Three and a half stars.

A second chance romance between a stylist and an actor about to get his big break in a major action film. They were high school friends, prom dates, post prom hook-up, and then didn't reconnect until he walks into her department store. She's two weeks out from getting a double mastectomy (she carries the BCRA1 mutation) and he's dealing with racist push-back from "fan" communities. For romance reasons, he moves in with her to assist in her recovery.

I really like these two characters. They clearly cared and care for each other. After an initially frosty meeting, they talk out their high school miscommunication and reconnect (insert eyebrow waggle). His caretaking of her is really lovely. She meanwhile, is focused on recovery and her career, which I also liked.

This book made me think. I don't think I've seen a character who's undergone a mastectomy before, much less in the course of the book. Her relationship to her body, and her breasts in particular, was naturally fore-fronted. It's an important story to tell and to normalize.

I wasn't buying into the MMC's troubles as much, particularly his conflict with his brother. And because he's a movie star, there's paparazzi who mess things up between the two of them, and the fallout of that was sort of messy.

I particularly enjoyed the beginning and middle - the reconnection and the recovery - but the final part with a third act break up and picking up the pieces didn't hit as hard for me.

Still a very enjoyable read and I'm glad I got to meet these characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.