While I read reviews here and there, I am realizing that there is defintely an audience of readers that prefer a very specific type of writing style and writing rules.

Closing Costs was written the way people actually think and speak—not the way sentences are taught to behave. It isn’t written to sound perfect. It’s written to sound true.

The book uses a spoken-language rhythm. It favors emotional accuracy over technical perfection. Some moments feel raw, a little uneven, or uncomfortable—because that’s how the characters are living them in real time.

Nothing is smoothed over just to make it prettier, including editing that can become so perfect it starts to pull moments apart rather than deliver the realism they’re meant to carry.

It's a style for this particular story and how I wanted it to flow. It defintely leaves some readers unhappy. It is difficult to not let these preferences get inside of my head because of course you want top reviews.

It's a struggle. But I will then pick it up and read a few chapters and am reminded that the flow, the style - the not perfectly polished dialogue is what I wanted. It is what landed with me and it still does. Appreciate the time from all readers!