★★★★★ 5
Worth the wait!
Format: Kindle
I've been anticipating this book for so long and even reread the last one to get my mind back in that world. I was not disappointed. Valerie and Abby were perfectly paired in every way. Their chemistry was so apparent from that first time kneeling in the park. And their emotions felt so real, like you've felt what they're experiencing before. And Francesca, the antagonistic, really infuriates you to the point of wishing things that probably shouldn't be wished on to another person. But that's how you know a character is well written, when they can illicit such emotional responses from the reader. And my god, did this book have emotions from passion to playfulness and even hurt, but in the end, these two women stand strong and stronger together for what they go through. And I can't forget to mention Hazel who was just so stinkin' cute!
The only critique I have was Abby's friend Erin, who, at the beginning didn't seem the most supportive and kind of judgy despite her own odd situation with her bf Dan. I actually thought Abby and Erin were going to have their own conflict from the vibes at the beginning. But then Erin was quick to defend Valerie without knowing anything about her on a personal level because Abby signed an NDA and Erin didn't really know anything about their intimate realrionship or what Abby went through at the house since she didn't really disclose much. I guess she could have done so off page and, maybe I'm misremembering, but it didn't seem obvious that Erin would've known Valerie was a good person so I'm just wondering why she would want to push them together. We know she was being supportive technically because WE know Valerie's intentions, but SHE doesn't know, and ABBY doesn't know, so from Abby's perspective, it just seems like more of Erin supporting other people over her. If it were my friend coming to me saying all the things Abby thought she heard and understood from her perspective during the 3/4 conflict, there's no way I'd be encouraging her to give Valerie another chance or be on Valerie's side even a little.
It was such a minor issue even though, yes, I know I wrote a paragraph, but still, an almost insignificant annoyance that didn't sway my overall opinion. Just an afterthought that made me think about how Abby deserves all the support she should've had with her own family.
Again, so worth the wait because I love this author and the characters she comes up with and the worlds she builds around these people. Health is so important and comes first so I would wait a decade for the next one. I'm so pumped to see who's up next in this friend group because I know there's another beautiful relationship waiting to unfold. Bring it on, Anna!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2025
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