Could not get into this book at all. The writing was very basic and seemed to go from one action to the next with no description or exposition. Not for me.

Kudos to the author for representing a character with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Joanna has FAS and grew up in foster care until she was adopted at 16. Thankfully her new parents got her the help and therapy she needs to be an independent adult. She inherits a house in Florida and decides to make the move there, making friends with Betty, a neighbor across the street. Betty’s daughter Shanna is recently divorced and she and Joanna make a connection.

There are a lot of monotonous details given about every meal eaten, trips to the store, going to bed, jobs. But I feel almost no emotions from either of the MCs. They do use endearments and say they enjoy waking up with the other but I read it in a monotone way as general information like what they are going to watch on tv. It is very odd to me that neither is emotionally affected by their recent breakups. And more random is the escalation out of nowhere by an ex. This is the third book I’ve read by Popovich and the highest rating I’ve given her. I think this may be a case of me not enjoying her writing style which is a me issue. I am glad to see others enjoying it more. (2.5 Stars)

It was ok. I struggled a bit as I couldn't connect with the story. I eventually completed it. However, I would recommend as it might appeal to others.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started to read this book! I loved the characters and their neurodivergence tendencies. I was so excited to see that in a book! I definitely will recommend this book to anyone who wants a low angst story with a happy ending:

After her adopted parents death, Joanne finds out she inherited a home in Florida.

Shanna, after her husband leaves her, has her mother need to shelter with her in a emergency and meets Joanne.

As Joanne helps rake care of Shanna's mom Betty, they grow close.

Not bad, not outstanding. Decent writing, but I didn't really buy the love story, and the villain was kinda meh.

Joanna was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which made it harder for her in foster care until she was sixteen and got adopted and learn why she was struggling. When her parents dies she feels she all alone especially when her girlfriend Stacy doesn’t feel supportive and decides to break it off while looking through her parents things she learn they own a house in Florida and left it for her. Joanna decides to look at the house with her friend/therapist Heather and decides to make a fresh start but what she didn’t count on when moving a hurricane approaching while there she is befriend by a neighbor Betty who offer shelter with her daughter. Shanna married for convenience to please her parents because they are traditional but she realizes she made a mistake when her husband Paul decides to grant her divorce because he move on she can finally breath and be who she is when her mother Betty comes with her neighbor and friend Joanna to escape the hurricane while there Betty falls sick Shanna and Joanna take care of her as they grow closer their feelings change to love but will they be able to have a relationship when they live miles apart and when Shanna husband decides he doesn’t want to let Shanna go which in my opinion could’ve been left out of the story because it’s came out of nowhere when he knew their marriage was a convenience and was ok with the arrangement. Overall ok read.



I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I’ve never left a bad review before but this book just wasn’t for me at all!

The synopsis sounded so interested and it really could have been but the writing was extremely simple, the dialogue was robotic, the characters were not developed at all. Big traumatic events occurred and only took up a paragraph of writing.

I had such a difficult time getting through it but pushed to leave an honest review.

Joanne Billings has no one after the death of her adoptive parents. She suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome making things difficult for her. After finding she now owns a house in Florida she takes a giant leap and moves. As Mother Nature takes hold Joanne finds herself in another state seeking safety she finds a friend. Little does she know that her friend Shanna, has way more baggage than she dreamed which causes both if them some traumatic times,
A nice friends to lover story with a bit of drama.


Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #EvacuationOfLove fir this ARC