5⭐️/ 2🌶️

This wasn’t just a military romance, with a brother’s best friend trope, nor a small town romance, this story was full of emotionally charged moments, heartbreak, and the story of how two individuals created a bond through writing each other letters. Rebecca Yarros once again managed to craft a beautiful story that showcased the strength these characters had as well as the challenges they faced along the way. This wasn’t just a romance, but also the story of family, and finding your way back home.

Beckett Gentry was part of a special task force in the military, alongside his best friend Ryan MacKenzie. Throughout his military career, Beckett was use to being on his own, but at least he had his unit, and his best friend along the journey. Until one day, Beckett received a letter from someone… that someone being Ryan’s little sister, Ella. Ella was a single mom to two beautiful twins and running her family’s bed and breakfast in her small town. Beckett and Ella had never met, but through becoming pen pals and writing letters to one another, they formed a friendship and opened up to each other. The letters were a form of opening up to each other in a way they weren’t with others, basically finding solace in one another. 

Like most Rebecca Yarros books, I didn’t know much about the story other than the brief synopsis, but that still didn’t prepare me for the kind of story I would be reading. The beginning showed how Beckett and Ella started off as pen pals, and with each letter they wrote to each other, they became closer than they initially expected. With the introduction of Ella, her kids, and everyone in her life, I was none the wiser as what to expect next until… Ella’s daughter, Maisie started showing symptoms of feeling sick. I mean, with the note before the beginning of the book, that should have clued in me as to part of what the story was going to be covering, but I was still caught off guard with Maisie’s prognosis. Within the first few chapters, I was already holding back tears, just wanting to cry at what Maisie was faced with and how Ella felt with this devastating news set before her. Of course, things got a lot more devastating for Ella with the news of her brother, Ryan being killed in action (*not a spoiler literally stated in summary of book). Ella dealt with so many things all at once that it was understandable she was faced with stress, but having to go through all of that made me feel sad and sympathetic for her. 

Beckett’s arrival to Telluride was the last thing Ryan had asked of him, which was to look after Ella and her kids. Can we take a moment to appreciate the sheer dedication and absolutely man that Beckett was?! Sure he wasn’t perfect by any means, but like… he had many amazing qualities to himself! I loved Beckett! He was intriguing, strong, protective over Ella and the kids,thoughtful, genuinely kind, a bit serious at times, but overall such an attentive and equally attractive man! As I got more into the story I couldn’t help admiring him even more. I also loved seeing how devoted and caring Beckett got over Ella and the kids, especially when it came to their well-being, he was always making sure things went smoothly and calmly whatever situation came up. Beckett was an avid listener, and always gave his support and comfort to Ella whenever she needed it. The thing about Beckett was, he didn’t immediately try to take over all of Ella’s troubles, but more so provided her support and encouragement to whatever she needed help with. Beckett was an incredible man and with his personality, and just his ability to be present with Ella and the kids as well as doing everything in his power to help from the smallest thing showed he was a great man. 

This book was already captivating from the beginning. I loved the use of the letters between Beckett and Ella, and especially getting to read the very letters they wrote was immersive for me as a reader. Getting to read the actual letters Beckett and Ella exchanged let me see exactly the kinds of things they talked about, referencing which number letter in response to things they talked about was also great. The letters played an important role in Beckett and Ella’s story as they didn’t just show how they became close, but also how they found solace in each other. The power of the words Beckett and Ella wrote to one another was significant because, in the midst of their own lives, they had one another as friends, support, and the foundation for them to become more than friends.

As if this story wasn’t just repeatedly hitting me right in my feels, in my heart! (Sigh) Beckett and the kids were so wholesome and heartfelt, I was crying simultaneously between tears of joy and sadness. Maisie and Colt (Ella’s kids) were sweet, funny, loving, and energetic kids that you easily fell in love with. For Beckett, he knew coming to Telluride, he was going to be there for Ella and the kids however he could, but little did he know he would not only be reaffirmed of his love for Ella, but also love Maisie and Colt fiercely as well. I absolutely adored Maisie and Colt, they truly were such sweet kids and I admired Maisie’s strength and perseverance, and Colt’s protective nature over his family, and his precocious personality. Maisie and Colt had always just had their mom, but with Beckett entering the picture, they had a father figure come into their lives, and the relationships they each created with Beckett had me crying because IT WAS SO DARN PRECIOUS! I’m not usually the type of girl who gets all lovey dovey seeing a man with kids, but seeing how Beckett was with Maisie and Colt was attractive and had me smiling at how adorable they all were!

(Sigh) the romance between Beckett and Ella was marvelous, wonderful, loving, and sincere. From the beginning, between the letters to Beckett coming to Telluride for Ella and the kids, it was an eye opening experience for both of them since, it allowed Beckett to see that he was capable of being close to others and for Ella she was able to find love again in the most unexpected way. Beckett and Ella started off as “strangers” (at least to Ella’s knowledge at first) and then gradually became friends who relied on each other with the added tension brewing and of course, with all that sexual tension and secretly crushing on each other, they eventually became more! Once it came towards the middle half, I was just eagerly waiting for the moment when Beckett and Ella would share their first kiss and OMG! That first kiss quickly got steamy which led to even more fun *wink for them! The chemistry between Beckett and Ella was evident and electric since the beginning and the more they got closer, I was happy for them! Plus, it was so heartwarming to see Ella and Beckett to start dating, but also forming their own little family together, awww!!

The connection between Beckett and Ella was beautiful and special that was highlighted perfectly as well as the love they shared for the kids which was absolutely incredible to witness.

REBECCA YARROS! I LOVE YOU, BUT I’M GOING TO NEED SOME MAJOR EMOTIONAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PAIN YOU PUT ME THROUGH! My goodness, when was I not crying while reading this book?… umm pretty much from beginning, middle, and ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END! Again, I thought I knew what to expect from this book, but NOPE! That wasn’t it! Rebecca crafted not just a loving story between two individuals finding their way to each other through the letters they wrote to one another, but also a captivating story that included heartwarming moments as well as tackling some heavy topics that surrounded Beckett, Ella, Maisie and Colt. I genuinely expected this story to end on a different note, but despite all the sobbing I did, it was kind of poetic in the way things ended up happening, but it still didn’t take away from the heartache and devastation I felt reading what I read. On a lighter note, I fell in love with all the characters from Beckett, Ella, and Maisie and Colt were bundles of joy that made me smile, laugh, and I adored their personalities. The romance was slow burn which concluded in a satisfying ending for Beckett and Ella especially with the way things were in the epilogue. I cannot stop thinking about this book as a whole as it had so many layers to it that just when I peeled back one part of the story, another twist appeared that by the time I was finishing the book I was sobbing my eyes out, but also hopeful for everyone. The epilogue seemed like the perfect way to end the story and I simply couldn’t stop crying (I’m not even joking!). 

A story that had me crying nonstop between bouts of happiness and devastation to enjoying the lighthearted moments between Beckett and Ella as well as Maisie and Colt being wholesome, sweet kids. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!