Thank you to NetGalley, Jenn McKinlay, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to receive an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review. The book was published in August of 2021 (so obviously I'm a bit late to the party), but I appreciate the opportunity nonetheless.

Annabelle is a 28 year old, twice divorced, graphic designer from New England who is desperate need of a change of pace. Nick is 35 and suffered a stroke and the corresponding blow to his ego. She's impulsive, rash, and creative. He's reclusive and demands order. What could possibly go wrong?

The cover and the first half of this book were doing a good job to set this book up for success, but I had a hard time finding sympathy for Nick. I get that he was joking with Jackson with a lot of his misogynistic comments, but he still made them. I was also expecting a longer process of getting these two to be friends - maybe an in person enemies to lovers vibe or something? I don't know.

The workplace drama with Carson and it's effect on Miguel and Sophie's relationship felt a little forced and too contrived for me personally, and I like to think that a good manager would have figured out what Carson was doing and that Annabelle would have been able to confide in her boss about the hostility she was experiencing in the workplace.

Don't get me started on the ending. I'm here for a HEAs, but if ever there were a character who could have benefitted from a Happily For Now, it's Annabelle, 100%.

I enjoyed the writing for the most part, and if the tone from the beginning of the book has continued through the rest of the book then maybe this could have been closer to 4 stars for me. And wow this cover was adorable. But it felt a little too much like a Me Before You setting, just with a HEA twist at the end. I don't know. This one wasn't for me but I know there are people out there who will love it.