Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.

What’s your name?” The man rolls his bottom lip into his mouth as he takes a step forward, extending his small hand to me. “Ferdie.” “What kind of fucking name is Ferdie?” He laughs as if I haven’t just insulted him.

I didn’t realize this book was a thicc one until I had the ARC downloaded and I was ready to start reading, but I had absolutely no reason to worry. Once I started this book, I could barely put it down and I finished it super fast. I kept telling myself ‘only one more chapter’, but that chapter always ended in a way that I just *had* to keep going. To me, this book was the perfect blend of romance and external fuckery.

I like the fact that this tiny man has such a foul mouth.

Augustine is such a hoot. It’s been a while since I read a book with a truly grumpy character, but this guy takes the cake, and I loved it, lol. I also laughed every time he commented on Ferdinand’s name, as well as every time Ferdie made fun of Augustine’s age. These MCs were perfect for each other. Fate or not, they were definitely meant to be, and I would’ve gladly read a book double the length of this one about them. I took a short break at 95% because I didn’t want it to end.

I smile brightly at him as I tuck a stray curl behind my ear. “So, judging by your faulty hip and declining mental state, I’d say you’re pretty fucking old. Am I right?”

I was well over halfway done with the book and thought ‘Huh, I’ve laughed, swooned, been on the edge of my seat, but I haven’t cried. That’s a first in a while.’ WRONG. Boom. Tears. This book really did have it all, but without it feeling forced or jammed in there ‘just because’.

We stay for almost an hour longer, just lying side by side, passing the time by naming clouds. I steal his laughs and his sighs, his smiles, and his frowns, I take it all.

Sometimes, trying a new-to-me author really pays off, and this was one of those times. If any of these tropes speaks to you, you have to keep an eye out for it on release day. So worth it!

Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Bisexual awakening
Grumpy/sunshine
Strangers to lovers
Sort of insta-love
Virgin MC
Possessive and protective
Forbidden love
Feuding families
Peaky Blinders inspired
‘Who did this to you?’

⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Death of a side character
Homophobic slurs
Graphic violence
Gun violence
Injuries

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles

“There’s one fucking downside to your height, and that’s the fact that you’re going to make me throw my back out […]”


I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.