A chance encounter between Reed and Halley leads to an instant, soul crushing connection. But as the truth about their age difference comes to light, along with the fact that Reed is Halley’s best friend’s dad, the only friend she has, it becomes clear any relationship between them is next to impossible.

“My own scar pulses like it was drawn to hers, like we were in some sort of secret club together. A partner in pain. A companion in violence. Two warriors braving the storm, hand in hand.”

This is my first Jennifer Hartmann book, and unfortunately for her and for other writers in this genre, she has now set the bar incredibly high with this one. While I do tend to love a good age gap/forbidden love story already, primarily for the angsty nature it brings with it, this book is on another level. As in, the moment I finished reading, I had to force myself not to turn around and reread it immediately (does this happen to anyone else? No? Just me?)

From page one, I was completely immersed, not just in our MC’s potential relationship, but in each of their own stories and past traumas. Their connection is profound - in fact it pretty much jumps off the page at you. While each of our characters admit to a strong pull to one another, it was hard, as a reader, not to have a strong emotional connection to them too. This slower burn to the romance gives us time to get to know Reed, Halley and all of the supporting characters (including Ladybug, one of my faves) in depth, which in turn helps to ratchet up the emotional pull. The steam was perfection, never overdone, and never overpowering the story.

This is, in every way, my perfect read - flawed characters you can’t help but root for, a love story that is as broken as it is beautiful, and a book that will stay with you long after you’ve read the final page.

I want to leave you with this - this book will not be for everyone. It toes the line around age of consent and incorporates a pretty significant age gap between the MCs. However, if you are someone who enjoys these elements, or are a reader who loves amazing angst and deep pining and has an open mind to situations beyond the typical, I think you will really enjoy this one.

Read if you like:
▪️forbidden love
▪️age gap romance
▪️secret relationship
▪️all the angst
▪️forced proximity
▪️single dad
▪️tragic past

Thank you Bloom for the gifted copy.

This book was fun. I loved how the writing conveyed the beauty of chance encounters, and I felt the weight of fate’s cruelty as the story unfolded. I was stunned by the twist when the narrator’s best friend revealed that Reed was her father—it added such a complex layer to the story. I found myself wrestling with the implications, questioning how the characters would navigate this revelation, and feeling deeply for everyone involved. I appreciated how the story explored themes of healing, love, and complicated relationships in such a poetic and gripping way. I found myself reflecting on how chance moments can change our lives, for better or worse, and how we reconcile what we want with what we cannot have. The emotional depth of the story resonated with me, and I felt immersed in the characters’ struggles
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Overall, I thought this book was powerful and beautifully written. It’s a story that challenged me emotionally and left me thinking about its themes long after I closed the final chapter. I would recommend it to readers looking for something raw, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

4.5

This was one of my most anticipated releases and it did not miss! I absolutely eat up everything Jennifer Hartmann writes, her stories are so compelling and so down to earth while also having that forbidden side that I love! I really enjoyed how this entire story is set in the 90s, the settings and nostalgic aspects are so well written and really unique to the story! I loved Reed so much. His character stuck out to me in this book from the beginning. How he treated everyone in his life and protected them made me swoon so hard for this man. The relationship he had with Halley and the way their slow burn melts is so toe curling and exciting I couldn’t put this book down! It’s how I am with all of Hartmann’s books. I am so glad I got to experience this story, the quotes and lessons and found family in it are some of my favorite. For sure a new favorite of the year! It’s out today, check triggers!

What if the stranger you meet on a beach, with whom you feel an undeniable attraction, turns out to be your best friend’s father and is twice your age?

Halley’s life has been anything but easy. With an abusive father and an alcoholic mother, she’s never experienced what it’s like to be more than a burden to those around her. That changes when she meets him. He brings her a sense of joy and comfort that she has never known, even though they both understand that pursuing anything further would be crossing a line.

This novel is not just about a forbidden romance with an older man. It’s about finding stability and discovering one’s worth, especially for a young woman who has had to navigate life without parental support. The conclusion was particularly satisfying, tying everything together in a way that felt complete and heartfelt.

Jennifer is an auto buy author for me I have loved everything she writes and loved this one too. I was sold from the first page. I love their chemistry and attraction and slow build and the angst and forbidden, excellent execution ! I really like also how the ending with the space between them is really what the two of them needed (even though it hurt my heart bit) but very believable rather than a quick makeup. Overall a solid 4 stars from me, thank you!

-age gap
-forbidden love
-best friends dad
-angsty

i will say this every single time, jennifer hartmann knows how to write angst and tension and she knows how to write it BEAUTIFULLY!!! this book kept me on my toes & had me biting my nails i was feeling so anxious at certain points!!

halley has a tragic past and has no one in her corner so when she meets reed at a house party and finally feels seen things move quick from there. she does lie about her age so once reed realizes the truth he creates some distance.

the angst in this one is unmatched. the tension and longing was palpable and it’s clear how much they both want eachother but want to stay away. i loved seeing halley grow more confident in herself and loved that reed was able to help her with that through self defense lessons.

since reed is halley’s best friends dad there was bound to be some drama and it had me feeling anxious for it the whole book especially once they took things to the next level. i did feel like everything resolved fairly quickly on page and wish we got to see a bit more of them figuring it out together but overall i still had a great time. and the epilogue was so cute!!

if you’re in the mood for a great age gap & something SUPER angsty, i would highly recommend this one

*please check triggers*