almost all the things i hate about contemporary romance – miscommunication, childish conflicts, flawless characters created for wish fulfillment only – can be found here, but in a less unbearable form given the solid writing, which thank god resembles more a diary than a self-help book. i actually felt tempted at some point in the first half to give it 4 stars, bc unfortunately i relate too much to lonely people, and there were these specifics scenes that gave me all the feels. but then i got annoyed at the characters' motivations and the mc's lack of common sense: the guy was almost dropping to one knee to propose and she was still rambling in her head about how he totally hates her (this type of shit gives me anxiety, so it wasn't fun at all). plus the laughable conjunction of rich white people problems near the end that made the only character i liked, impossibly perfect joshua, sound ridiculous.

can we talk and act like normal adults? i guess not. can we have at least one real, convincing conflict to justify this whole mess and make me feel sorry for these bitches? definitely not. we will suffer more than the situation requires so that the story feels pointless (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

so of course this isn't really an enemies-to-lovers, like most contemporary romances labeled that way aren't (im looking at you, rwrb). it also has the worst trope of all time: the "I've always loved you" trope *pukes*. but if you're into the genre at all (im not), especially if you don't get annoyed at straight couples too easily (i do), you'll probably love it. there's absolutely nothing groundbreaking about it, even in terms of romance, but the writing achieves what is trying to. except when it doesn't. so 2,5 stars rounded up for wish fulfillment.