Thank you so much to SMP Romance for the advance copy!

This book will be out on Feb 18th, 2025.

Last year I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of Lindsay's book and we became IG friends bonding over our love of Harry Styles. I was even more fortunate enough to be able to meet Lindsay on a few occasions and she is such a delight! I was super excited to get an advance copy of this and the book delivered!

The way that this book starts off is a flashback to the first time our FMC Ali meets the MMC Graham. They meet at pub in London while playing a drink game. After some not so wise choice they both end the night with matching tattoos and a one night stand. She comes back to America without ever exchanging any sort of info with Graham that is until 8 years later when their paths cross in Baltimore. I love how we got this set up and the very first meeting between these two.

I kept thinking of the song "The One That Got Away" as the dance between Graham and Ali begins when the company she works for hires her to plan Graham's wedding. I'm sure you are thinking, this is a romance so how do we get a happily ever after? That's where the fun of the book is! We learn the reasoning behind the wedding (marriage of convenience), why he is here in the states and get to see the tension between Ali and Graham grow the more they spend time together. There is a moment where they get snowed in together - wheww!

I did not think that Lindsay could top Jake but Graham might take the cake? For the sake of this being a book, I was able to look past the whole "does it count as cheating if he's not really dating the woman he is supposed to be marrying?" Once I learned the condition of the engagement, I was able to put that aside to really watch the magic between the two. There was this natural chemistry that started that night in London. They just played so well off one another. Even though Graham was trying so hard to resist Ali out of respect for Claire (his best friend turned fiancee), he just couldn't. And even Ali tried so hard to maintain her crush since he was technically a client.

I absolutely love how incorporated all the Jewish traditions in this! And how Graham just seamlessly fit in with her family during these traditions. It just made my heart melt! Lindsay had a grand gesture in her first book and there was the most heartwarming grand gesture that happens during a very big moment for her Bubbie.

I think one of the many reasons why I love reading Lindsay's books is the way that she makes her characters relatable. Ali feels like she is a mess. She is trying to figure out what she wants to do in life and feels like she is constantly messing up. She feels the weight of pressure to be a certain way especially with being in the shadow of her big sister, Sarah. Even though I am technically a big sister (and I was a little of Sarah) and felt like I could relate to Ali. Even with pushing 40, I still feel like I am constantly making the wrong choices and messing up.

This is an interconnected with Till There Was You but you could totally read this as a stand alone. We do get an update on Jake and Lexi. There is a lovely moment when all the friends come together and are there for Ali.

I apologize that this became such a long review but I just really loved this one so much!

PS: One thing I can always count on is Harry Styles/One Direction references - keep em coming!