Second chance romances are either a hit or miss for me. This was unexpectedly a big hit for me. I was sold right from that prologue and knew this would hit hard, and it did. This story had the perfect blend of angst, pining, love, longing, want, heartbreak, friendship, and two people who you can't help but root for. The author's ability to intertwine their personal growth with romantic tension made this book truly compelling.

Georgia was a relatable character, and her internal struggles and self-doubts were explained well through her actions and thoughts. Her relationship with her parents deeply affected her sense of belonging, which in turn instilled the fear of being abandoned or forgotten by her friends as they all moved on to the next phases of their lives.

After having Eli as 'her person' for years and then taking the leap of getting into a relationship with him only to watch it shatter had a huge impact on her life. It was understandable why she kept trying to avoid putting herself through that pain again by keeping Eli at a distance, knowing that she wouldn't survive if things went south this time. As the story progressed, there was immense growth in her individually, making decisions that were for her and not influenced by anyone else in her life.

Eli Mora. God, this man and his love for Georgia really had me sobbing. He was a complex character whose charm overshadowed his internal battles. The duality of his character was well-crafted, revealing both his endearing and flawed sides. As the story progresses, we get to slowly peel back the many layers and understand the complexities of this character. Watching his family struggle and fall apart at such a young age causes him to become hyper-focused on not ending up in the same situation as his father, but in doing so, he slowly starts pulling away from the people who were important to him. Though he wanted to tell them what was going on in his mind, his fear, anxiety, and self-doubt stopped him from seeking out their help.

He eventually seeks help, determined to figure things out in his life while also showing up for the people who mattered to him. He has a lot of regrets over how his relationship ended even when it was the last thing he wanted and how he couldn't be there for his best friend when he needed him and wanted to make up for it.

When it comes to their relationship, Georgia and Eli showed immense growth both as individuals and together. I could feel the emotional tension through the flashbacks and their present-day interactions. Georgia felt a mix of bitterness and longing when it came to Eli and these conflicts were well depicted. Eli was intent on fixing the issues that they had ignored for five years, while also always respecting her wishes.

As they confront their past, they navigate the fine line between rekindled passion and lingering fear. The unresolved issues between them weren't just obstacles but vital components of their personal growth. Their journey wasn't just about reconciliation but also about understanding their own paths in the process.

Getting Georgia's perspective of how much she had always wanted Eli and tried so hard to be with him, only to lose him, was hard. Finding out Eli's feelings about how helpless and conflicted he felt while unable to do anything about it was heartbreaking. It wasn't either person's fault, but the timing and their situations couldn't be helped.

Reading about the wedding planning and how the two drew parallels to the plans they had for their future made me just pause and take a moment to collect my emotions. Eli and his paper rings, and that list made me cry because, how could I not???

The spice was done really well, and the emotional tension between the two only enhanced it. I loved that the smut didn't overpower the plot and was just the right amount to balance things out.

I loved the side characters who felt more like family and were always there for each other and were extremely supportive and understanding. Adam was such an incredible friend to both Georgia and Eli right from the first day.