What a freaking delightful installment <3

This might be my favourite Maya Jean, quite possibly.
Nobody is surprised by this by now, because I always tend to repeat it in my reviews, but I love my contemporaries when they have a bit more heft, from an angst point of view, and "The Remarkable Lover" was precisely my kind of romance in that specific way.
It's still a very sweet, very light-hearted romance, but it has an emotional, angsty undercurrent that hit just right *chef's kiss*
It's definitely Maya Jean's most mature romance, I think, and I seriously cannot wait to see the even bigger improvements we'll be definitely getting in the next novel in this "Sweet Southern" series.

Angst and emotional upheavals aside, what I loved most in this installment was how well-rounded both protagonists felt: they shine brighter, and feel more realistic and complex, especially Harper, and I adored seeing their dynamic change and their relationship grow.
Harper especially was a delightfully complex character: he hisses and attacks like a stray, touch-starved cat, but he's also so unbelievably lovely and thoughtful and ughhhh, he deserves happiness SO MUCH. I loved him! And I loved Jackson too. The previous love interests in this series always felt a smidge too perfect for my liking, but Jackson, while absolutely perfect (and a literal dreamboat *swoons*), is also freaking lovable and well-rounded, with a few hidden vulnerabilities: he's both a sunshiny goofball with so much golden retriever energy he'd give Harper's service dog, Honey, a run for her money, but also SO domineering and possessive and the literal embodiment of a Service Top with some serious Daddy energy... give me a man who can do both *nods in approval*
I usually steer clear of Daddy kink, apart from a few authors I trust can do it right, but I think Maya Jean is now officially on that (very short) list.
Speaking of which, the steam was fire. Hands down the best steam this author has written, maybe because I felt so connected to both MCs and their dynamic.

As usual, I adored the side characters and the found family vibes they always have going on. The group interactions were so lovely. I cannot wait to be back with them all for Benji and Nolan's romance. I CANNOT WAIT to see what will happen with those two as well... I'm so intrigued.

Anyway, back to Jackson and Harper... black cat/golden retriever, one sided annoyance to lovers, a ton of hurt/comfort, delicious size difference, ALLLLL the first times, plus Lite Daddy kink? Set in a wonderfully wholesome small-town, with found family, and the most adorable service dog? PLUS chronic illness and anxiety rep? I was hooked from the start, and I wholly recommend if those tropes appeal to you.
I cann0t wait to read the next book (and also, the one after that too: I'M INTRIGUED *cackles gleefully*).

TWs/CWs: epilepsy and off-page seizure, injury (past), toxic parent relationship, brief mention of instances of racism, self-deprecating jokes about suicide ideation struggles, mental health struggles (self-worth, anxiety).

Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.