4.5 stars - WONDERFUL!!! There was a moment about 50% into book where I was given a little romance-win so thoroughly that I was floating, visibly giddy on the train, ready to give this 5 stars. I am pulling the rating back a bit now that I'm done, as I found myself getting a little impatient with the untying of the plot knots.

But honestly. Everything else is perfect. Eliza is a lovely lead, whose transformation through the course of this book feels so much more hard-won than others I've read. Her fumbling confidence is realistic and charming, and I loved where she ended up. And the romance is WONDERFUL, as I found the male lead immediately dreamy, annoying and so likable, and so verifiably into Eliza. The little betrayal twist works, in that I wasn't that mad at it and found it possible to fix. But maybe I just thought he was hot.

Irwin is 2/2 for me, and I'm SO excited to read whatever she puts out next.