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Review
5 stars
Oh my heart, what a beautiful read! An enemies-to-lovers, close proximity, slow-burning, forbidden romance, this book captivated me from start to finish, and I fell in love with these characters and their beautiful story.
It’s been two years since Carly’s fiancé, Brad, died in a car accident. When Brad’s father dies and his special needs brother is left without a guardian, Carly packs up her life and moves to their small home in New Hampshire to care for him. Unbeknownst to her, Brad’s best friend, Josh, has the same idea, and he turns up on the doorstep of the family’s small cabin to also look after Scottie.
Josh and Carly never got along. They don’t really know each other, but there was always animosity between them. Neither of them want to be trapped in the same house as the other, but they both love Brad’s brother and are determined to do right by him, so they agree to live together to care for him until they can find him a place in a suitable group home.
It doesn’t take long for them to overcome their past issues and fall into a fun, teasing and banter-filled friendship. They open up to each other, they laugh and joke, their text conversations are so entertaining, and together with Scottie, they create a beautiful little family.
But the whole time, they are hopelessly falling for each other. They don’t hide the fact, they are open about their attraction, but they’re both too mired in grief and guilt to actually go there. Josh, in particular, feels heart wrenching guilt for not being there when Brad died, and swears to himself never to cross the line with his best friend’s girl. So they agree to ignore their growing feelings and do their best for Scottie.
The feels are intense, and the sexual tension builds beautifully, and I loved each and every interaction between them. Their banter is so entertaining, their heartfelt conversations really bring the emotion, and the attraction that sizzles beneath every moment builds the anticipation, just waiting for them to crack.
It’s a slow burn, which is emotional and sexy, and even before anything actually happens, their love for each other just shines. There’s wonderful character growth as Josh and Carly deal with their grief and their complicated feelings for each other. I could understand and appreciate where they were at, and I loved watching their story play out.
This is such a gorgeous read. A story of healing and moving on, of strong connections and found family, and figuring out what you want and where you want to be. It’s a beautifully emotional story, and I loved it so much.
5 stars.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Andie Arndt and Sebastian York, and they do a wonderful job as always. I absolutely recommend listening to this one.
About the Author
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.
With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
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