I’ve read so many mediocre romances over the last year, it was a delight to finally read one that hit all the romance beats but didn’t feel like I was reading through a checklist. 

The first few chapters, I struggled to connect with the FMC — and I think that’s by design. In those first few chapters, Jane isn’t connecting with herself. She’s literally constantly acting a part. Monaghan’s pacing as she unpacks Jane’s backstory worked perfectly for me. I appreciated that she had a support system but she still had to figure things out on her own. 

Dan is maybe the first MMC in a Monaghan book whose name I’ll remember. That’s not a knock. I like that the men are not really the point in her books. The point is the women learning something about themselves. But this book seems like a leveling up — Jane’s own journey is still the point, but Monaghan also created a story for Dan that made him a complete person for me. 

Thoroughly enjoyable. Would be a great summer read. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.