Maggie goes in search of her birth mother and finds her soul mate along the way. The story alternates between two timelines, Maggie’s story in the present and her mother Bea’s story in the past. I felt like this is more women’s fiction than romance but I enjoyed the romcom moments. (The references to the movie Say Anything are fun.)

Maggie is thirty years old and when she finds out who her birth mother is through a DNA test she decides to try and find her. She finds out her mother, Bea, will be at Bea's friend’s summer wedding on Fire Island and decides to travel there with hopes of meeting Bea. When she arrives, there are lots colorful characters that are part of the wedding party. After she sees some family drama between Bea and Bea's sister, she is ready to give up and go home. But then she meets Matt (whose mother is the bride) and she tells him her story - why she is there. He encourages her to stay and he introduces her to everyone as his girlfriend. This way she can meet her birth mother and her family and then decide if she wants to share her identity with them. Matt is a journalist for Rolling Stone Magazine and loves record stores while Maggie owns her family’s vintage record store (and loves it) so they have a lot in common. There is also Maggie’s best friend Jason, who she just became engaged to.

I thought the story focused mostly on Bea and her angsty family drama but it was fun to see Maggie find her HEA and I loved the sweet grand gesture at the end. Thanks to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is a warm, emotional journey of self-discovery, with Maggie searching for her birth mother. The writing is heartwarming, with a perfect balance of humor and real heart. I couldn’t help but root for Maggie as she navigates the tension between her old life and the new one she’s discovering. The chemistry between her and Matt was amazing. It’s a classic fake relationship trope, but done so right, compelling, funny, and full of those sweet, awkward moments we all love in rom-coms. The setting on Fire Island just added to the magic, making this one of those books where you can’t help but get swept up in.