by Alexandra Wood

YA Romance, Independently Published in 2023, 320 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• A little slow. While that’s not inherently a bad thing, you have to go into it knowing this is a slow moving book. 
• Slow burn romance. Again, not a problem. More a content warning for readers who know what they do and don’t like in romance. This is a young adult slow burn and it never forgets that.
• You don’t get all the answers. If you like endings that are neatly tied up with all your answers, this may not be the book for you. 

What I Did Like:

• Solid opening chapter. Immediately I was invested in the main character and had plenty of questions I wanted to keep reading toward. If this one has a preview before you buy and you’re not convinced, read that first chapter. The setup is brilliant and you’ll be invested right away.
• The backstories are well written. They’re not info dumped on you, but instead given in little morsels as you move through the story. Plus, they come together in pleasing ways giving that little hint of a connection between our main characters that sucks you right in.
• The romance works. It’s adorable, realistic, and heartwarming. 
• The ending works. Of course, this is a personal preference, but I like endings that leave me wondering and thinking about characters long after I finish reading. This provides that. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of slow burn romance stories set in other versions of the world will love this one. It’s adorable and sweet but set against the backdrop of a dystopian world. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

• Overall this one is sweet and will appeal to a wide variety of readers. If you’re thinking of dipping your toes into a sweet young adult romance, this would be a good one!