For some reason, I kept pushing this book aside when going to my TBR list and finding what to read next. Then I noticed its publication date was coming up and, being as it’s an ARC, I needed to get on it asap. Boy, I should have done so earlier. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This is a new-to-me author, which always puts a story down a few notches on my must-read since I’m unsure what to expect. I think the description, though accurate, came across as a bit too rom-com to me. I like a good rom-com, but it’s oversaturating the market right now, in my opinion. This book is not marketed that way, it was just how I perceived it since it seems that is the “hot” think right now. I love an amusing book, which this is, yet I wouldn’t say it’s a rom-com at all.

Nothing like a mistaken sext to start a story off right. Avery is in a new town a few hours from home and everyone she knows, so she doesn’t just let the wrong number dirty text go without getting into a conversation with the sender. Surprisingly, they end up having a fun conversation that helps her to relax instead of stress. It’s not a spoiler to tell you that Avery is actually having this text conversation with her new boss’ son since that’s in the blurb about this book. So the reader is in on the mystery both Avery and Jake haven’t yet uncovered, which goes on a bit longer than I expected. Just when I thought it was bordering on crazy that they hadn’t yet discovered who their mystery friends were, the big reveal finally happens.

I really enjoyed this story before the reveal, then liked it even more after. Avery and Jake’s relationship took on a different depth once they realized they knew a lot of inner thoughts of the other. Things you wouldn’t necessarily know about someone so early in a relationship. That’s a scary thing for them both, especially Avery, but also gives them both a measure of relief.

Both main character’s have their burdens to bear; Avery is hard of hearing and Jake was hurt as a child (I’m not going to get specific with that part since it’s a bit of a spoiler) and has problems with his leg. This helps them to understand one another in ways not everyone can, no matter how much they try. I really love them together and was rooting for them, hoping Avery would open her eyes and find her own happiness.

Avery’s mom is my hero in many ways, but also annoyed me sometimes. She really tried to get through to Avery and help her to see that her earlier dreams didn’t hold after a major life event. She wanted her daughter to discover what would make her happy, not try to fulfill some promise that nobody was going to keep her to but herself. Yet, her mom also gave her guilt about finding her way in a new city. As a mom, I get that you want your adult children close. But her mom was giving her mixed messages and it showed in Avery’s actions.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away so I’ll wrap things up with saying that I was fully immersed in this book. I’m really looking forward to more by this author. I’d love to see a story for Jake’s sister in the future, but the author has plenty in her back library for me to enjoy when I get a chance.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.