There's a lot I did like about this book. I adore Joanna and Walela and I was very invested in Ember's journey, wishing the best for her. Take the romance out and I would still love to read a story entirely about her struggling with her relationships with her family and ultimately making up with them and healing.

And that's probably one of the issues I had with the book: that this is a rom-com and I didn't exactly care about the romance. At least, I didn't dislike it, so I was able to keep reading. But what made this book difficult and even painful for me to read was the secondhand anxiety I was experiencing from reading Ember trying to make sure no one finds out about her lies and her relationship at work. Like literally making out with MMC IN THE OFFICE while the boss stepped out and allegedly wouldn't be back for a while - readers, he was back before the scheduled time. My anxiety was PEAKED and I could not stomach reading it. The

blackmailing business

genuinely made me lose my will to live - like I know Ember was suffering too but damn if I was in the same situation I would simply end it all. I am not the gods' strongest soldier. The only way I was able to finish this book is by skipping parts that were making me feel to anxious, only skimming enough of it to get a general idea of what happened. I did read the chapters

after she was fired

in their entirety though. Like I said, I was very invested in her familial bonds.

I would still love to check out the author's next release but this book proved to me that workplace romance simply isn't for me and I should probably stick with historical and fantasy romance!