3,25⭐️ I really really love whimsical cozy fantasy books and overall I must say that I liked this story but unfortunately there were so many aspects that felt underdeveloped & flat to me.

First of all I like to point out the things that I enjoyed. The writing style was absolutely incredible and the whole world felt so idyllic while reading the story. I could absolutely immerse myself into it and it was such a great summer read. I also really loved Thornwood house. I have read books before where sentient houses got mentioned before but not like this house. This house cared & protected its inhabitants and actually had chicken legs to run around the village and the woods. I’d really love to meet that house too because it’s so adorable. Furthermore I also really enjoyed the plot of the story. At first I thought this was going to be a quiet book with not much going on but it turned out that it had an actual plot ( without going into details & spoilers ) with some kind of mystery elements and I was quite surprised to read it.

On the other hand I didn’t like the romance story and the characters relationships. And I don’t mean just Evie and Gil. Every character that had a connection to Evie, except for her daughter Ruby, felt so flat to me. This book has almost 400 pages and somehow the relationships didn’t have enough space to be fully established. I think it would’ve been better not to introduce so many characters and to focus the most important ones.

So overall this book had potential but didn’t reach it fully unfortunately. I still enjoyed it but I would’ve loved to see more depth. Also I think there’s going to be a second book and I think it’s going to be about Ignatius & Abby and I’m REALLY curious about that. But maybe I’m wrong but let’s see!!

*4,25⭐️ This was such a cliche American Highschool love story, set in the 80‘s BUT DAMN I ATE THIS STORY UP. Literally one of the best slow burn stories I’ve read. This book had such a tight grip on me it was insane.

I dont tend to pick books up anymore that take place at highschools but I saw a booktoker recommending this book wholeheartedly so I just had to get it and I didn’t get disappointed at all. Regardless I noticed some flaws that this book had but I’ll come back later to them.

The plot itself was nonexistent for a 640 page book but wow it kept me hooked regardless!! AT ALL TIMES!!

I LOVED how slow paced this romance story was & the dual POVS of Sara and Robbie and these factors made the book even better for me. The way they started out as nothing to each other to become EVERYTHING TO EACH OTHER ( if you know you know ) UGH! My heart! I’ll probably never forget their first kissing scene because that changed my brain chemistry the way it was written. I don’t wanna say it here because I want to keep this review spoiler free but if you want to pick this book up you’re in for the ride of your life. THE CHEMISTRY WAS INSANE and l want to completely learn every single word of that chapter and integrate it into my BRAIN so desperately and quote it for-and backwards.

This book is also definitely focused on its main characters and I feel like everyone else ( aka the friends, teachers, family…) play not really important roles, which is kinda concerning since both of them are teenagers but Robbie’s family was awful anyway so they can go to hell but I’d love to see Sara more focused on her best friend and mom. I feel like they’re were mostly just existing next to her which was such a shame. Don’t get me wrong I do love books that focus on its main characters but a book doesn’t really work without taking care of side characters as well.

I also wouldve loved to see more of Robbie’s dreams and wishes. We didn’t really get to see those since he didn’t get any character development and he himself said at the end that he still didn’t have any idea what to do with his life, which is such a shame because if you write a 640 pages book I feel like there needs to be done with the character but in this case the character development was 100% focused on Sara.

But overall I really really loved the book. Mainly for its romance since it’s so INCREDIBLY WELL WRITTEN. Need to read more from the author.