Wow! I was hoping to read a feel-good romance but I have to admit the last third of the book was full of high tension, angst with action packed thriller vibes: I already ate my fake nails I provided to use during my tense readings and I jumped up and down, screaming ; “atta girl!”, cursing for the bad guy of the book, breathing heavily, drinking my whole glass with one gulp, getting more tipsy and agitated! Well, thankfully conclusion was relieving!

I think I truly enjoyed this book: Firstly I loved heroine: Naya deserves to call as ‘heroine” because she was survivor of an abusive relationship and after ending that part of life, for 3 years she has been having a secluded, introverted life style, wearing shapeless, old school clothes, focusing on her work at university (yes: she is an inspirational, overachiever math professor), not dating anymore. And now her job is at risk, her department already landed at university’s chopping block. And the abusive asshole she’s dated: Davis is hired at her workplace.

Her only and so likable best friends Felicia and Aaron (who are also coolest couple and interesting fact Naya had one time bad date experience with Aaron but thankfully he decides to date with Naya’s bestie Felicia and now they are happily married with children.) tell her she is living lay low after she’s been traumatized by Davis whoshallnotbenamed. She needs to be back in the game, taking risks, loosening up, starting to enjoy her life. So Naya takes the challenge and makes a list: including accepting a random stranger’s drink offer, kissing him, having one night stand, learning new stuff, being bolder, braver, broadening her horizons kind of things( especially at the bedroom)

She accepts to meet with Aaron and Felicia at the bar but she is being ditched by them (Aaaron’s excuse : accompanying her mother who hurt herself at the pole dance class was brilliant and yes, it was real) And guess what: her phone call with Aaaron and her reaction to his story attracted attention to the charming guy who is sitting next to her.

They start a conversation, sharing some not so funny jokes. ( Yes, we have a charming, likable, completely hot hero with the worst sense of humor and no ability at any kind of sports and he is one the %1 living breathing organism who didn’t watch “Star Wars” : That’s a first.)

They share their names: The charming guy introduces himself as Jake. He came to the city for attending wedding ceremony and business meeting. Naya insists they should not share any information about their jobs or their last names. ( She only shares her second name Michelle)She tries to keep it cool, re-learning the basics of flirting but her one-night stand ended up with vomit, humiliation and heartbreak! Yes, poor girl drank way too much she could handle.

But don’t worry: Our charming, sexy hero already got her number and kept texting her to go on a proper date. Their casual, no strings attach relationship slowly turn into intimate, emotional, intense one with their sizzling chemistry. BUT : Yes: here are the struggles they have to face: Jake is one of the partners of the account firm that evaluating the departments of the university she works. Yes: I can hear you scream: “conflict of interest!” Naya may lose her job she has been working so hard and she also has risk to lose her reputation she rebuilt after the destruction whomustnotbenamed ex created. But she cannot help herself because she already starts to fall for Jake even though they didn’t put a name or any label to their relationship.

Do you think there is not enough angst thrown at our faces? Well, whomustnotbenamed started sending threatening messageS to Naya and of course Jake’s ex involves into the game. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and say prayers for this cute couple to win the fight against all these obstacles!
It was one of my fastest reading and especially the author’s approach to the abusive relationships and Naya’s way of fighting against it, her bravery, inner struggles were well-written. Only thing bothered me was Jake’s relationship status and Naya’s way of accepting everything he can give without demanding more because she deserved more but her insecurities and trusting issues overshadowed her judgment about herself. So I wish
Jack’s relationship status could be different and he may have come clean without putting Naya in a heartbreaking situation.

So I’m cutting only star and giving four meaningful, high tension, though provoking, inspirational, well-deserved stars. I’m looking forward to read more works of the author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this meaningful ARC in exchange my honest review.

If you're thinking by the title that this is a fluffy romance read, you would be so wrong! Though Naya, the protagonist, is struggling to recover from an abusive relationship that ended three years ago, the book manages to strike a balance between serious, light, romantic, and funny. No easy feat!

What I most loved about this book was the complexity of Naya, the protagonist. She has great friends, a job she loves, and plenty of agency throughout the novel. Not to give too much away, but she becomes her own hero in the end (while still finding love and being able to lean on others.

I absolutely loved Naya and Jake's relationship. They had wonderful banter and their chemistry leapt right off the page. Jake was a fully developed character of his own, with his own personal hang-ups, friends, and a job he is passionate about too.

Plot-wise, I enjoyed how my expectations were upset time and time again, which kept the narrative fresh and compelling. I especially enjoyed the plot in the last third of the book. I couldn't put it down and wanted to know how all the conflicts in Naya's life: with Jake, her ex, with her job, were going to play out. The ending was really satisfying, while also leaving some things unresolved.

I don't believe a book has to be perfect to get five stars. These are less critiques of what the book didn't do well, and more what I wish the book would've done more of. But there is only so much space in a novel! Especially one with so many important themes.

I would've liked to have gotten to know some of the secondary characters better by spending a bit more time with Naya's BFFs in the beginning (Felicia and Aaron). They seem like great characters, but I think I would've connected to them more if there was just a bit more. I also would've liked to have seen Naya interact with their kids, even for a brief scene. Other secondary characters I wanted to get more of a sense of were Joe and Jill. I think Eric and Tyson (Jake's friends) leapt off the page, despite only being in a few scenes.

This is minor, but I never quite understood WHY Naya's ex was involved in the committee since he no longer worked at the university. I think maybe he was close with someone on the committee (Doug?) but I didn't see why that meant the president would involve him. Maybe I missed it, but I was still confused as to why he was there. Davis is awful, and a dick, but I was hoping to see a little but more of how he duped Naya into falling for him in the first place. Guys like this are often charming and manipulative, and while he was definitely the later, I was curious how he went about charming Naya.

I will say, my favorite character is Flip! Such a surprise. I want to be him when I grow up.

Overall, this book was a really fun way to spend a weekend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reader copy!

I picked this book up thinking the description sounded really cute and got hit with all of the feels. I went in expecting the laughs but this story touched on a lot of sensitive topics while also making me laugh. I think that abuse and the mental effects of being in abusive relationships was well written and not rushed. And the patience and kindness towards yourself needed was addressed many times. 10/10 recommend. Trigger warnings for anyone who may have experienced abuse in the past.