This had the makings for a solid romance but the execution fell flat for me. My main complaint was that this felt like both a slow-burn and insta-love. 

Ethan decided 20% in that he didn’t hate her anymore and is actually, obsessed with her but nothing happens until almost the 70% mark. After Ethan decides to stop being a dick, we get one scene of them at a bar together and then it feels the rest of their friendship building happens off page. We need more tension, more yearning if the payoff is going to be worth it. 

The whole job thing  felt forced too. He doesn’t get an award for “letting her go to Seattle” if he can’t even last a week. I would’ve respected her just as much if she was honest with herself that she wanted to stay in town. 

Aside from all of that, I was so annoyed we only see Marissa have a heart to heart with her mom. IMO, her dad was the one that really needed the reckoning. The author almost makes him sound cruel with how hard he was on her with school and then he just abandons her for a new family. They barely speak but he randomly buys a small town newspaper for her? He’s the one that should’ve been on his knees groveling and yet they barely interact for the entire book. 

Also, can all romance authors please, for the love of god, stop with the “losing my feminism card” jokes? Feminism isn’t about hating men, that’s misandry. You can be a feminist and have sex with men. I  promise we won’t kick you out.