I loved the other 831 Stories title that is coming out in September, so had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me and I did not finish. The book starts in first-person present narration, which I don't mind when done well. However, it doesn't start narrating action that is happening, but instead immediately starts flashing back but telling it like you would a story to a friend? It was incredibly distracting and read somewhat amateur-ish. It's almost like this book wanted to be a TV-show script instead of a novel, with an overarching narrator throughout. The narrator hints at anxieties and issues they have, but none of it makes sense and instead comes off as whiny.

Fingers crossed the next book from 831 Stories is similar to Big Fan...Unfortunately this was not it. Thanks to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Thank you net gallery for this arc.

This is a rare did not finish for me. This book was truly interminable to read and at around 50 pages I just could not anymore. There are no likable characters and there’s barely a plot and the conflict is nonsense. And the worst crime of this book is it’s a very dumb book that thinks it’s smart.

An alluring romance that captures the magical feeling of an unexpected spark with a stranger (and taking a risk to see where it goes).

Over the course of a few hours, we get to know Shera and Max, as their chemistry builds and as they try to get over their respective past hurts to move forward in the present.

This is a quick and compelling read and the author does a fabulous job of creating a cozy, intimate mood even when Shera and Max are in a noisy, crowded bar.

Thank you to 831 Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.