Such an enjoyable story! Annabeth does such a good job creating her characters - they feel so real to me. Reuben and Toby's struggles are authentic and the secondary characters are equally as interesting. Great tension between Reuben and Toby as they try to find their way forward. I will definitely read again and cannot wait for book 3 in this series!

3.5* Book 2 in the series focuses more on relationship*s*, rather than the beautiful-sounding scenery of Alaska.

Book 2 in this series technically could be read as a standalone, as the leads from book 1 only make an appearance in the form of a kiss, and, because the tale is focused mainly on the leads and their relationships, not the company Toby works for, or the trip he's taking Reuben on. It is a tale about making changes, wising up to oneself, accepting help and trusting others. It wasn't the tale I was expecting, but it was a decent read. And in this, you don't get as many descriptions of the many stunning sights in Alaska, unlike in book 1, so it doesn't quite feel like a tourist guide!

Friendly, flirty Toby and remote, uptight Reuben end up spending more time together than they'd anticipated, following the crash of their plane. Coming so close to death bonds them and they end up together in a house that Reuben's rented, as he decides to take stock of his life, chill away from the relentless demands of his job and his life, which includes his rather sharp ex-wife, and *with* his 14yo daughter who decides that she doesn't want to go to summer camp and would rather be with him.

It's a tale about the simpler things in life, about what matters, about making changes and yes, taking some risks in order to see change, and it affected both guys and the people around them. Toby's younger sister grew up amidst the financial strain she saw her brother struggling to cope with, and with his pride being a factor on top. She pulled up her big girl panties and made a decision about her life that was right for her, and stood her ground even when Toby was being a bit of a prat. Reuben's difficult teen, too, made changes to her life, announcing that she didn't want to go to her mother's alma mater and she seemed to transform into a regular BRITISH teen - by the latter, I mean that she seemed to transform from slightly spoilt, rich little New Yorker with tons of expectations and attitude, to someone who lives a simpler, more believable, everyday life, much like us Brits. She seemed to enjoy spending her time with her father who'd been absent for a lot of her life, and she seemed to like the simpler things in life once she got away from her tech gadgets. Reuben changed for the better by realising that maybe now was the time to make changes to his life, to simplify and do things he enjoyed, whilst he had the health and ability to do so, rather than stay in his demanding job and life and in his expensive apartment that he wasn't attached to, so that his later years would be comfortable. Toby's seemingly very traditional and at times, I'm sorry to say, bigoted father (Toby's sister also had some aspects of this trait, which didn't endear her to me) eventually learned to accept that times had changed, that he was vulnerable but not the burden he saw himself as to his family, and accepted help from his extended and supportive family, in line with their traditions and heritage. But, he sadly didn't change his bigotry; this wasn't a Bollywood movie, which was refreshing, though made me a little sad. And finally Toby let go of the... guilt, is the closest word I can think of, that he'd had since his mother died and he ended up assuming all responsibilities for his family, and stopped feeling like a failure, and realised that it is okay to ask for and accept help sometimes, especially when it's offered by people who care, without any strings. But, it took him a while to pull his head out of his bottom and man up, and I'm not sure I liked him that much.

That's what I appreciated about the tale - that people took stock and made changes. But, I can't say that I felt that the leads were suited or really had anything that felt like a couple who truly wanted to be with each other above all else. Yes, they liked each other and fancied each other, but there wasn't that spark, I didn't think. It felt like a couple of bisexual men finding each other and making do, sorry. Both had had more relationships with women and both seemed to view being with a guy a lot different to being with a woman, and I'm not talking about the obvious physical and emotional differences. They didn't present bisexuality as something important to them; they kind of came across along the lines of 'whatever' when it came to being with other people. And, Reuben was too good to Toby, who had many issues that I hadn't anticipated and who came about as a little trope-y, if I'm honest. It did feel a bit like he was using Reuben, but I did appreciate that he tried to pay his way, and though I didn't like his prickliness and his stubbornness, I understood him. But, for me, it felt like even when they became a committed couple, in Toby's mindset, he and Reuben were still a 'this is yours'/'this is mine'/'here's my share' couple, rather than thinking as a couple, as a 'we', and that what they did/bought/brought to the relationship was for the both of them. That saddened me a bit, and tbh, I felt that their relationship wasn't cemented in something strong enough for me to believe in them, especially with the fish thing at the end. I think I'd have rejected the offer of said thing, and I'm pretty sure that Reuben wasn't all that delighted, either. And, sorry, the happy families didn't quite work for me.

I was really sad to see how bigoted and vocal Toby's father and one of his sisters were about Reuben. They called him a nickname that wasn't a sign of affection, but that had hidden meaning. They were pretty rude verbally in his vicinity and they criticised Toby for liking someone who wasn't like them, someone so much older and richer; that's inverted snobbery on top of being bigoted and it has no place in my book, pardon the pun. I think I did get it a bit; I think they were concerned for Toby, but they didn't express that in any way other than being bigoted. And Reuben took it, tried to be the bigger man and didn't berate Toby over it at all, though as it happened time and time again, it was clear that he was hurt and slighted. And, at the end of the tale, I wondered if Toby's family would have entirely had a change of heart, or if Reuben would forever be the outsider. I think I might have understood things from Toby's traditional father and his attitude, but I didn't expect it or like it from someone who was barely out of her teens, someone who should have been educated enough to bite her tongue, even if she couldn't change how she felt. I kind of wish that Toby had defended Reuben more vocally, more staunchly, and had stood up properly to his father and sister and challenged them. He didn't, and I think that that's partly why I couldn't feel a connection between him and Reuben; in my book, you absolutely stand up for and defend the person you care about, especially when he's been nothing but good and generous and selfless towards you.

This was a readable tale, but it's not one that I'll revisit because for me, it felt as if the tale was written around an Alaskan theme, in line with the series, and not with leads who felt like they were organic, like they were meant to be together, as if they were fated to meet.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.