I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was put off by the last Alexis Hall I attempted to read--Mortal Follies--but I thought this looked similar enough to Boyfriend Material (a book I very much enjoyed, even though its sequel didn't work for me) that I figured I'd enjoy it. And I did.

I adore Sam's gently self-deprecating sense of humor. He also so clearly cares about not only Jonathan, but also the cast of characters working at the Sheffield shop. (Hall writes such entertaining side characters.) It endeared him to me, and it gives him some depth that I think is lacking in some of Hall's other main characters. The romance is sweet and more subtle than that of Luc and Oliver, which I appreciated, though I would have loved even more banter. Waiting for Sam's family reveal drove me nuts, but the emotional payoff is worth it.