This was a one sitter and I don't know what to do with myself now that it's all over (besides start the entire seven book series over and read them all, of course). I love them all but this one is definitely up there with my other two favorites because it has so many plot points, tropes, character traits, settings, and more that I loved. Roommates is a different sort of forced proximity but it's great, seemingly opposites attract who have deep things in common and/or help each other learn more about themselves, family (both loving and meddling, and realistically tough), therapy, romance books, a bookstore, an author, animals, a cute kid too wide for their age, etc etc etc. And, as always, Chloe writes an incredible story with chronic illness and neurodivergent rep with characters many of us (including myself) can see ourselves in. For that, I thank her, and for this series in general. I'm sad that it's over but am so glad it exists and I can revisit it whenever I want. 

Tallulah and Viggo's journey also hit home for me because he's inexperienced and lonely, longing for a great love, and she's closed off to believing that type of love can exist for her, and I've been both of those people to some degree at certain points in my life. The way they help and care for one another out of genuine enjoyment and the need to make the other feel good is admirable and beautiful. I loved getting both of their POVs to see how they were internally affected by their relationship and how much that differed from what they outwardly portrayed to each other. It also didn't bother me at all that in some ways it's a slow burn, because it made sense for their story and the mutual pining and almost moments were delightful and well paced.

The author note/acknowledgments at the end made me cry again after I'd pulled it together and I think Chloe's words best describe how I feel about her stories, because she was successful in creating what she wanted to: "I believe stories affirming everyone's worthiness of love and belonging have life-changing power--to touch us, heal us, and deepen our empathy for ourselves and others. Stories have the power to reshape our hearts and minds, our relationships, and ultimately the world we live in."

2025 reread: After rereading the entire series, I can officially confirm that this is in my top 3. It makes total sense that Viggo's story was last, since he's been the one from the begging hooked on romance and the ideal love. Having to wait so long in the series makes his loneliness and pain all the more real. Now his journey to falling in love is different than he expects when Tallulah moves in and helps at his store in exchange for him helping her with the romance subplot of her second thriller that isn't going well since she doesn't believe in love. I love their friendship that blooms, their life with the bookstore and their menagerie of pets, and that there was great representation in each character (T=Type 1 Diabetes and fat rep; V=ADHD rep). As with last time, now I just want to start the series over again.