This opening of this novel is very much in the vein of Alexis Hall's 10 Things That Never Happened, which I also struggled to like. I know I've barely started but I don't think I'll employ the same persistence I did with 10 Things - not worth it.

Now I'm going to comment as if I've read more than I have (2%/20 mins of the audiobook), probably resulting in distorted assumptions ... and unfairly equating it too much to 10 Things.

I have read and loved Alexis Hall. But these comedies, they are barely romcoms to me. There is so much time spent setting up the laughs, reaching for the laughs, dragging out the laugh scenes - like in an American TV soap comedy - it's tedious. It lacks the lightness of a romcom, the playfulness, instead it is heavy on manipulation for the laugh.

Sorry, I'm bowing out now, before giving it a chance... I liked Paris, and if he was in an actual romcom, I think I'd glide through it. ( )

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It was a quick read and kept me entertained. I liked that there was a lot of discussion about mental health, communication, anxiety, and growing as a person. As someone with anxiety (though not the same flavor anxiety as the main character) it was nice to see it represented. However, for me, it elevated my anxiety a bit reading about someone else's anxiety (but that is about me, not the book). ( )

*2.5 stars*
This is marketed as a m/m contemporary romance. STOP. It is not a romance. I mean the characters get together in the end but honestly they should not. The author has also not given any tangible reason for me to believe that they will last together.

Phew.

I had no idea the protagonists in this would be so young. That's where it all unravels I think in it being sold as a romance. Paris has so many issues and tbh even by the end of the book I don't get the sense that he has sufficiently worked on them enough to be with someone else. I am sorry, but he needs to have moved further to convince me he can be in a healthy relationship with someone else. A HEA or HFN is the major requirement of romance novels yes, but the best ones sell the relationship. They leave you convinced the couple is together and meant to be together. Rosaline (1st book in the series) succeeded in this aspect but I simply do not see it in Paris and Tariq sadly. Paris's parents are also First class Pricks.

Tariq was fun. His family scenes were my best in the book. I liked how thoughtfully the author also wrote about his religious beliefs. That was cool.

I enjoyed reading about the actual baking but I won't lie that seeing most of them through Paris's viewpoint took out some of my enjoyment.

IDK don't read this expecting fluff. Or believing the blurb.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC. ( )

Paris’ insecurity got really old realy fast. ( )

I loved many aspects of this book, but I don't necessarily think Tariq and Paris are a strong match. There were many things Tariq said in heated moments that were cruel and challenging to come back from. Paris also said some things that go beyond anxiety and fall into the category of immaturity and ignorance. That being said, it's fiction, so it's a fun time! ( )