Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

My mind replays him holding me. Brushing my hair. Calling me…baby. So infantile and irritating. Why would he call me that? God, I hope he calls me baby forever.

Aww, I really loved this. It’s been on my TBR for absolutely ages and I finally got around to it, and I definitely understand why everyone loves this. It’s a wonderful low angst love story with two beautiful characters. Sheldon was a hoot but Theo stole my heart. He is just the kindest, grumpiest man. He struggles with some insecurities related to his looks and weight, but I adored how Sheldon is so attracted to him *because* of how he looks, not in spite of it. I really appreciated how he was written as a plus size character. It was just a part of him, just fact, you know? But he was never reduced to being ‘just a fat person’.

My eyes dart between the fingerprints Delores left in my cake and Sheldon’s ass. I really do love cake.

Another thing that might seem small but really stood out to me and made me smile was how one of the character descriptions during the book included information about how she was a white lady. Just that little way of showing how it wasn’t just assumed that every character is white made me happy. That, as well as having a Jewish main character and side characters of all shapes and sizes and sexuality made it feel truly diverse.

There were a couple of moments where I felt certain something bad would happen and the angst would set in, but then they would let themselves be vulnerable and talk things through instead. It was lovely.

Being teased seems to bring Theo a sliver of pleasure, so I add “make Theo smile” to my mental to-do list of ways to make the world a better place.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a fab job too.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Teacher MC
Size difference
Grumpy/sunshine
Military veteran
Mental health rep
Fake dating
Plus size MC
Femme MC
Gentle giant MC
Hurt/comfort
Jewish MC
Coworkers
Virgin MC
Facial