I really enjoyed this! Ali Rosen writes deep characters and engaging storylines that feel both character and plot driven, which I like. There were some really great lines in this one! I definitely got twinges of that longing and yearning that I love. Like “Recipe For Second Chances,” “Alternate Endings” straddles that line between romance and women’s/lit fic—much like Emily Henry’s books. They feature prominent romantic storylines but are also heavily influenced by the personal growth of the main character(s).

The story follows Bea, a recent divorcee who shares a son named Bash with her ex, and Jack, her high school ex. After years of no communication (and bitterness on her part), they find themselves thrown into work together when Jack is hired by Bea’s eccentric boss. We follow Bea and Jack as they reacquaint themselves, quickly become “sex friends,” and over time, rekindle a deeper connection.

The story felt consistently paced overall, and I appreciated the growth displayed in Bea and Jack— both together and separately. I liked that Bea’s divorce wasn’t harped on excessively. It was a theme and was talked about, but the majority of the interactions we see with the ex wind up being neutral/positive so the growth felt genuine. It was clear that Bea was really trying to get out of her own way to be a better mom/friend/etc. The romance storyline was sweet. Bea and Jack had some good banter, but definitely took their sweet time learning to communicate. The story was spicy in the sense that they had a lot of sex, but the scenes weren’t really explicit on-page. I liked seeing their emotional connection deepen throughout the story. The small ways they started showing up for each other contributed to the believability of their arc.

The side characters were, for the most part, enjoyable. But I did find myself frustrated/annoyed with Bea’s boss, Brigid. She just came across to me as very insensitive, blasé, and manipulative. I understand that Bea appreciates a lot of that detachedness, but the ups and downs of that relationship as Bea clearly worked to be better herself, bothered me. I wish Brigid had softened up better, sooner.

Overall I really enjoyed this! Ali Rosen is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me and I enjoy recommending her to friends and followers. I would have read it much faster if I wasn’t traveling for work this week