Thanks to my friends at Dell Romance for letting me read this book early! All thoughts are my own!  

The amount of parentheses was distracting, but it got better further into the book. It didn’t feel necessary to use them that often, when you could just say those things without them and have the same effect. 

Emily is me; we are one. I feel so deeply connected to her character and personality. Oldest Daughter who doesn’t cry in front of people and has to be the one who stays solid and takes care of everyone else?? Hi, it’s me and Emily. Good GOD!! Her personality is so complex, and her view of her place in her family HURT. She always felt like too much and too hard to love, but she really just needed someone to put in the effort to know her. She spent so long caring for everyone else, and she just needed someone to care for her. 

I am deeply obsessed with Jack and Emily together. They are so sweet and real and HOT and caring. They had such a fun connection through their bickering, but watching it develop into the deep love they shared was so rewarding. I love them so much. Jack knew Emily so well, and he acted on his care. He was there and so supportive and DID I MENTION HOT?? The scene of them acting out intimacy was so full of tension and desire I was blushing and giggling. His GLASSES!! The way that they knew each other so well and could read each other’s feelings. I adore them. THE MOTORCYCLE?? So hot. 

Jack is also extremely relatable. My relationship to my parents is very similar to his with his parents. I felt his pain on a molecular level. He’s protecting himself, and trying to protect his mother too. His attention to the small things about Emily and his love for her are easily some of my favorite parts about this book. 

I loved how even when emotions were charged and they were struggling with a conflict, they still communicated to each other. Emily told him that she wasn’t mad at him and that she needed space, but that they weren’t pausing on each other. He needed that reassurance, and I loved it so much. Even towards the end, they were clear with each other about how they felt and what they needed from each other. They were never afraid to tell each other how they felt. 

I also really love how Sarah writes intimacy. It’s clear that they’re together in that way, but the focus is more on their emotional connection. Don’’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for some spice, and it’s often realistic for the characters to have sex. It’s a natural progression of a romantic relationship. But I love how it’s handled in this book. 

This ensemble of characters is so fun, and I can’t wait to read the next book just to see them all again. I adore them. I’m dying to see them all again, and I know I’m going to be so sad when the time comes to read the final book with these characters.