Genuinely likeable novella that I've read in order to complete Task 16 for Book Riot's Read Harder 2019 challenge: a historical romance written by an author of colour. I haven't read any of Milan's work before, but I've often heard her praised as an excellent romance writer and I think the praise is justified. Her prose, especially, is just so smooth - it feels thoroughly polished, and the whole novella slipped down easily in a single sitting.

I liked both Serena and Hugo in this, which naturally makes me more invested in their happy ending. I liked, too, that they both ended up changed, and in positive ways. I do think that the romance moves a little quickly to be quite believable, especially in the early stages, but then this is a novella and space is limited, so needs must. Still, I understand that this is an introductory teaser to a series, and that much of that series is full-length novels. I think I'm going to put them on my reading list, because now that I know Milan has such a facility for prose and character I definitely want to read more from her, and longer works at that. So thanks, Read Harder challenge, I probably wouldn't have picked up this author but for you. Which is the point of the challenge, after all...