I went in expecting a light rom-com built around modern dating chaos, but what I got was something sharper, funnier, and far more honest than most novels in this genre dare to be. James E. Lorraine writes with a kind of brilliance that sneaks up on you and the humor lands, the intimacy feels real, and the emotional hits come out of nowhere.
The format is clever and surprisingly addictive. The emails, messages, and late-night conversations don’t feel like gimmicks; they feel like the way people actually communicate when they’re trying (and failing) to love someone in a world built around distance. The book captures the awkwardness, the longing, the self-sabotage, and the accidental vulnerability that comes with trying to date in the digital age.
What impressed me most was how Lorraine balances humor with sincerity. The characters aren’t caricatures, they’re messy, ambitious, tired, hopeful, and sometimes their own worst enemy. Danielle especially feels like someone you know: sharp-tongued, complicated, craving connection while trying not to look like she’s craving anything at all.
The dialogue is outstanding. Fast, believable, and loaded with subtext. And beneath all the humor and chaos, the book has something to say about emotional honesty, fear, and the stories we hide behind.
For readers who love character-driven fiction, modern romance, and a narrative that feels both stylish and painfully relatable, this is one of the standout reads of the year.
Smart, funny, and unexpectedly heartfelt. Loved it.