my first five star read of the year. when i tell you this was everything i wanted from a a finale book, i really mean it. it wrapped up so many storylines and had so many of the family/friendship moments that i just love in a kbr book. i was thankful i had the day off work bc i literally read all 820 pages in one sitting. i reluctantly took a break for lunch, but otherwise i popped the witcher fireplace on my tv, cuddled up in my reading chair, and did not move at all. i have no regrets.

i’ll probably be back later to put this next bit into better words, but a few things i loved:
1. lo and donnelly banter. that is MY favorite father/son duo. and i cannot believe lo finally sent my man donnelly that fucking fruit basket. (and that emotional scene during the superbowl game? a actual tears on my face.)
2. luna and fizzle. i just love this lilo parallel. i’d honestly had a hunch for a while that luna would eventually be involved with the family companies. it was that very first mention of a business class a couple books ago that finally solidified my theory. i also love that she actually wanted to do it.
3. luna nad her writing!!! i feel like my fic dreams came true when lunnelly decided to publish a graphic novel together.
4. quinn and frog!! i was so worried about the both of them for so long, and if kbr don’t deliver their book one day i think i’ll perish.
5. the sfo tattoo scene. if kbr were wanting me to cry, they definitely accomplished it. i wasn’t ready for that particular wrap up.

and even tho this IS a five star book worthy of many rereads, i still have a three big qualms:
1. the lack of sulli and luna. i didn’t just wanna be told that they’d rekindled their friendship. i wanted to actually read about it. and where was sulli and luna’s holiday ice skating tradition??? i kept waiting for at least a mention of it.
2. honestly, the lack of confrontation between donnelly and his fam. yes, we got a shit ton in ulu, but that didn’t really feel like the end of it. i love how it wrapped up with his father (cue more tears) but otherwise it felt slightly underwhelming. and we never actually met his mother…boring. and even her last name reveal was slightly underwhelming. like, i had already guessed it was gonna be o’malley (like most other readers) but it wasn’t like there was much blowback from that?? idk.
3. a slightly smaller issue, but where were jesse and roxanne???? roxanne was at least brought up in conversation once, but not even a mention of jesse, which is fucking strange imo considering winona’s storyline in this book

anyway, i WILL be rereading this as soon as i can because i am not at all ready to let these characters go. so thankful we’ve got a

ben

cobalt book coming and more shenanigans to read!!!