The idea of this book is fantastic. You're telling me a bunch of all the most powerful, influential, and just badass men in different fields are getting together for book club to read romance novels. In order to be better partners, lovers, and husbands? DOES THIS EXIST?!? It's too good to be true. I loved reading about the guys, and liked that the hero of this book, Gavin, has this stutter that didn't deter his wife or friends from him. At times, this book felt cheesy and romcom-eque, which I didn't love.

I also am not big on insta-love or second chance romances, and the main love story between Gavin and Thea wasn't the most intriguing for me. At first, I was rooting for them and wanted him to pull himself together, but over time it didn't really work for me.

Spoiler

Forcing your wife to let you live with her, even though she asked for a divorce, forcing a nightly kiss on her, and a weekly date? Not cute. Especially if she has no say in it. They had a whirlwind romance, and it didn't feel like solid ground to rebuild a relationship that never was there?

Didn't care for Gavin or Thea, but i'm on board with the idea of secret book clubs to get better at being a partner. Here in full support of that!

2.5/5 stars.

Boy oh boy, I'm glad I put off reading this book until I devoured the other MZ books! This one was a very slow, platonic, and boring book for me. I didn't mind that half of the book was written in emails, but dear god sweet Ruby needs to get a spine, and needs to maybe go on some medication for that level of social anxiety. Sweet baby girl couldn't get over her nerves! Aaron definitely was sweet, took notice of her needs, and was just a generally kind and loving person to her, which she really needed to have in her life.

Their actual meet up fell flat for me, as well as their chemistry. They were good pen pals but in real life I didn't care about either of these two, even reading From Lukov with Love beforehand and already reading about them! Not my favorite MZ at all, but if you need a sweet slow burn with no angst, no drama, and also some military-esque army wives vibes going on, this may be for you!