Edit: So I just realized Zach from the Wall of Winnipeg and Me also by Mariana Zapata which makes a lot more sense and I feel dumb for not putting it together when there was also an entire extended cameo from Aidan and Vanessa from their book, as well as Trevor who was in the story the entire time lmao.

I definetly appreciate this book even more now with that realization

Real sweet book, has a big plot contrivance and emphasis on a weird dynamics but I really enjoyed it.

Bianca is probably the best main character that I've read from Mariana Zapata. I like how she had her own thing going on the entire book and wasn't soley dancing around the lover interest. I found her really funny and I really liked the relationship she had with Zach and every other character. Surpsingly enough I actually enjoyed ALL of the supporting cast. Everyone felt real, characterized and not into outlines, and all enhanced the story.

Zach, a great golden retriever. Nothing is wrong with him at all. Knowing that he's the same Zach from The Wall of Winnipeg and Me makes me appreciate his story even more then before I realized and really gives him and his relationship with Bianca another layer, knowing how knowing where he was and how he felt in the "previous" book.

However certain things need to be discussed.

First and foremost the cause of the main drama of this book was so contrived. How did Bianca and Zach somehow not see each other in person for 10 years? Yes there was the phone drama but they're close family friends, how did they not see each other for any holiday or family social event? Ever??? How did none of their mutual friends and family re-connect the two in any way shape or form???

Next, the dynamic between Bianca and Zach. They have this sort of family-family friend thing going on because Bianca's parents are weird and neglectful. They weren't raised as siblings or anything, but they were raised in the same house for half their childhood. Nothing bad by itself, but it gets a little weird when they refer to each other as family, and Zach's nickname for her is "Kiddo" which can feel strange given they were raised partly together and have around a 6-7 year age difference. Was there no other nickname that could have been used? Really??? I like them. they're cute and funny, but when you keep bringing up this family-like dynamic between them and having the love interest calling her "kiddo" it can feel questionable sometimes.

Lastly this book probably could have been over 100 pages less with how many times Bianca repeated a variation of telling Zach he didn't have to do something if he was busy. Like we get it she has self-worth issues and its fine to go over that. But good god it's likes 4 times every chapter in a book that has like 25 chapters. The conversations were the same everytime. Bianca would say it with a slight variation and Zach would respond in the same exact way. WE GET IT.

Overall had a lot of fun reading this with a few questionable decisions here and there but this is probably the best overall Mariana Zapata book I've read. Almost everyone felt developed and weren't one dimensional, and the relationship dynamic between Bianca and Zach while phrased weirdly at times made up for it with how genuine and sweet they were together.

P.S. I definetly thought Lauren cheated on Boogie and wasn't actually preganant with his kid but we never really followed up on that.