Book No. 60 of 2020
This was a quick, fluffy read; while mostly lighthearted, it is refreshing to read a rom-com-type story in which the characters have real concerns and struggle with the day-to-day realities of being POC. (Personally speaking, white-centered rom-coms always struck me as being remarkably unrelatable, either because of the problems, or lack thereof.) It’s also really nice to read a story where men are comfortable in their masculinity.
I did find the writing just a little clunky for my taste, enough that certain word or structural choices took me out of my enjoyment of the story, and thought that the author relied too heavily on winding, expository internal monologues to explain what was going on, to the point that banter dragged. I also thought the two main protagonists’ hang ups over their relationship were a little cliche/contrived.
Similar Reads
The small-business-centered plotline reminded me of The Proposal, by Jasmine Guillory, and My Not So Perfect Life, by Sophie Kinsella.