By: Lucy Score
Many thanks to Bloom Books and Hambright PR for the ARCs of this book!
We’re back in Story Lake. Zoey has been staying there after losing her job to help Hazel launch her new book. Zoey is a little bit of a loose canon. She seems to find herself in a mess of disasters often. Also in Story Lake is Gage Bishiop, and he couldn’t be more opposite of her. He’s responsible, keeps a schedule, remembers things, and wants a wife and kids. Zoey is just looking for fun. When Gage finds out some life changing news, he turns to Zoey for some fun. But that’s all it’s going to be right, just some fun? Or will it change everything between them?
The romance between Gage and Zoey was magnetic. They had fantastic banter, a lot of it. Zoey is sassy, and while she talks down about herself quite a bit, she does seem rather comfortable with who she is. Gage is reserved. He’s a lawyer and a contractor. He comes from a close knit, loving family. Zoey has the worst parents. They shouldn’t make sense together, but they do. They bring out things in each other that enhance each others’ lives. He’s protective in a way that could be seen as too much, but it really just comes from such a good place. They really are the perfect opposites attract pair.
I really enjoyed the mental health representation in this book. I too was diagnosed with ADHD later in life. My children also have ADHD. Learning about it, learning about it in kids and in adults, has really changed my way of thinking, my way of parenting, and going through life. I’m much better at being helpful with my kids than I am with myself. It was nice to read about Zoey learning of a diagnosis, doing things to help herself, and then also those around her helping her too. She felt broken, and I felt that wholeheartedly. I have felt like my brain is broken. I know what it feels like to take the medicine, get the change late in the day when the medicine wears off, or feel awful when I forget to take it. I am so thankful for this representation in this book.
I will say, I did think the book was a *little* too long. There were a lot of subplots that, while I get is carried through books, just felt like a little too much at times. Otherwise, I did enjoy the book.
Publish Date: March 10, 2026
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