Remember that the word "no" is a complete sentence, not an invitation for a negotiation. If someone tries to persistently negotiate your "no," that speaks volumes about how much they are willing to infringe upon your boundaries to meet their own needs. Most of the time, this was a strangely validating read, especially because I’ve always been accused of being a HSP (highly sensitive person). I consider this a good beginner’s guide on the subject of sensitive people. However, while I haven’t gone deep into the subject (outside of maybe one or two books), the majority of the information here doesn’t feel new. All of it is readily available online after a cursory Google search. The overuse of acronyms felt a little silly to me, maybe because my brain doesn’t retain information that way. I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

He's my best friend, he's been my rock for years, and in recent weeks he's become my everything. Declan and Avery are best friends who live together and after an accident leaves Avery hurt, it’s up to Declan to step up and take care of her while they battle their buried feelings for each other. Avery was a really nice protagonist who felt relatable to me. While I’m not as sporty as she is, her struggles with recovery after breaking some limbs is something I understand. She was also genuinely nice. Declan was… fine. As much as I enjoy a hero who pampers, something about him set me on edge. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did, it was hard to forgive his overreaction. I struggled a lot with this book, mostly because it felt like Avery and Declan’s friendship made more sense to me than their relationship. I didn't feel their chemistry, all their interactions felt forced and unnatural. There is a lot of telling in this book, mixed with uneven pacing making us speed through so many things (like why couldn’t we see Avery return the favor of Declan’s many orgasms?) that it might explain why I felt so disconnected from important events like their first sex scene. While this book as a whole didn't work for me, I did love Avery's bond with her sisters. It's always nice to see a tightly knit family who can fight and still love each other. I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.