My first romance of the year! I was needing something light and easy and the cover of this one really popped out at me. It wasn't until I got it home from the library that I realized it was part of a larger romance series... This thing is, after looking up the rest of it, I really didn't have any interest in reading the other ones. So, I decided to read this anyways, even midway through an interconnected set that I had no reference points for. And, while I am sure that I missed out on some “awwww, look at them now” moments, the kind you get when previous MC couples show up in later books, it otherwise didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story or general reading experience at all.

So this book jumped at me because honestly, my dream "imaginary" romance is meeting someone while traveling internationally and having a surprise whirlwind like this. (To be clear, I am quite happy in my real-life non-imaginary romance....but we can all dream.) Also, sitting in a cozy bar with a beer (the cover) is one of my favorite ways to spend time. And this book was the very literal personification of that cover, so it was exactly what I wanted. It was super cheesy and sweet and a bit lower spice than I would maybe have preferred, but the pining was great, so an overall win. Two other personal surface level things: I love tattoos (and people who have them) and I have a soft spot for the name Lorraine (and specifically with the nickname Raine) so I was even further predisposed to be emotionally invested in this story before it even started. 

And a couple thematic notes. First, I do have some personal experience with close friends/family with ADHD, and some professional knowledge of OCD, and I appreciated the way they were portrayed here. They are part of what makes a person who they are, for better or worse, just like everything else that makes a person who they are. And the myriad aspects of how that plays out, including flares and the ever-present potential need for coping mechanisms, felt realistic. Every case is different of course, but this avoided some of the major pitfalls I've seen in other literature, especially the extremes that are often used for dramatic purposes but aren't truly representative (at least of the majority). Related, I *loved* the way this relationship was different from so many other "classic" HEAs. It's so important to see different kinds of healthy and successful relationships, because everyone is different and what works for them will be different, and there isn't a "right" way to have an HEA. We all deserve the one that's right for us. And in this case, it felt just right and super cuuuuuute.    

This book delivered on exactly what I wanted, from the promise of the blurb and cover. Spot on vibes. 

 “There’s no room for that sort of doubt in the creative life. You’ve gotta believe in what you make, otherwise why would anyone else?”

“Useless and silly and important […] My favorite kind of beautiful.”