I had planned to do one review for both books, but there's no way I could fit everything into one post. Part 1 doesn't end on a happily ever after, it's basically the turning point of their relationship. I would recommend carving out time to read both of these back to back. 

Jake and Roe meet while taking a film-making course. Roe has an idea for a final project, and wants Jake's technical expertise to help it take off. Over the next few years they become best friends and business partners, creating a YouTube series, podcast, and doing other investigative journalism/documentaries, while also being very involved in each other's personal lives and families. 

Part 1 is told entirely from Jake's POV and lays the foundation of Jake and Roe's friendship. Jake is ex-military with conservative parents, but living in LA opens his eyes to more than one issue with his upbringing. Jake and Roe immediately connect and have an amazing chemistry that brings their work to the next level. It's not even one thing you can point out that makes them so great together, they just click. They have the same drive and determination, but also empathy and values. They are platonic best friends for years, even if there are stirrings of other feelings on both sides. It's the slowest of burns. Jake takes a while to figure out and accept his feelings beyond a platonic love, and of course life is never easy and gets in the way

One thing I loved was watching Jake and Nikki go from exes to co-parents to close friends, I feel like they did it so right and that it's such a good contrast for later events. Even with these unexpected bumps in the road, Roe and Jake never falter on their friendship. 

Part 1 ends on a mostly bitter and not so sweet note. Jake is finally coming to terms with his feelings but it might be just too late for him and Roe. It was sad, I cried, and immediately started Part 2

Read if you like:  
• slow burn
• single dad 
• friends to lovers
• found family