Jeffrey

Tight storytelling with satisfying payoffs, yearning (oh so much yearning), and extremely believable characters/choices come together to make this book a 9/10 novel for me, even for someone who's main genre isn't romance novels. I love dumb protagonists/love interests, yearning, and friends to lovers, and this book has all these in spades.

This book was recommended to me by my wife, who loved it. I have enjoyed a good romance now and again, but I wasn't ready for how this book would HIT. This book sports NOT ONLY a compelling narrative and deep characters/character growth, It's also a perfect example of how romance works best when it intertwines with the flaws, wants, and needs of the involved characters!

The book catches us up with Alex and Poppy's history through flashbacks throughout. As their past decisions catch up with the present, they paint a picture of our protagonists. Emily Henry does an amazing job keeping this picture just blurry enough that their actions stay surprising and interesting, but (especially as we enter the last act of the story) also so clear in hindsight. Also the tension building in their too-hot room is perfect as a metaphor.