I LOVED this book!!! It's almost like a Sarah Dessen version of Beach Read, but with Ashley Shumacher's beautiful prose throughout that makes it totally her own. I was just overwhelmed by how beautiful this book was. It didn't feel like a cheesy YA romance. There was so much more to this story, about family, loss, and identity, that makes me just want to dive right back into this book and into this world. I will definitely come back to this story again (and recommend it to pretty much everyone I know)!

I'm honestly mad I haven't read this book before! I've always heard good things, but have never gotten around to it, and now I'm so glad I did. The dialect, the characters, the slow burn of the story was so fascinating. The ending devastated me in ways I didn't expect. So worth the wait, but such an important book all at the same time.

This book surprised me so much, and I simply adored it. I went in thinking it would be another rom-com, and while there was a love story, this book was so much more than that. Pretty much everything about it drew me in. I started listening to it on audiobook while on a long drive, and by the time I got home I had to immediately get the book itself so I could finish it. Emily Henry is fantastic and I can't wait to read her other books.

For a rom-com, this book was so much more than I expected. Or really, it just hit me more than I expected. The male lead in this book was amazing, and the whole Renaissance fair situation was just ridiculous enough to work. So fun, so enjoyable, and it even made me tear up a bit!

As the finale to a great trilogy, this book was really great! A good standalone adventure, but the overall series was so interesting, I'm honestly sad it's over. The door still feels a open to future adventures, but was still a satisfying conclusion if this is where it ends. I love the commentary from the girls in the Athena Club. Somehow, a feature that may be too much in another author's hands is able to be one of my favorite parts of this series!

The atmosphere and setting of this book was the best thing about it to me. The late 50's/60's, old Hollywood vibe was great, and how the characters engaged in history was fascinating. At times, I wished it were a little simpler, somehow, as it felt like there were so many threads, but it was overall entertaining. I don't know if I would come back to this, but I did mostly like it.

The storytelling in the book was amazing. The different perspectives made this so compelling, and while it wasn't the flashiest of stories it's one that will stay with me for a while. Each character felt so complete, and the way she was able to make each voice so unique and really fell like they were talking to the audience was so interesting.

I really enjoyed this story overall! The characters were great; they were complex and funny and had amazing chemistry. Fake dating stories are always entertaining, and this book is a perfect example of how and why that trope can work!