Jennifer is an auto buy author for me I have loved everything she writes and loved this one too. I was sold from the first page. I love their chemistry and attraction and slow build and the angst and forbidden, excellent execution ! I really like also how the ending with the space between them is really what the two of them needed (even though it hurt my heart bit) but very believable rather than a quick makeup. Overall a solid 4 stars from me, thank you!

-age gap
-forbidden love
-best friends dad
-angsty

i will say this every single time, jennifer hartmann knows how to write angst and tension and she knows how to write it BEAUTIFULLY!!! this book kept me on my toes & had me biting my nails i was feeling so anxious at certain points!!

halley has a tragic past and has no one in her corner so when she meets reed at a house party and finally feels seen things move quick from there. she does lie about her age so once reed realizes the truth he creates some distance.

the angst in this one is unmatched. the tension and longing was palpable and it’s clear how much they both want eachother but want to stay away. i loved seeing halley grow more confident in herself and loved that reed was able to help her with that through self defense lessons.

since reed is halley’s best friends dad there was bound to be some drama and it had me feeling anxious for it the whole book especially once they took things to the next level. i did feel like everything resolved fairly quickly on page and wish we got to see a bit more of them figuring it out together but overall i still had a great time. and the epilogue was so cute!!

if you’re in the mood for a great age gap & something SUPER angsty, i would highly recommend this one

*please check triggers*