WHEW!!!

Trigger Warnings: domestic violence, sexual assault, mental illness, fuckboys

This book evoked all kinds of emotion from me! This book totally takes a hard right turn at the end and it makes everything sooooooo much better! At first, I have to say, I was just dumbfounded at how Zenia (Zee), the main character, was being so careless and haphazard in regards to how she was being treated by a new love prospect, Dean Foster. The way he approached her at the beginning of their courtship was a HUGE turnoff for me. He immediately became the villain in my eyes. I then began to question Zee's self-respect and confidence that she exuded in her professional life. Was it all a front? We find out in the book that it is due in part to her mental illness (depression). Dean Foster has his own issues stemming from childhood that he projects in a emotional, verbal and physical way onto Zee. This in turn triggers Zee's mental health issues and now you have the perfect recipe for a domestic violence relationship. Quincy, who she meets at an art gallery expo, seems to be a knight in shining armor but I too question his motives, especially when he demeans her by calling her out of her name and doubles down on it by telling her he didn't want to have anything else to do with her. It sounds like the beginning of another controlling relationship. BUT THE ENDING THO!!! WHEW!!! I will save that for you to experience.

I did feel as though the book could have fleshed out Quincy's character a bit more. The assaults on Zee by Dean Foster was a bit much for me. I definitely cringed and had to take a break from the book a few times because of it. I had multiple Bernandine from "Waiting to Exhale" moments where I wnated to set Dean Foster on fire! Nonetheless, I would consider the book a quick and easy read. Very enthralling and riveting.

Big thanks to Parfait Larouche (book.therapy_ on IG) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!