This book surprised me in the gentlest way.

What I loved most was the found-family dynamic within the inn. Most of them aren’t related, yet they show up for one another in ways that feel sincere and comforting. There’s something deeply endearing about people choosing to care. It made me realise how rare — and precious — that kind of support can be.

Sera is such a soft, loving character. She carries so much magic and so much loss at the same time. I especially loved how she sees beauty in others so easily — like when she tells her aunt, “Your foot’s not ugly. It held you up all your life, even when it hurts. I think there’s so much strength and beauty in that.” She extends kindness so naturally to everyone else, yet struggles to offer that same grace to herself. That contrast really stayed with me.

By Chapter 21, when Sera and Luke finally open up about their pasts — Luke growing up having to care for Posy, Sera losing everything despite having all the magic in the world — their bond felt earned. The communication wasn’t dramatic for the sake of it; it felt honest. That moment deepened the story for me.

This isn’t a loud romance. It’s gentle, warm, and rooted in healing. If you love stories about chosen family, emotional conversations, and characters learning to be kinder to themselves, this one will feel like coming home.

I went into this intrigued by the premise, and the concept itself was interesting enough to keep me reading until the end. There’s something compelling about two people trying to rewrite parts of their lives — that setup had potential.

That said, I struggled to fully connect with the leads. I found myself skimming midway through because the emotional pull just wasn’t strong enough for me. Some sections, especially when focusing heavily on Daemon’s vocation and professional struggles, felt a little dry and slowed the momentum.

It’s not a bad book — it just didn’t emotionally land for me the way I hoped it would. If you enjoy character-driven contemporary romance with career themes woven deeply into the story, this might resonate more with you.

For me, I wanted a bit more chemistry and emotional intensity.