Owen and Jacob were madly in love and perfect for each other until Jacob's desire for exploration and a dream job led him to abandon Owen for a research job in the UK. A year later, Owen feels like his friends are outgrowing him while he still tries to figure himself out. It's not helped when Jacob shows up to their friends' Christmas party, and it's announced that they're all going on a cruise to Alaska that will force them to spend time together. Owen will have to keep on pretending that everything's fine while Jacob is asking for another chance at friendship and maybe more.

Owen is a very complicated character. He's a little selfish, as he's more often than not processing his friend's news and developments from how it affects him. He's obviously depressed and having a very tough time with life, not to mention that his childhood sounds so horrible that he's more than welcome to be a little selfish. He's also very caring and wants what's best for his friends. It just sometimes takes him a little bit to get to that part. I ended up finding it endearing, because who hasn't felt like they're floundering while everyone around them has their life figured out?
Jacob is a good counterpart for Owen because he's more willing to jump into things and see where they take him. It's a good thing because it pushes Owen out of his comfort zone and shows him that he's capable of more, but it can also feel like Jacob isn't considering Owen's feelings. It's the main thing that wound up breaking them apart, and Jacob starts the book not realizing that.
I love the way that Deaver solves the problem that initially separated Owen and Jacob. It emphasizes the story's focus on communication and feels true to life in a way few romance books manage. It's not a love-solves-all situation, and it shows that working for what you truly love can pay off. It's a wonderful message.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the emotional read!