I feel like I should start off by saying that I had a lot of fun reading this book. That being said, I think that, as it is, the book is just okay. The characters are very lovable, and the chemistry between them is undeniable, but that’s pretty much the best part of this story. If I had to rate it solely on how much I liked the characters, I would probably give it 4.5/5 stars.

The plot and pacing, however, are where the book falls apart for me. There’s a lot happening outside of the relationship, but none of it feels particularly important or engaging. The most interesting part of the plot, in my opinion, is Dashiell, Albie, and James working on trying to get the Medical Act passed.

Bobby is such a wonderful character. Watching his growth from the first book to this one, where we get to see more depth, was incredible. His journey—grappling with the death of his father while trying to figure out his place in the world as a gay man and the second son with no title—is handled with so much care. You can’t help but root for him and want everything to turn out well. I honestly can’t think of anything I disliked about him.

James, on the other hand, is such a complicated character. His internalized homophobia and lack of confidence—not only as a Viscount but as a man—are heartbreaking to read. It’s clear that he’s never had anyone to tell him he is enough until he finds a place in the family Gwen and Beth have created. As a character, he was very frustrating to watch. He repeatedly sabotages himself instead of letting good things happen because he feels as though he doesn’t deserve them.

My biggest qualm with this series as a whole stems from the first book, specifically the step-sister dynamic established at the end of book one. I don’t understand why the author chose to resolve the conflict in that way. It only gets worse in this book when Gwen and Beth decide they will marry each other’s cousins. This odd choice is further compounded by the inclusion of a family tree at the beginning of the book, which actually made me laugh out loud due to how absurd it is.

Overall, I had a great time reading this, but I wouldn’t call it a great book.