well written, realisation and fantastic characters. 

i don’t know what i expected -i have only recently read a short story from this author as a first sample before and really enjoyed it- but this was so much more than i expected. 


it was a romance - but it also was so much more. 

it had a lot of topics especially surrounding abuse in relationships -even more specifically emotional and verbal abuse- and as someone that has experienced those situations i found it very well done. 
and that is not a spoiler it’s a selling point! 
if you do abuse, especially within a romance story? do it well or don’t do it! and this author did it fantastically! 


i also enjoyed that this was a age gap romance with the woman as the older partner and how that was not treated as anything special. because it shouldn’t. if all parties in a relationship adult and consenting? who cares? they have to be happy and not you so if you wouldn’t be in a relationship with a larger age gap, fine don’t. 
this book did a good job with how it was done and how the characters  behaved. 


i really enjoyed Alexis and while she could be a bit too focused in small things that should feel as important to her as it was - it was understandable why she focused to heavily on them. 

i am not saying it something every abused person does but especially emotional and verbal abuse can make you almost obsessively focused on the smallest details and make those tiny details seem extremely important. sometimes that can be because it makes the abused feel more in control (not being able to control a lot else at least that detail is as it should be!) or because of the smallest thing isn’t as it should be the abuse will be worse.

 

so i understand why some people didn’t love her or found her annoying but for me she made sense. and she evolved and learned. 

daniel was wonderful. i do like how he was written too and honestly he felt almost too “perfect man” kind of character -always willing to help, always willing to do what needs to be done, step up…- i didn’t mind that. 



the story itself was well done, had nice pacing and i found the build up and typical romance plot thing

aka third act break up

very real and understandable and it made sense. 


clearly i enjoyed this book a lot and can’t wait to continue on and i know the next book of this follows alexis best friend but i would also love to get a book from the perfective of a person from the small town. get more of that small town feel and the people there. 


so happy i read this and really had a fantastic time!