Saw this upcomming Brayden book and was super excited, sounded like a fun book and very grateful to have gotten it to review!

I litteraly just finished it and have all these feelings , it has a very sweet story but im also left feeling abit empty in the end.
It has a great start, insecure Taryn trying to find her way, sweet Charlie dealing with these expectations shes been trying to live up to and starting to realize its making her unhappy and then the support characters - really good ones and funny just like all friends in Brayden books

But then it also falls abit flat for me.
Im thinking what happened? Trying to pin point the issue thats making me feel it ,
The support characters ”dissapear” from the story , and i have to say im missing them cause like i said Brayden writes amazing friends scenes, there is just not enough of it.
Charlie and Taryn are super sweet but Also gets to repeatative , its alot of same - seeing Taryn calms Charlie down, love her smile , blazing blue eyes , hooded eyes mentions and sexy scenes are quite Boring and all same same.
Like im enjoying their sweetness but at the same time not 100% connected to them?

We find out Charlies dad was abusive in one scene, and i wouldve liked to hear abit more, its her whole childhood right, i wanted few more stories of being vulnerable with eachother.
I can use my Imagination ofc but like i said their scenes together were getting plain and just too sweet so now im just overthinking What was missing maybe?

Charlies ex Danny, i dont know What that was, he is toxic , big ass , then kinda kind? .. no we just dont like him haha and his mom - wow.
Ok his mom, Monika, huge writer and was Charlies moms best friend.
Charlies mom died few years ago and she is just seeking approval from Monika , seeing her as something closest to a mom she has left.
But this binch is uber toxic, hoooly.
Wants Danny and her to get married, wants Charlie in new york for a position she has helped her get.
But when Charlie falls in love for reals , with a girl , this Monika binch turns all kinds of evil , manipulative and it broke my heart really for Charlie and grownups in her life.
Also bleh causes the drama You know is gonna come for ya around 90% of book , siiigh , that we all just hate hate hate.
And i hated it so much im fuming inside writing this , but ok whatever i Will chill the f down soonish.

Im feeling 3 and half stars right now, as much as the story was sweet rly it was missing some Brayden Magic with overall things?

I also need to know if Danny makes it as a writer? Did mommy help him and he fell flat on his ass anyways?
Did charlies short story outsell his work?
Melissa if i you see this please tell xD

It was so gentle and sweet.
So exciting and new for Taryn and so upsetting and scary for Charlie. Or rather, for both.
The story begins innocently with little Taryn, who adores her babysitter.
She looks up at her and also notices how beautiful she is.
However, Charlie disappears one day and Taryn doesn’t think she would ever see her again!

Several years later, Taryn has grown into a beautiful young woman and is finally comfortable enough in her own skin to be herself in college.
Lesbian, single and, somewhat, confident.
Charlie doesn't recognize her right away and is instead fascinated by a beautiful stranger who, in her eyes, could be a model!
It's all the more stunning that it's little Taryn, who is no longer little at all, but actually a lot taller then her and more stunning.
The journey between the two of them is emotionally chaotic, but unstoppable.
It's about finding yourself and loving yourself.
To let one person completely into your heart, even though you are afraid.
To dare to do things and allow new things to happen. In matters of the heart and also for their own future and the wishes they have.

I love Melissa Brayden's writing style. She captures tender moments wonderfully and gives them a certain dignity, even in the characters' embarrassing moments.
This book wrapped me in a cocoon of sweetness and warmth!
Thanks to Melissa Brayden, Bold Stroke Books and Net Galley for this ARC!

I would like to thank Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my goshhhhh I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time🥹🥹🥹 Taryn and Charlie were adorableeeeeeeeee. Them meeting again years later😭 and Charlie figuring out herself and exploring things with Taryn and all their cute moments together!!😭 I could cry. I need more Stories LIKE this one🫶🏻 will definitely be reading more from Melissa Brayden!!