🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MC w/ADHD & Anxiety, Bisexual LI, Queer & Nonbinary SCs

📝Tropes/Themes: Fake Engagement, Messy Queers, Found Family, Friends w/Benefits, Mental Health/Trauma, Friends-Enemies-Lovers, S3x T0ys, Dual Timeline

If you love messy chaotic queer stories, with characters that are equally messy, then this book is for you! There were so many times I found myself yelling at these characters to get their stuff together and just communicate with each other. But I found myself truly relating to them at times as well. There is A LOT of angst in this story and these characters make A LOT of mistakes along the way. But wrapped up in all that chaos is a beautiful story, not just about finding love, but about learning to believe you deserve love when you’ve spent your whole life convincing yourself that you don’t. If ever there was a theme I could connect to….it’s that one. 

Mara has built up walls around her heart her whole life. It’s easier that way. There’s less risk for heartache and abandonment and rejection. Or at least it seems that way. What Mara doesn’t realize is that these methods she has used for protecting herself are actually hurting her. She has her reasons (and there are many), but she also ends up causing herself more pain in a lot of ways too. It’s beautiful watching her slowly learn to be vulnerable and open up and let people in who care about her. She is real and raw and goes through a tremendous journey of self discovery. I LOVED the relationship between her and Nita and Vik - you can tell how much they truly care for each other and they are like the parents she never had but always needed.

Fayth is quite messy herself. This story was only told through Mara’s POV, so we don’t get a lot of insight into Fayth and her reasons for her behaviors - but that is coming in book two! The only thing for certain is that it takes two to tango and both these girls played a role in creating the chaos throughout this story. I won’t give any spoilers - but I loved the way Kellan brought this story to a close and the increased communication they started having. I also love when the book title appears in the story. Plus, Fayth’s gesture with the shell! 🥹

There were some parts of the story I didn’t vibe with as much and it took me a little longer to get into the story because I was not a big fan of either character in the beginning. But Mara and Fayth grew on me throughout the book and this was an overall enjoyable read. I also loved the neurodivergence rep in the story and the way Kellan handled some pretty intense topics with grace and a healthy dose of humor.   And as always, Abby’s narration was just phenomenal. She did an incredible job capturing Mara and Fayth and bringing them to life.