ohthatmomglow's Reviews (850)

I mean, it was fine but it really needed an editor. There's whole sections that could have been cut making this not 12 hours long. It wasn't necessary. The spice was nice and it was different from most romance books, but also for being so long it just ENDED. Like, there's a ton of loose ends and I just don't even care because I'm over it.

I've never read a book by Nikki Payne before and this will not be my last. I loved the writing style. It's fun and quippy, but also sassy and cutting and intelligent. There have been several times when Liza cuts back at Dorsey and all I can do is gasp and giggle.

I think I have complicated feelings about this one. There are absolutely parts of the book I adored and am grateful for. There's a chunk where Pepper sits in her grief and it is beautiful and a great reminder for me in the moment I'm having in my personal life. I needed that representation. But I also didn't super duper believe in these two people as a couple. All I saw was a ton of reasons they shouldn't work, but I didn't feel like we got enough reasons they SHOULD work together. Individually, I really liked each character and was happy for their growth and personal journies, but I'm not sold on them as a happily ever after.

MEH.

I've never read a book that is so perfectly my favorite book.

This is a re-read for me and this time I went with the audiobook. I finished listening to it and immediately re-started it. I love this book so much. I can't decide if I want to be best friends with Gus and January, or if I'd prefer to just keep Gus entirely for myself. This book is therapy and happiness and swooning. This book simultaneously makes me want to be a writer while also making me afraid that I could never write something this beautiful.

“I’ve never met somebody who is so perfectly my favorite person.”

“I know that however long I get to love you, it’ll be worth whatever comes after.”

“Sometimes, I just missed liking people.”

"When I watch you sleep,' he said shakily, 'I feel overwhelmed that you exist."

I love, love, love Jethro. Normally I do not go for the bad guy trope, but a bad guy who's been working to better himself and then goes full-on loving and attentive to the needs and career of a woman? Oofda. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Was not anticipating loving this book as much as I did. Meeting Shelly in Cletus's book didn't hook me on her, and I wasn't sure where it was all going. But I flew through this book as quickly as I could. I will always be on board for a couple working on their issues together with love, support, and therapy.

TW: mental health, tragedy, autistic burnout, perfectionism

There are some quotes within this book that just hit me deeply. I can feel and relate to some of Anna's struggles in a way that not all books can do for me. It feels real and true and honest. This is definitely not a book full of light and cheer and jokes, but its for this reason that I love this book. The mental health discussions and struggles within this book do not feel commonplace in romance novels, but I love them so much. This book does a wonderful job of exploring mental health. Also, bonus points for including spicy scenes alongside some of these struggles.