The decision to read this book was utterly and completely influenced by other bookstagram’s reviewers and WOW I don’t regret it! This book is a GEM!

A public defender with a heart of gold and chronic social ineptitude, John Modesto-Whitford is always putting his foot in his mouth. Which he promptly does during his first date with Mary Trace, with a curt comment about her age.

Mary is a sweet, little ray of sunshine, but even she is plagued by insecurity, especially to what concerns her age (37) since her mother won’t stop harassing her about her biological clock ticking. So it’s no surprise that John’s comment puts the damper on any blossoming relationship between them. Nevertheless, thanks to some meddling from John’s mother, the two of them keep running into each other, and soon a sort of friendship develops.

Though Mary wouldn’t suspect this, John is actually just incredibly shy and socially awkward. In fact, he’s been so infatuated with Mary since their first meeting, that he constantly berates himself for messing up his chances, and pines over her. But Mary will soon change her mind about John, too…

This book was so brilliant, because it felt like a second-chance romance, since John is trying to work his way back into dating Mary, but it’s also a mutual pining / friends-to-lovers story, which I loved. Both main characters are the sweetest, and I appreciated the slow-burn, which allows the reader to really get to know John and Mary, their fears, their issues, their insecurities, at the same time THEY get to know each other, too.

In conclusion, if you haven’t read this book yet, then go buy it, because it’s absolutely brilliant!