Concept and vibes: 5 stars
Execution, character depth/complexity: 3 stars
Spiciness: 1 chili

Was I entertained? Yes, despite how contrived the spice was and how little the supporting cast seemed to weigh emotionally on the plot. Who is this ex-girlfriend? Was she invented for no other reason than to artificially inflate the stakes? Yes. Don't think about it too hard.

It was a light, fun book to snuggle up to with some tea, but assuming this series continues (because there's no HEA ending) I will not be continuing.