Unfortunately this book just wasn’t it for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to read it before it releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I did not like this. I DNF at 20% just not for me.

I really wanted to love this because I love a good love triangle. But it just felt off to me. Jenna and her boyfriend decide to be "open" during college. Then Jenna's roommate's boyfriend's BFF (that's a mouthful) decides he wants to get to know Jenna and the two begin to hang out and, as expected, feelings become involved. The book was a lot slower than I would have expected and I absolutely HATED the ending. So while it wasn't for me, I'm sure there is a target audience out there for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I did not like this. I DNF at 10% just not for me.

Loved the found family but hated the last decision of the FM at the end 🫠🫠🫠🫠 She could just have talked to him or have a normal breakup and told him to wait for him, probably? But NO! She went the worst one, of all the things😤 she said is in love with her ex🙄🙄agh 😭

DNF @ 10%. Unfortunately I found it very difficult to connect to anything or anyone. The characters are very juvenile and lack any real depth. I didn’t enjoy the writing and found it very lacking.

This is one of those messy, emotional reads that pulls you in because you know it’s not going to go smoothly—and that’s the whole point. Jenna starts college trying to balance the freedom of an open relationship with the comfort of what’s waiting back home. Enter Jack Ross, the type of guy who sees straight through the walls she’s trying to keep up. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but what really drives the story is how it handles the emotional weight of Jenna figuring out what she actually wants—not just what she agreed to when she left home.

The dynamic between Jenna and Jack is the highlight here: sexy, frustrating, and believable in all the ways new adult romance should be. It captures that in-between space of early adulthood where choices feel both exciting and terrifying. If you’re looking for a steamy, angsty romance that isn’t afraid to get a little complicated, this one will definitely scratch that itch. Just be ready for some feelings along the way.

2.75 stars, rounded to 3.
I had a rough time with this book's friends.
I had a hard time connecting, so that could just be me.
We have a young woman, Jenna, who is headed off to her first year of college. She will be on her own for the first time. She goes into the fact that she is being cut off from friends and family (I still struggle to understand the necessity of this, but who am I?).
Her boyfriend (insert eye roll) made it clear to Jenna that he wants a long-distance and open relationship. He wants his cake and to eat it too, as my Grandmother used to say. At the end of the year, however, they will just come back together after doing what they want in their first year.
Jenna's roommate is dating a guy. His best friend, Jack, is into Jenna. He wants to spend time with her, and she wants to spend time with him.
Feelings end up happening, and relationships are complicated.
Without giving away the end, the big question and struggle is, will she be able to have things go back to normal with her boyfriend, or have things changed too much?
The structure of the plot was okay. The pace was a bit slow for my taste.
I just had trouble with actions, and the characters were frustrating.
The characters needed more development.
Again, it could be that I just didn't connect with this book, so definitely give it a shot if this sounds like something you might like; it just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Bloom, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Happy Reading!