Thank you so much to Putnam for an advance copy of this book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

This book will be out August 6th.

Readers. I love this book so much! I knew very early on while reading that I was going to love this book. This book has tension, the banter, the trivia, mix in serious themes and all the swoon!

"I don't think you're boring."
"Well, that's just a blatant lie."
"I don't."

I really love how Ellie paced the relationship between Alison and Adam. Things did not start off on the right foot but over the course of a few weekends of cleaning out their friend Sam's apartment the walls of Adam's exterior started to crumble. He threw out some flirty zingers that threw Alison and me for a loop. There was just so much sexual tension between the two BUT Alison dated Sam and the awkwardness that brought on. They just worked so well together and they helped each other find themselves by the end. They just had me smiling from ear to ear.

I thought it was unique for Ellie to incorporate something that should be discussed more. Alison is a BRCA 1 carrier and as a precaution she recently had a double mastectomy. She also is debating on removing her ovaries to ensure that she doesn't get ovarian cancer. I have not been in this position but it felt like all the things that Alison was going through was realistic. There are real women out there who are going through this and making these tough decisions. And even the intimacy of it all. Being touched for the first time in this new body and how scary it can be. Alison had this really great line to Adam, "I want you to touch me the way you want to touch me. It feels sexy to be wanted by you, even if I can't feel every part of it." Having a partner who can understand that and accept that, I can imagine is indescribable.

I did my best to articulate how much I loved this book! I truly did not want it to end. I love the friendships within the book and how they have this bond of trivia. And here I am just thinking about the ending with the kind of grand gesture - iykyk.

I paired my reading with the audio and Queen Karissa Vacker knocked it out of the park! I always enjoy audiobooks narrated by her and this was no exception. She excelled in nailing the banter, the vulnerable parts, the frustrated parts and all the grand internal monologues that Alison had.

It was hard to believe that this was a debut. I am super excited to see what else Ellie has ahead!

PS - The gasped I gusped when there was reference to Formula One and one of my favorite Christmas movies Babes In Toyland!