<i>I received an e-arc from the author and am leaving a voluntary review! Thank you so much for a chance to read this book! 🖤 </i>

<i>5⭐️</i> Oh these beautiful characters and their beautiful love story... I'M SO SINGLE! | tropes: roommates to lovers, slow burn, butch/femme | high steam | digital

<i>"They would make mistakes and hurt each other. But they could forgive each other, too, and they could forgive themselves. </i>

<i> characters </i>

🩶 Mira is an underpayed and overworked graduate student who has finally escaped her terrible boyfriend and is trying to rebuild her life. I loved her so much! As someone who is also seen as "over-sensitive" I really relate to her feeling hurt at things that we know aren't meant to be hurtful but hurt anyways. 

🩶 Isabel is also healing from a breakup and the death of her sister. Her journey of not feeling good enough and needing to support and be strong for everyone else even when she's falling apart to learning to be vulnerable and feel like she's enough was so important. I loved her so much!

<i> “You know I’m already yours,” Mira said, pressing their foreheads together. Isabel waited for the rest. “And you’re already mine.” </i>

<i> favorite bits</i>

🖤 I loved how real and fleshed out these characters are. A lot of their insecurities and pasts would flair up in conversations with each other but it was easy to understand and empathize with each of them. 

🖤 I loved the conversations about unions, union history and why they're so important. I liked how central to the story that was especially in these chaotic times where we need community more than ever. 

🖤 The mutual yearning between Isabel and  Mira was everything! They both viewed each other so highly but were scared of how big their love was because of the pain it could bring them. I loved how much they tried to support and understand each other even when they were hurt and upset. I'm so glad there wasn't a third act break up!!! They felt like a real couple figuring out their problems and how to heal and do better! 

<i> "Imagining herself with a woman, not suffocating in a man-shaped prison but as herself." </i>

<i> final thoughts: </i>

How is this a debut? It was so amazing and I need to read Liao's novella 'Not just best friends" because if this is good, I know that is good too!

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