All of Tessa's books are a rollicking good time - the woman does not know how to write a boring book. And this book is no different! Julian is a college professor forcing himself to take some time off after a colleague's mental breakdown forces him to realize that he's dangerously close to his own. Hallie's adjusting to life without her beloved grandmother and trying to save a wine bar that's overshadowed by its flashy neighbor. It's a real opposites-attract situation as uptight Julian tries to release his death grip on schedules and known entities and free spirit Hallie is working on doing the opposite to grow her landscaping business and they're each also writing secret letters to each other.

Tessa's heroes have really been the standouts for me recently, and Julian continues that trend. He's an anxious nugget realizing his coping strategies maybe no longer work, and is more than willing to try and find new ones. Hallie's lack of schedules and plans stresses him out, but it's always important to him to emphasize to her that this is his problem and not hers. We love a man who 1 - is working on his mental health and 2 - makes sure that his love interest knows that their differences are not a character failing on her part.

Hallie's also a real delight, but her end of the story is where things fall apart for me a bit, I think. Tessa writes books that really fly by, and I think this could have been 25 pages longer with a little more backstory for her and I would have been satisfied - I just would have liked her to be a little more fleshed out. To me, her reasons for not telling Julian she was behind the letters were a bit weak, but his reaction when he finds out she's his secret penpal is absolute perfection. Another ending that Tessa 10 years ago wouldn't have written the same way, and a great example of how authors grow.

As always, I am ready for Tessa's next book the second I close her latest one. Never stop, Tessa.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

CW:

Hallie's mom is also a free spirit and kind of dumped her with her grandmother, unsupportive father, recent death of a grandmother (off-page), wildfire that put a sibling in danger and caused financial losses (off-page, remembered), panic attacks (off-page, remembered, and on-page)