Before Us: A Contemporary Romance Trilogy

by Shae Green

He holds the answer to her life’s biggest question, and she challenges his life’s biggest ambition.

Antonio Moretti doesn’t have room for love. His only focus is bringing his company, Morex, out of the shadow of his father’s legacy and into the spotlight as one of Philadelphia’s leading hospitality agencies. So when a digital breach threatens to undermine his work, he finds himself looking for assistance at Tech Me Out, a modest electronics store owned by Alexandra Agneau.

Alex has a tremendous void left by the disappearance of her biological parents. It’s a void that’s caused her to make questionable decisions in her youth that she’s still paying for, more than seven years later. Despite all this, she tends to wear her heart on her sleeve, leaving the door open to an unexpected discovery.

Turns out, Alex and Antonio’s paths converged well before their chance encounter. Now neither can get the other out of their head.

Is what draws the two together also the biggest reason they should stay apart?

Genres: Romance

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

About the author

Shae Green writes contemporary romance that sizzles with sharp wit, heart-tugging emotion, and the perfect dash of spice. Her stories blend humor, vulnerability, and chemistry that lingers long after the final page, offering readers a place to laugh, swoon, and feel deeply seen. With a flair for crafting unforgettable banter and characters who love hard and grow harder, Shae brings a fresh, relatable voice to modern love stories.

When she’s not plotting character arcs or unspooling her next slow-burn romance, Shae is likely curled up with her loyal, four-legged sidekick and a cup of something warm. Her self-care routine includes marathon sessions of anime, a healthy obsession with overly dramatic reality TV (purely for research purposes, of course), and getting lost in stories—whether she's writing them or devouring them.

Reviews

[☆ Driti ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wow! This book was quite interesting and explored many themes. The way the grumpy x sunshine trope was written, the banter, the storyline, the chemistry, the tension, the flashbacks - CHEF'S KISS! Antonio and Alex stole my heart from the very beginning of the story! And the nicknames she gave him (Leo, Boss, Boo) as well as the nickname he gave her (gorgeous) was soo cute! The other characters too were such a mood, especially Ben and Yuna 🤌. My only problem with this book is that it has a really slow beginning but it picked up its pace though. Also, for some reason, I was sometimes lost in what's happening? I think it's a me problem but I was left a bit confused in some places...

  "Oh, is this the kind of game we're playing 😏?"

- Antonio, moments away before he messed up...
In short, this book is amazing! The story ends on a tense cliffhanger so I'm literally dying to know what's going to happen in the next book! I would definitely recommend this book to all romance lovers (especially fans of the grumpy x sunshine trope), family, and friends. Do note it does have some spice in it. Beautifully written Shae!

  "I can’t put her through that. I can’t be her fairy-tale prince ✨😭.”

Don't know why I added this but what I think about each character (sorry if I missed any):
• Alex - I love her attitude so much but how does she also remain so cute and clumsy at the same time?
• Eric - The super supportive dad wait Alex is a Daddy's girl?
• Alex's Mom - No opinion honestly
• Ben - The best friend we all need in our lives
• Antonio - Faced some heck of childhood trauma...
• Frankie - The TOTAL OPPOSITE of Antonio but like, make up your mind?
• Yuna - Such a vibe, a ball of sunshine
• Luca and Yuri - Super matured for their ages
• Donny - A criminal
• Laura - Sweet? (Doesn't appear much in the book so hoping for more of Laura in the next book!)
• James - Get a life bro

[Jordan Coley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC copy for my honest review.

It started off a bit slow during the backstories but once out of that section it was really good. I enjoyed the relationship and complexities between Alex and Antonio.

I do wish there was a bit more spice. But that’s because I read 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ level books. This is really good tho! The slow burn of the relationship kept me interested.

Can’t wait for book two!

[Deirdre Megan Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for my honest review. This was such a cute read. Grumpy sunshine is really the only contemporary romance I like and this serves

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio and Alex have no reason to meet except their lives converge when Antonio's cyber security picks up a breech they can't fix. Antonio sets out to find the guy that broke into his business, and he goes to Alex's tech support business. He's looking for the guy who's the best hacker in the business.
The two have an instant attraction even as Antonio has a gun in his suit jacket. Alex feels angry but fluttery, too. She tries to learn more about this man, but he closes himself off. He has no time for the physical attraction he feels for her, plus he's a one night stand type of guy, and Alex deserves more. She just won't go away. She's everywhere, and he isn't mad about it.
There's so much more to this book, but I don't want to give anything away. There's an incredible mystery surrounding Alex, parents, and I just loved how the author weaves together the story of the mystery where the romance hangs in the background some of the time. I felt like I still got enough of the romance, but I also enjoyed the mystery. Antonio and Alex had incredible chemistry throughout the book and I felt like the spice was perfect. I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

[Sheila Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, I LOVED this story, my only complaint was the third person view/sorta it tripped me out a bit in this book. Let me start with, I adored the diversity! It was amazing to read about so many different ethnicities. I, myself, am a Puerto Rican woman. Reading that the FMC's best friend is a Puerto Rican brought me so much joy! The way his personality is and is a true ride or die was AMAZING. The FMC, Alex is a woman who has faced so much in her life, from manipulation and being dragged down by others, she still remains a ray of sunshine. Also she is NERD, I am a huge nerd, so her love for Naruto made me laugh and had me feeling seen. She's quirky, sassy, and funny. I loved her! Check in the MMC Antonio he's not the typical mafia vibe with his down to earth kinda vibe. His dry humor had me laughing and the way he was all for the FMC was amazing. The banter and back and forth was 10/10. Overall the read was so cute, but that cliffhanger? RUDE! lol I cant wait to see what is in store next.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting First Book.

Someone’s poking around in Antonio’s files and he needs to figure who and why. That leads him to Alex and romantic journey he didn’t think he wanted.

This is Ms. Green’s debut and I enjoyed it. Antonio means well but boy is he frustrating at times. Alex, bless her. She’s clumsy, goofy, and has a good heart. I loved that Alex is pretty self aware and doesn’t over react to things.

We do a decent amount of world building in this book and getting to know our MCs and the supporting characters and their relationships. I wish we saw more of Antonio’s business dealings especially his not so legal ones, I think it would have just rounded his character and the world better.

Overall I enjoyed this story and will continue on in the series. Be aware, this is a trilogy and at the time of this review, the first two books have been released. This book does end on a cliffhanger. 3.75-4 stars

[Carrie Behm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 ⭐️ for me.

I felt like this book started slow. I kept finding myself rereading parts bc I was confused. There was light spice, which was good. And you could feel the tension and emotion flowing out of Antonio and Alex. It was so tight at points you could cut it with a knife. I feel for Alex. She had a lot of tragedy happen to her so young but I felt she over came that and stayed true to herself.

The story of her parents kept me wanting more and then the cliff hanger at the end. I NEED to know the rest of it. I will def read the second one when it comes out!

I was graciously gifted this ARC by Shae Green and Happily Booked Pr! Thank you for allowing me to read it! 💜💜

[Readingheifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to a 5.

I really enjoyed this story about how Alex and Antonio meet and begin their relationship. I can't wait to read more of their story.

[Frankie Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my normal read, but I love, love this book! I’ve always been a sucker for good romance and this book hit the spot! Can I please have more like this!

[Alyse P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first ARC read and it was amazing! For me the story started out a little hard to read as it was told in third person POV as I got the impression chapters were going to be told by that character. Once I got that figured out, the heat was on! The mystery behind Alex's parents and their connection with the Morettis and the love story between Antonio and Alex was suspenseful and with the wait! This was a split between love/fear/mystery as the story unfolded and I enjoyed every minute of it!

[Lou G · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ˖⁺‧✮
Whilst it had everything you want from a grumpy/sunshine trope, full of slow burn and mild mafia vibes, there was just something missing. It was full of banter and tension, and who doesn't love a good flashback with great side characters. So I am here for that.
However, a very slow start is where it fell flat for me, and I was debating whether to DNF but I saw other reviews saying they felt it began slow but to stick with it through to the second half as it got so much better. Which I did, but for me, it didn't pick up all that much. I kept going and despite a few predictable twists, predictable but enjoyable, the plot definitely had me intrigued.
I do feel it had such promise for being a good read, I am sad to say I didn't like it as much as I was hoping too.

Thank you Happily Booked Pr and Shae Green for the opportunity to read and review Before Us - all opinions are my own

[Kendra Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome. It had all the feels and exactly what I would expect from a Ms. Sunshine and Mr.Grumpy story. I love the friend group. Though a little messy, it felt like real chemistry. Although it was a slow starter, I enjoyed it this way. It built up to some great moments. I can't wait for the second installment. I need to get the tea on Mr.Fox.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Probably Reading Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh!! This book was amazing! It is very heavy, especially on emotions and trauma and is well written. It is a little different than what I normally read, and there was quite a bit of backstory in the first half, but this book kept my attention. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I really really enjoyed it! Antonio and Alex are well written and the world building/plot building was cohesive. It has a plot twist that will surprise you and is just a very articulated story. There was banter and romance and suspense. I loved it!

It took me a few days to read it because I was sick, so ignore how long it took me to read it!
Highly recommend! Thank you Happily Booked PR for sending this to me!

[Bookish Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

"'...he’ll be the perfect gentleman and make you feel like a queen for the night. Frankie and I’ve dubbed it the Moretti Experience. And it’s not a ruse; if he decides to give you his attention, you get his full attention. The problem is, no one can hold onto it for long. You basically have to sign on a dotted line acknowledging it’s a temporary lease.'
Alex cringes. 'That doesn’t make him sound that great. I mean, it’s not like I’m looking to fall in love with the guy, but sheesh. He sounds like the ultimate fuckboy. Just in cursive.'"

It’s not common that a contemporary romance story is told in a 3rd person multi-POV, but this trilogy is & it completely fits the characters. While it took me a while longer to get attached to the characters, because I’m not as familiar with this narrative/observer storytelling style, I did fall in love with these unique characters & this mysterious story. There are so many layers to this story; it’s so much more than a romance, because there’s a hacking angle, a subtle mafia angle, a heist angle, a dysfunctional family/family secrets angle, & an emotional angle all wrapped around a romance between two unlikely characters. They’re quirky, funny, lived through some trauma & are opposites in so many ways, but somehow, they complete one another. It makes for such an entertaining read for part one!

"'The thing is, men are ruled by emotions just as much as they believe women are. One specific emotion—and that’s pride. Think about it. Men will go to war over territory. Over women. Over policies and ideals. All to show who’s more superior. Who’s more right. They’ll decimate each other in the process, and the cycle repeats itself every generation. Doesn’t that sound exhausting?'”

This is such an unexpected read for me because of its multi-layered story. Just when I thought I understood or could predict where the story was going, another layer or twist would be added. I was definitely intrigued by the mystery/suspense angle to the story & loved the quirky sense of humor from our FMC. This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I'm already part way through book 2 & am eager to see how the twist plays out.

And, I'd like to give a shoutout to Shae's dedication: "For all of us who have been told we're both too much and not enough." *chef's kiss*

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️

Holy moly, y’all, I haven’t been caught off guard so thoroughly from a plot twist in a while, so if that’s your vibe, you definitely need to grab a copy of Before Us by Shae Green.

When I started my ARC read of Before Us, I thought it was going to be a relatively light, fluffy romance with a bit of drama for plot. I could not have been more wrong. The heavy backstories, interwoven character histories, friendships, trauma, healing, mystery, suspense, growth, cultural and social representation, and cliffhanger at the end - all of it was phenomenal. The slow burn and banter between the two main characters, Alex and Antonio, was sizzling and tense and everything one could hope for out of such a trope. They are both book girl and boyfriend goals! The writing was great, the sprinkle of spice was enough to be delicious, and the story itself was intriguing right from the start.

Let’s focus on Green’s writing for a moment because it is absolutely beautiful! The third person narration she used is refreshing and allowed me to get inside each character and feel their emotions and thoughts, while still seeing all the little details, twists, and turns of the plot with a deeper, critical understanding. She described everything with such vividness that each scene played out almost as live action in my head. And let’s not forget the banter. Oooh, Green can write banter like nobody’s business! The bits of comedy, tension, and emotions were all leaping from the page, and it’s a testament to Green’s unique, gorgeous style of writing. With well developed, conversational prose and phenomenal description, Green really stole the show with Before Us.

[Amanda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review;

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before Us: A Contemporary Romance Trilogy by Shae Green is an edgy suspense romance told with dual points of view. Antonio Moretti is a mostly legit businessman with some minor skeletons in his closet.

When it appears that someone is surreptitiously looking into his digital accounts he is naturally concerned. His investigation into the attempted hacking brings him to Alexandra (Alex) Agneau.

Alex and Antonio are first at odds and then allies. As they become closer, they find that they have an unexpected and mysterious connection.


This book was quite interesting and explored many themes. The way the grumpy x sunshine trope was written, the banter, the storyline, the chemistry, the tension, the flashbacks

The heavy backstories, interwoven character histories, friendships, trauma, healing, mystery, suspense, growth, cultural and social representation, and cliffhanger at the end - all of it was phenomenal. The slow burn and banter between the two main characters,

Alex and Antonio, was sizzling and tense and everything one could hope for out of such a trope. They are both book girl and boyfriend goals! The writing was great, the sprinkle of spice was enough to be delicious, and the story itself was intriguing right from the start.

[Sunny D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really had a good time reading this ARC! As a debut novel, I think it was super fun and exciting to get into.

The book starts off a bit slow. There is a lot of backstory set-up that the characters go through. This made the pacing seem long, but it’s worth it because it helps to build the story. Alex is such a strong character from the beginning, which makes her naturally intriguing. She’s just herself and that makes the relationship between her and Antonio better. I love the banter, and how they come together slowly. The slow burn is very slow, so prepare to be constantly wanting them to get on with it, but waiting for the right moment. For a Debut novel, I felt like this is a strong start to their story and I am excited to see what book 2 will bring for them.

I think the side characters were actually my favorite part of the story. Alex's best friend Ben just stole the show and I hope there is a potential story line for him where he find love. Yuna and Frankie were also super cute and I want to see more of them as well.

Best Part: ANTONIO SHOWING UP AFTER WHAT HAPPENED. I loved the way this was written. He was just there for her and it made the ending more satisfying. I will say that the way things ended with them was different than most novels. But I personally liked it.

Excited to keep reading this series! And thank you Shae for this opportunity!

[Shreya Damani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read with a unique premise, especially if you’re into semi-slow burns and strong FMCs. It has the right mix of tech nerd, subtle mafia vibes, and romance to keep you hooked. It took me a while to get adjusted to the third-person narration as it's confusing to me sometimes.

What I Liked ☺️

The FMC, Alex, was super relatable. She’s been through a lot, but she’s a fighter and her strength really stood out. Plus, her being a hacker/tech nerd? Loved that! 💻

Antonio, the MMC, was interesting too. I appreciated how protective he was without overshadowing Alex’s ability to save herself. It’s always great to see a strong female character who doesn’t need constant rescuing.

What I didn’t Like 😒

I liked Antonio as a character, his initial interest in Alex felt a bit overdone at times—almost like he was constantly "checking her out" from the moment they met. It could’ve been toned down a little to let the romance build more naturally.

Also when it came to the chemistry between the main characters, I found myself wanting more. Their connection felt a bit flat, and I didn’t get that "spark" or intensity that really draws me into a romance. I kept waiting for their relationship to build momentum, but it felt like it stayed on the surface.

While this book didn't fully hit the mark for me, it still had its moments.

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Us is the debut novel of Shae Green. It starts off a little slow, but the backstory of Alex helps. I was a little confused about the relationship of Antonio and Alex's parents at first and had to read it again to understand. Other than that the writing is great!

Alex lives a double life as a hired hacker digging into people's secrets and owns a computer store. Antonio inherited his father's mafia legacy and is working on turning it around to a more legal business. They meet by chance as Alex sloppily steals files from Antonio. Recognizing her talent, he pays off her debt and hires her as his tech assistant.

Alex and Antonio's past bring them together before they are born and should stay away from each other, but yet they bond over their tragic past and traumas. Alex finds family and support with Antonio's friends.

Both of the characters are well written and the growth with Alex is amazing even though she's this badass hacker. There's a small plot twist that brings these two even closer together. This grumpy sunshine story is the sunshine to the clouds. Alex doesn't let the bad bring her down and she works hard to get there. Antonio allows the things that he's done hold him back from the things he really wants. I'm curious to see how the rest of this trilogy will unfold.

[Danielle Renno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex is a gifted hacker who gets sloppy and finds herself getting caught by Antonio Moretti. However, in his confrontation of her, he finds she's not all bad. Perhaps....she's a bit intriguing? Both Antonio and Alex are on embarking on an adventure, and they can take me along with them whenever they want!

Outside of the main characters, I really think my favorite character would have to be Frankie. He gives quintessential little brother vibes. All of the characters, however, were very well written and I found them to be easy to picture and relate to.

The only downside I found with this book is that it was difficult to keep track of all of the characters at the beginning. It felt like a dump of characters with lots of back stories all at once so I found myself having to go back and re-read. Once the story progressed and really started focusing on the main characters, it was much easier to read.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy the following: mafia/underground vibes, touch her and *goodbye*, a tinge of forbidden love, secrets/secret identity, and cliffhanger ending.

This book is part of a trilogy, so buckle up, butter cup - I feel like we're in for a wild ride!

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a bit of a hard time trying to get into this book. The first half of the book was a bit slow to me and took me a really long time to get through, but.... stick with it. It gets so much better! There is a lot of banter and tension build up. And this book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but as this is the first in the series, that is to be expected. It wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be, but there were still some pretty intense moments.
I absolutely love Antonio and Alex. Antonio is a grumpy business man who's suspicious that someone is looking into his accounts. Alex is a hacker that is brought in to help Antonio figure out what's happening. Alex is the ray of sunshine that comes in and brightens up Antonio's gloom. Both characters have a lot character development throughout the story, which I absolutely love. I love how protective Antonio becomes over Alex when she was attacked. I also love the tie in with Alex's family history to the Maretti's This book has it all with the mystery, suspense, romance, banter, romance, spice, great well written characters, unpredictable twists...everything. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens!!!

[kailesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Us is a grumpyxsunshine, semi-mafia romance that follows Antonio and Alex in their journey to overcome their individual conflicts and come together to do so.

It’s a cute story with deep and complex characters and the banter and tension makes the story so much better! I did truly enjoy the dynamic between Alex and Antonio and LOVED some of the side characters even more. There are a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming and the ending does leave off on a huge cliffhanger, but honestly I love a good cliffhanger!

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic and relationships built in this book, there were a few things lacking or that deterred me from giving it a higher rating. Even though the book is a slow burn romance wise, I thought the beginning of the book was slow and hard to follow which caused some confusion in some areas. As well, the chapters focus on specific characters and their thoughts, but it is in 3rd person POV, which I’m not super into…

However, with this being said, those are my specific preferences and if you don’t mind 3rd POV and a slower-paced book, you’ll enjoy Before Us and the romance between Alex and Antonio!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Us Review

Antonio Moretti is driven to help the family business after a hacker threatens to expose everything he worked for. Alexandra (Alex) Agneau is the owner of Tech Me Out, a computer wiz who's struggling past ends up tying into business with Antonio.

Slow start but it's just right as what can be seen as a slow burn with the grumpy to sunshine trope. Antonio and Alex are amazing together. In the beginning, they're abrasive as he is the grump, discovering that Alex is tied to someone he's been looking for. Despite this encounter, Alex takes this in stride as they eventually learn about their history as they work together.

Antonio: "Why to you always have to be a smartass?"

Alex:"Why do you always have to be confusing?"

The banter and sass shared between them is wonderful and a nice break between the mystery, suspense and drama that's within the entire story. Light on the spice, but this book was cute so it was good enough as it was so I enjoyed it alot.

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello Mr Grumpy and Mrs. Sunshine! I love me a good grumpy/sunshine with my contemporary romance like most romance readers. I will say although this book was a bit slow in the beginning it got there and when it did I had to finish I was invested. Loved the friends group sweet Ben is my fav! I would have liked to have seen more heated moments with this slow burn but since this is the first in a trio love I imagine the spice and heat will pick up as the series continues. Alex our FMC has a lot to offer and I’m very interesting in watching her continue to develop in future books!

I received this book as an arc and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a 🌶️ on the spice scale. Thank you to @happilybookedpr and @shaegreenwrites for the chance of reading and reviewing this book.

[Jenna Crumpton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars! I have to say for this to be this authors first published book, it’s good! I will say, the beginning was a little slow for me and I realize we had to get through the backstory of the characters but I was a tad bored at the beginning it did pick up!

I loved Alex and Antonio! The grumpy sunshine trope is one of my favorites! Alex had me cracking up a lot and I love how she got Antonio to be just a less grumpy. If you love a good slow burn then you’ll love this one. I was just waiting on those spicy scenes especially after the angst between Alex and Antonio!

I wouldn’t normally pick up the second book to a series that I waited under 4 stars but I’ll probably read the second one to this book just because of that cliff hanger! I wasn’t expecting that!

Thanks so much to the author and Happily Booked PR for this ARC for an honest review!

[LILIAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was amazing to read a story in which the FMC was so strong and able to communicate. Alex is such a strong individual. She was given up for adoption by her mom to a wonderful couple that all I can say did a wonderful job in raising her. Alex is strong willed, smart funny and just captivates Antonio from the beginning. Alex is a computer hacker who has a debt to repay. When Antonio realizes that someone has breached his network and has valuable information he goes to set up a meeting with this person. Unbeknownst to him that person would end up being Alex. What starts off as a business quickly develops into a slow burning relationship. Its the banter between the two. The no lies and her ability to not put up with anyones remarks regardless of who they are makes this a great read. You get the subtle mafia vibes but not fully in your face and you also get to see how healthy communication between two people help the relationship evolve.
Alex: “ I can’t stand next to you for too long. The stupid might be contagious”
Antonio: “Too late for you,then”

[Karen Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a slow burn read to start off with but soon turns into a beautiful story of friendship and romance. Alex is a tech nerd for a company called Tech Me Out. Alex is hired by Antonio company “Merex” for tech support help after a cyber security breach. Antonio soon realises that a member of staff is funnelling money into another account as he’s being blackmailed.

Antonio is very serious and is the “one night stand only” type of guy and Alex is bubbly and bright – Two complete opposites that makes them right for each other. The tension between them is immense. There is a bit of spice but I feel there could be more.

Alex lost her parents at an early age and was raised by family under the final wishes of her mother. Antonio knows the truth of what happened or does he? There is a definite cliff hanger at the end leaving this open for the second book.

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story so much ! I absolutely loved the characters and storyline. I also loved the diversity ❤️ Antonio and Alex stole my heart from the very beginning of the story! I would check your triggers to see if you have any before reading this book. There were some things that could be triggering, but it didn't bother me at all. I don't really have triggers. I can't wait for the next two books to be released to finish off this trilogy! I'm dying to know what's going to happen next!!! I would definitely recommend this book to all romance lovers, family, and friends.
Beautifully written, Shae!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC read.
I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read this because I probably would have missed out otherwise.
The characters in this book felt so real to me, especially Alex and Antonio (Leo). I loved watching their characters grow throughout the story, watching their outlooks change on life because of how they see each other. Alex is such a light in this book and somehow, Antonio changes because of that light. If you don’t fall in love with Antonio right off the bat, I really hope you fall by the end of the story, because I certainly did.
Last but not least, I need to have a chat with the author about that cliffhanger!! Girl, book two better be on it’s way, like yesterday!!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much deeper than I thought it'd be when I started. It's about Antonio, who believes his accounts are being compromised, and Alex, a hacker, who's brought in to help him figure out what's going on. But it's not as simple as that!

This is not your happy, rose-colored-glasses type of romcom, the characters have deep trauma and hurt from growing up, there's mystery, suspense, a stalker(!!), but also friendship, healing, growth, slow burn, and some truly amazing banter!! There wasn't a whole lot of spice, but there was still a lot of sizzle!!

This was a great book from the start, and one I'd definitely recommend for someone looking to read a romance with much more depth to it than just the love story!