Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I was slightly apprehensive going into this one, however, I'm so glad that I read it. It's extremely well written, with characters who are so humanly flawed in little ways, as we all can be, The main plot of the story is dealt with in such an emotionally mature way and it was just overall very refreshing to read.

I HIGHLY recommend reading this book, even if you've never experienced this type of grief. Very very well done.

I liked that the characters🧍🏿‍♀️ actually address their feelings instead of just ignoring them and hoping they go away. Like how Julia explained why she likes Gabe’s singing voice🗣️? 🥹 Those little details make the story much more immersive🎮.

Will, the so-called therapist 😂. Therapy themes in books always pull me in, despite Will not being an actual therapist and in no way professional. I still liked that he helped a lil🤏🏽. The way the laughter is written📝 made me laugh. Trying to Imagine it in my head🧠 is not going so well.

Now, Julia being Black🧍🏿‍♀️ added a multicultural aspect I appreciate👍🏽, but ngl, I struggled to picture her as a Black woman 🫠. Usually, I have no problem visualizing👀 characters, but with Julia, my brain kept defaulting to white until her race or something related to it was mentioned👄.

What stood out, though, was the friendship 😸 between Julia and Elizabeth 🥰. I love stories where friendships grow through misunderstandings❤️‍🩹 and learning about each other. This book proves that I can enjoy genres outside of romance💋 when the writing is this good. I was so invested in their dynamic—rooting for them the entire time.

The ending, though… the last line confused me a bit 😵‍💫. But overall, I felt settled when I finished, which is a sign that the book did its job💷.

Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC🤗❤️‍🔥🕊️

Julia meets Elizabeth, Gabe’s recent ex-girlfriend, at his funeral, and from there, the story unfolds. This is a deeply moving exploration of grief, identity, and how one person can hold different meanings for different people. The portrayal of the grieving process feels raw and authentic, making it more compelling.

If you’ve ever debated taking a friendship to the next level, you’ll find this story especially relatable. Through glimpses into the past, we see how Julia and Gabe’s relationship evolved, adding depth to the narrative. The author’s writing is evocative, pulling you in emotionally and making you truly feel the characters’ experiences. It’s a story that’s both heartfelt and unexpectedly humorous at times.

Many thanks to NetGalley, 4th Estate, and William Collins for the ARC!

To be honest, I put this book down for a while about 40% of the way in. The unresolved tension at the heart of the book, which is by its nature, made me reluctant to keep reading. However, I was compelled to pick it up again and I’m so glad I did. I found it both moving and very funny, and I thought the way it handled grief was very unique and well done. Julia and Elizabeth are both people you’d want to hang out with without ever being unrealistic - sometimes they are selfish or rude or unpleasant, but you can totally see why Gabe was drawn to both of them. This book made a really lovely companion to the new Bridget Jones movie as well - I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoyed that.