A sizzling sweet read based in small town Texas. This fictional town, and these fictional characters, were all so much fun to hang out with. Pat was swoonable, Lindy wo.derful.

This is the first Emma St. Clair book I’ve read and I loved it.

Its an easy, fun read.

There’s a ton of fun banter throughout the book. And a lot of TV and movie references.

It’s a dual point of view, which I love.

Also the main character is in touch with his emotions and even cries. A dream.

I’ll definitely be reading more Emma St. Clair books in the future.

Pat is utterly shocked when his father tells him that he bought a small town an hour's drive away from their home in Austin, Texas. He is even more surprised when he learns the town is Sheet Cake, the same small town that the love of his life, Lindy, is from. Pat screwed up their relationship badly when he was drafted to the NFL, and he hasn't had a serious relationship since.

Meanwhile, Lindy is in an awful situation. Her sister abandoned her newborn five years ago with no contact. Now her sister has suddenly turned up and sued for custody.

I love second chance romance stories because they always feel quite hopeful. I enjoy the possibility of fixing past mistakes, and I love how the relationship history can add to the depth of the story. In this book, I really loved both Pat and Lindy.

The small town features the Neighborly app as a place where the local residents share gossip. Excerpted threads from the app are included between the chapters, and they are hilarious. The town also has a Ladies Literary and Libations Society that meets at the library after hours; I want to join. This book truly is a rom-com, with all the fun that implies.

I definitely recommend you read Harper's story from the Love Cliches series first (Falling for Your Best Friend) if you get the chance. It introduces her father and brothers in a way that brought great context to the start of this book.

Thank you to Emma St. Clair for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up