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Genre: Romance | Pub: 1.11.2022 by Berkley
Purchase link: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Arielle’s Review Notes
Book Format & Source: Finished paperback via publisher . I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review & Thoughts:
- The author introduces us to the topics of the story in the author dedication page at the beginning of the book. I love that she features mental health and acknowledges that everyone’s journey is different.
- This was such a wonderful romance; one of the best I’ve read in a while and it’ll definitely be my favorite of the month; hands down a winner. It’s got a few super steamy scenes but it’s not overly done or there just because. It all adds to the story and it’s part of the progression and builds with their relationship. I absolutely loved the characters and loved the scheming match-making. I enjoyed the way the relationships grew both romantically and with family. This was a great read and I highly recommend it!
- I absolutely loved the reference to The Parent Trap! I’m not one for matchmaking but I love the scheming that goes along with it, doing things in hopes of getting two people together that were made for each other.
- Important topics & themes: juxtaposition of fun and serious tropes, depression, mental health, toxic masculinity, female bread winner, jealously, honesty in a relationship, being vulnerable in a relationship
- I appreciated the way Ari’s mental health is a big focus and the fact that Russell has a real body. Most men aren’t ken dolls and women are attracted to real men, even if they’re not in super ridiculously good shape.
- Romance tropes: close proximity, office romance & colleague relationships, mental health, lgbtq+ characters
- Fun & misc. facts:
- Ari is short for Arielle…. loved reading about a female main character that has the same name as me. 🙂
- I loved the names of the chapters and the cute illustrations that went along with them. One of my favorite chapter names: It’s raining gelt (and Chardonnay)
- I loved the way Ari connects with Elodie. I also loved the names of her brother’s kids.
- Location: Seattle
- This was my first read by this author and I need to quickly remedy that by devouring her previous books.
- Future blog post idea: featuring the importance of mental health in female main characters.
- Favorite Quote: If there’s anything I’ve learned about depression, it’s that it is an intensely personal journey, one that never really ends.
Recommend for: anyone that enjoys steamy romance, those interested in destigmatizing mental health & depression, own voices novel
My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ – Loved it!
Romance Steam Factor: R – Super steamy
Sharing is caring: If you enjoyed a book you read, one of the best things you can do for an author is to post a review on retailer book websites. Ratings and reviews (even super short reviews) are so incredibly helpful for both the author and future readers.
Review shared here: Goodreads, Amazon, StoryGraph
About the Author – From Bookshop.org
Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Our Year of Maybe, Today Tonight Tomorrow, We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This, and See You Yesterday. She is a Seattle native who loves rainy days, her tiny dog, tap dancing, old movies, red lipstick, and books with flawed, complicated characters. Learn more at RachelSolomonBooks.com.
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