Who knew birding could be so sexy? In this unique, mature romance, two 40-something strangers share an awkward but endearing meet-cute at the start of a birding (aka bird watching) competition in Tucson. Celeste, a middle-school literature teacher, was asked to partner with John, part-time woodworker and aspiring birding guide, by John’s friend Chris when he has to drop out. Celeste interpreted this to mean being his fake girlfriend to keep his ex at bay while John is just looking for a partner for the 6-week competition. Recently divorced, she’s on a path of self-discovery, so they agree to keep the fake relationship going for the duration while allowing her to try a new hobby. Neither is interested in a future together, but after a while, they realize that “birding with benefits” is a temptation they both want to give into. In the meantime, she draws him out of his shell with her enthusiasm and belief in his dream of turning his special interest into a vocation he’s passionate about, and he helps her learn to be still enough to see and hear the sights and sounds of the birds all around them. John appears autistic-coded, but it isn’t a focus of the story, just an explanation of how he views the world.
This is a lovely story that is a refreshing look at how love in the second half of your life is possible if you’re willing to shed the baggage from previous relationships and trust that partnering up doesn’t mean losing yourself. It’s a very slow burn, friends-to-lovers, dual POV romance between two kind, caring people who communicate honestly (talking through issues rather than building resentment) and slowly turn up the heat with well-chosen words and gentle touches. When their passion ignites, it’s steamy, but the focus remains on the competition and their shared experiences in their hikes through the southern Arizona mountains and desert. Dubb has done a wonderful job crafting characters and painting the landscape that they travel through. Celeste’s relationship with her teen daughter Morgan is an accurate portrayal of the natural distancing that can occur when a parent’s dreams conflict with their child’s own ideas for their future. There is quite a bit of LGBTQ representation in secondary characters as well. This is a great beach read! Fans of Emily Henry, Kate Clayborn, Christina Lauren, and Katherine Center will enjoy this. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment