Kristen is a pick me which I didn't like and I just really wish she communicated with Josh. I appreciate such a real character though. Even if she's a bit annoying, she feels real and flawed. 
I enjoyed the double prescpetive. The banter between the 2 MCs is well written. It's what kept me interested. 

I'm really not sure what to say about this one except that the characters felt kind of flat? Kristen was not very likable, and Josh was not very realistic, so it all felt a bit contrived and...well...fictional. I have read other authors who handle very serious topics/plot points similar to those in this book with more care. 

I found Kristen to be a bit annoying at times, I wanted to shake her and have her tell Josh the full reasons behind her actions. Miscommunication isn’t really my jam as a plot point, but I did appreciate the story point of infertility. Also, I accidentally read the second book first, not realizing the stories were connected, and I have to say that Abby Jimenez really did Sloane and Brandon dirty. There was no need for her to

kill him off to set up the next book. His crash would have been just as impactful without a death. She could have picked a tangentially related character and still set it in the same world. I read romances for a happy story, not a heartbreaking death, even if it is more realistic.

It brought down my enjoyment

I loved the representation of women’s health issues but I was bothered by unrealistic physical descriptions of the main characters, some overused tropes, and some background characters that felt like caricatures. 

While helping to plan her best friend Sloan's wedding, Kristin meets Josh, the best man. Though they are instantly drawn to each other, Kristen keeps him at arm's length.

Kristen is keeping a big secret from everyone, even her best friend Sloan. She's been dealing with medical issues that would make it next to impossible for her to get pregnant. Her periods are so extreme and painful that she plans to get a hysterectomy. She plans her whole life around her cycle. She works from home so that she doesn't have to leave her house for work and she's with a man who never wants kids so she can't be a disappointment to her partner. 

Kristen feels like her inability to have children defines her. She feels unworthy of Josh's affection and love. She can't accept the fact that Josh could love her flaws and all. This is really a story about Kristin accepting that she can be loved for who she is, not what she has to offer others. 

The lack of communication in this book on Kristen's part is so frustrating. Instead of telling Josh and having an adult conversation about why she feels like she can't be with him, she just sends him mixed signals and pushes him away. She won't even allow Josh to make that decision for himself. I get it, she's worried that he will be resentful of her in the future, but doesn't even give him the opportunity to make a decision.

Josh is such a patient and kind man. Even though he wants more from Kristen, he he accepts whatever she's willing to give him. It's heartbreaking to watch Josh fall so madly in love with her and not understand why she won't return his feelings. 

I saw the

pregnancy coming from very on in the book.

Why do we always have to define women based on their ability to have children? This is so frustrating to me. I really wish that

the ending had been different and she hadn't gotten pregnant. I wish it would have ended with them choosing to adopt or foster a child. This would have given a more realistic ending, as the ending we are given was very far-fetched.

My heart absolutely breaks for Sloan. I'm really interested to see the progression of her character in the next book. She is such a strong woman. She goes through something absolutely heartbreaking, but is still there for her best friend.

Just weeks before their wedding, her fiance Brandon dies in a motorcycle accident. He's hit by a drunk driver. He ends up having a stroke and passing away in the hospital.

 

Tropes: friends to lovers, firefighter, slow burn