slay! this was delightful! I think if you read the heart principle and you were like damn, I wish this was the same as it is just not as sad then I think what if you & me would be a perfect book for you! despite being about two people trying to get over their very traumatic pasts, it stays so light hearted and fun. I had some issues like at times it felt like the dialogue it was trying too hard to be meaningful and deep and also what are the chances that I read TWO romance books in TWO weeks that have a bachelor auction charity event side plot where the main girl uses the main guys money to bid on him so he doesn't have to go on a date with a rando (the other book was the spanish love deception for those wondering).

I think they also made out that his ex-fiance cheating out to be not as terrible as it was. like he was upset and the girl was was like "yeah well tbh our relationship wasn't that great and j was thinking of leaving you but then you lost your leg in a fire so I cheated on you with your best friend instead of breaking up with you" and he was like "of you didn't cheat because of my leg? you were already planning on leaving me? if that's okay then! and he forgives her and the book makes it seem like it's both of their faults????? also I don't think the third act break up needed to happen, I think it would have been better if they kept it the entire argument the same but instead of him giving up and then breaking up at the end I would have preferred if they stayed together instead of breaking up for like 1 hour until she ALMOST DIES.

but on the whole I loved this story and was deeply moved by both of the characters overcoming their individual pasts (although I think Andi's was done better) and they included the perfect amount of Hollyn and Jasper (the couple from the previous book) where it was cute and fun but not too much that it was like okay I get it can we pls move on. also this book was so white😭😭 I don't think you can have a true crime podcaster/horror writer that talks about helping women stay safe without mentioning race even one time??? anyway 4.5 stars