I was not confident that John Modesto-Whitford would be able to redeem himself after starting his blind date with Mary Trace by saying "I was expecting someone younger" but wow does Bastone make me a believer in this meet-disaster friends-to-lovers romance.

Mary Trace loves to flirt, loves love, but is also super tired of her mother sending her articles about aging and infertility, tired of being worried she's seen as old. She doesn't feel old. But then her six-years younger blind date, a "good boy" per his mother, calls her old. She walks out, and is ready to move on.

But John's mother is Mary's good friend and an artist who's work Mary carries at her home goods shop. And his mother will not allow John's rudeness to stand. John apologizes, and it is a good apology.

They form a friendship, and soon find themselves both pining for the other, but not believing the other could possible want them.

Seriously, you will be begging for these two to kiss, but when they do you will have loved every minute they made you wait.

I especially loved the exploration of John feeling inadequate because he's a paycheck to paycheck court appointed lawyer with student loans. He lives in a studio apartment, and often cannot afford to take a date out, or get an extra drink at the bar. He thinks Mary, a well-to-do small business woman who comes from a well-to-do family, judges him for his life (she doesn't), much like she thinks he judges her for her age (he doesn't). A lot to chew on, including Mary's grief over losing her best friend some time ago.

Bastone is a voice I'm now eager to keep reading. The audiobook narrator was also exceptional, and did a great job making the various characters sound distinct.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, and LibroFM and HarperCollins for the ALC.