readinginpjs 's review for:

Those Two Words by Ronnie Mathews

4.5

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Loved this debut from Ronnie Mathews 🥰

⭐️ rating: 4.5/5
🌶️ spice: open door, a few scenes

💭 overall thoughts:
Second chance is one of my favorite tropes, and I love that we got flashbacks to Johanna & Patrick’s past.

We don’t find out for quite a while what exactly broke them apart, or why Johanna left town. The pain is so evident for both of them, in their grief in losing a parent (Patrick’s dad and Johanna’s mom - not at the same time), and in the relationship they never got to have.

Loved all the side characters, getting to know their families + Quinn - can’t wait to see who’s up next in the series!

read if you love:
💖 childhood friends to lovers
🥈 second chance with flashbacks & mutual pining
👔 single dad who braids his daughter’s hair 🥹
🔗 forced proximity/workplace (family restaurant)
🌊 return to (coastal small town) hometown
🫶🏼 family + found family
🧠 grief & mental health rep (anxiety)
🙅🏻‍♀️ No 3rd act breakup
💞 dual 1st person pov 

✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ Crossroads by Devney Perry (second chance, workplace/forced proximity, small town)
♡ Final Offer by Lauren Asher (second chance, childhood friends to lovers, single parent, small town)

Thank you so much to author Ronnie Mathews for an advanced copy. 
All opinions are my own.