Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, this is my honest review. There are spoilers in this review, so be warned.

SPOILERS FOLLOWING:

I have mixed feelings here, primarily about the huge dichotomies in this book that were completely unexpected based on the description and the authors' own words in the beginning of the book. It's presented as a romance, which it is. But nowhere is it mentioned just how emotionally heavy this book ends up being. And my gosh, it was SO heavy. This was a literal tear-jerker masquerading as a grumpy-sunshine/runaway-bride/fish-out-of-water/single father with an adorable daughter/accidental pregnancy romance. There should have been some specific content warnings with this book, something to warn the reader what they were getting. I understand that the authors didn't want to give anything away, and the content warnings would have given away the majority of the plot, but it was hard not to feel blind-sided when the emotionally heavy themes started. It takes a sharp turn into heartbreak so have your tissues ready. Content warnings following (some of which I absolutely would have appreciated before picking up this book): domestic violence; estrangement from parent(s)/family; child abandonment; serious chronic/fatal illness in a child; infidelity; discussion of termination of pregnancy by a side character; sibling death by parent negligence/childhood death(s); possible high-risk accidental pregnancy; and finally, criminal proceedings that's hinted to relate to sexual themes by the female main character's ex-fiance and mother.

I also felt that the romance between the two main characters was written in a fairly predictable and cliche way, and relied way too heavily on the emotionality of Bennett's daughter's illness and subsequent death in order to keep the reader invested. The main thing that saves this book is Summer's storyline. My heart would have to be completely shriveled and black not to be charmed by Summer.

This was a quick read, despite its heavier themes. I've read books by these authors before and enjoyed them, but it may be awhile before I pick up another one of their books as overall this one left a bad taste in my mouth. ( )