This was a very pleasant story with a deeply emotional thread woven throughout. The story of Natalie and Rob, as well as Angus and Gabby, is told in seven parts, each representing a different stage of their lives. In some, Natalie perceives Rob as having the upper hand, while in others, he feels the opposite to be true. But the truth, like life, is more complicated than that - each of them are fighting their own battles, struggling with insecurities, and experiencing a deep sense of loneliness that pervades the progression of their lives.

The story, in many ways, plays with different romance tropes or at least nods at them and often subverts them. Rob is the grump to Natalie's sunshine, but she has plenty of internally grumpy moments while Rob finds sunshine in his friendship with Angus. There's an "only one bed" situation that doesn't end where you think it might. There's a "forced proximity" storyline that doesn't involve the people you assume it will. 

I appreciated the way Laura Hankin handles the friendships and other relationships. Everyone is allowed some grace, whether the over-eager boyfriend or the aloof girlfriend. Gabby and Angus serve as a fun house mirror to Natalie and Rob - they are meeting every benchmark (marriage, jobs, promotions, parenthood, home ownership) - while Natalie and Rob struggle along the way. But Gabby and Angus are allowed to be flawed individuals in other ways, which enables them to be more than standard side characters. (But I think everyone can agree that Angus is far too pure for this world and no harm should ever come to him.)

I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend the author's narration. She does a wonderful job of developing distinct character voices that go beyond the page. At every point that I thought something would happen, Hankin deviated from the obvious path, to pleasing effect.