This one was a solid 3-star read for me.  I enjoyed this book, but there was something ... missing.  I think that the main plot might be just too shallow to support a full-length novel.  There definitely isn't enough conflict, and there aren't any fully fleshed out subplots that really contribute well to the themes of the book.   This one reminded me quite a bit of Olivia Dade's latest, At First Spite.  Dade's book makes this one feel flat and superficial in comparison, especially when it comes to its exploration of mental health and the ability to pursue and maintain healthy personal and professional relationships.

I think the author has an engaging voice and I did love her characterizations of Malcolm, Josephine, Malcolm's friends, and Josephine's roommate.  I felt like I got to know them and understood their motivations throughout the book.  The banter is cute, and I was #TeamMalcolm from the very beginning so I loved that he enjoyed such a satisfying ending.   

My hot take is that the story would have worked a lot better if one of two things had happened: Ezra became part of the action so that there was a true love triangle, or cut entirely from the present narrative and referenced only in flashbacks as context for Josephine's insecurities.  As it is, his character kind of straddles the line between "this guy is trouble for our MCs, what's going to happen next" and "sigh,,.. who cares about this jerk."

This is only the author's second book, and there is enough good stuff happening here that I think it will be interesting to see how she progresses in the craft and learns how to construct a story.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this novel.  All opinions are my own.