[Note: I found 3 typos while re-reading this and I'm sure there are more I haven't caught yet. Forgive me.]

I'm genuinely glad that this novel was talked about in a few Booktube wrap ups I watched so that I didn't fall for the super bright summery cover to go with the cozy summery title. Because yes, there's a beach involved and yes, they read, but...this isn't a super light and easy summery beach read. It's like a beach read when it's been kinda cloudy most of the day and there are pockets of time where the sun breaks through the clouds to warm you up but then almost immediately hides again and you get to cool off so you're comfortable.

Also, it's a lake. It's a beach on a lake. In Michigan.

So, knowing to adjust my expectations of the type of read I was about to get helped a LOT. Going into this knowing that this is a story about a main character dealing with the death of her father and the revelation he was cheating HELPED A LOT. Re-read the blurb here on Goodreads. This keeps being touted as a fun "tee hee we're writers switching genres and we fall in love along the way" romance when it's not!

I mean, it IS, but it's NOT.

I'm rambling. ANYWAY. All this is to say that I'm glad I adjusted my expectations because I ended up really enjoying this. The exploration of January's writer's block being tied to her grief and feeling like her life didn't make sense anymore was really nice to follow. Learning more about Gus and his story is also great, as was seeing the way the two of them explored and tore apart the stereotypes of each genre as they explained why the loved writing the way they did, and what it would be like to write something different. There was a really nice balance of a shared past between the two (they were in college together) and re-learning who each other was through this writing project.

One thing I really appreciated was that while there was typical romantic conflict and tension, it was always something that felt realistic and THEY ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS. I cannot describe how nice it was to see January grappling with what she thought Gus was feeling only to later then have them talk about their feelings. Communication being the answer!! HOORAY!!

I enjoyed this all around, and gave it 4 stars for how much fun I had with it. Some parts of the middle dragged a bit, but not enough to ruin anything.

I am NOT surprised the reactions to this book have been so polarizing. Normally, I would have been one of the ones who didn't enjoy it, but for some reason I was all in.

This is a story that is 95% atmosphere and 5% plot and I really loved it. Being immersed in Ines's apathetic and downright depressed worldview doesn't sound like a good time, but I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed Ines finding some sort of strange family of friends with the other students. I liked the trickle of plot here and there, and while I still have no idea what the hell was going on, I liked it.

For a quick short story from Mensah's POV following [b:Exit Strategy|35519109|Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries, #4)|Martha Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518642623l/35519109._SY75_.jpg|56934601], it's painfully short. I'm not even sure there was a point to this. I still love this world and the characters and I love the idea of a story about Mensah, but I don't think I can give this an actual rating because of how short it was.

What a weird one this was for me. This is more of a 3.5 star book because ultimately the writing, the storytelling, the world building, the characterization is all a 4 star read, but did I really like this book? No, I don't think so.

I've discovered that no matter how good a book is, I really just do not care for organized crime/gang/clan war stories. Not one bit.

Also, there was a really weird disconnect for me toward the end, when we get a glimpse of a narrative chapter

Spoiler

from the Espanian military officer. The way you see them talk about Kekon and the characters we know from an outside perspective, with much more "modern" sounding language to describe their clan war and the jade...it all felt so icky and colonial. It bothered me more than I expected, but I suppose that's set up for book 2.

Loved the world building and the dynamics of the Kaul siblings, loved where it ended, but it just isn't for me. I am curious about where the world will go on in book 2, but I don't think I'm curious enough to get over my dislike for organized crime stories.

Popsugar 2021 Reading Challenge: A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title.

A surprising amount of world building and charm packed into a MUCH too short story. Part of me was glad that the story sets a quick pace and does what it needed to do right away, building the bare bones of a fantastic world in the process. The other part of me wanted MORE MORE MORE.

So looking forward to picking up the next story, this is loads of fun and an interesting world.