please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: animal death (fish), betrayal, binge drinking, cheating, depression, emotional abuse, emotional cheating, fat shaming, manipulation, mentions of death, misogyny, narcissism, ow drama, public breakup, toxic relationships
Kink CWs: boudoir photography, choking, dirty talk, hair pulling, masturbation, oral, praise, spanking, spit as lube, squirting, stripping, “teach me”, wet dreams
standalone: book 1 of the Lessons in Love series
final thoughts: this book put me through the emotions ! It was almost perfect for me, and I enjoyed so much of this book. The FMC was relatable and realistic- she struggled with self esteem throughout the book while the MMC worked to build that confidence up.
The MMC was so swoony and near perfect and his cousin was amazing, I can’t wait to see if she gets her own book. I was giggling and kicking my feet loving this story up until this one specific scene that completely ruined my beautiful cinnamon-roll, golden retriever, FMC-obsessed view of the MMC and it was so hard for me to fall back in love with him after it 🙃🥴😬. I needed to text a book friend for emotional support and after sleeping on it overnight I’m still mad at him LOL

read this book if you love
😬 angst
⛓️ BDSM (light)
🫡 big MMC
💵 billionaire
📸 blue collar MMC (photographer)
🍿 celebrity (local)
🍪cinnamon roll MMC
🤩 curvy FMC
🥵 dirty talk
🎣 fish out of water
🏝️ forced proximity (neighbors)
💞 friends-to-lovers
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
👦 he falls first and hard
🛏️ “it’s just a fling”
😏 kinky
💞 mutual pining
🥰 nicknames
💞 neighbors-to-lovers
🔀 opposites attract
😜 jealous, possessive MMC
🙏 praise
🤓 “teach me”
💔 third act breakup