would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read me this book

i really did enjoy the journey of charlie and dionne.....the angst between them was very much alive and kicking, it was a living breathing thing....

my only complaint would have been the futuristic bit at the end i feel that could have been the epilogue as it gave something away

but this author can certainly write a good storyline with some very well thought out characters

This was some epic love story saga. When I started this story I did not realise the journey I was about to put myself through, I mean it was an emotional journey to say the least. The style of this romantic novel is unlike anything I have previously read and the course of true love definitely does not run smooth for the two main characters.

We meet Dionne who does has a fairly relaxed attitude to sex but not a relationship kinda woman, she meets Charlotte a closeted lesbian which the sparks leads to an initial frenemies situation that eventually heats up! To add to the complications Marcus, who is Charlottes brother is falling in love with Dionne who is playing a friends with benefits situation. Messy!

The story journey takes a what seems to be a realisation that Dionne may not be as straight as she thought when it comes to Charlotte, and Charlotte who struggles not only with jealously, secrets of not being out but also the guilt of potentially hurting her brother. The story jumps in time, jumps in perspective of past vs present and at some points also in point of view. Honestly some parts of this are so heartbreaking. We do have quite a cast of support characters that help Dionne and Charlotte and the ending is a good pay off for such a long read. We even get a glimpse at a future vision which was a nice touch.

My only criticism is that there are parts that just fill like unnecessary filler, I do feel could have been removed with no impact to the story as they generally for me did nothing to move the story forward or change a perspective but this is very minor. Also I found Marcus actually quite unlikable as if things don’t go his way he is very toxic!

This is an enjoyable longer than average romance that does not disappoint, I was given the opportunity to read this so thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author. I would recommend this read, set yourself in for an epic romantic saga!

The start of the book was amazing when Charlotte and Dionne met, fell in love and communicated in such a great way. Then something happened with the story and it got messier and messier and when some dream sequences came up I even had some issues to finish the book. It picked up a bit in the end but the story could have been so much better if it had continued like in the first part of the book.

Not Your Typical Slow Burn Romance.

This is a slow burn. Not the fun, toasty campfire kind. More like the watching-paint-dry-but-now-you’re-weirdly-invested-in-the-paint’s-emotional-growth kind. The characters actually talk to each other—sometimes too much. So if you’re here for angsty, miscommunication-fueled drama where people spend 300 pages making bad life choices instead of just using their words—this might not be your thing.

Yeah, communication is kind of a big deal in this book. If you love misunderstandings that could be solved with a single text but instead spiral into unnecessary angst, I have bad news: you’re in the wrong place. These characters actually express their feelings ( Shocking, I know). And I get it—some people might find that boring. Fiction is supposed to be dramatic, right? So where’s the over-the-top chaos? Where’s the forbidden love triangle with a long-lost lover who’s also an heir to a secret mafia empire?

This book isn’t packed with soap opera twists. No psycho exes dramatically reappearing, no surprise billionaires, and—tragically—no one gets thrown off a cliff. (Major missed opportunity, if you ask me.) Instead, it’s just… people being people. Making mistakes, overthinking their feelings, and occasionally being so painfully awkward that I had secondhand embarrassment. If that sounds boring, I totally get it. But if you like deep conversations, realistic emotions, and a slow-burn romance that actually makes sense, then you might just love this story.

What you get is two people navigating their emotions like actual adults. They talk, they work through things, they overthink just the right amount, and sometimes they’re so emotionally mature that I had to put the book down and rethink my own life choices.

Now, I’ll be honest—I had moments where I kind of hated this book. Not because it was bad, but the characters were smart, self-aware, and emotionally stable for my liking. Seriously, how dare they have actual conversations instead of stewing in unnecessary angst? And their relationship? Too normal, too… possible? But also so hard to find in real life? Do you get what I mean? Because I don’t. I’m confusing myself. But I hope you understand. It’s like, possible, but impossible at the same time? Do you get it? Because I sure don’t. But I feel it. I’m blabbering, haha.

This book is frustratingly good. If you’re expecting melodrama and plot twists, you might be disappointed. But if you’re here for something that feels conversations that matter, emotional depth, and a love story that doesn’t need absurd twists to keep you hooked, then you’ve found a good story.