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A review by melstylensubstance
Small Town Swoon by Melanie Harlow
5.0
This book had all the things I love. Childhood friends. Unrequited crush (or is it requited- hmmmm Dash?). Best friends’s older brother. Emotional discovery.
Speaking of emotional discovery, let’s talk about Dash first. For a man in the arts, he didn’t grasp the meaning of a metaphor. Stripping to your purest self to find emotion doesn’t mean to literally walk around naked. But, it paints a nice visual :)
His emotional arc was told so smoothly. He wanted to take care of Ari. Wanted to spend time with her, encourage her, put her first. No need to examine WHY, amiright? He’s just known her forever and she’s like his kid sister, but also totally not his kid sister.
Ari has had a crush on her best friend’s brother since she knew what crushes were. In the naive way of a teen girl with her first crush, she allowed herself to be vulnerable with him. And he’s not a bad guy for letting her down, he really did do the right thing. But - even with time, Ari is still holding a grudge, even though she also knows in hindsight he was right. Doesn’t mean she has to like it! So she has spent years avoiding him.
So, we have 2 MCs who have known each other forever, both in a place to be open and honest. And the friends part of the friends to lovers arc is well and truly established. It’s so seamless how their relationship progresses. Even with the known end date of Dash’s return to LA. And their behaviour as their “fling” was coming to an end? It rang sooooo truuuuueee. No lies detected.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot as to be spoilery, but there was a side story about Dash’s dad which was adorable. Dads deserve love too!! Also, the cross over to Gianni and Ellie from Taste was really nice to see. And, possibly, the best and funniest scene to imagine was Dash in the shark onesie surrounded by 13 year old girls who had him all sorted ASAP. It’s not lost on me they are the age Ari was when she developed her crush on him. There’s something to be said there about maturity levels I’m sure…….though I did really feel for Dash through the misunderstanding that led him to the pre teens. But what a guy.
The spice was spicing. It was honest, believable, and truly did some emotional heavy lifting. It was never really FWB. It’s just easier to tell yourself to get what you want without being vulnerable. But vulnerability to get to where you are supposed to be in love was the moral of the story - so says me with my untrained eye.
Melanie Harlow continues to deliver amazing contemporary small town romance! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review early.
Speaking of emotional discovery, let’s talk about Dash first. For a man in the arts, he didn’t grasp the meaning of a metaphor. Stripping to your purest self to find emotion doesn’t mean to literally walk around naked. But, it paints a nice visual :)
His emotional arc was told so smoothly. He wanted to take care of Ari. Wanted to spend time with her, encourage her, put her first. No need to examine WHY, amiright? He’s just known her forever and she’s like his kid sister, but also totally not his kid sister.
Ari has had a crush on her best friend’s brother since she knew what crushes were. In the naive way of a teen girl with her first crush, she allowed herself to be vulnerable with him. And he’s not a bad guy for letting her down, he really did do the right thing. But - even with time, Ari is still holding a grudge, even though she also knows in hindsight he was right. Doesn’t mean she has to like it! So she has spent years avoiding him.
So, we have 2 MCs who have known each other forever, both in a place to be open and honest. And the friends part of the friends to lovers arc is well and truly established. It’s so seamless how their relationship progresses. Even with the known end date of Dash’s return to LA. And their behaviour as their “fling” was coming to an end? It rang sooooo truuuuueee. No lies detected.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot as to be spoilery, but there was a side story about Dash’s dad which was adorable. Dads deserve love too!! Also, the cross over to Gianni and Ellie from Taste was really nice to see. And, possibly, the best and funniest scene to imagine was Dash in the shark onesie surrounded by 13 year old girls who had him all sorted ASAP. It’s not lost on me they are the age Ari was when she developed her crush on him. There’s something to be said there about maturity levels I’m sure…….though I did really feel for Dash through the misunderstanding that led him to the pre teens. But what a guy.
The spice was spicing. It was honest, believable, and truly did some emotional heavy lifting. It was never really FWB. It’s just easier to tell yourself to get what you want without being vulnerable. But vulnerability to get to where you are supposed to be in love was the moral of the story - so says me with my untrained eye.
Melanie Harlow continues to deliver amazing contemporary small town romance! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review early.