Dev Deshpenda loves love so much, he's made a career out of it, working as a producer on Ever After, a Bachelor-esque dating show. Billionaire tech guy Charlie Winshaw, on the other hand, isn't so convinced: sure, he's this season's main contestant, but he's really there to rehabilitate his image after a bit of a scene at his old job. Dev's tasked with getting awkward and anxious Charlie to open up to the women competing for his heart, but the more Dev and Charlie get to know each other, the more it seems Charlie's been handing out tiaras to the wrong people all along.

This is an absolutely incredible debut from Cochrun. It's well-paced and the prose is gorgeous -- it's in third person present which I always find to be a Choice, and while it's not as propulsive as it is when Casey McQuiston does it (and it's a clear emulation of their style, I think), it certainly works well for her. Charlie and Dev are beautiful cinnamon rolls and their love is so squee-inducing that I'd like to frame them and hang them on a wall.

I've got a couple quibbles with the book, none of which really detracted majorly from the enjoyment. Primarily, the mental health representation felt pretty heavy-handed at points. I won't speak to the queer rep, but as a Fairly Mentally Ill Person, the discussion of mental illness/neurodivergence sometimes felt a little "kthunk kthunk kthunk I promise I know how depression feels." I think it could have been done with a lighter touch.

Less notably, I didn't love the final 10% -- a very neat wrap up and my personal preference is no grand gestures in public so

the reunion scene was a big ol' ick for me

. Lastly, I wouldn't call this a rip-off of RWRB, but there are a lot of similarities: third person present, as mentioned, interracial relationship, one person realizing they're queer, high profile roles, fear of public outing (although that's not a plot point here, thank GOD). Just made me go "hmmm."

If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, I'm going to go ahead and put money on you liking this too. Lots of queer, racial, and mental illness rep, and lots of lovely and kind characters who I now need books for.