Please Don't Go

The Midnight Strike #1

by E. Salvador

He felt like he was drowning.

She was about to drown.

Josefine Resendiz, is struggling to figure out her life. Between her complicated relationship with grief and not having a single clue how to feel what she can't understand, she's sinking and isn't sure how to float back up to the surface.

Daniel Garcia, shortstop, a budding ray of sunshine, and potential first round pick for the MLB Draft, has life figured out. At least, that's what everyone assumes. On the surface, he's the embodiment of happiness and life. But beneath it all, guilt and grief have been consuming him since his brother passed away. Unsure how to deal with his feelings, he bottles them up and masks the pain of haunting reminders behind a mask of smiles.

That's until he stumbles upon Josefine on Christmas Day. That wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't supposed to be there but neither was she, at least not for long. The night evolves into something neither one of them expected and when morning comes, she's nowhere to be found.

He can't stop thinking about her. She wants to forget him. But fate seems to have plans for them.

Once the semester begins they find out they have a class together, and avoiding Daniel becomes hard when they're paired to be hiking buddies. Much to Josefine's chagrin, she likes him more than she cares to admit. And Daniel is struggling to keep everything he's bottled up around her.

Hesitantly and unknowingly, they're opening up old wounds they wanted to keep closed. Feeling grounded around each other. And unintentionally falling in love.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Baseball

591 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2025

About the author

E. is a Mexican-American romance author who loves a good happily ever after and iced coffee with light ice.
When E. is not overthinking or creating multiple Pinterest boards for the hundred book ideas she has, she's writing or reading. And when she's not doing any of those things, she's spending time with her two sons and husband.

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you let me in, I’ll hold a flashlight, and we’ll find a way out together.”

NO STOP I CANNOT MY BABIESSSSS WENT THROUGH SO MUCH I CANT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME A BOOK MADE ME CRY THIS MUCH!!! hands down one of my favorite romance books ever, Josefine and Daniel are my new Roman Empire I will never get over them. I truly cannot put my feelings into words it just one of those books you have to read to fully encapsulate the emotions do the story justice.

This story navigates the reality of two people deeply struggling with their mental health, battling depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief in completely different ways and the author did mental health rep so so so right. It hurt but it felt so real and I appreciate that so much. Nothing was glazed over or glamorized and they don’t really on one another to heal their broken bits when the time came to face the truth that they both needed help. It’s not an easy read but it’s such a healing one and so worth it in the end.

This is what I mean when I say I want PATHETIC YEARNING AND LONGING AND PINING!!! Daniel Garcia is the standard and one of my new favorite book men. I cannot stop thinking about him!! Because what do you mean she was about to take her own life until he found her and pulled her from the edge?! And now leaves sticky notes for her reminding her how happy he is that she’s here, meal preps her 3 meals a day because her depression makes it hard to eat, burns CDs for her with only happy music, gets her her favorite flowers every month, moves in with her because after her mom died she had nobody else?!!! All while battling his own grief and darkness in silence?! No I cannot. The way his breath catches whenever he looks at her?? Clenching his fists to keep from touching her? Turns into a stuttering mess around her?!!

Also… MEN. WHO. WHIMPER!!!!! He also loves that she’s a little mean and literally cherishes all her rough edges and dark parts.

And the way they literally love each other so deeply I feel it in my bones. Their chemistry was palpable from page 1. Golden retriever MMC with a dark soul and black cat FMC who doesn’t let anyone in is my favorite dynamic in romance books. They are soulmates in every lifetime.

Okay I honestly can’t recommend this book enough but warning it does read a little wattpaddy so I understand that the writing might not be forever everyone but it was for me!!!

Also the found family and friendships and girlhood!!! Ugh I love them all so much and need book 2 ASAP!!

“Because, Josefine, you’ve rewired the way I feel touch. Touching anyone that isn’t you feels overwhelming and so wrong. It’s like my brain can’t process that it’s not you. I don’t know how to make sense of that but I don’t want to touch anyone that isn’t you. You’re incomparable.”

“I know it’s hard for you to open up. I know it’s scary and I know this is probably a lot for you, but I am here and as long as you want me in your life, I’m not going anywhere. So…” I bring my lips to her forehead and kiss it but let them linger there. “I’ll give you a moment. Take your time. I have forever.”

[Larissa Cambusano]

dnf (for now!!!!) i’ll be back when i’m in the mood.

[bruna]

๋ · ˚ 🖇️ ⊹ ⌇ pre-read. ⋆
⤿ started on april 27, 2026.

“their story, while romantic and at times humorous, is raw, deep, aching, and devastating.” no need to say more, i’m immediately sold because i live for romance books that are deep and painful. 🫡 needless to say, my expectations are high for this one, so fingers crossed it’s as good as i expect it to be! 🤞🏻 (by the way, i’m obsessed with this cover. 🤭)

buddy reading with my sweet and precious ivy. 🤍⭐

[Larareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 FUCKING ⭐️

this might be the best romance book I read this year

[Andy ₊✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

One thing about me — I don’t do golden retriever MMCs 🐕✨
My preferred fictional vibe is more like: drama, obsession, maybe a little stalking, a little scaring… doesn’t matter in which order 😂
(yeah… I probably need professional help….)

So I was very hesitant to start this book because our main man Daniel is a walking green flag. Like Danny… calm down with the emotional intelligence, you’re making the rest of fictional men look unemployed.

BUT — I have to admit — this was actually a great story. We get served a LOT of emotional damage and some moments were truly heartbreaking. Like… feelings were felt, heart was squeezed, and my dramatic reader soul was thriving. 💔✨

My biggest problem though?
Sometimes I cringed.

Because let’s be honest — the main reason I read romance is because I’m a sucker for fictional men. And fictional men are just ✨yummy✨.

BUT the whole post-it note situation — especially the “I’m happy you are here, Jos!” one — felt fictional even for fictional men. Like dude even my delulu standards have limits 😂

And the “what superpower would you choose” conversation? I physically cringed. I was sitting there like:
please… can we leave the kindergarten bonding activities? 🤦‍♀️

Honestly, at this point I feel like there’s a bigger chance of meeting a stalker in real life than a man who leaves perfectly cute post-it notes all over the house.

Overall: emotional, heartbreaking, sometimes adorable, sometimes cringe — but definitely entertaining and worth the ride.

[Youssra (semi ia- shelving books don't mind me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be labeled as a fantasy and let me tell you why. A fantasy has elements not rooted in real life and includes unrealistic characters, events etc.... DANIEL GARCIA IS NOT A HUMAN MAN. NO THIS MAN IS A FANTASY CONJURED UP FOR US!!!

THE YEARNING

THE BEGGING

THE WHIMPERING

THE ACTS OF SERVICE

THE PRAISING

HIS MOUTHHHHHHH😩😩😩

HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE MENACE !!


Was this a perfect book? No, I had some issues with it. (Wattpady-ish writing, pacing, length)

Did I enjoy myself? ABSOLUTELY YESSSS!!! I loved the characters and the found family and I'm sooo excited for the rest of the books about the other couples!

Did I sob? Not really, a tear or two but it did have some really heavy and sad moments💔 This book deals with a lot of difficult subject matter.

Would I recommend? YES!! But not the audiobook...because well.. the male narrator should find a new job😶‍🌫️

Was Danial Garcia Isaiah Rhodes coded? YES YESSSSSS!! The man was so pathetically down bad guysssss😩 I still prefer Isaiah though because I'm loyal like that💁‍♀️
__________________________________________________________
pre-read:

Saw someone say the mmc is Isaiah Rhodes coded. That's all I need to hear because ISAIAH IS EVERYTHING TO ME😭

[ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

࣪ ˖ ֪ꮽ᱖܄ 4 stars˚ִִ꒱꒱ ִ݂

⤻ no spoiler review . disclaimer: this book contains a huge theme of grief. i have personally never lost someone uber close to me, so please do not take my word on how well done it is;; make sure that you are in the right headspace to read this 🫶🏻

⋆｡˚ ꕥ “Because those moments we shared are the essence of my existence.” He shifts on his side and cups my cheek, staring down at me. “Those moments made me feel me again and are the reason why I looked forward to every day as long as it meant I got to make more with you.”

i always love taking my friends recommendations because it allows me to find amazing books and authors like this 🌟 i really, really enjoyed this book. admittedly, the first half of the book was pretty slow and not my vibe, but I was still intrigued. once we got to the second half though.. e. Salvador stepped up her game real quick 🧘🏻‍♀️. the way i was giggling but on the verge of tears is a talent. this was such a distinct book that will definitely hold a special place on my shelves.

་ 💭 ⊹ ࣪୨୧ preface. Josie and Daniel are two characters dealing with their grief in varying levels, with Daniel hiding behind a cheerful facade and Josie feeling completely lost. they coincidentally have a class together after an almost fateful event on Christmas Eve. they eventually share their pain with each other, molding it into something beautiful and endearing. 

⸝⸝ the characters ⁺໒꒱

ᡣ𐭩 — josie. she is one of the most raw characters i’ve ever read about. e. Salvador did not shy away from the dark sides of grief — me, as the reader, could feel the pain that Josie was going through. ALSO, she was a competitive swimmer and still spends so much time around comp swimmers and pools that it gave me such blinding nostalgia from when i was in the peak of my competing era 😭 it was so heartwarming to read about and really made me enjoy her povs 🥹

ᡣ𐭩 — daniel. he’s the sweetest soul ever 🪷 his little notes to Josie throughout the book made my heart MELT. whatever all my other besties said about him is so true !!! you will never, ever find a man like this in real life (i was truly just savoring whatever time i had left reading about him).

𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⌗﹒ a few problems i had with this book that hindered it from getting a higher rating were:
1. the first half was very basic and quite mundane.
2. they moved in together almost immediately…? pls, even if it was Daniel I wouldn’t trust a man in my space for at least a year after we’re dating.
3. the past timeline aspect was very disorienting and i sometimes had to read paragraphs multiple times to see which timeline we were in.

﹏﹒✦ overall, this was such a stunning start to a series! i’m so obsessed with the setting + vibe of this book (specifically because of the monterey + carmel-by-the-sea mentions!).. and looks like we’re getting a Grayson/angel book next 👀 and again, thank you to my forever best friend, bru for reading this with me. ilysm 🤭

⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹

˒˒🐠 pre read ˒˒࿐· started apr 25・xxvi 𖦞.˖
this book actually takes place in a city that i've visited + stayed multiple times, so i'm veryyy excited 🤭💛 also reading this with my favorite 🥹🪽☀️.
⤿ this read is fully dedicated to my most beautiful of queens, yoanna 𓇼𓈒𓏸

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

╰┈➤ 5 stars!

a man who yearns is a man that what? EARNS!! 🗣️🙂‍↕️

・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・

pre-read:

my first e. salvador book! also, just look at the cover 😩 it may seem simple but i’m absolutely loving it so much! the blurb really got me interested 👀 hope it’s even more interesting on the inside 🤞🏼🥹

[Mysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was alright! There were definitely parts I really enjoyed such as how prominent the side characters were and how sweet the MMC was. I did get emotional at times, but overall I found the book too long and kinda cringe. The writing and dialogue just wasn’t my favourite, BUT I was entertained enough so 3 stars for now I guess 😛😛

[manas (suffering) · Rating 5 out of 5]

raw, deep, and passionate.

[bookluvr (slow) · Rating 5 out of 5]

gaaaaah i loved this so much - danny and josie have my whole heart, please! *cries* this is genuinely the first book in a minute that had me shedding some tears while reading - i was a snotty mess in the last stretch 😭 now, the writing wasn’t without some flaws but this is one of those cases where story and characters >>> perfect writing. i was pulled in by the first few chapters and how josie and danny first meet - and i continued to stay invested and immersed in the progression of their relationship, their individual arcs, the friendships and everything else that was going on.

josie was the perfect black cat. i find that a lot of times, fmcs with this characterization can be portrayed as overly argumentative and obstinate for no logical or a poorly documented reason, or just because - and then they come off as rude and harsh while the book tries to sell this as “grumpy”. also, sometimes a “grumpy” character in a contemporary romance is horrible to people in the book and the author tries to excuse or explain away their behaviour in the writing by trying to pin this on the fact that the person is suffering from unaddressed trauma. with great relief, i can say that none of this happened in here and josie’s characterization fell into neither of these situations. she was withdrawn and not sunshiney but her standoff-ish nature was well motivated by her dealing with complicated grief and having a hard time trusting people after bad experiences in the past, but she wasn’t taking this out on people or behaving very poorly because of this. watching her slowly open up, bloom and find happiness over the course of the story as the right people find their way to her and she gradually lets them in and builds that trust with them was just sooooo 🥹. the writing also made it feel organic in its pacing and did a really great job at humanizing her. she was just someone i was rooting for so bad! i loved her dry sense of humour, her resilience, her spirit, and i found her to be written in a way that was incredibly relatable.

daniel jesus garcia…WHAT A MAN. i just KNOW he went to the isaiah rhodes school for DOWN-BAD-obsessed-acts-of-service-backwards-cap-wearing-sad-boy-golden-retriever baseball players. this man 😭 he was just so sweet and goofy and funny and so incredibly loving - the perfect book boyfriend istg. and he knew how to throw down and was sexy as fuck 🤪 his acts of service, his little post-its that he kept leaving josie to remind her that someone is glad she’s here, she’s alive, she’s loved, his gifts and cards, just his general attentiveness, respect for consent and gentle nature - it was all so endearing and attractive. this man was so obsessed he ran to her house to bring her a rhinestone that fell off from her make up at a party just to have an excuse to see her again AND he kept said rhinestone in his wallet afterwards 🥹 GIVE ME MORE PATHETIC MEN LIKE THIS. and then… 😭😭 i just wanted to give him the biggest hug. he was also going through a lot and needed someone to do the same for him as he did for others and remind HIM of the things he reminded josie of every day. this man has my whole heart y’all.

together, josie and danny had fantastic chemistry, they were so sweet and cute and cozy together, they had the perfect balance of mutual hurt / comfort, there was yearning, there was angst…and they were HOT. listen, the spice in this book had me running laps lol. i really appreciated the pace of their relationship development because the burn was slow. yes, there is an insta connection but it’s written in a way that makes sense and i wouldn’t categorize it as insta-lusty per se. their connection also gets fleshed out and deepened really well over the course of the story. mutual attraction does become apparent to reader pretty early, but the transition from friends to more felt appropriately gradual to me and the spice only hits much deeper into the book. since the book is long, that means you’re waiting just shy of 300 pages for that first kiss and grind, even longer for something more to happen and i was satisfied by the pace and the anticipation it inspired and built up as i was waiting for the tension to break…and listen…when it does break and that spice hits, it did NOT disappoint. these two were sexy as hell and the spice was quite explosive (more so than i was expecting - this is my first book by this author so i had no reference). like with most books, i really only enjoy the spice when two things are present: it’s written to my liking (language used, level of detail, nothing cringey, vibes, etc) AND when i believe in and have been enjoying the chemistry and build-up between the characters before the spice hits - and this book satisfied both, so it was all *chef’s kiss*. the balance between sex / lust and emotional connection / actual ROMANCE was done to my liking as well - the latter was not forsaken for a disproportionate focus on the former. more than anything though, i was deeply invested in wanting to see them be happy and ok individually and together - and if a story can get me to care about the two mcs and their relationship to elicit that response from me, then the book did what it needed to do.

i loved the way mental health, anxiety, depression and grief were represented in this story - and both characters had rich arcs and development over the course of the book. i also appreciated the message that while positive romantic love can be transformative and healing, sometimes it can’t be the sole thing to heal you if you are in the worst of places - it can be a motivator and a positive influence on your life, as well as reinforce that you have support and care, but you also need to address your own mental health to find well-rounded happiness, be the best version of yourself that you can be for yourself and for your loved ones, and that it’s ok (and essential really) to get external help if you can / if it’s available to you. sometimes in romance books, one of the mcs is in a bad place and they fall in love over the course of the book and that ends up being the sole explanation for how this person has a personal hea, but i appreciated that in this book, there was a little bit more to it, and the writing handled the individual journeys of both josie and danny in the way that i would have wanted them to be handled by the end, by balancing love and treatment. also, the third act in this book (and subsequent resolution) both felt appropriate and neither of the main characters’ actions made me want to slap someone upside THEIR head or shake MY head at their (or the author’s) tomfoolery, which is a great feat - as a lot of third acts do tend to make me feel either way.

i really enjoyed the side characters in this as well - the friends added a lot of fun and humour to the story and i love the little found family they had going on (which i’m looking forward to seeing more of in future books). usually with sports romances, and even more so with college ones, the group of male friends / teammates linked to the mmc tends to give me the ick because of how writers often depict how they talk about girls / women, their overinflated egos and a ton of bro nonsense that i don’t care about, but that ick never came up for me in here - i really liked these guys, they were a fun bunch! and the girl gang with vi and pen was so endearing and i loved how they gave josie a safe space to land when she hadn’t had quality female friendships before them. all these friendships really shone for me in the last stretch of the book the most 🥹 i can’t wait for future installments in the series. i can tell the second book is probably going to be angel x pen, but i also really want a book for noah and for vi (not necessarily those two together but i DO need love stories for both)!

as someone who doesn’t typically like sports romances, i found the sport balance in here to be to my liking as well - it wasn’t too overpowering. i’m also starting to realize that baseball (while i don’t understand much) is a sport i find quite pleasant in romance books compared to some of the usual suspects (hockey, american football, etc).

now, the book is loooooooong, and this may be where it loses some people, but i ate up all near 600 pages of this! i don’t have an issue with long books if i’m enjoying what’s going on and they, more often, lead to pacing i’m more comfortable with than in shorter romances (where kisses and spice are already cropping up < 100-150 pages in, which can sometimes feel too fast for me). i do think there were some things that could have been edited a bit better and perhaps led to some pages coming off the final product, but i wasn’t put off by the length overall. and as i said, the writing wasn’t always perfect. it could have been smoother and a little more finessed. there were lots of closely repeated words / phrases (which is something that typically makes my eye twitch and causes me to rate a book down), there were a few spelling errors / a word missing in a sentence here and there (i read this on ku so maybe this isn’t an issue in the physical copy), some sentences that could have been structured a bit better and there was a touch of over-explaining things that needn’t have been and some redundancies, but the writing had a lot of heart, emotion and a well-documented connection, even if it wasn’t always immaculate from a technical standpoint - and sometimes, the former is just that more important. i really fell so hard for these characters and this story.

oh, and also - HELLO - the cover of this book is gorgeous. i may need to buy the physical because i need this on my shelf!!!

[Morgan Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve got to stop letting tik tok recommend me romance books

[har. (ia, finals) · Rating 4 out of 5]

┆ ⤿ 🌊 ⌗ started: april 9, finished: april 24

4 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ review with some spoilers.

୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ note. 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
before you read this, please read the trigger warnings. mentions of su!cide, grief, selfharm, abuse, death and more. please know you're also not alone. you deserve to be here.

I was high, not on drugs but on Josie. She just makes me feel alive and on top of the world. It’s like she injected herself in my veins and all I feel is euphoria rushing through my body.

read this with my best friend mads! i love you forever! thank you for reading this with me and crying together!! 💌⭐️💗

tropes: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ sports romance
.ᐟ roommates
.ᐟ grumpy girl x sunshine boy
.ᐟ friends to lovers
.ᐟ mental health rep

thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
please don’t go absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. i had to put this book down multiple times because of how heavy, yet beautiful, it was. from the very first chapter, i was already tearing up without even realizing it. the story pulls you straight into grief, loneliness, and that quiet, painful search for a reason to keep going.

i felt so emotionally connected to both josefine and daniel that everything they went through felt amplified. salvador did such an incredible job making mental health the core of the story while still delivering a romance that feels raw and real. the character development was so well done, both mc’s were given equal depth, and their struggles felt genuine.

their connection wasn’t perfect or easy, but that’s what made it so special. watching them slowly open up, face their grief, and find comfort in each other was so emotional and beautifully written. this book hurts, heals, and stays with you long after you finish 🥹

i took the one star off because of how i felt like it was dragging at certain rates. i'm not particularly a fan of romance books that are 500+ pages and i felt like at points i just wanted more to happen. but other than that, everything was perfect.

୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

josefine resendiz: ⋆˚࿔
her story was so heartbreaking. from the very beginning, all i wanted was to hug her and remind her that she deserves to live, that she deserves to stay. the way she carried so much grief and confusion, not knowing how to feel or even understand her own emotions, made it hurt even more. she deserved to be loved in the way she needed, even if that love didn’t come from her mom. watching her slowly try to make sense of everything, even when it felt impossible, just completely shattered me. i was so glad she was able to meet daniel, vi and penelope because they were able to show her that she belongs. hell, even angel was able to show that too even after their breakup. i'm so glad she was able to open when she needed to and she had the support she deserved.

daniel garcia: ⋆˚࿔
i honestly have no words for him. from the outside, daniel is sweet, outgoing, and so easy to love, but on the inside, he’s fighting battles no one can see. carrying grief, guilt, and thoughts he keeps hidden behind a smile. it hurt so much to see how he masked everything so well, how no one really knew what he was going through. he felt like he had to be okay for everyone else, even when he was quietly breaking. and again, i'm so glad he found josie, who helped him realise that he's not alone and that he can talk about his feelings. however, the third act breakup was something that broke me. mainly because i hate that trope so much but also because his reaction broke me.

୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
“I don’t want you to feel like you need to make yourself cheerful or useful in order to be around me. I just want you to be you. And if you need someone to talk to, vent to, someone who will just listen, I’m here.” Her brown eyes level with mine as she says that. “But if you don’t, that’s okay, too.”

“You know, I see you. You can act like whatever you feel doesn’t matter, but it does.”

“It was for you. The price didn’t matter. I figured they’d be worth it.” He pauses and this time I feel his eyes on me. “I hope they were. Were they worth it?”

“I didn’t do this because I expect something from you. I did this because I wanted to. It’s Valentine’s Day and well, what can I say, I love a good holiday.”

“Was it for me and she made me happy. She made me feel so good, I looked forward to a future with her. I wasn’t thinking about Adrian and the future he wouldn’t get to have. How selfish is that? He died because of me, and I was happy planning my future with her?” I close my eyes, focusing on the rapid beat of his heart. “I’m not okay, and I’m tired of pretending like I am. I don’t want to feel like this anymore, but I don’t know how to not feel…empty.”

[nadine &#x1f9c1; · Rating 2 out of 5]

well… this kind of backfired. I’d say the book was just okay overall. I liked the concept, and I genuinely loved the characters and related to them, but the story felt way too long for no reason. there were so many moments where the pacing dragged, and I found myself getting bored more often than invested.

what disappointed me the most was how the author handled the suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety.
It felt like such an important topic, but instead of being explored properly, it was pushed into the background as more of a side plot while the romance took center stage. I honestly think the emotional and mental health aspects should’ve been the main focus because they had so much more depth and potential.

[Seri ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ (rounded up!)
Danny "I'm so happy you're here" Garcia has my whole heart and soul! 🥹

Never have my brain and heart differed on a final rating quite so strongly! Realistically, this 100% deserves a 3-star rating, but… Danny Garcia. He's the literal picture-book ideal of a Golden Retriever MMC! I was squealing and kicking my feet over some of his lines!

"Because, Josephine, you've rewired the way I feel touch. Touching anyone that isn't you feels overwhelming and so wrong. It's like my brain can't process that it's not you."

Talking about superpowers, she mentions wanting invisibility. His response:

"You're going to have to pick something else. Because I don't think it's working. I see you, Jos."

Danny's kindness, his patience, and his constant positive energy managed to slowly bring out the light in someone who was prepared to end it all! ❤️‍🩹
On the topic of ending it all, HEAVY trigger warning for suicide and death/grief. If you are currently struggling with your mental health, suicide is a VERY prevalent topic in this book. Hell, the opening scene is Josephine (the FL) on a cliff about to kill herself before Danny shows up and talks her off! So proceed at your own discretion; no book is worth tanking your mental health over.

"Please, please, please don't go."

My BIGGEST problem with this book is that it could've EASILY been a minimum of 100 pages shorter! The storyline got VERY repetitive with a back-and-forth of "Well, people call me Wednesday and I'm so gloomy, so he can't want me!" and "I fake a smile and feel empty inside, so I don't deserve her." And then scene after scene of friends (on both sides) saying, "You two obviously like each other!" Yet both leads scoff and act like that's impossible because they're "just friends." When this repeats at least five different times PLUS two exes (one for each lead) that buzz in and out like angry mosquitoes… it gets old. Fast.

Long story short: The highlight for this book is its AMAZING ML and his unrelenting journey in helping the depressed FL. There are highs and lows for both characters, and their love definitely did feel believable by the end. If not for the repetitiveness and draggy middle, this would've been a new favorite.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Book for the ARC! All opinions are my own. 🩵

[madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆˙⟡ — 4.5 stars
⤷⊹ started: april 9th, finished: april 24th
𐙚 spoiler-free review ♡

♡ ⋆｡˚ thoughts
wow… this book genuinely broke my heart so much 😭 listen, when i started reading this book, i did not expect to cry in the first 2 chapters. like not even little tears, i was full-on sobbing because of josie ☹️ i don’t think you guys understand how much these characters now mean to me. trust me when i say everyone needs to read this book because omg 🥹 the only thing i have to “complain” about is that certain parts of the book did drag a little, BUT it wasn’t as bad as i thought it would be. sometimes with long books they end up dragging forever, but with this one it really wasn’t that bad (to me at least).

♡ ⋆｡˚ characters

♡ ⋆｡˚ josefine resendiz
i loved this girl so much omg. from the very first page she had me crying so much when we were seeing what was going to happen if danny hadn’t shown up. i wanted to give this girl the biggest hug throughout this book because the things she went through were so heartbreaking ☹️ this girl deserves all the love in the world, and i’m so glad that she was able to get that from danny and her friends vi and penelope 🥹i was sooo glad when we finally got to see her opening up to them and allowing them to support her when she needed it most.

♡ ⋆｡˚ daniel garcia
this man broke my heart too omg 😭 we couldn’t fully see it because of how he portrays himself, but he was battling so many fights on the inside and i hate that he felt like he couldn’t let them out. anytime a character feels the need to hide their pain my heart always breaks because of course you never want someone to feel that way ☹️ i’m just so thankful that he was able to find josie because she really helped him realize that she would always be there for him and that he never has to go through anything alone.

♡ ⋆｡˚ daniel + josefine
UGH these two man 😩 they were so freaking hot bro like 🤤 their chemistry and tension was just everything to me and it made the book so much more fun 🤭 now let me say, that third act breakup BROKE me. when i say i wasn’t expecting that at all?! like when it hit, i literally went insane. and the amount of tears that i shed during that time 💔 i’m just so glad that they were able to find their way back to each other 😌

♡ ⋆｡˚ final thoughts
this book was so painful, but it really made me realize that i enjoy books that can rip my heart out and then put it right back together. if you’ve been thinking about picking up this book please do!! i hope it doesn’t let you down 🤭

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

i’ve been hearing AMAZING things about this book, so obviously i had to check it out 😋 especially because yoanna loved this and people compared the mmc to isaiah rhodes?! 🤭 and ofc i’m reading this with my best friend har!! ilysm and i can’t wait to read this with you 🥹💗

[Grace Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly guys, I liked this a lot 🥹 I was drawn in from the very first chapter and kept wanting to know where the story was going to take me with Danny & Josie 💛

This book dives into the struggles of grief, ptsd, death, suicide. It heavily emphasizes the impacts of these and the importance of mental health.

As for the MCs, I honestly loved the black cat x golden retriever energy we got with them. I really liked Daniel and I enjoyed seeing him fall in love with Josie and her with him. He was so patient, persistent, and gentle with her.

This was a slow burn!!! And let me just tell you.. girllll, the spice.. was spicing. Whewwwww. My man was not above begging or getting on his knees 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ I went into this not sure if there was any spice at all or if there was, I expected it to be mild. I was very wrong 🫦

Bryson: “She was my girlfriend first. We have history.”
Danny: “Well, now she’s your ex and one day she’ll be my wife. She moved on; it’s time you do too.”

My jealous, possessive kingggggg😫 Loved him.


I think this book absolutely had 5 star potential, but here are my 2 small critiques:

— It dragged on a little towards the end, but I also read this nearly 600 page book in less than 24 hours so I mean…🤷🏻‍♀️ But yeah, I guesssss(?) it could’ve been condensed some.
I think the length of the story will probably lose some people along the way or cause them to lower their rating, but obviously it didn’t bother me one bit 😂

— I do wish the MCs’ story explanations of what happened to them was maybe spread throughout the book instead of at the very end because it felt like too much at once. I didn’t have a lot of time to digest it so it lessened the emotional impact a little bit.

Overall, I really did enjoy this. Like I stated above, it has its flaws and little things that could be improved, but all in all, I still felt so invested in the characters and was rooting for them! 💛💛

This was my first book by this author, and I’m really excited to see who she announces book 2 will be about.

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm so happy you're here!" 💛✨️ Have you ever read a book so good that you feel like no matter what you write as a review, it just won't really encapsulate what this book meant? Yeah… but here goes! I'll try my best! 😂💛

This book made me instantly think of so many bookish memes, because yes, in fact, this book had my heart in a vice-like grip. It made me wonder, “Did I finish the book? …Or did this book finish me?” It had me in a literal chokehold, and when I finished reading it, it just left me staring at the wall (but literally, in the best way possible, right!?).

I seriously just need to gush because I cannot get this book out of my head. Very few books move me to the point where I become obsessed and have to have all the formats, but this one did. Honestly, it is the literal representation of a story so visceral, it grips your heart and squeezes it beyond comprehension. I can't recommend this book enough! I keep recommending it to everyone I know.

But here we are. I’m already rereading it because I’m just not ready to leave these characters behind, and even days later, I can't stop thinking about them.

This book is raw, there is angst, and it deals with heavy emotions that you might want to shy away from at times. This isn't some sparkly, perfect romcom or a Cinderella story. The book starts with the main female character attempting to commit suicide, but the male main character convinces her to stay. It's heart-wrenching, it's heart-breaking, and yet, ultimately, it's healing in the best possible way.

Cue “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean! The MMC, Danny, is so caring, sweet, and obsessed! What really hooked me was his unwavering commitment; he is so down-bad and devoted in the best way. He doesn't just "save" her; he relentlessly reminds her every single day that he's happy she stayed. He even meal preps for her when she’s too grief-stricken to function (what!?) and leaves handwritten post-it notes for her to find. Those simple reminders—just letting Josefine know he's so happy she didn't follow through—are just so profound.

I couldn't stop annotating, and I think I wrote "swoon" x a thousand times over) 😂. He's so respectful of her boundaries, and their slow-burn love feels so earned because they actually see each other in their darkest moments. The writing here is just so visceral and gripping; I felt the whole range of these emotions right along with them.

The Audiobook Experience is Total 🔥🔥🔥
Sometimes, there are nuances of love and language that can't be translated easily into words. There are scenes where E. Salvador brings this to life, and it makes immersive reading a top-tier experience. For example, reading the ebook while listening to the narrators bring the story to life. It's absolute fire! Published by Simon Maverick, the dual narration by Frankie Corzo and Oscar Reyes was absolutely incredible and emotional.

You really hear the difference in how they process their pain: Josefine completely retracts and withdraws, almost losing all hope, while Danny puts on a mask and pretends he’s fine even though he’s struggling just as much underneath. Hearing the range of emotions in their voices was so moving. Their story is so emotional, and I just loved how they truly felt seen by one another, even with all the darkness they had to go through.

🌎❤️ BIPOC and Latine Representation ❤️🌎
I'm mixed-race, and BIPOC leads like Josie and Danny meant everything. E. Salvador is a Mexican-American author who seamlessly weaves in music, songs, and even some dialogue in Spanish and Italian for some deeply emotional scenes. I loved how she described the supporting characters too, from Danny's best friend Angel to his homesick teammate from Hawai'i.
I’m also so invested in the supporting characters! I really hope we get future books about Daniel’s sister, Penelope, his teammates Angel, Grayson, and Kai, and of course Josephine’s hilarious friend, Vi.

The Obsession is Real
I actually started this by borrowing the audiobook on Libby, but I became so obsessed that I ended up buying it in every version possible. I bought the eBook so I could highlight my favorite parts, I had to own the incredible audiobook, and I’ve already pre-ordered the physical paperback from an indie bookstore to get the exclusive art prints. There are a grand total of six different pre-orders at various indie bookstores, and all the art prints are gorgeous. I honestly don't know how to decide which ones to get—even though I want them all!

Perfect if you love:
💛 Handwritten notes - "I'm so happy you're here!"
✨️ Mental Health & Grief Representation
❤️ Top-tier Tension and Yearning
🔥 Slow Burn and Angst
🌎❤️ BIPOC Representation
✨️🎧 Dual POV & Dual Narration
❤️ He Falls First (He’s Obsessed!)
✨️ Caretaker Golden Retriever x Black Cat Energy
❤️ Found Family

If you love the emotional angst and mental health representation from books like:

❤️ "Unsteady" by Peyton Corinne
✨️ "Passion Project" by London Sperry
❤️ "Endgame" by Willa Gray

Trigger Warning: Please read the triggers before starting. This book is heartwrenching and starts with a suicide attempt. It contains heavy themes of grief, anxiety, and depression. The mental health representation is written in a beautiful way, and it is both incredibly real and relatable.

[Shaz ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: a toxic girly who obsesses over morally grey, pitch-black MMCs… with one exception to the rule: Isaiah Rhodes. Right up until Danny Garcia said ‘HOLD MY BEER’ 🍺

This man?! I cannot cope 😩 The perfect needy, golden retriever MMC (which I do not usually vibe with) but the way he showed up for Josie - the yearning?! My god he was down bad and so was I 🫦

Then in the bedroom… or the shower… or the pool… or literally anywhere he got the chance… yeah, he got raaange. Don’t even get me started on the backwards cap because I will actually combust.

This was such an emotional story about grief, mental health, healing, and love, and I ate it right up 🍽️

Pre-read:
All it took was Lola and Mysha to mention Isaiah Rhodes and I was sold

[nikki ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

౨ৎꨄ︎ 5 stars (very, very close to 6 stars)

i finished this last night, but i needed a minute (read: hours) to get my thoughts together and my emotions in check. when i tell you that i was CONTINUOUSLY CRYING since chapter 51… such raw scenes and dialogues. e. salvador broke me on several levels.

this book is joining my favorites list without a doubt. it’s so beautiful, so marvelous. listen, i understand that people either love or hate it. but i’ll be dramatic and say that this officially has a special place in my heart.

as i hinted - and as the blurb promises - this book deals with heavy topics. i definitely, definitely recommend checking trigger warnings! you follow the main characters through grief, and you get to feel it with them to the very bottom. but on the brighter side, you don’t only cry while reading this! you can also expect so many cute dialogues, funny moments and, to my surprise, very, very spicy scenes. i’m not a saint, i have read so much smut in my life, but given the heavy themes, i won’t lie - i was very, very surprised!

both josie and daniel caught my attention from the first, very heartbreaking, scene. there isn’t a single thing that would make me hate them. they both struggle in life, and they both experienced something bad and traumatizing, but then they meet each other and the connection is so strong that they soon become friends. and then something more. of course, this is a romance book, but it’s not just love they find; it’s a safe space, the will to finally be happy.

at one point, i was a little worried there were still so many pages remaining. i thought „why? what more can happen?“, but then i soon understood. i didn’t expect to be hit with a new row of emotions. salvador did an excellent job when it comes to dealing with grief, guilt and mental health. daniel’s story broke me. over and over again.

this book only has one small flaw and it’s the writing - i think there’s still room for improvement. it doesn’t make the book bad at all, but there were times when i found myself confused, or times when i needed better descriptions of things. but honestly, that’s nothing against the book! i still enjoyed and loved it.

────୨ৎ────

౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: i fear i’m going to cry while reading this. a lot. but it’s been on my tbr for months, it’s time! also, i love the cover so much. so cute <3<3

[yuvi • s.ia · Rating 5 out of 5]

the mouth on this man omfg. i'm not religious but damnnn. i think i need some holy water😭

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think this book had potential but just wasn’t written very well? truly the sentence formatting in a lot of the book was just not good 🫠 Phrases were repeated over and over to make the point instead of implying the point 😔 did not love this 1.5/5

[julieta ₊˚⊹ ᰔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

‧˚꒰ 4 ★ ୭ 💛˚. ᵎᵎ

❝ you electrified my soul. this is the most awake i’ve ever mentally felt. ❞

「 ✦ summary ✦ 」🧸

josiefine resendiz is struggling to figure out her life. going through a complicated relationship with grief and feeling alone in the world, she has no idea where she belongs. she’s sinking, and isn’t sure how to float back up to the surface. daniel garcia, a budding ray of sunshine, saves her one Christmas Day night, and they become connected, and keep being pushed together by fate. he can’t stop thinking about her, she wants to forget him. as they get closer, caring more for one another, their relationship evolves into something raw and passionate.

「 ✦ thoughts ✦ 」🩶

immediately the first scene had me hooked. it was so emotional, so raw, that i could not put the book down. now, i would 100% read trigger warnings before reading this, but i felt the mental health aspect was handled very well. e. salvador didn’t hold anything back, but instead was real and truthful in her writing. i absolutely loved that this book was dual pov, and i also felt that this added so much more depth to the story than if it had been in single pov. i also ADORED the latino aspect of this; them speaking in spanish felt so important to me. however, i did feel that daniel evolved into a crutch for josie, and i felt that this could’ve been explored more. i have been in a relationship where you are the sole person your partner depends on, and even if you love them with your whole heart, there are some things that either need a professional to help with or are very difficult on top of your own life and emotions. daniel was also going through something extremely difficult, and i think this pressure on him to make sure josie didn’t do anything to herself and was happy all the time could’ve been talked about more, especially between the two of them.


「 ✦ characters ✦ 」🌟

── .✦ josefine resendiz ❤️‍🩹

❝ if you let me in, i’ll hold a flashlight, and we’ll find a way out together. ❞
she felt like such a comfort character to me. her grief, her guilt, her loneliness, i could feel them all the way down to my bones. it was like she was speaking right in front of me. i loved watching her get her spark back, and penelope and vienna helping her see she is valued as a friend. i also felt so seen with her love for swimming, and watching that develop after she fell out of love with it felt very special. her relationship with her mother was complex, and definitely had an impact on her, but she was still strong and kept going despite all of this. her bravery was amazing. watching her open up and find joy in life again was beautiful. i also appreciated her efforts to be there for daniel, despite him not opening up easily.


── .✦ daniel garcia 🫂

❝ josie isn’t just some girl, she’s my girl. ❞
you guys. THIS MAN. oh my goodness. acts of service as a love language ALWAYS hits for me, and this was no exception. he treated josie so well, despite his own struggles. where is my man that will speak to me in spanish, cook for me, buy me flowers randomly, write me silly cards, and dance with me in the kitchen? WHERE??? i love a golden retriever boyfriend any day. but apart from all this, he was also dealing with his own mental health struggles, and bottling them all up to stay strong for josie. this was heartbreaking for me, especially watching his mental health slowly decline. that one scene after the party had me sobbing. i can’t even imagine losing a twin brother, and he shut off his grief for so long. i felt that the ending was a bit rushed, and that everything was gonna be fine now, even though stuff like that doesn’t just go away. but i heavily related to daniel, maybe more than josie. and repairing his relationships with his family and finding a therapist felt very healing, for both him and josie. overall, i loved him!!


「 ✦ quotes ✦ 」💌

❝ “sto facendo di tutto per non baciarti in questo momento.” i lift a brow, holding back a smile. “well? you know i have no idea what that means.” he stares at me for a long beat, his amber eyes holding me in place and burning me up. “i said, i hope you’re ready to eat.” ❞

❝ dios, no tengo suficientes palabras para explicar qué tan hermosa es. ❞

❝ “¿estás seguro?” “contigo, siempre.” ❞


「 ✦ overall ✦ 」💐

i really really enjoyed this, it felt super heartfelt and i could feel the love between the two main characters. i thought the mental health rep was done well, i loved the romance between them and the epilogue has me begging for the next book!!!


────୨ৎ────


𑣲 note to: lana, vita, andreea, kae, kristal, dawn, amber, pheebz and ellie: your reviews are all so so so gorgeous, and they definitely inspired this one!! thank you, i love you all! 💝

𑣲 this was my very first review, so i hope i was able to convey my thoughts about this beautiful story well, and i hope you all enjoyed it if you made it this far <3 i am so so grateful for this community and for all the love i get 🥹 thank you so much for reading! 💌🏹💐


────୨ৎ────




⋆౨ pre - read ৎ ⋆

i’m in this weird mini slump where i don’t want to pick up any book and i don’t care about any storyline so i figured i’d pick this up as i’ve been wanting to read this FOREVER. i know i have two other books going rn but honestly i need to get out of this slump 🥹

[destiny ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

does it make me a bad person if i found this book to be too corny 😭😭😭 like ok yes good message but come on this was very much insta-love to the max

[Mora ౨ৎ]

DNF @ 10~%
I feel like I'm too old for this kind of romance, but that's not all. I can literally hear every period to a sentence from the male narrator, idk how to explain it but it EXHAUSTS me. I can hear how the book is written and I've never had that before, it put me off soooo much. The male narrator had no emotion to me. If anything I'm never going to listen to this as an audiobook and maybe one day pick it up as an actual read, but I don't know. Too many books, too little time.


✦🦢˚ ᴘʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅ

I'm side eyeing the length of this contemporary book AND the fact it's apparently popular because of TikTok, buuuttt FOMO gets to me and I really want 1 more contemporary before I start another romantasy. Here I gooo.

[yoanna lea. (updating reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

₊˚ʚ👙 ༘˚｡⋆🏟️⋆→ five monterey coastal stars

please check tw before reading!

⋆.˚ I couldn’t remember what feeling alive was like until she came into my life.

tropes ⋆˚࿔
⟢ mental health rep
⟢ found family
⟢ black cat x golden retriever
⟢ strangers to lovers

thoughts ⋆˚࿔
reading this book was definitely a roller coaster of emotions, just from the get-go of meeting the fmc, we are thrown into a world of grief, loneliness, and fighting her inner demons to find a reason to live. normally, a book is hard to get into from the first chapter because it's literally my breaking point of whether I want to continue reading or not, but this one definitely made me cry. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt tears rolling down my face. I am so emotionally invested in both the mc's story that every emotion they felt, I feel like I was feeling it tenfold. e. salvador I gotta give you a round of applause. 👏🏼 she made mental health the number one trope. this is something I appreciate so much because romance books tend to be more on the lighter side, but this one had a bit of everything in it. the way she developed the character's story was quite impressive because she made it realistic and ensured that both mc's are getting equal attention.

characters ⋆˚࿔
⋮ 𝐣𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐳 ── ⟡ ˙🌼 ̟
oh, josefine if only I could reach you through the pages of the book and give you the biggest hug ever. I felt emotions that I didn't know existed just being inside josie's head. It is tough to see from the point of view of a character who's on the brink of giving up :( I am so glad she found her sign to stay, and her seeing danny was truly a blessing. as much as she was labeled as this very black and white complex character, I see her. she lost her mother and felt like the world was against her. the only other person whose shoulder she could've leaned on was too busy cheating on her and degrading her, saying the worst of the worst. she just needed somebody, anybody, to see her. even though she found danny in her worst, she finally found someone who sees her for who she is, who adores her, who appreciates knowing that she is alive every day. In that she found everlasting friendships not only with pen and vi but also with danny's best friends. 😖❤️‍🩹

⋮ 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚 ── ⟡ ˙⚾️ ̟
danny is the type of person you wish you had by your side. he shines like no other. he truly has the biggest heart of all the mmc's I have ever read about. after the whole cliff scene in the first few chapters, he made sure to constantly go back to check that josie is all right. I'm so glad faith brought them back together, and if that means faith has this crazy thing of popping tires just so their worlds align again, then, so be it, because wow, their love story is so good.
the last 75% of the book and seeing everything come to light with how danny really feels on the inside hurts so much. 😕 he believes that he didn't deserve anything good that the world offers him because of an incident that forever changed his life. finding out the reason behind his fears of the water and about his brother made me feel for him in so many ways. he has been plastering on the brightest smile just so people wouldn't see he suffered. the story ended with him getting the help he needed, reconciling with his dad, and accepting that the trauma he faced was something…acceptance is hard if it’s something you aren’t seeking.

fav quotes ⋆˚࿔
⤿ I hold her, wishing I could take all her pain away. I hold her like my life depends on it. I’ll hold her until morning if I have to.

⤿ I love being around you and doing things with you. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.

⤿ I was high, not on drugs but on Josie. She just makes me feel alive and on top of the world. It’s like she injected herself in my veins and all I feel is euphoria rushing through my body. 

⤿ If we’re not married by the time we’re thirty, we’ll get married. And we’ll have four babies like we talked about.

⤿ Because I want you to know you’re all I care about. All I think about. All I want.

⤿ You deserve good things, Daniel. You deserve to be happy. I’m sorry it couldn’t be with me.

⤿ I just know Danny would do anything for you. You could kill someone and he wouldn’t question it; he’d probably grab a shovel. That’s the kind of bullshit he’d do for you.

final thoughts ⋆˚࿔
I know this is my first read of this year, but I know this will be on my top five because I haven't felt this way, this opinionated, and this emotional in so long. every character in this book, whether it be side characters or the main character, contributed to making this whole experience everything I wished for in a book. I appreciated every interaction, whether it was between the girls or the guys. I will never get over this book and is now a book that I feel the most maternal about🤱🏻.

★: 5/5 mcu stars.

pre-read⋆˙⟡
first read of 2026, and this book is already so good it's setting my year of well, that's for sure!! 

happy new year my baes, wishing us all a good reading year mwah 😚💗

[Matilda · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF on 50%

It is just soooo boring
I expected so much more after reading two books by E. Salvador before

[Lira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was crying at 3 a.m.? Yeah… me 🥲

This book completely wrecked me and I loved every second of it! I honestly need at least 500 more pages of Daniel and Josie, because I was not ready to let them go.

This story delivers one of the most raw and realistic portrayals of living with and fighting mental illness that I’ve ever read. It doesn’t try to romanticize anything or make it easier to digest, it’s heavy, honest, and at times deeply painful, which is exactly what makes it so powerful. There were so many moments where I just wanted to step into the pages and hug Josie and Daniel, to tell them they’re going to be okay.

Without giving anything away, if you love a good slow burn that builds tension in the most heartbreaking way, a male lead who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to show it, and a found family dynamic that brings warmth when it’s needed most, then this book is absolutely for you. E. Salvador’s writing is immersive and emotionally charged, balancing the heavier themes with softer, intimate moments that make the characters feel incredibly real, messy, flawed, and unforgettable.

Just a quick note to check the trigger warnings beforehand, as this book explores some sensitive topics. But if you’re looking for a story that will hit you hard and stay with you long after the last page, this one is truly something special!

🇵🇹
Quem estava a chorar às 3 da manhã? Pois… eu 🥲

Este livro destruiu-me emocionalmente e eu adorei cada segundo! Juro que preciso de mais 500 páginas de Daniel e Josie porque não estava minimamente preparada para me despedir deles.
Esta história traz uma das representações mais cruas e realistas de viver com e lutar contra a doença mental que já li. Não tenta romantizar nada nem suavizar o que custa, é intensa, honesta e por vezes mesmo dolorosa, e é isso que a torna tão poderosa. Houve tantos momentos em que só queria entrar dentro do livro para abraçar a Josie e o Daniel e dizer-lhes que vai ficar tudo bem.

Sem spoilers, se gostas de um bom slow burn que vai construindo tensão da forma mais deliciosa e dolorosa possível, de um protagonista masculino que sabe exatamente o que quer e não tem medo de o mostrar, e de uma found family que aquece o coração nos momentos certos, então este livro é para ti. A escrita da E. Salvador é super envolvente e carregada de emoção, equilibrando os temas mais pesados com momentos ternos e íntimos que fazem estas personagens parecerem incrivelmente reais, imperfeitas, caóticas e inesquecíveis.

Só um aviso: vê os trigger warnings antes de pegares nele, porque aborda alguns temas sensíveis. Mas se queres um livro que te dê cabo do coração e fique contigo muito depois de o acabares… este é esse livro.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 ⭐️

[Quick review and safety informations because I'm lazy.]

The writing was okay; nothing too incredible but it's readable and addictive, in my opinion. There’s a few typos, and some repetitions but I honestly looked past them.

Safety-wise, and surprisingly, I had no strong issue. To me, it was mostly safe!

There's OWD in the sense that Daniel's ex-girlfriend was present but not because he's still in love with her. No, he's really over his ex-girlfriend. However, she's very insistent on getting him back, which was both annoying and entertaining, considering how Daniel couldn’t care less.

Since meeting Josefine 'Josie', Daniel's all about her!

A little detail that felt unnecessary: Daniel and Josie met once a year or two before the start of the book. They were both still in a relationship at that time, and Daniel didn’t remember their meeting, which was a bit unbelievable to me.

Daniel was portrayed as a manwhore [yeah 🫩], though. After his break-up, he fucked around and he indeed had a threesome with two girls before he met Josie. Once he met her, while it's not explicitly stated, I didn't have the impression that he was fucking around. I'm not the most objective, though, because Daniel was an awesome character. God, I loved this man so much. He’s such a great boyfriend to Josie. His thoughts were all about Josie, too.

There’s no comparison to his ex-girlfriend. He never compared the two, and Josie didn't feel like second best! She’s it for him.

For example, when he learned that his ex-girlfriend cheated on him, he was just annoyed at the guy she cheated with. But when he learned that said guy was Josie's ex? He was mad. Even Daniel's friends said that it was interesting how he was more mad about Josie's situation than his own!

Despite a third-act break-up, and some issues between them, Daniel didn’t give up on Josie. He planned on coming back once he was in a better mindset. I was kinda annoyed because my Josie was very sad, but ultimately I understood where he was coming from. And let's be honest: their relationship felt very codependent [did I mind that? Not really. . .].

Was it a perfect book? No. Did the romance and the relationship between Daniel and Josie were worth the read? Absolutely.

[abby :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

jarvis is really holding the gang together

to everyone who compared the mmc in this book to isaiah rhodes… THANK YOU!! between that comparison and the cover of this book i knew this would be a banger, the length scared me for awhile there but now that i’ve finished i can honestly say i would read more about these two!!

chapter one really knocks you on your ass and let’s you know what you’re in for with this book, you’re in for real life, real emotions, and real issues. as someone who deals with depression i really was astounded by how well e. salvador wove conversations about anxiety, loneliness, emptiness, and grief, so seamlessly into the book. josie is dealing with the loss of her mother, and the loss of the life she knew, as well as some major guilt and loneliness. one fateful night, on a cliff, she meets daniel. daniel, daniel, daniel, he may look like he has it all together given that he’s a hotshot d1 baseball player but he is struggling a lot. given the loss of his brother, and the anxieties and sadness he keeps hidden, he’s not doing well.

these two are genuinely made for each other and this book will stick with me long after i’ve read the last page. the romance was so pure and perfect. every scene in the story felt perfectly placed, i wanted for nothing. we had wonderful representation, beautiful characterization, and some of the hottest sex i’ve read in awhile. don’t let the heavy topics fool you, danny and jos are HAWT!!!

now, in all seriousness, please check trigger warnings before starting this book. the detail everything is discussed in makes for a raw book but it can be mentally hard to read at times. i simply cannot wait to read this authors entire backlist while i await the next installment in this series, i need books for every single friend. yes, the isaiah rhodes comparisons were correct and if that says anything it says that ive found something to fill the void windy city left in my heart…