There might be no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is, until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong…

. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date—possibly the best in living history—Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.

Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.

While I don’t always love the excessive cursing or open-door spicy scenes in Abby’s books, I keep coming back for the heartfelt stories and the emotional depth of her characters. Her books consistently go beyond the surface-level fluff of typical romcoms—they hit deeper, with weighty themes and layered storytelling.

This particular book leaned even more into serious subject matter, which slightly overshadowed the cute romance at times. Still, I found it an enjoyable read overall. I listened to the audiobook and really liked the dual narration from Xavier and Sam’s perspectives—the narrators brought both characters to life in a way that made the emotional beats land even harder.

The grumpy/sunshine dynamic is one of my favorite tropes, and this story delivered on that front. The witty banter was sharp, and the humor hit the mark, offering a great balance between laugh-out-loud moments and swoony, heartfelt ones. I also liked that the story featured a long-distance romance. It’s not a trope I come across often. While I’m still undecided if it’s one I love, it did offer a fresh perspective. That said, the constant focus on the challenges of being apart did feel a bit repetitive after a while. Still, the chemistry between the couple was undeniable, and their relationship felt authentic and emotionally satisfying.

Sam’s storyline involves some heavy emotional terrain—caring for a mother with dementia, navigating tense sibling relationships, battling depression, and processing grief after a family member’s death. These topics are handled with care and realism, and while they may be triggering for some readers, they also make the story incredibly relatable and moving. The portrayal of a family dealing with dementia was especially well done—it was raw, immersive, and emotionally resonant.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, heartfelt read that balanced emotional depth with humor and romance. It’s touching, funny, and full of authentic moments. Highly recommend—especially the audiobook!