Chloe Brown has to, well, get a life. After being nearly struck by a car and being disappointed by what flashed before her eyes, she starts taking action (after making a list of course). That’s how she finds herself finally on her own in a new apartment, first floor and fully accessible, regularly intruded on by her caring younger sisters who tease her often about checking another box on her list by getting into bed with the building’s super, Redford Morgan. When she gets stuck in a tree trying to get down a cat who was there first, Red climbs up to help them both down. They’re each sure the other dislikes them, but this was just the interaction needed for Red to get an glimpse behind Chloe’s blustery behavior caused by chronic pain from fibromyalgia, and for Chloe to see that Red isn’t just an intimidating pretty face.

Though embarrassed to have “done something bad” by watching him paint at night, shirtless, across the courtyard, she wonders if they might be able to strike a deal, all business, that would allow her to get more of her daring life goals out of the way — but not the meaningless sex one, no, as much as it would make her sisters happy, she scrubs that from the list before sharing with him. Chloe offers to build him a website he can use to throw himself back into the art world by making some of his newer paintings available, and she asks if he would accompany her on a) the back of his motorcycle, b) a drunken night out and c) a camping trip.

Red has been hurt in the past by his ex which left some deep scars on his psyche, and his heart, but that also allows him to see through the act Chloe puts on during her worst pain days. He can’t help but care about her. He also can’t help the lowkey obsession he is developing for her shapely legs— which leaves him rife with embarrassment when she comes over to discuss the site and he has to... settle himself. As they spend time together it becomes obvious that they’re mutually drawn to the other but Chloe is just as scared as Red is to open up too much to a new person. And yet, their connection is undeniable.

Hands down one of the best books I read this year, maybe EVER! The number of times Chloe made me laugh out loud or audibly “awwww” happened too often for me to count. And on top of the sheer joy I felt reading the banter between Chloe and Red, I was equally overwhelmed by my ability to so connect to a character with similar physical struggles. I felt seen and accepted. It was also wonderful to see such well-developed characters who aren’t relying on tropes to exist. Red’s vulnerability was as refreshing as Chloe’s strength in the face of her physical distress. I absolutely loved them both.