Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: God Tier
6 stars. One of the best. I was SOBBING at 11pm as I finished this book.
At its core, this book is about grief and whether loving someone is worth the grief that will inevitably follow. Zander wove that idea so beautifully throughout the book and handled it with the care it deserved. It made the romance feel incredibly tender and earned, because the thing standing between the two MCs was eternal grief and not some arbitrary obstacle that the author threw their way. The MMC's fear made sense because he knew what grief felt like, and it made him terrified to choose love that guaranteed he would experience that pain again. As soon as the FMC asked him "what would you miss if you don't give in to love?" I knew I was cooked.
I loved the FMC through both books, all the way to the end. I loved how no-nonsense she was, refusing to put up with the MMC's shit with dry humor and exasperation that made her his perfect match. Their chemistry was perfect, the spice was hot, and best of all it added to their relationship instead of just being there for the spice.
Then, I got to the last 10% of the book. My god. The exploration of growing older, family, loss, and gratitude for having loved someone for decades even when that love turns into grief was devastating. As someone who has experienced loss, I felt this book deeply touched on the complicated feelings that come with losing someone you love deeply. It didn't feel heartbreaking for the sake of making people cry, but was true to life.
The pacing never dragged, the writing was tight and clever, and I genuinely cannot think of anything I'd change. If you want a book that makes you feel things, this is it. I've found a new all time favorite, no notes.