Ok so this is now the gold standard for second chance romance. It got everything right: you understand how much they loved each other (it can be argued that this was mostly told and not shown but it worked for me), what broke them apart, and why in the world they would ever get back together. Simply firing on all cylinders.

The mature communication throughout the story was deeply romantic lol like yes thank you, these are two full grown adults trying their best to navigate life. They misunderstood and worked to understand, they were petty and apologized, they gave each other grace. I cried multiple times - the themes of grief, depression, forgiveness, recovery are beautifully rendered and were so touching.

Also, the best contemporary romances always feel lived in and grounded - characters with deep connections to specific people, places, communities. This novel is so rich with these, from Yasmen’s girlfriends to the restaurant staff and down to the bookseller who empathizes with their loss. The world-building elevated the story to something truly special.