The collaborative effort of James Patterson and Maxine Paetro with high hopes. And indeed, their joint venture yielded a good book, though one I found to be a peculiar mix of fascination and frustration. The storyline presented by Patterson and Paetro was undeniably intriguing, each plot twist leaving me eager for more. The characters they introduced were a vibrant bunch, well-developed and remarkably relatable. From the enigmatic protagonist to the colorful supporting cast, each character added depth and dimension to the tale.

Yet, as I delved deeper into the narrative, I couldn't shake off a nagging sense of disjointedness. Despite the undeniable charm of each character and storyline, there seemed to be a glaring absence of cohesion. While the characters were ostensibly connected by their friendships, the lack of meaningful links between their individual narratives left me feeling adrift. It was as if I was reading not one cohesive story, but rather a collection of disparate tales haphazardly strung together.

I found myself pondering whether this book could be better perceived as a series of interconnected novellas rather than a singular cohesive work. Each storyline was so self-contained that it could easily stand alone as its own narrative. This segmentation of the plotlines, while serving to maintain interest and momentum, also hindered my ability to fully immerse myself in the overarching story. This could begin four separate series based on each story's characters.

I would like to express my gratitude to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.