I wish I had it in me to write an in-depth review about this book, because it certainly deserves one, but I’m still too sad that there’s no more book to read to really dig in properly.

KJ Charles is just so good at what she does, at building out complex people with distinct voices on the page who fit together slowly and beautifully as the plot unfolds. I found myself really appreciating as I read that the conflict resolution and happily ever after in this book didn’t hang so much on either character having a dramatic realization or change of heart so much as each discovering what was already there in the other person; it felt much more romantic (and true to life, in my experience). I also loved how much of a total marshmallow both of them were.

Final thought is that I always appreciate it when a book about queer characters withholds a happy ending to straight people, because I am PETTY.