What’s a woman to do when her favorite story about how she met her fiancé turns into a tragedy when he dumps her to take up with his “platonic” childhood friend? Well, that’s a funny story.
Daphne, a children’s librarian who is so buttoned up and reticent that her colleagues take bets on whether she’s with the FBI or in a witness protection program, uprooted her life to follow her fiancé Peter to the small Michigan town of Waning Bay (his family home), only to have him dump her, leaving her homeless. In desperation, she asks Peter’s new fiancee’s ex-boyfriend if she can rent a room. Miles, a happy-go-lucky pothead who works a string of part-time jobs, readily agrees and, after both receiving invitations to their ex’s wedding and getting drunk together, agree to fake a relationship. In the ensuing months, Miles takes her on weekly adventures they can document on social media. Although her goal is to leave the painful memories behind once she’s finished with the Readathon she’s planning, Miles hopes she’ll come to appreciate her new home as more than just an extension of Peter.
As expected, they start catching feelings as they spend more time together and realize that they have a lot more in common than they first thought. Daphne finds that Miles isn’t the slacker her ex painted him to be, but actually works at a winery and only does odd jobs in the off-season. He’s also kind, selfless, charming ,and handsome beneath the scruff, a perfect book boyfriend. It’s so refreshing how mature and honest they are with each other, sharing both frequent laughter and heartfelt emotions. As their relationship grows, they both start to look at the trauma caused by their parents and how it has impacted their thoughts about themselves.
Emily Henry writes beautiful, somewhat angsty stories that don’t shy away from hard truths. In this opposites attract, friends-to-lovers romance, she addresses the damage emotionally abusive or neglectful parents do to their children, but still manages to keep it from becoming maudlin. Although this isn’t my favorite book of hers, she has definitely earned her spot as a top author of the romance genre.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Publication date: April 23, 2024
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