⭐4/5 stars⭐

another great read from Ms. Loren! I was so pumped to read this the second I read the synopsis a few months ago! O'Neal is a goody two shoes living a sheltered life with her grandparents for most of her life when she suddenly changes her mind about the all-girls college her grandparents paid good money for her to go to. instead, she chooses the school with the program she wants which just so happens to be the same school where her best friend's brother, Auden, goes as well. O'Neal has been crushing on Auden since they were kids but he always saw her as his little sister's friend, totally off-limits. then a kiss in the kitchen (harry styles reference on purpose) ignites the crush for Auden as well even though they could never, EVER be together. once she gets to his school though, within reach and away from their families, everything changes. O'Neal begins to spend more time with him and his roommate, Lennox and soon these feelings get harder and harder to ignore between all of them.
overall I really enjoyed this! the relationships between all of the characters together and individually were well-written and believable. I was so excited to learn that Lennox and Auden also had a relationship outside of O'Neal! it makes the throuple so much more enjoyable. while I wish the plot had been more developed with their families and O'Neal's journalism degree/independence, the relationships made up for it. I felt like some parts weren't 100% necessary to the story like O'Neal investigating her mother's murder. nothing came of that and I wish it either hadn't been included or more came from it. I also thought Auden's protectiveness came across as a bit misogynistic sometimes but Lennox helped in those situations and called him out on his bullshit.
I thought the epilogue tied the story together and learning about Maya's tea too was so cute! I can't wait for Roni's next book!
spice: 4/5 (Auden's words had me GIGGLING and the scene after the first movie night when O'Neal left and Lennox and Auden took care of themselves, WHEW)