In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything…

For Larissa, it came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.

But Chris isn’t the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago—Chris is her boyfriend’s best friend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy.

This was my fifth book by this author, and I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. Of all the tropes to build a romance around… best friend’s girlfriend? Why?! This was my first time reading this trope, and it immediately gave me the ick. There were some laugh-out-loud moments, along with a few genuinely cute and tender scenes, but overall, the story left me feeling uncomfortable more than anything else. I can usually get behind a love triangle or even a bit of forbidden romance, but this just wasn’t it.

One positive for me was the lack of spice. Every other book I’ve read by this author included open-door scenes, so this felt like a refreshing change. That said, the amount of strong language really pulled me out of the story at times. It felt excessive and unnecessary. Content-wise, readers should also be aware that the book includes smoking, alcoholism, the death of a parent, poverty, a severe nut allergy, and emotional cheating.

I listened to the audiobook and did enjoy the dual narration. Instead of alternating chapters, both narrators performed throughout, so even within a single POV, dialogue was voiced by the appropriate narrator. That choice made the listening experience more immersive and helped bring the characters to life.

Unfortunately, the characters themselves didn’t do much for me. Without getting into spoilers, Mike was a terrible boyfriend, Larissa leaned heavily into a victim mindset, and Chris felt like a complete doormat. I know many readers adore Chris and see him as the ideal book boyfriend, but to me, he came across as overbearing, overly protective, and too involved in a situation that wasn’t his to manage. Mike clearly needed help, and Larissa’s constant frustration and self-pity made it difficult to connect with her. While there were a few relatable moments, I mostly found myself irritated. And naming the dog Woofarine… I just couldn’t take that seriously.

I felt frustrated for the majority of the book, which isn’t what I want from a romance that’s meant to feel swoony or heartfelt. I spent more time wanting to shake these characters than rooting for them. There was some character growth by the end, but not enough to make the journey feel worthwhile.

Even though this isn’t as emotionally heavy as some of the author’s other books, it still felt weighed down, and I was hoping for something lighter and more fun. The trope really dragged the story down for me. To the author’s credit, the writing itself is solid, and the pacing kept things moving, but it lacked the depth, humor, and relatability I’ve come to expect from her books.

Personally, I’d recommend skipping this one, but if the premise intrigues you, it might still be worth trying. It just didn’t land for me and left me feeling more drained than entertained.

This is easily my least favorite of the five books I’ve read by this author. I’m hoping her next release is stronger. I’ve heard it focuses on Mike, who was my least favorite character here, so I’m a bit hesitant… though I do love a good redemption arc. We shall see…