It was a little slow to start but the second half upped my rating from 4 to 5 stars. If you don't like a little cheesy tad over the top sweetness, this author isn't for you

May 2024 reread: 

In order to grow closer with his son Emmet, Luke starts volunteering for Emmet's football team with Emmet's best friend's Super Dad, Landon. As Luke's friendship with Landon grows, his son finally starts opening up to him too. Suddenly Luke finds his feelings for Landon aren't all platonic, having the potential to wreck his first true friendship and his delicate relationship with Emmet. 

Luke and Landon are so dang sweet, as usual for Tal. Luke has been struggling for years, even before the loss of his wife, with his place in the world and what he wants as an individual and not just a father. Landon brings some light back into his life by just being his friend, giving him support as a fellow single dad and inspiring his artistic soul. They have an easy friendship and Luke regards Landon so highly. Their romantic relationship is a slow burn but is built on this deep respect and love for one another. They're a couple that's truly meant to be despite what it took to get there. 

This isn't just a romance, but also a story of a father and a son. So many moments broke by heart. Luke was trying so hard to be a better dad and reconnect with Emmet while also crawling out of his depression. They both suffered emotional trauma from the sudden loss in their lives and are trying to adjust in the ways they know how. All the love for Landon and his son Bowen, who are just two exceptional characters that helped Luke and Emmet when it was needed the most. 

This book hit me in the feels on my reread just as much as it did the first time around. I loved all the small, perfect moments between Luke and Landon. Tal writes of love as its own deep, all consuming, fragile emotion in all of his books and it gets me every time. 

Read if you like: 
• single dads             
• friends to lovers   
• sexual awakening   

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