title: Relative Fiction

author: Alaina Rose

publisher: self-published

publication date: April 12, 2023

pages: 255

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: lots, she gives a long list at the beginning of the book including vomit, a nasal cannula, lots of drinking, and a dying parent

summary: Julia recently got an anonymous email informing her that her longtime boyfriend/fiancé had been cheating on her the whole time. As she drinks too much and returns shower gifts, she gets a text from her high school bestie, Thomas, to say that he's back in town. He has returned to spend time with his dying father and help at the family's restaurant. The two pined for each other in high school, but both assumed the other wasn't interested.

tropes:

friends to lovers
returning home
big promotion on the line
failed engagement recovery
the one that got away
back from the big city to small town
people in their thirties living with parents

what I liked:

both main characters are writers

what I didn’t like:

The main characters are supposed to be in their early thirties, but they mostly talk like unconvincing teens. They haven't grown on changed since high school.
The author doesn't successfully maintain her chapters' points of view. In each characters' chapters, there are thoughts that don't make sense coming from them.
The main character drinks way too much

overall rating: 2 (of 5 stars)

I would not have finished this book had I not needed to write a NetGalley review. I'm glad I finished it, as it definitely grew on me.

Entertaining romance with well developed characters. I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers/ second-chance-at love themes. I thought that Thomas and Julia were relatable characters and liked that the book wasn't just about their relationship, but also brought in family and work issues that they had to work through and resolve. A bit too much clinical description of the sex scenes for my taste, but overall, a fun beach or vacation read.

Beyond excited to check this one out! So happy it’s part of the Read Now program. Will be sharing more thoughts and a full review soon. I can relate to Thomas so much as I also cared for my parents for many years. I love a good friendship “Love Rosie ” type of romance and that’s what we seem to get when his friend Julia enters the picture. I think the issues they are both dealing wit ph are super relatable and I can’t wait to read how it all plays out if their dreams are realized as well as rekindling their relationship.