As someone with more life experience than the target audience, the beginning of this book hurt so much because it’s something I’ve seen way too often: trauma, and changing, not being willing to admit you and your partner have changed, and perhaps in different ways, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms that come with all of that.

Fortunately for our plucky heroine, the utterly delicious “bad boy” is much more self aware, willing to take the time to sort out his own shit, and help her through it.

And then plot stuff happens.

But that first part, where we start to see the difference between surviving and thriving, is so, so important and I love seeing it in writing.

(And the story hooked me hard and refused to let me go)

Jennifer Ikeda’s narration remains excellent.