I waited a bit to write this review because I was super emotional after finishing this book - ask Layla, I had a bit of a crashout in her DMs lol. I've loved this world since before we'd knew it would be a series, since before I had a bookstagram and met others who loved the world as much as I do.

Little Goddess is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I am grateful to be able to say I was chosen for an ARC. Thank you, Layla! Let me start by saying it did NOT disappoint. I'm not a Why Choose fan. I've read several and prior to this one, I liked maybe one. But this one? This one has entered the Books I Won't Shut Up About ranks and it isn't even released yet.

We start with Callie, who's grown up in different communes and cults her whole life. She has emotionally and (dare I say) mentally absent parents so she's had to take care of herself (and often them) her entire life. When she finally puts herself first, it's with the decision to escape the commune at 19. She luckily gets a job pretty quickly in a Black Resorts restaurant under the chef we all know (do we?) and love - Freddy!

Freddy is a funny man. He's instantly enamored by her the second she tells him his sauce needs work. He's patient and kind with her, all the while juggling having feelings he doesn't want to face for his best friend - and another of Maximo's men - Cole.

Cole can't stand being alone - and he's kinda alone a lot of the time, especially since he had to move out of Maximo's pool house now that he and Juliet are naked as often as possible. Mix that with the strange feelings he has for Freddy and the stranger attraction he feels for Freddy's new waitress and it's a clusterfuck - or so he assumes.

Lastly, Marco - who's protective of anyone and everyone he cares for, a 'mountain of a man' and an island in his own right. The moment Callie asks him for his order when he and Juliet go to the restaurant, he's smitten.

The three men decide they'll compete for Callie's affections and though you know going into a Why Choose how that typically works, it was so fun (and funny) to watch it happen. Once it happened though, let me be the first to tell you that you're going to need multiple bottles of water on standby. Maybe some Powerade. Liquid IV. Damn, maybe even an actual IV to replenish the fluids you'll lose because this group is HOT together!

Some quick things I loved:
- The ADHD Rep and the journey Callie went through when receiving her diagnosis! So well handled and so relatable.
- The Girl Gang! God, I loved every single second Juliet was on page and when Mila popped in too, ugh, I'm a little bit in love with her. (A lot a bit) I loved how they welcomed Callie into their ranks.
- Cole & Freddy's relationship journey
- Marco's cuck chair (a love/hate relationship sometimes)

Things I didn't see that I wish I did:
- if ANYONE needed a collar it's Callie. Don't ask my reasoning, just vibez.
- Freddy to call Cole 'daddy' just like... once. But I get why he didn't.