"The entire universe is here, in his arms."

⭐️∞/5

As said by Lukas himself, this book took me apart and put me back together again .

I will do my best to articulate all my feelings, some might be rambling but it truly is hard to articulate everything. Just know that in the end, this book is everything to me. It came to me at a time when I really needed it as a graduate student and it was just so healing? It means a lot to me.

To start, I'd gladly say Scarlett is just a version of me through and through, minus the athletics. Anxious. Focused on her goals. Not too many friends. Doesn't go out to parties and has mafia romances? I was also a pre-med student at one point in my life, basically did a pre-med major, and I'm now going to be working in health care (Future doctor of audiology!). So yeah, a lot of her thoughts were very real to me and I sometimes did have a hard time reading it.

Lukas, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE. He's the introverted ex-boyfriend of the girl that she considers to be her "best" friend. Pen sees someone shallow, tormented by loss, but Scarlett sees the real him. We don't get his POV but he's made it clear, from the start, he always did love her. He was always interested. She's the one he felt comfortable to open up to and share those little moments with. She was his person (crying). He doesn't even have to try to be happy anymore, he just is. I could understand his choices and how reserved he is. Yes, it was a bit cultural but also it's a part of him and that part really related back to me.

I think I am someone that has always put school up as my entire personality and this book really has helped me see that I should stop, dare I say a fictional man has helped me realize that I need to just...breathe? That it'll all work out in the end. He's a book husband for me, 100% . He's protective, sweet, dominant, gentle, patient, and respectful. He's also into brain stuff (medicine and research) and officially is a cat dad. He's honestly the kind of man that I want to manifest now.

I think to be perfectly blunt about it, this type of sex would help me too. I love finding out new things about myself that I'd want to see for my future and yeah....I do see this as an awakening for me in that light too.

In other words, I really found their relationship to be so beautiful. It was really important to me and again, what I'd want for myself in the future.

Overall, I loved the plot and the spice. The spice was really hot by the way, Lukas had me BLUSHING. I loved the drops of representation (I'd proudly say Lukas is fluid from that conversation). I thought the progress of the story and portrayal of mental health was great. Scarlett's thoughts were very real to me and when it came to Lukas's feelings, especially with his past, even if we didn't get his POV it didn't shy from his own grief and I thought that was great.

The ending felt wrapped up so right and I cried then, along with so many other times. I am going into this with my heart being so full though, I'm really happy.

Do not think this is over because I will 100% be re-reading this special book in the future!!! :)

I thought his POV spoke for itself but would I love to read more from his side? YES. Would I also love to see a book of them simply being married and loving each other? YES.

In the end, my introverted lovers got their happy ending and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it :)