I kindly received a free arc copy and this is my 5 🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒 review.

We are back on Brimrey Island and this time we follow the story of Cherry, Oliver and Melody (Cherry's cat). Melody, that has been with Cherry since his childhood, is dying. There is nothing Cherry could do. Or at least he believes so until the night he meets Oliver. Oliver has resurrected from the death. And if he can do so, then there is also hope for Melody.

This book was for me very difficult, since shortly before receiving the ARC I had to let go of my own cat. So, I viscerally understand how Cherry is willing to do everything or nearly to safe Melody. But beside the difficult topic for me I still couldn't stop reading this book. Cherry and Oliver have not been treated well by their families (the understatement of the year). And the more you get to know them both, the less it is understandable how someone could not love those two. They go through so much, that one would like to take them and bring them somewhere where they are safe and be happy.

Vee writes complex chars so well, and beside the little undead detail, they are so very relatable and feel real. I love the representation that we get to see here. Being TM (or TF) is not bound to the consumption of a specific drug or surgery, etc. Something that I have seen wrongly being demanded very often in the recent times. Therefore, I’m glad that we see that being trans and how someone presents is a spectrum and there is not just one correct way. Mental health is another big thing in Vee’s books and same goes for this one. Cherry and Oliver form slowly a relationship that goes far beyond the usefulness they can represent to each other. The way they grow together, learn to trust each other, protect each other and step up for the other, which also forces them to unapologetically accept themselves, is just beautiful to read. This book is probably the most emotional of the Brimrey Island series so far, but as Vee promises it ends with an HEA. And they sure do deserve their HEA.

You can start the series with this book, but do yourself a favour and read them all, they are absolutely worth your time.