I’ve adored every single Tessa Bailey book I’ve read, so I was super excited to check out this series. I grew up gardening with my mom and I identified with Hallie’s affinity for plants and sunny personality. Following her journey of grief and healing after her beloved grandmother’s death made for a rewarding character arc.
The way Julian objectified Hallie (stared at her boobs and gratuitously described them) when he first met her totally put me off. I almost DNF-ed the book right there, but I’m glad I toughed it out and read further because I ended up really enjoying Julian’s swoon-worthy romantic lines and adorable grand gestures.
I particularly identified with Julian’s anxiety and need for schedules. As someone with OCD who cherishes a good schedule, I can understand the debilitating feeling of not being able to plan. I appreciated how this was a big part of the narrative and Julian’s character development. His introspection into the passage of time and what makes it valuable resonated deeply with me, as this is something I have thought about probably more than a healthy amount.
Given the relevance of time in the story, I was surprised by how jarring the pacing was in some parts. There were also several continuity errors throughout the story that jolted me out of the narrative, from the name of Hallie’s high school changing halfway through the book, to the weird structure of the most pivotal day in the story, the whiplash pacing throws off the whole book. For this reason, it wasn’t a five star read.
Four out of five stars.
Paging Kait 