My first five star rating of 2025 goes to the first book to rip my heart out. Read with a box of tissues, although I was fine (and I was not anticipating that I would be) until the very end. I saw this movie YEARS ago and I forgot everything except that I liked it. It made me feel something, so when I saw this book at Goodwill... I picked it up without knowing what I was getting myself into.

I was in a reading slump, having just DNFed two books and rated a book 2 stars, and was wondering if I even liked reading anymore. I remembered that I hauled this one and that I liked the movie, so surely I would love the book.

Oh. My. Dear. God.

This was slow, but in the best way. Louisa is a quirky, funny, and all around adorable human being that stumbled into a job after being forced out of a cafe she loved and was comfortable in. Out of options, she accepted a role helping a grumpy, sarcastic quadriplegic that taught her about life as she softened his edges.

This book teaches us that comfort zones can be harmful and that you can find love in the most unexpected places.

Highly recommend.