I don’t usually go wild for boss/employee romances or best friend’s dad tropes, but Dean? Dean had me hooked from the very beginning.

After being kicked out by his toxic roommates for wearing skirts and heels, Avery finds himself with nowhere to go, until Dean, his boss and best friend’s father, steps in and offers him a place to stay. It’s meant to be temporary. It’s meant to be platonic. But Dean has had an unexplored, smoldering attraction to Avery from the start, and living under the same roof makes it impossible to ignore.

This book is heartfelt, spicy, and full of charm. I especially loved the beginning, when Avery is all fluttery crush and Dean is the clueless but kind alpha mechanic who definitely isn’t straight like he thinks he is. Watching Dean’s gentle bisexual awakening unfold was both sweet and sexy, and I appreciated that Cora Rose didn’t overload it with angst. It felt natural, honest, and easy to root for.

Avery was such a highlight for me. He’s resilient, confident in who he is, and full of humor and heart. His inner strength, despite all he’s been through, made him shine. And Dean? Dean is soft and gruff all at once, incredibly caring, and unexpectedly tender. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the banter? Gold.

I also really appreciated how their relationship was built on years of mutual respect and trust because it gave their romance a solid foundation and made the eventual slow burn payoff that much sweeter. Forced proximity definitely delivered here.

While the story is mainly character driven (with a soft plot focused on healing and self-acceptance), the cameos from other characters in the Unexpected series were fun, though I can see how they might feel like filler for readers jumping in out of order. Still, Bane stole the show (as always), and now I need his book ASAP.

One of my favorite parts? Dean hiring Avery just because he smelled nice and could handle mouthy coworkers, that moment made me laugh so hard. And let’s be honest, Avery can cook for me any day.

This book is tender, affirming, and spicy in all the right places. Dean and Avery’s story is a beautiful reminder that love doesn’t always look the way we expect, but when it fits, it fits.

A must read for fans of found family, self-discovery, and a deliciously forbidden slow burn.

Thank you to Cora Rose and The Author Agency for the eARC of this book.