A Diamond in the Mud

I liked this story and when it was good, it was really good. After all, I wanted that friends-to-lovers trope and this book does a top notch job of showing friends and then lovers who didn't lose their friends chemistry. (As a side note, there was a lot of asking/waiting for permission. (No rape undertones here.) Which was sweet.) Also, also, I LOVE the fact that they both got tested for STD's. I'm pretty sure I've never read that in a book that wasn't about safe sex practices and that kind of stuff. So, yeah. <3

However, there were three big moments that totally annoyed me.

Right after their first kiss - or first makeout, I guess it should be - they have this real talk about taking things slow. They both want to take things slow. The next morning they have sex. ... Yeah, that's totally taking this slow. (But maybe I was supposed to be going well, it's not penetrative sex so it's not ‘real sex.' rolls eyes)

Also, every romance has to have that late story separation. You know the whole, will they get their happy ending? I'm not the biggest fan of those, but I've come to accept them. However, this one, I could see coming from before they even got together. The reason for it, the inciting incident, none of it came as a surprise. That was not fun.

Finally, there was a moment that should have been sweet and cute and endearing - but it was basically proposing marriage after you've been dating for a month. I know, they've been best friends for years, but this totally got the judge-y eye from me.