Those Who Wait

Haley Cass is a master at writing absolutely incredible slow burn, and Those Who Wait is one of her best. Sutton and Charlotte have some absolutely incredible chemistry, I could read about these two doing anything mundane together and still enjoy it. They're both immediately likeable, messy and relatable in the best possible way. Cass masterfully swaps perspectives between both characters to keep each scene as gripping as possible, and the numerous obstacles and misunderstandings that plague their relationship manage to stay engaging without feeling frustrating.

In comparison to Cass' later works, Those Who Wait isn't as tightly written; it's her longest, and there are points, particularly in the latter half, where it shows. But the core relationship behind this story never stops being gripping, and watching Sutton and Charlotte inch closer and closer towards their romance is absolutely incredible.

If I have any complaint, it's that the ending feels a little abrupt. This is fully rectified by the book's sequel, Forever and a Day, but I would've loved to see a glimpse of Sutton and Charlotte's future together here. That doesn't mean that the ending is bad, just that it left me wanting more, which likely would've happened regardless for any story with these two characters in it.

Those Who Wait is a book that I go back to, frequently. It's one of the most captivating slow burns I've ever read, and I've never been able to put it down, even on rereads. Absolutely worth a read, there's so, so much to love here.