take herself seriously while discovering new things about herself and accepting that her journey is her journey and she doesn’t have to constantly compare herself to everyone around her was beautiful! Elle finding her way back to basketball and learning to love it in a new way while taking care of Vanessa and doing so many things that she never did expected to be doing, all while also dealing with mental illness and chronic pain was beautiful! Watching them both, slowly and quickly, fall in love with each other and learning to trust each other was so beautiful, in the messiest way! I also loved the team so much and even though they weren’t the main focus of the book, I wanted the best things for them too and honestly could read whole books about each of them! 

Third, this world of books that Anita Kelly has created with L&OD, SW&W, & HYGTG has been such a joy to follow these last few years and I’m gonna miss it so much but I think this was a perfect conclusion to them all! The epilogue was such a beautiful way to really pay tribute to these characters and leave us in the most satisfying place. 🧡 

Lastly, I think mental health & the queer experience have been handled so well in these stories (and in such different ways) and I truly cannot wait to read every single thing Anita writes in the future! Please please pick up this book when you can, you will not regret it!! 🧡