⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Just 12% into the book and I got emotional countless times. A few because of Nico’s response to his worsening eye condition and his fear of telling his father because he doesn’t want to take away from his happiness lately. And the other half is from Rafe’s self-deprecating thoughts and his feeling of inadequacy because I can relate to it on some level 😢. Plus, it makes me so sad for Rafe when he and Nico argue. But one of the best parts of this book was Rafael and and Nico 🥹. Especially Nico because is the sweetest little kid ever. 

This was one of the few books that I enjoy and care for the side characters and plot besides the romance. Like I love Ellie’s mom and stepdad, Rafael’s relationship with his family, the inclusion of Cole and Lorenzo, and the issues with nasty Ava. And y’all, Hillary pissed me the fuck off, Rafael is a hell of a man because that woman would’ve been instantly broke and cut off. But is it crazy to say I LOVED mental health and trauma rep more than the romance?? Like because those aspects were so detailed and significant to themselves it made me appreciate the romance between them. And I LOVED that they didn’t have spicy time until 80% in. This was easily the BEST Lauren Asher book I’ve read. 

The jealousy we saw from Rafe when Cole was around Ellie was amazing 😘👌. I loved when Rafael would get hibiscus flowers for Ellie and even went so far as to get a hibiscus plant so he would always be able to give her flowers. And I loved when he bought a ticket to London with her so he could be there for her and get through the flight 😭😭. And then he made a comfortable environment for her so she wouldn’t be ashamed of her scars. And y’all, she never felt weird when he would eat the leftover food if they had any AND she even helped eat some of the leftovers too 😭😭. 

This was literally an amazing book all around and I wish I could read it for the first time again. 

“Keep an eye on her while I go searching for my ax.”

“It’s in the garage. Bottom left shelf next to the paint cans.”

“Mom.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you, but first you need to convince Burt not to murder Rafael.”

“I wasn’t going to murder him.”

“Or threaten bodily harm. What will my mom do if you end up in jail?”

“He’d wait until I found a way to end up in there with him.” “You two are hopeless.”

“Fortunately.”

“My son is the best part of my life, and I will slay every single one of my demons to make sure he doesn’t have any of his own.”

“You’re not allowed to leave again. You got it?”

“Never? What if you get sick of me?”

“No. Never. Right, Papi?”

“No te preocupes, mijo. If she runs, I’ll bring her back for you.”

Dahlia: I pity Ellie. I can’t believe she willingly puts up with nine animals.

Rafael: I only have eight.

Dahlia: You forgot to count yourself.

“Elle.”

“Oh. Elle! I like it.”

“I call her that.”

“So I can’t?”

“Glad you understand.”

“Rafael isn’t just rekindling the crush I had on him all those years ago. He is fanning the flames and making them burn stronger than ever before, and he has absolutely no idea.”

“Elle.”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up and kiss me already.”

“You may see a broken masterpiece, but I only see you.”

“I’m sad you were hurting that bad.”

“I’m better now. I promise.”

“Do you swear?”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Papi told me it’s okay to worry about people we love because that means we care.”

“I love you too.”

“More than sour gummy worms?”

I nod. “And strawberry-lemon fizzy drinks.”

“I love you more than pianos, superheroes, and Duke Brass.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of love from such a little guy.”

“Papi says I have the biggest heart he knows.” Second-biggest heart to exist, right after his father’s.

“With her in my arms, I’m happy and hopeful. Like I’m no longer stuck in reverse because I found the brightest star to guide me out of the dark. Elle Sinclair.”

“He is an army of one, claiming every fragmented piece of my mind, body, and soul as his while I wave the white flag of surrender. Whatever he wants, he can have it, so long as he never stops kissing me like this.”

“All I see is someone who chose to live. Someone who chose to keep fighting, even when they had reasons to give up. Someone who turned their scars into shooting stars.”

“And what about the song I helped you with?”

“I’m glad you asked because it turns out Cole wants me to help him with a bunch of songs.”

“Really?”

“Yup. And he told me you could be listed on the credits.”

“No way!”

“Congratulations. You may be the youngest songwriter in history.”

“If you need more help, I’ll only charge you a gazillion dollars.”

“I’m helplessly falling in love with a man who could end up breaking my heart one day. Hopefully, he chooses to protect it instead, but it doesn’t matter. I’d willingly choose to repeat every single moment, so long as it may end with me spending forever in his arms.”

“You are the one I never knew I needed. I may not be the one you envisioned for yourself, but I won’t stop until I feel like I’m worthy of you.”

“You’re the one I was always meant to find.”

“Pleasuring her is my newest drug of choice. The high is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, and I want to chase it for the rest of my life. Just like I would chase her to the end of the world and back because I love her.”

“If it wasn’t obvious, then let me make myself perfectly clear. You’re mine, Elle. In every sense of the word, from here on out, because I love you.”

“Again.”

“I love you. I love every single thing about you. Your mind. Your scars. But most of all, your heart.”

“What’s wrong? Does Rafael not know about the crush you had on him back in the day?”

“I had my suspicions.”

“But Ellie wouldn’t confirm them.”

“Oh.”

“I’m assuming you don’t know about ‘Prom King’ either then?”

“That’s it. I’m officially disowning myself and changing my last name.”

“Good thing you’ve been practicing ‘Ellie Lopez’ since high school then.”

“I never want to go a single day without him because he is the one who inspired the greatest unwritten love song of all. Ours.”

“You clean up nice, Prom King.”

“I can’t wait to swap that nickname out for a new one.”

“Like what?”

“Husband.”