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Fine Fine Fine
Hanna Stevens has perfected the art of being fine.
After her mother's death and a breakup that leaves her shattered, pretending is easier than processing.
At least, it was, until she meets Milo at her best friend's engagement party. The "doesn't do dating" groomsman sits at the top of her list of people to stay away from, but when he witnesses one of her weaker moments, he can't help but offer himself as a distraction.
Friends with benefits never backfires, right?
As Milo and Hanna get closer, they're both forced to admit they aren't as fine as they're pretending to be.
With her best friend's wedding on the horizon-to her ex's brother, no less-Hanna is juggling a grief that won't give up, an ex who won't give way, and a groomsman who won't give in.
Hanna must decide if she's willing to risk facing yet another loss and fight for a real shot at love, or if she'll settle once again for the safety of "fine".
After her mother's death and a breakup that leaves her shattered, pretending is easier than processing.
At least, it was, until she meets Milo at her best friend's engagement party. The "doesn't do dating" groomsman sits at the top of her list of people to stay away from, but when he witnesses one of her weaker moments, he can't help but offer himself as a distraction.
Friends with benefits never backfires, right?
As Milo and Hanna get closer, they're both forced to admit they aren't as fine as they're pretending to be.
With her best friend's wedding on the horizon-to her ex's brother, no less-Hanna is juggling a grief that won't give up, an ex who won't give way, and a groomsman who won't give in.
Hanna must decide if she's willing to risk facing yet another loss and fight for a real shot at love, or if she'll settle once again for the safety of "fine".
- GenresRomance
360 pages, ebook
Published December 19, 2025
5 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
CB Woods
5 books59 followersCB Woods is an emerging romance author working across genres to bring stories about love, loss, and magic to life. She also sometimes figures out how to post TikToks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
November 13, 2025
fine fine fine- cb woods❤️🩹
i read this book in one sitting! i couldn’t put it down🥺😍❤️🩹
a story based on loss, grief, trauma & heartbreak.
and boyyyy, did it hit me in the feels🥺 but it also had me giggling, screaming and kicking my feet!🤭😝
after hanna’s relationship breaks down and then losing her mom a couple months later, she finds it hard to navigate life, becoming completely closed off and battling daily.
her best friend sara is due to wed, which just so happens to be to her ex-boyfriends brother, filling her with dread and uncertainty knowing she has to face others and her ex after such a traumatic year.
as many of us know, grief can hit like a train, going full steam ahead at any point. triggered by a certain smell, a song, favourite food, can set it off. nevermind the words, ‘you okay?’, ‘how’re you holding up?’ from those around you with nothing but good intentions, opening up the floodgates that you’re struggling to keep at bay.
this book perfectly executes the struggles that come with grief and navigating life after. bringing to attention how hard it is to carry on when you feel like your life also ended with them, even though it didn’t- because you’re still breathing, even when it feels hard to catch a breath.
but then comes along milo, who truly understands the pains and struggles, still finding it difficult years later and having his own reservations about giving himself to someone.
the relationship that blossoms between hanna and milo is so beautiful, so raw and heartwarming, despite their difficulties and reservations. they swarm to each other like a moth to a flame.
i laughed, i smiled, i teared up & my bottom lip was going. but it was well worth the read and also made me look at things a little bit differently too❤️🩹
•★ ★ ★ ★ ½
•🌶️🌶️🌶️
•release date: december 19th, 2025✨
thank you to @reademrae & @netgalley for the arc approval!💫
i read this book in one sitting! i couldn’t put it down🥺😍❤️🩹
a story based on loss, grief, trauma & heartbreak.
and boyyyy, did it hit me in the feels🥺 but it also had me giggling, screaming and kicking my feet!🤭😝
after hanna’s relationship breaks down and then losing her mom a couple months later, she finds it hard to navigate life, becoming completely closed off and battling daily.
her best friend sara is due to wed, which just so happens to be to her ex-boyfriends brother, filling her with dread and uncertainty knowing she has to face others and her ex after such a traumatic year.
as many of us know, grief can hit like a train, going full steam ahead at any point. triggered by a certain smell, a song, favourite food, can set it off. nevermind the words, ‘you okay?’, ‘how’re you holding up?’ from those around you with nothing but good intentions, opening up the floodgates that you’re struggling to keep at bay.
this book perfectly executes the struggles that come with grief and navigating life after. bringing to attention how hard it is to carry on when you feel like your life also ended with them, even though it didn’t- because you’re still breathing, even when it feels hard to catch a breath.
but then comes along milo, who truly understands the pains and struggles, still finding it difficult years later and having his own reservations about giving himself to someone.
the relationship that blossoms between hanna and milo is so beautiful, so raw and heartwarming, despite their difficulties and reservations. they swarm to each other like a moth to a flame.
i laughed, i smiled, i teared up & my bottom lip was going. but it was well worth the read and also made me look at things a little bit differently too❤️🩹
•★ ★ ★ ★ ½
•🌶️🌶️🌶️
•release date: december 19th, 2025✨
thank you to @reademrae & @netgalley for the arc approval!💫
September 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️| 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌻 MCs in their 30s
🌻 Bridesmaid & Groomsman
🌻 Grief & Loss
🌻 Jealous Ex
🌻 Sneaking Around
🌻 Doesn’t Do Dating
🥃 FINE FINE FINE wrecked me in the best possible way. A grief-stricken bridesmaid and a steady groomsman agree to a no-strings fling, but what unfolds is raw, tender, and unforgettable. I cried multiple times reading two people heal together with messy honesty and vulnerability.
🥃 Milo? I don’t even date men and I’m in love with him. He’s hot, self-aware, and self-assured in a way that made my heart ache.
🥃 Hanna? Our girl is a truly a mess and rightfully so (due to reasons revealed early on). Her existence in grief and her struggle to really live post trauma really resonated with me throughout the story.
🥃 The spice was realistic, hot, and delicious. It’s woven into the growth and subtle changes of the relationship rather than overpowering it. And the banter? EVERYTHING. Snappy, funny, dirty. This, plus the occasional pop-culture reference kept me entertained between tears.
🥃 I don’t usually read contemporary romance, but I’m IN LOVE with this one. This book captures the messy, non-linear journey of grief while delivering character development, chemistry, and an ending that left me both mildly shocked and satisfied. Thank you CB Woods for the ARC. I’ll be sure to send you my next therapy bill!
🌻 MCs in their 30s
🌻 Bridesmaid & Groomsman
🌻 Grief & Loss
🌻 Jealous Ex
🌻 Sneaking Around
🌻 Doesn’t Do Dating
🥃 FINE FINE FINE wrecked me in the best possible way. A grief-stricken bridesmaid and a steady groomsman agree to a no-strings fling, but what unfolds is raw, tender, and unforgettable. I cried multiple times reading two people heal together with messy honesty and vulnerability.
🥃 Milo? I don’t even date men and I’m in love with him. He’s hot, self-aware, and self-assured in a way that made my heart ache.
🥃 Hanna? Our girl is a truly a mess and rightfully so (due to reasons revealed early on). Her existence in grief and her struggle to really live post trauma really resonated with me throughout the story.
🥃 The spice was realistic, hot, and delicious. It’s woven into the growth and subtle changes of the relationship rather than overpowering it. And the banter? EVERYTHING. Snappy, funny, dirty. This, plus the occasional pop-culture reference kept me entertained between tears.
🥃 I don’t usually read contemporary romance, but I’m IN LOVE with this one. This book captures the messy, non-linear journey of grief while delivering character development, chemistry, and an ending that left me both mildly shocked and satisfied. Thank you CB Woods for the ARC. I’ll be sure to send you my next therapy bill!
December 9, 2025
I haven’t laughed and then cried and then laughed again in a book like this in such a long time.
This book is filled with grief, understanding, a bit of drama, so much love and laughter.
I adore Hanna and Milo. Their relationship was so real. It was so imperfect and I loved every second of it.
Life is so messy. Cancer sucks. Parents who die too soon? That sucks too. It all sucks and I’m so damn happy I read this book and just cried.
Damn.
This book is filled with grief, understanding, a bit of drama, so much love and laughter.
I adore Hanna and Milo. Their relationship was so real. It was so imperfect and I loved every second of it.
Life is so messy. Cancer sucks. Parents who die too soon? That sucks too. It all sucks and I’m so damn happy I read this book and just cried.
Damn.
November 26, 2025
What a stunning portrayal about how grief and love can grip onto each other so easily. An incredible love story that deals with the traumas of life with a heaping side of spice 🩷
October 13, 2025
I want to tread lightly on how I review this book because I have a feeling the author was writing from personal experience. That being said, I really struggled with this one. I think it just depends on the reader and what they are in the mood for that will determine if they like this story or not. I did appreciate the author’s actual writing style. I didn’t love the third person narration but other than that the writing flowed well and felt very lifelike. It has great ratings so it seems like there is definitely an audience for it, I’m just not one of them.
Hanna is 30 and her world has come crashing down around her. Within the last year her boyfriend of 10 years broke up with her over the phone and two months later her mom dies of aggressive cancer. Hanna seems to find solace in grungy bars at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
Milo is childhood best friends with Hanna’s best friend’s soon to be husband, Matty. Matty ALSO happens to be brothers with the ex that broke Hanna’s heart. Now Hanna, her ex and Milo are stuck spending time together as part of Sarah and Matty’s wedding party.
When I first read the blurb for this I was thinking fun, rom-comy romance with hot groomsmen to take her mind off douchebag ex and maybe even a little ex drama “I want you back” thrown in the mix. Unfortunately what I got was an entire book of an FMC drowning her sorrows in LOTS of alcohol while constantly discussing the loss of her mother. I truly don’t mean to come off callous when saying that. It was just the FMCs entire personality and the driving force for every single interaction between the FMC and MMC. It got exhausting very quickly.
Again, I think many readers will resonate with this book and maybe even find comfort in it but for me personally there was just way too much focus on Hanna’s grief and sunflowers and not enough focus on character growth or story development.
Thank you, NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for an ARC of Fine, Fine, Fine. My thoughts are my own.
Hanna is 30 and her world has come crashing down around her. Within the last year her boyfriend of 10 years broke up with her over the phone and two months later her mom dies of aggressive cancer. Hanna seems to find solace in grungy bars at the bottom of a whiskey bottle.
Milo is childhood best friends with Hanna’s best friend’s soon to be husband, Matty. Matty ALSO happens to be brothers with the ex that broke Hanna’s heart. Now Hanna, her ex and Milo are stuck spending time together as part of Sarah and Matty’s wedding party.
When I first read the blurb for this I was thinking fun, rom-comy romance with hot groomsmen to take her mind off douchebag ex and maybe even a little ex drama “I want you back” thrown in the mix. Unfortunately what I got was an entire book of an FMC drowning her sorrows in LOTS of alcohol while constantly discussing the loss of her mother. I truly don’t mean to come off callous when saying that. It was just the FMCs entire personality and the driving force for every single interaction between the FMC and MMC. It got exhausting very quickly.
Again, I think many readers will resonate with this book and maybe even find comfort in it but for me personally there was just way too much focus on Hanna’s grief and sunflowers and not enough focus on character growth or story development.
Thank you, NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for an ARC of Fine, Fine, Fine. My thoughts are my own.
November 25, 2025
I knew I was making a risky choice opening this book, “Fine Fine Fine,” by CB Woods the weekend what would have been my mom’s birthday. Once I read the dedication, I knew I was in for it: “To anyone who has ever had to be totally fine when they were falling the fuck apart.” This story follow Hanna, who is trying to piece herself back together after her mother’s death.
Someone who hasn’t lost a parent could likely never quite understand how deeply this book both wrecked me and put me back together. If you read my post about butterfly books, then you’ll know my mom had one tattoo: a butterfly. I now also have a butterfly tattoo in her honor. So when I read the line, “She…pushed the sleeve resting above her elbow back, revealing the black and gray wings of the butterfly tattoo she’d gotten…’My mom had a butterfly tattoo. Felt appropriate,’” I ugly cried. But let’s be honest, I cried at least 30 times while reading this.
This is the first book I have annotated because there were so many times I just felt seen and understood. These are some quotes that really resonated with me:
“People fear losing their loved ones, but people like us know that's not the scary part. There's nothing to it. They're here and then they aren't. It's finding yourself after that's truly terrifying."
"Tattoos are strikingly similar to grief…ink, once it's injected, your body panics, right? And it sends all these little cells that attack foreign substances, macrophages, to the site to help fight off infection and get it the fuck out of there. They ingest all the ink, but they can't break it down, so it just stays there, frozen, trapped in your skin.
It fades over time, sure, but it never goes away-it just becomes part of you. Millions of little black moments, caught in these well-intended cells that can't ever get rid of it, but... from far enough away, it's art."
“She didn't have to tiptoe around how shitty it was to exist after someone you love ceased to do so.”
“There were some truths about death that couldn't be explained, only survived.”
“An impossible nostalgia for a version of her mother she would never get to know. She'd have to find [her mother] in the curves of mothers who did not share her blood, but shared her burdens. She’d have to look for hard-fought wisdom carved into the smile lines of women in flower shops.”
It has been 17 years since my mom died. People who haven’t lived it might think I should be over it. But while I have grown around her absence, there’s still a massive hole there. I am so grateful to all of the people in my life who let me talk about her, both in memory and in grief, without making it about their discomfort. It means more than I can say.
To CB Woods: I’m sorry to meet another member of DPS. Thank you for allowing me to be one of your ARC Readers and thank you for putting into words the most fragile part of me. This book means more to me than I can say.
Someone who hasn’t lost a parent could likely never quite understand how deeply this book both wrecked me and put me back together. If you read my post about butterfly books, then you’ll know my mom had one tattoo: a butterfly. I now also have a butterfly tattoo in her honor. So when I read the line, “She…pushed the sleeve resting above her elbow back, revealing the black and gray wings of the butterfly tattoo she’d gotten…’My mom had a butterfly tattoo. Felt appropriate,’” I ugly cried. But let’s be honest, I cried at least 30 times while reading this.
This is the first book I have annotated because there were so many times I just felt seen and understood. These are some quotes that really resonated with me:
“People fear losing their loved ones, but people like us know that's not the scary part. There's nothing to it. They're here and then they aren't. It's finding yourself after that's truly terrifying."
"Tattoos are strikingly similar to grief…ink, once it's injected, your body panics, right? And it sends all these little cells that attack foreign substances, macrophages, to the site to help fight off infection and get it the fuck out of there. They ingest all the ink, but they can't break it down, so it just stays there, frozen, trapped in your skin.
It fades over time, sure, but it never goes away-it just becomes part of you. Millions of little black moments, caught in these well-intended cells that can't ever get rid of it, but... from far enough away, it's art."
“She didn't have to tiptoe around how shitty it was to exist after someone you love ceased to do so.”
“There were some truths about death that couldn't be explained, only survived.”
“An impossible nostalgia for a version of her mother she would never get to know. She'd have to find [her mother] in the curves of mothers who did not share her blood, but shared her burdens. She’d have to look for hard-fought wisdom carved into the smile lines of women in flower shops.”
It has been 17 years since my mom died. People who haven’t lived it might think I should be over it. But while I have grown around her absence, there’s still a massive hole there. I am so grateful to all of the people in my life who let me talk about her, both in memory and in grief, without making it about their discomfort. It means more than I can say.
To CB Woods: I’m sorry to meet another member of DPS. Thank you for allowing me to be one of your ARC Readers and thank you for putting into words the most fragile part of me. This book means more to me than I can say.
November 7, 2025
4.5✨ “𝙄’𝙢 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚.” “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩”
First of all, I wish all the men in the world were written by CB Woods.
Fine Fine Fine was exactly what I wanted and needed it to be. One thing I will never tire of reading about is grief because although we all will experience it at some point and it’s universal at its core- each individual experience is entirely unique. The ways we process and cope and deal with it can be so vastly different.
One of my favorite things is how Hanna and Milo connect through their individual grief, the loss of her mom and the loss of his dad, but learn how to understand what each other needs differently in it. It becomes an unspoken understanding through their vulnerability. Open and honest and patient. They don’t allow each other to hide behind empty platitudes like everyone else. It’s raw and exposed and messy. They meet each other where they’re at while also encouraging each other to look it in the eye and face it. My favorite thing about this book is how REAL it felt. (And obvs because it was really, really hot ok)
Hanna and Milo’s banter and chemistry felt so genuine and natural, it was top tier. I sometimes struggle with the overall plotting of some romance books but I thought this set-up with the schedule of wedding festivities was perfection with the right amount of push and pull and tension. I literally got butterflies and sweaty nervous every time they got to see each other again. My only critique is sometimes the grounding in scenes and transitions were a little confusing and I had to go back and re-read some spots to make it clear in my head (like where they were, who is saying what, etc)- but it didn’t detract from my experience!
and goodness gracious Mr. MILO. some of his one liners had my mouth agape and pacing the room or falling out of my chair. This man. HOLY MOLY. His thoughtfulness and noticing what everyone orders? His self-awareness and tenderness and sass? I am pretty picky when it comes to book boyfriends but CB Woods is 2 for 2 so far (y’all need to read Rift!). How dare you make me swoon over a man. The audacity.
I’ve also read some of the criticisms other readers had - one being how there should’ve been more backstory on Hanna’s mom as a person- the hows, the whys, the whats- and while I can understand that, I kind of think that was the point. This book is about the aftermath and the pieces left behind and trying to put them back together. Having to carry on without them and the gaping hole left behind. And when you meet someone that’s grieving you don’t get to immediately know “the why”. You don’t get to have the full picture in order to understand why they’re acting a certain way. You will never get to meet that person. Even the people that were there will never understand exactly what they’re experiencing.
You only have the idea of them and have to learn about them little by little collecting piece by piece of what the person grieving offers you - from the signs they search for and the memories they desperately cling onto. And I feel like that was effectively illustrated especially through the difference between Logan being someone that was there and ‘knows’ yet doesn’t really get it at all because he is more focused on his own experience and grief with Lisa and Milo being someone who wasn’t there but gets it on a much deeper level because he had to put in the work to learn, listen, empathize, support, understand, and SEE.
Even though we didn’t get to meet Hanna’s mom, like Milo, we met her through the echoes of her - how other people’s hugs feel, through all the people that loved her and how they’re grieving for her, through the sunflowers.
The vulnerability it takes to write something like this should be applauded. You can feel it coming through the pages and it hits deep, making you feel ALL the emotions. It’s gritty and human. And also healing and beautiful. I can only imagine how cathartic it was to write, but it also was to read. To bear witness to someone’s healing journey gave me hope and really made me feel less alone. A reminder that we are all a little bit of a mess and still deserving of love and good things anyways. And that we all deserve to say we’re fine one day and mean it.
Thank you to CB for the opportunity to read and review this ARC and for sharing your heart 🌻
First of all, I wish all the men in the world were written by CB Woods.
Fine Fine Fine was exactly what I wanted and needed it to be. One thing I will never tire of reading about is grief because although we all will experience it at some point and it’s universal at its core- each individual experience is entirely unique. The ways we process and cope and deal with it can be so vastly different.
One of my favorite things is how Hanna and Milo connect through their individual grief, the loss of her mom and the loss of his dad, but learn how to understand what each other needs differently in it. It becomes an unspoken understanding through their vulnerability. Open and honest and patient. They don’t allow each other to hide behind empty platitudes like everyone else. It’s raw and exposed and messy. They meet each other where they’re at while also encouraging each other to look it in the eye and face it. My favorite thing about this book is how REAL it felt. (And obvs because it was really, really hot ok)
Hanna and Milo’s banter and chemistry felt so genuine and natural, it was top tier. I sometimes struggle with the overall plotting of some romance books but I thought this set-up with the schedule of wedding festivities was perfection with the right amount of push and pull and tension. I literally got butterflies and sweaty nervous every time they got to see each other again. My only critique is sometimes the grounding in scenes and transitions were a little confusing and I had to go back and re-read some spots to make it clear in my head (like where they were, who is saying what, etc)- but it didn’t detract from my experience!
and goodness gracious Mr. MILO. some of his one liners had my mouth agape and pacing the room or falling out of my chair. This man. HOLY MOLY. His thoughtfulness and noticing what everyone orders? His self-awareness and tenderness and sass? I am pretty picky when it comes to book boyfriends but CB Woods is 2 for 2 so far (y’all need to read Rift!). How dare you make me swoon over a man. The audacity.
I’ve also read some of the criticisms other readers had - one being how there should’ve been more backstory on Hanna’s mom as a person- the hows, the whys, the whats- and while I can understand that, I kind of think that was the point. This book is about the aftermath and the pieces left behind and trying to put them back together. Having to carry on without them and the gaping hole left behind. And when you meet someone that’s grieving you don’t get to immediately know “the why”. You don’t get to have the full picture in order to understand why they’re acting a certain way. You will never get to meet that person. Even the people that were there will never understand exactly what they’re experiencing.
You only have the idea of them and have to learn about them little by little collecting piece by piece of what the person grieving offers you - from the signs they search for and the memories they desperately cling onto. And I feel like that was effectively illustrated especially through the difference between Logan being someone that was there and ‘knows’ yet doesn’t really get it at all because he is more focused on his own experience and grief with Lisa and Milo being someone who wasn’t there but gets it on a much deeper level because he had to put in the work to learn, listen, empathize, support, understand, and SEE.
Even though we didn’t get to meet Hanna’s mom, like Milo, we met her through the echoes of her - how other people’s hugs feel, through all the people that loved her and how they’re grieving for her, through the sunflowers.
The vulnerability it takes to write something like this should be applauded. You can feel it coming through the pages and it hits deep, making you feel ALL the emotions. It’s gritty and human. And also healing and beautiful. I can only imagine how cathartic it was to write, but it also was to read. To bear witness to someone’s healing journey gave me hope and really made me feel less alone. A reminder that we are all a little bit of a mess and still deserving of love and good things anyways. And that we all deserve to say we’re fine one day and mean it.
Thank you to CB for the opportunity to read and review this ARC and for sharing your heart 🌻
January 5, 2026
I love this book so much! I’m going to do my best to put all my rambling thoughts on this one into coherent sentences.
I could have finished this book so quickly but I spread it out for as long as possible because it was that enjoyable. This will be a book I will want to reread in the future. There’s just some amazing quality about it that had me from the first page.
We’re all guilty of saying “fine” sooo many times that we’re asked how we’re doing. This book was so well written in that aspect of our sometimes stupid human emotions. I was rooting for Hannah and Milo indefinitely.
I dread the day I have to join Hannah and Milo’s little “club,” but knowing that there’s people out there that can be supportive makes me hopeful? I don’t know if that’s the word, but I don’t have Milo here to therapy explain that one to me.
I honestly thought Hannah going to her besties house only to then start hanging out with mostly Milo and Chloe was a little weird at first but I mean, Sophie did have a job and whatnot so it wasn’t unbelievable. I actually didn’t respect Milo until Chloe admitted to Hannah in the bathroom that her and Milo hadn’t messed around any since Hannah had shown up - so clearly he was down bad before Hannah was. But then fast forward a good bit and Hannah leaves to go back home and is on the phone with Sophie when in walks Milo WITH Chloe! I mean, obviously he is allowed to have friends but that one stung a little… she also was his plus one at the beginning of the wedding shenanigans and maybe that was just her being Milo’s crutch because Hannah showed up with Logan, but I needed a more clear ending there.
The flower shop owner!!! Ahhhh!!! That little gem of an ending with finding out she’s none other than Milo’s mom. Omg. Genius.
And it was so like Hannah and Milo to elope. And of course they had sunflowers! I was a crying fool at 2 am over that one.
The characters were so real and vulnerable and knowledgeable. I just loved them all, somehow even Logan. Maybe he gets some much needed therapy soon also. I loved the jump in settings with Hannah traveling and the wedding stuff happening. This was so cute and I def need a shelf copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Emrae publishing for the arc opportunity
I could have finished this book so quickly but I spread it out for as long as possible because it was that enjoyable. This will be a book I will want to reread in the future. There’s just some amazing quality about it that had me from the first page.
We’re all guilty of saying “fine” sooo many times that we’re asked how we’re doing. This book was so well written in that aspect of our sometimes stupid human emotions. I was rooting for Hannah and Milo indefinitely.
I dread the day I have to join Hannah and Milo’s little “club,” but knowing that there’s people out there that can be supportive makes me hopeful? I don’t know if that’s the word, but I don’t have Milo here to therapy explain that one to me.
I honestly thought Hannah going to her besties house only to then start hanging out with mostly Milo and Chloe was a little weird at first but I mean, Sophie did have a job and whatnot so it wasn’t unbelievable. I actually didn’t respect Milo until Chloe admitted to Hannah in the bathroom that her and Milo hadn’t messed around any since Hannah had shown up - so clearly he was down bad before Hannah was. But then fast forward a good bit and Hannah leaves to go back home and is on the phone with Sophie when in walks Milo WITH Chloe! I mean, obviously he is allowed to have friends but that one stung a little… she also was his plus one at the beginning of the wedding shenanigans and maybe that was just her being Milo’s crutch because Hannah showed up with Logan, but I needed a more clear ending there.
The flower shop owner!!! Ahhhh!!! That little gem of an ending with finding out she’s none other than Milo’s mom. Omg. Genius.
And it was so like Hannah and Milo to elope. And of course they had sunflowers! I was a crying fool at 2 am over that one.
The characters were so real and vulnerable and knowledgeable. I just loved them all, somehow even Logan. Maybe he gets some much needed therapy soon also. I loved the jump in settings with Hannah traveling and the wedding stuff happening. This was so cute and I def need a shelf copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and Emrae publishing for the arc opportunity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2025
" I'm fine, it's fine. Everything is fine. "
" You know, the third one really sold it. "
Fine shoulda been my middle name, it's literally my answer when anyone asks how I am so yeah this book is super relatable.
Fine Fine Fine is a story about grief, love, & how they both can be all consuming, & how they can be entwined. Let's not forget the side helping of spice between our MCs.
Talking of MCs, erm Milo, 🙈 he's broody, hot, passionate & so self assured. Then we have Hanna who's in an absolute tangle swept under by 2 huge losses in one year. The way she was scared to accept happiness again for fear of feeling guilty over her mum really resonated with me. I just want to pull her into a massive hug.
Together Hanna & Milo just felt right, like they were 2 halves of 1 whole right from the beginning & everyone could see that but them as they battled a FWB situation. Their banter was cheeky & funny & overall they just seemed honest genuine people.
The banter and humour definitely helped take some of the edge off the more delicate topics such as the grief over losing a parent, but it didn't take away the emotions I felt through this whole book.
A superb read, emotional, gritty with a good level of spice to round it off nicely. Thank you to Novel Tours, Reademrae & CB Woods for a physical copy of the book and Tour opportunity.
" You know, the third one really sold it. "
Fine shoulda been my middle name, it's literally my answer when anyone asks how I am so yeah this book is super relatable.
Fine Fine Fine is a story about grief, love, & how they both can be all consuming, & how they can be entwined. Let's not forget the side helping of spice between our MCs.
Talking of MCs, erm Milo, 🙈 he's broody, hot, passionate & so self assured. Then we have Hanna who's in an absolute tangle swept under by 2 huge losses in one year. The way she was scared to accept happiness again for fear of feeling guilty over her mum really resonated with me. I just want to pull her into a massive hug.
Together Hanna & Milo just felt right, like they were 2 halves of 1 whole right from the beginning & everyone could see that but them as they battled a FWB situation. Their banter was cheeky & funny & overall they just seemed honest genuine people.
The banter and humour definitely helped take some of the edge off the more delicate topics such as the grief over losing a parent, but it didn't take away the emotions I felt through this whole book.
A superb read, emotional, gritty with a good level of spice to round it off nicely. Thank you to Novel Tours, Reademrae & CB Woods for a physical copy of the book and Tour opportunity.
September 21, 2025
This book should come in a welcome package for every romance reader who joins the Dead Parent Society. It’s one of the most honest and realistic depictions of grief I’ve read.
The FMC Hanna is fresh in her grief after losing her mother, while MMC Milo is about 15 years into his journey after losing his father while in high school. I think that’s what I loved most about this - the exploration of grief through two timelines of healing. We get to see how Hanna is dealing with a new loss and how Milo is able to guide her through this journey having dealt with it himself. Milo’s honestly about the journey never really ending but shifting as time goes on was bittersweet. I connected with this on such a deep level as someone walking through new loss myself while my husband has carried his for years.
But don’t think it’s all heavy - the banter was bantering and the spice was spicing. The chemistry between these two was so well written. We’re talking top tier sarcasm and witty banter.
This one was equal parts heartbreaking and heart-mending and will be a favourite of mine for a long time. 🌻
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and CB Woods for the ARC!
The FMC Hanna is fresh in her grief after losing her mother, while MMC Milo is about 15 years into his journey after losing his father while in high school. I think that’s what I loved most about this - the exploration of grief through two timelines of healing. We get to see how Hanna is dealing with a new loss and how Milo is able to guide her through this journey having dealt with it himself. Milo’s honestly about the journey never really ending but shifting as time goes on was bittersweet. I connected with this on such a deep level as someone walking through new loss myself while my husband has carried his for years.
But don’t think it’s all heavy - the banter was bantering and the spice was spicing. The chemistry between these two was so well written. We’re talking top tier sarcasm and witty banter.
This one was equal parts heartbreaking and heart-mending and will be a favourite of mine for a long time. 🌻
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and CB Woods for the ARC!
Read
December 24, 2025This book had me feeling all the emotions! It’s a story about grief and love, but also about learning how to keep going when life feels heavy. This was emotional without being overwhelming, and softened by humor in all the right places! Hanna, the FMC, felt so real to me! She’s messy, guarded, and just trying to survive after losing her mom and a long-term relationship in the same year. Her grief shows up in quiet moments, in avoidance, in guilt, and in the fear of feeling happy again. And then there’s Milo, the MMS, he’s calm, thoughtful, and carrying his own loss. He understands her without trying to fix her, and their connection grows through honest and vulnerable conversations, great banter, and a slow-burning intimacy that felt really genuine! This was so tender, raw, and comforting! If you love emotional romances with depth and characters that feel likevery genuine, this one is worth checking out! 🌻
Tropes you’ll find:
💔 Grief & healing
🔥 Friends with benefits (what could go wrong?)
💍 Weddings, exes, and drama galore
💕 A romance about choosing more than “fine”
Tropes you’ll find:
💔 Grief & healing
🔥 Friends with benefits (what could go wrong?)
💍 Weddings, exes, and drama galore
💕 A romance about choosing more than “fine”
November 13, 2025
Fine Fine Fine is Perfect Perfect Perfect!
The dedication in this book had me misty-eyed, and the actual story made me ugly cry more times than I could count.
This story is the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud humour, spice, character development, romantic tropes and mental health representation.
This is one of my all-time favourite romance novels - right alongside Emily Henry, Carley Fortune and Katie Beck.
If you’re contemplating whether this book is worth your time, don’t, because it absolutely is. I read approximately a quarter of the story every chance I got to read it and had zero interest in ever putting it down. I even specifically went to bed early two nights in a row simply to read more of this book.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of Fine Fine Fine by CB Woods. You have simply outdone yourself!
The dedication in this book had me misty-eyed, and the actual story made me ugly cry more times than I could count.
This story is the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud humour, spice, character development, romantic tropes and mental health representation.
This is one of my all-time favourite romance novels - right alongside Emily Henry, Carley Fortune and Katie Beck.
If you’re contemplating whether this book is worth your time, don’t, because it absolutely is. I read approximately a quarter of the story every chance I got to read it and had zero interest in ever putting it down. I even specifically went to bed early two nights in a row simply to read more of this book.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of Fine Fine Fine by CB Woods. You have simply outdone yourself!
November 30, 2025
This book is more than just “Fine,Fine,Fine”.
Grief is a heavy and unpredictable creature sometimes and that is depicted so thoughtfully in this book.
I loved that this book had older main characters dealing with a topic, that… let’s face it… many of us fear experiencing or have unfortunately faced already. The loss of a parent, and how we navigate life “after”.
There is beautiful humor, frustration, and steam and SPICE! Ugh. What an emotional rollercoaster I just want to keep going in again and again.
I’d say watch your content warnings but don’t miss out on this story. 🌻
Grief is a heavy and unpredictable creature sometimes and that is depicted so thoughtfully in this book.
I loved that this book had older main characters dealing with a topic, that… let’s face it… many of us fear experiencing or have unfortunately faced already. The loss of a parent, and how we navigate life “after”.
There is beautiful humor, frustration, and steam and SPICE! Ugh. What an emotional rollercoaster I just want to keep going in again and again.
I’d say watch your content warnings but don’t miss out on this story. 🌻
October 1, 2025
ARC Review
Updated** I can't stop thinking about this book and have to change it to 5 stars!
I'm fine, *Inset Ross Meme*
An emotional roller coaster. This book wrecked me. It’s not just a story; it’s an experience.
This book is for those of us who cope with dark humor, trauma bonds, and mistakes.
Honestly, I don’t even know how to fully summarize it because it’s all the emotions at once; grief, anger, love, guilt, and that laughter that comes when you’ve run out of tears and it's all you have left.
It perfectly captures what it feels like to lose someone who was your entire world, only to realize the world just… keeps going. It made me feel seen in my grief and reminded me that most of us are just doing what we and that is okay.
The grief in this story is raw and unfiltered. I could feel the author’s pain in every single word. It was heartbreaking, but also comforting, like someone reaching out through the pages to say, “You’re not alone in this, we are all f*cked up.”
And the banter was amazing. Even in the darkest moments, it was there, showing how humor becomes a lifeline when everything else feels impossible.
I wish it was longer just so I could feel more.
I do not think I will ever see a sunflower again without thinking of this book.
Updated** I can't stop thinking about this book and have to change it to 5 stars!
I'm fine, *Inset Ross Meme*
An emotional roller coaster. This book wrecked me. It’s not just a story; it’s an experience.
This book is for those of us who cope with dark humor, trauma bonds, and mistakes.
Honestly, I don’t even know how to fully summarize it because it’s all the emotions at once; grief, anger, love, guilt, and that laughter that comes when you’ve run out of tears and it's all you have left.
It perfectly captures what it feels like to lose someone who was your entire world, only to realize the world just… keeps going. It made me feel seen in my grief and reminded me that most of us are just doing what we and that is okay.
The grief in this story is raw and unfiltered. I could feel the author’s pain in every single word. It was heartbreaking, but also comforting, like someone reaching out through the pages to say, “You’re not alone in this, we are all f*cked up.”
And the banter was amazing. Even in the darkest moments, it was there, showing how humor becomes a lifeline when everything else feels impossible.
I wish it was longer just so I could feel more.
I do not think I will ever see a sunflower again without thinking of this book.
Read
September 19, 2025Fine Fine Fine was not fine. Not even close.
The only thing I liked about this book was the chemistry between the main characters. The banter between Hanna and Milo was funny, sometimes.
... Mild Spoilers Ahead ...
Here's what I didn't like:
1. I never thought I'd say this sentence, ever, but -- they made too big a deal out of having a dead parent! Grief was the one thing the main characters had in common. It was used like a tool to get them to sleep together, fall in love, keep them apart, and finally, bring them together just in time for the happy ending. It lacked depth because, as large a shadow as the idea of Hanna's mom cast on this book, we never got to know who she was as a person or a mother. How did they spend time together? What did they fight about? Same with Milo and his dad. The grief here was so inward-looking. Selfish. And Milo's whole 'I can't be with someone who has living parents because they will never understand what I'm going through,' was... dumb. No doubt some real people might feel that way, but the toothless way it was written here -- how exactly did he feel when his pain was misunderstood? why exactly did he expect some girl he was sleeping with to understand his pain when he wasn't willing to connect or commit to her? -- made it cheap.
2. The sex scenes felt like a punishment. The author was dead set against using the correct terms for body parts (only during sex scenes for some reason, as there are many mentions of tits and ass and pussy outside of them). And yet, she wanted to describe lovemaking for pages and pages. It made for a very confusing read like... who's hand was where? is she on top? and sometimes, wait, are they having sex right now? Even more frustrating -- they get interrupted, constantly. If it wasn't his brother or her ex walking in on them, they interrupted themselves to have *deep conversations*. I'm sorry, but stopping just before penetration to make characters fret over manufactured conflict doesn't make your story angsty.
3. I guess there was a plot... I dunno. The entire middle third was the characters circling the plot, because if they actually sat to talk about it, the book would be over in two pages.
4. Why give Hanna's ex this massive redemption arc when Hanna wouldn't let him have a civil conversation with her, or let him string two sentences together, for the first 80% of the book??? I get it, she was angry and grieving. I have no problem with characters making stupid decisions in a novel. But here, I could see the author's hand so clearly. The characters' actions and inactions weren't true to them, but timed to stretch the story to 360 pages.
5. They were ALWAYS drinking! Bar, restaurant, his apartment, here and there -- most of this book was them moving from place to place, ordering a drink without progressing the story. If this was the vibe I wanted, I'd have read some sad girl literary fiction novel set in 1960s France.
6. Another sentence I didn't think I'd say -- this book made me hate sunflowers. The idea of Hanna's mom's favourite flowers appearing in some form whenever Hanna needed a sign was cool. It was emotionally satisfying when it appeared the first time. It was fine the second time. The next ten, twenty times... on the shirt, the tattoo, the painting, the endless flower arrangements... nope nope nope.
7. This is a pet peeve of mine, but having a heroine who's into smutty romance and a hero who understands and encourages it gives me the ick. It reeks of a desperate desire to get validation for our way of life from our male partners. It's a shortcut authors use to connect with their readers without doing the work of writing relatable, believable characters.
This book has broken me. Thanks Netgalley, but I think I'm gonna give romance ARCs a rest for a while. Focus on other genres. Get some sun. Touch some grass.
The only thing I liked about this book was the chemistry between the main characters. The banter between Hanna and Milo was funny, sometimes.
... Mild Spoilers Ahead ...
Here's what I didn't like:
1. I never thought I'd say this sentence, ever, but -- they made too big a deal out of having a dead parent! Grief was the one thing the main characters had in common. It was used like a tool to get them to sleep together, fall in love, keep them apart, and finally, bring them together just in time for the happy ending. It lacked depth because, as large a shadow as the idea of Hanna's mom cast on this book, we never got to know who she was as a person or a mother. How did they spend time together? What did they fight about? Same with Milo and his dad. The grief here was so inward-looking. Selfish. And Milo's whole 'I can't be with someone who has living parents because they will never understand what I'm going through,' was... dumb. No doubt some real people might feel that way, but the toothless way it was written here -- how exactly did he feel when his pain was misunderstood? why exactly did he expect some girl he was sleeping with to understand his pain when he wasn't willing to connect or commit to her? -- made it cheap.
2. The sex scenes felt like a punishment. The author was dead set against using the correct terms for body parts (only during sex scenes for some reason, as there are many mentions of tits and ass and pussy outside of them). And yet, she wanted to describe lovemaking for pages and pages. It made for a very confusing read like... who's hand was where? is she on top? and sometimes, wait, are they having sex right now? Even more frustrating -- they get interrupted, constantly. If it wasn't his brother or her ex walking in on them, they interrupted themselves to have *deep conversations*. I'm sorry, but stopping just before penetration to make characters fret over manufactured conflict doesn't make your story angsty.
3. I guess there was a plot... I dunno. The entire middle third was the characters circling the plot, because if they actually sat to talk about it, the book would be over in two pages.
4. Why give Hanna's ex this massive redemption arc when Hanna wouldn't let him have a civil conversation with her, or let him string two sentences together, for the first 80% of the book??? I get it, she was angry and grieving. I have no problem with characters making stupid decisions in a novel. But here, I could see the author's hand so clearly. The characters' actions and inactions weren't true to them, but timed to stretch the story to 360 pages.
5. They were ALWAYS drinking! Bar, restaurant, his apartment, here and there -- most of this book was them moving from place to place, ordering a drink without progressing the story. If this was the vibe I wanted, I'd have read some sad girl literary fiction novel set in 1960s France.
6. Another sentence I didn't think I'd say -- this book made me hate sunflowers. The idea of Hanna's mom's favourite flowers appearing in some form whenever Hanna needed a sign was cool. It was emotionally satisfying when it appeared the first time. It was fine the second time. The next ten, twenty times... on the shirt, the tattoo, the painting, the endless flower arrangements... nope nope nope.
7. This is a pet peeve of mine, but having a heroine who's into smutty romance and a hero who understands and encourages it gives me the ick. It reeks of a desperate desire to get validation for our way of life from our male partners. It's a shortcut authors use to connect with their readers without doing the work of writing relatable, believable characters.
This book has broken me. Thanks Netgalley, but I think I'm gonna give romance ARCs a rest for a while. Focus on other genres. Get some sun. Touch some grass.
November 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!
Just finished the ARC of Fine Fine Fine by C.B. Woods and WOW… I was not prepared to fall this hard for a book today.
From page one I was sucked in, and by the halfway point I was fully obsessed with these characters like they were my actual friends. Woods writes emotions in a way that feels so real it’s almost rude?? I laughed, I got a little misty, and I had to stop a few times just to yell “HELLO??? HOW IS THIS AUTHOR NOT A BESTSELLER?!”
The relationships, the tension, the vulnerability —everything landed perfectly. It’s one of those books where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2am and you’re aggressively recommending it to people who haven’t even asked.
I genuinely loved every second of it. If this isn’t on your radar yet, fix that immediately. C.B. Woods just made my auto-buy list.
Just finished the ARC of Fine Fine Fine by C.B. Woods and WOW… I was not prepared to fall this hard for a book today.
From page one I was sucked in, and by the halfway point I was fully obsessed with these characters like they were my actual friends. Woods writes emotions in a way that feels so real it’s almost rude?? I laughed, I got a little misty, and I had to stop a few times just to yell “HELLO??? HOW IS THIS AUTHOR NOT A BESTSELLER?!”
The relationships, the tension, the vulnerability —everything landed perfectly. It’s one of those books where you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2am and you’re aggressively recommending it to people who haven’t even asked.
I genuinely loved every second of it. If this isn’t on your radar yet, fix that immediately. C.B. Woods just made my auto-buy list.
November 16, 2025
Well, if this book doesn't get you in all the feels (no but for real - every single kind of feel,) then I fear there may be something wrong with you.
Seriously, though, this book felt so real to me in so many ways. Although I have not had identical experiences to the main characters, it still *felt* like so many of the emotions and angst that I went through in my 20s and early 30s. Add the unthinkable death of a parent to the normal drama of messy relationships, figuring out how to be an adult and the where-do-I-go-from-here of it all, and you have Fine Fine Fine. I legitimately liked all of the characters (except Logan, but I won't apologize for that,) and I saw real people behind each of them. CB Woods just has a way of writing her characters that makes you instantly a part of their world, and she's an auto-buy author for me at this point.
Seriously, though, this book felt so real to me in so many ways. Although I have not had identical experiences to the main characters, it still *felt* like so many of the emotions and angst that I went through in my 20s and early 30s. Add the unthinkable death of a parent to the normal drama of messy relationships, figuring out how to be an adult and the where-do-I-go-from-here of it all, and you have Fine Fine Fine. I legitimately liked all of the characters (except Logan, but I won't apologize for that,) and I saw real people behind each of them. CB Woods just has a way of writing her characters that makes you instantly a part of their world, and she's an auto-buy author for me at this point.
October 28, 2025
I recieved the ARC from the author through tik tok. In her post she did mention having a hard time finishing it herself dur to the amount of grief the FMC deals with.
I am a pleasure reader. and I enjoyed this book and following the FMC on her journey through her grief and acceptance.
I like the nod to the dead parents society. Having lost my father a year ago, even though we weren't close, I felt a connection to the story.
Thanks for the ARC, CB Woods!
I am a pleasure reader. and I enjoyed this book and following the FMC on her journey through her grief and acceptance.
I like the nod to the dead parents society. Having lost my father a year ago, even though we weren't close, I felt a connection to the story.
Thanks for the ARC, CB Woods!
October 17, 2025
"I think you're cool. A little fucked up, but I heard what I just said, so I'm not going to pretend I'm not in the same boat. So. That's where I'm at.' Hanna took his words in, but didn't process a single one of them. She'd never once had someone be so direct. She pursed her lips, 'You're either in a lot of therapy, or none, aren't you?'"
This book is fine. And I mean that like fine wine. If you like emotionally devastating, messy stories about grief and growth.
A cocktail made of a perfect mix of raw, vulnerable romance and a stunningly authentic exploration of loss and grieving, this story not only takes a mirror to the initial shock of loss but the way life keeps happening all around you when you feel like it's over.
Milo & Hanna were stunning characters, I have a slight book crush on them both honestly. They meet, become friends, find common ground and start a meaningless fling - just something to fill a space. But things get confusing, they find more than just a connection over their shared understanding, but a deeper, meaningful connection that they aren't ready to deal with. The way their relationships forms felt so natural, it shifts subtly, ebbs and flows.
There's the nervous question hanging overhead the whole time - is this connection just a bond of two traumatised people sharing in their sadness? Or is it something real that somehow managed to fight its way through their depression.
"Why do you have it in your head that there's a distant future someday where it won't take you down to your knees? They're two sides of the same coin - the price of love is grief."
Hanna was a wreck - reeling from loss, struggling to cope, and faced with her best friends wedding which might have been less overwhelming without her nightmare ex being there. Thankfully, there's the confident, chronically single and charming Milo to distract her. And he's a different kind of wreck - the kind that is terrified to get close to anyone despite all the therapy. Both our main characters were undeniable, multi-faceted and so well written, alongside a beautiful cast of supporting characters and friends that had their own important parts to play.
There was vulnerability and healing, sweetness and some steamy scenes I really wish I hadn't read in public because I definitely blushed. The chemistry between Hanna and Milo was perfection - feverish and desperate at times, but undercut with a playfulness and an authenticity in their awkwardness as they relearn what it means to be around someone else.
It moves slowly, piece by piece - getting better, falling apart and trying to get better again. It jumped from moment to moment but still had a brilliant flow that kept the story moving. An emotionally damaging but beautiful story about love after loss in all its glorious mess.
This book is fine. And I mean that like fine wine. If you like emotionally devastating, messy stories about grief and growth.
A cocktail made of a perfect mix of raw, vulnerable romance and a stunningly authentic exploration of loss and grieving, this story not only takes a mirror to the initial shock of loss but the way life keeps happening all around you when you feel like it's over.
Milo & Hanna were stunning characters, I have a slight book crush on them both honestly. They meet, become friends, find common ground and start a meaningless fling - just something to fill a space. But things get confusing, they find more than just a connection over their shared understanding, but a deeper, meaningful connection that they aren't ready to deal with. The way their relationships forms felt so natural, it shifts subtly, ebbs and flows.
There's the nervous question hanging overhead the whole time - is this connection just a bond of two traumatised people sharing in their sadness? Or is it something real that somehow managed to fight its way through their depression.
"Why do you have it in your head that there's a distant future someday where it won't take you down to your knees? They're two sides of the same coin - the price of love is grief."
Hanna was a wreck - reeling from loss, struggling to cope, and faced with her best friends wedding which might have been less overwhelming without her nightmare ex being there. Thankfully, there's the confident, chronically single and charming Milo to distract her. And he's a different kind of wreck - the kind that is terrified to get close to anyone despite all the therapy. Both our main characters were undeniable, multi-faceted and so well written, alongside a beautiful cast of supporting characters and friends that had their own important parts to play.
There was vulnerability and healing, sweetness and some steamy scenes I really wish I hadn't read in public because I definitely blushed. The chemistry between Hanna and Milo was perfection - feverish and desperate at times, but undercut with a playfulness and an authenticity in their awkwardness as they relearn what it means to be around someone else.
It moves slowly, piece by piece - getting better, falling apart and trying to get better again. It jumped from moment to moment but still had a brilliant flow that kept the story moving. An emotionally damaging but beautiful story about love after loss in all its glorious mess.
December 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.
To anyone who has ever had to be totally fine when they were falling the fuck apart.
I don't even know how to start this review. CB has thoroughly wrecked me with this book and brought up emotions I was not even sure I had. This book is a fantastic exploration of grief, and it is precisely what I needed right now. To see someone write about Hanna and Milo dealing with grief so realistically in this book was everything I never knew I needed. Nobody wants to talk about grief; it is frustrating, messy, uncomfortable, and just so sad even after years, and the way CB talks about it in this book is everything. To see characters who are still reminded of their grief even years later was so helpful to me, especially when it is talked about so frankly, because they are right: it never goes away; you just deal with it differently. Even as someone who has not lost a parent, but has lost 4 people in the last 3 years, this book hit me hard. I spent a lot of it crying, and I honestly would not have had it any other way. This book, however, isn't only about grief; grief is a significant part of it, don't get me wrong. But it has some of the best friendships I have ever seen in it, and it truly made me laugh out loud between fits of crying. CB also managed to make me go from wishing every bad thing would happen to a character to wanting them just to be happy and being obsessed with them. This book is also about how even when you lose someone, life continues, and it is okay to be happy. You aren't tarnishing their memory by learning to live again rather than just surviving day to day. It's also about how, even when you lose someone, you can still see them in everything around you, whether it be a song, a sunflower, their flannels, or even randomly smelling their cologne. I don't know if anyone else could have written a book this well about grief, and I am so thankful that CB decided to write it. This book is everything to me, and I am so glad it came out when it did.
PS, I am 99% sure this will be one of my 6-star reads, which does mean I will never shut up about it again.
🌻Idiots to Lovers
🌻MCs in their 30s
🌻Jealous Ex
🌻Sneaking Around
🌻Bridesmaid and Groomsman
🌻He “doesn't do” dating
🌻Grief and Loss
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.
To anyone who has ever had to be totally fine when they were falling the fuck apart.
I don't even know how to start this review. CB has thoroughly wrecked me with this book and brought up emotions I was not even sure I had. This book is a fantastic exploration of grief, and it is precisely what I needed right now. To see someone write about Hanna and Milo dealing with grief so realistically in this book was everything I never knew I needed. Nobody wants to talk about grief; it is frustrating, messy, uncomfortable, and just so sad even after years, and the way CB talks about it in this book is everything. To see characters who are still reminded of their grief even years later was so helpful to me, especially when it is talked about so frankly, because they are right: it never goes away; you just deal with it differently. Even as someone who has not lost a parent, but has lost 4 people in the last 3 years, this book hit me hard. I spent a lot of it crying, and I honestly would not have had it any other way. This book, however, isn't only about grief; grief is a significant part of it, don't get me wrong. But it has some of the best friendships I have ever seen in it, and it truly made me laugh out loud between fits of crying. CB also managed to make me go from wishing every bad thing would happen to a character to wanting them just to be happy and being obsessed with them. This book is also about how even when you lose someone, life continues, and it is okay to be happy. You aren't tarnishing their memory by learning to live again rather than just surviving day to day. It's also about how, even when you lose someone, you can still see them in everything around you, whether it be a song, a sunflower, their flannels, or even randomly smelling their cologne. I don't know if anyone else could have written a book this well about grief, and I am so thankful that CB decided to write it. This book is everything to me, and I am so glad it came out when it did.
PS, I am 99% sure this will be one of my 6-star reads, which does mean I will never shut up about it again.
🌻Idiots to Lovers
🌻MCs in their 30s
🌻Jealous Ex
🌻Sneaking Around
🌻Bridesmaid and Groomsman
🌻He “doesn't do” dating
🌻Grief and Loss
January 21, 2026
Fine Fine Fine follows Hanna Stevens, who has perfected the art of pretending to be "fine" after her mother’s recent death from cancer and a devastating breakup - until she meets Milo, the groomsman who refuses to let her hide behind her carefully constructed facade.
As a paid-up member of the Dead Parent Society, I was both excited and terrified to open this book. I ended up avoiding it the whole month of my mum’s death-day anniversary because I was too nervous of what I’d find. The dedication set the scene perfectly: "To anyone who has ever had to be totally fine when they were falling the fuck apart." It's been 23 years since my mum died, and people who haven’t lived it might think I should be over it, but as Milo says, the grief doesn’t go away - it just changes. I didn't need the avoidance tactics, this book is fabulous!
But while this book is about loss and grief, I think it’s also about the strength of the human spirit and our ability to grow, find love, and build positivity in the most challenging of situations. The connection between Hanna and Milo is one of the most raw and vulnerable romances I have ever read. The honesty and authenticity of their conversations and deeper understanding feel so natural as it shifts and changes throughout the novel. There are moments of fun and hilarity that had me wanting to whoop and dance in my chair - the lightness in the dark, exactly as in real life. Just as there are deliciously hot and intimate moments between Hanna and Milo, which demonstrate that connection physically and take them out of real life for a time. Milo is very much the kind of guy you want by your side when you're going through such a terrible time.
Occasionally, it was tricky to track where characters were or who was speaking, especially during the intimate moments when it wasn't always clear what was going on. A little more detail of the setting or dialogue tags would have helped, though this was a minor hiccup.
Fine Fine Fine is a raw, honest, and beautifully written exploration of grief and healing, wrapped in a romance that feels truly real - messy but worth everything. It’s a five-star read that I'm going to be thinking about for a while and which I might want to read again.
Thanks to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for the ARC. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
As a paid-up member of the Dead Parent Society, I was both excited and terrified to open this book. I ended up avoiding it the whole month of my mum’s death-day anniversary because I was too nervous of what I’d find. The dedication set the scene perfectly: "To anyone who has ever had to be totally fine when they were falling the fuck apart." It's been 23 years since my mum died, and people who haven’t lived it might think I should be over it, but as Milo says, the grief doesn’t go away - it just changes. I didn't need the avoidance tactics, this book is fabulous!
But while this book is about loss and grief, I think it’s also about the strength of the human spirit and our ability to grow, find love, and build positivity in the most challenging of situations. The connection between Hanna and Milo is one of the most raw and vulnerable romances I have ever read. The honesty and authenticity of their conversations and deeper understanding feel so natural as it shifts and changes throughout the novel. There are moments of fun and hilarity that had me wanting to whoop and dance in my chair - the lightness in the dark, exactly as in real life. Just as there are deliciously hot and intimate moments between Hanna and Milo, which demonstrate that connection physically and take them out of real life for a time. Milo is very much the kind of guy you want by your side when you're going through such a terrible time.
Occasionally, it was tricky to track where characters were or who was speaking, especially during the intimate moments when it wasn't always clear what was going on. A little more detail of the setting or dialogue tags would have helped, though this was a minor hiccup.
Fine Fine Fine is a raw, honest, and beautifully written exploration of grief and healing, wrapped in a romance that feels truly real - messy but worth everything. It’s a five-star read that I'm going to be thinking about for a while and which I might want to read again.
Thanks to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for the ARC. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
September 12, 2025
This book broke me open in the best possible way—it made me ugly sob, full-body wracking, hard-to-breathe cry, yet it was so cathartic. If you’ve ever lost a loved one, been through heartbreak, or struggled to find your footing again, this story will meet you exactly where you are.
Hanna is still reeling from losing her mother just a year ago and from a painful breakup shortly before that. At her best friend Sara’s engagement party, all the “How are you really doing?” looks and questions threaten to undo her—until Milo, the groom’s best friend, steps in. With his humor, tattoos, and unexpected gentleness, Milo pulls her back from the edge. But he too carries grief, having lost his father years before, and neither has dared to risk love in a long time.
What unfolds is trauma bonding at its finest, but also a refreshing, positive portrayal of navigating grief and healing. The emotions in this book are raw—you will feel them—but there are also moments of laughter, lightness, and hope. Hanna and Milo’s banter had me laughing out loud, while their chemistry was undeniable. Milo’s tenderness with Hanna on her hardest days made me adore him, and watching Hanna’s growth—balancing heartbreak with the joy of standing strong for her best friend’s wedding—was inspiring.
Every character, from Chloe to Matty to Sara, feels alive and authentic. You’ll see yourself reflected in at least one of them, and for those who’ve ever said, “I’m fine, it’ll be fine,” prepare to feel deeply seen. This book reminds us that healing is never linear, that it’s messy and painful, but still possible. By the end, I felt both shattered and put back together again.
Fine Fine Fine is not just a romance—it’s a story of grief, resilience, friendship, and the unexpected ways love helps us heal. It felt therapeutic, like being given permission to grieve, to laugh and to hope.
Thank you NetGalley and C.B. Woods for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hanna is still reeling from losing her mother just a year ago and from a painful breakup shortly before that. At her best friend Sara’s engagement party, all the “How are you really doing?” looks and questions threaten to undo her—until Milo, the groom’s best friend, steps in. With his humor, tattoos, and unexpected gentleness, Milo pulls her back from the edge. But he too carries grief, having lost his father years before, and neither has dared to risk love in a long time.
What unfolds is trauma bonding at its finest, but also a refreshing, positive portrayal of navigating grief and healing. The emotions in this book are raw—you will feel them—but there are also moments of laughter, lightness, and hope. Hanna and Milo’s banter had me laughing out loud, while their chemistry was undeniable. Milo’s tenderness with Hanna on her hardest days made me adore him, and watching Hanna’s growth—balancing heartbreak with the joy of standing strong for her best friend’s wedding—was inspiring.
Every character, from Chloe to Matty to Sara, feels alive and authentic. You’ll see yourself reflected in at least one of them, and for those who’ve ever said, “I’m fine, it’ll be fine,” prepare to feel deeply seen. This book reminds us that healing is never linear, that it’s messy and painful, but still possible. By the end, I felt both shattered and put back together again.
Fine Fine Fine is not just a romance—it’s a story of grief, resilience, friendship, and the unexpected ways love helps us heal. It felt therapeutic, like being given permission to grieve, to laugh and to hope.
Thank you NetGalley and C.B. Woods for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read Fine, Fine, Fine by CB Woods, in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
Where to start? Hanna and Milo were a busy, fun couple. I enjoyed getting to know them and how they got to know each other. I think their tension and bluntness was enough for me to laugh out loud and smile like a dork. It was cute, cozy, dramatic, and fun. The overall character development for Hanna would have to be my favorite in the book, and really showed how grief can cause someone to hurt themselves and others. Milo's way of humor to cope is amazingly perfect for cutting the emotion in the book to draw readers in with a smile. Readers can definitely see Milo's thought processes with his actions and the way he tries to make everyone around him feel better.
While the story telling in this book was fun and throughly enjoyable I felt at times the characters were very juvenile. The drama felt that of a high schooler and these characters are in their thirties? The dialogue I feel could be improved by becomes a bit more elevated, but over all still very enjoyable. I also felt that it was repudiative at times of how scenes played out. One moment Milo and Hanna are drinking and the next they are having sex. Now don't get me wrong I do love the scenes...
Overall, I felt this book has amazing potential for individuals who have lost a parent or are just going through grief. Woods highlights that people are human and they tend to make mistakes when they are hurting. They do an excellent job of keeping readers entertained while pulling on their heart strings. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a small tear jerker of a story with some great comedy!
Cheers.
Where to start? Hanna and Milo were a busy, fun couple. I enjoyed getting to know them and how they got to know each other. I think their tension and bluntness was enough for me to laugh out loud and smile like a dork. It was cute, cozy, dramatic, and fun. The overall character development for Hanna would have to be my favorite in the book, and really showed how grief can cause someone to hurt themselves and others. Milo's way of humor to cope is amazingly perfect for cutting the emotion in the book to draw readers in with a smile. Readers can definitely see Milo's thought processes with his actions and the way he tries to make everyone around him feel better.
While the story telling in this book was fun and throughly enjoyable I felt at times the characters were very juvenile. The drama felt that of a high schooler and these characters are in their thirties? The dialogue I feel could be improved by becomes a bit more elevated, but over all still very enjoyable. I also felt that it was repudiative at times of how scenes played out. One moment Milo and Hanna are drinking and the next they are having sex. Now don't get me wrong I do love the scenes...
Overall, I felt this book has amazing potential for individuals who have lost a parent or are just going through grief. Woods highlights that people are human and they tend to make mistakes when they are hurting. They do an excellent job of keeping readers entertained while pulling on their heart strings. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a small tear jerker of a story with some great comedy!
Cheers.
December 7, 2025
First I want to thank the author, CB Woods, and Novel Tours for allowing me to be part of this book tour and for gifting me a physical copy in exchange for my honest review.
Fine, Fine, Fine follows the life of Hanna who is pretending to be fine even after her mother’s death and a breakup around the same time. Hanna is still struggling with her feelings and her grief when she has to work on making her best friend’s upcoming wedding go on without a hitch but that is easier said than done, especially when she meets Milo, the “doesn’t do dating” groomsman.
I won’t spoil what happens in this story as I really want other readers to be able to experience this book for themselves but what I can do is tell you how it personally affected me. I honestly related to this book so much. Personally, when I was 16, my father passed away. Since Hanna and Milo both are dealing with the death of a parent, I honestly felt so seen and so heard with them. The word “fine” is something that I have said so many times even when I didn’t mean it. That word alone was able to mask how I was truly feeling inside and the only people who could see through that word, were people that have been in my shoes before. That’s how it felt with Hanna and Milo. Two broken people who both have hidden behind that word so much so that they are able to see right through each other and be there for one another in ways no one else could.
This book was the epitome of the five levels of grief and I honestly applaud the author for creating this story. I felt like there was so much character growth in this story that was so beautiful to watch unfold. I loved Hanna and Milo as well as all the other characters..even Logan because he also went through a lot and went through his own personal growth. I read this book in about a day and I know this book will stick with me for a very long time.
Fine, Fine, Fine follows the life of Hanna who is pretending to be fine even after her mother’s death and a breakup around the same time. Hanna is still struggling with her feelings and her grief when she has to work on making her best friend’s upcoming wedding go on without a hitch but that is easier said than done, especially when she meets Milo, the “doesn’t do dating” groomsman.
I won’t spoil what happens in this story as I really want other readers to be able to experience this book for themselves but what I can do is tell you how it personally affected me. I honestly related to this book so much. Personally, when I was 16, my father passed away. Since Hanna and Milo both are dealing with the death of a parent, I honestly felt so seen and so heard with them. The word “fine” is something that I have said so many times even when I didn’t mean it. That word alone was able to mask how I was truly feeling inside and the only people who could see through that word, were people that have been in my shoes before. That’s how it felt with Hanna and Milo. Two broken people who both have hidden behind that word so much so that they are able to see right through each other and be there for one another in ways no one else could.
This book was the epitome of the five levels of grief and I honestly applaud the author for creating this story. I felt like there was so much character growth in this story that was so beautiful to watch unfold. I loved Hanna and Milo as well as all the other characters..even Logan because he also went through a lot and went through his own personal growth. I read this book in about a day and I know this book will stick with me for a very long time.
December 19, 2025
Oh my goodness. This book had me feeling ALL the things. I already knew that CB Woods could write a romance that was soft and beautiful and other worldly (if you haven't read Rift yet, you need to!) but with 'Fine Fine Fine' I also learned that CB Woods can write a romance that is spicy, with sharp humor and the biting edges of grief. This book is my favorite kind of romance novel to read: a relationship that feels very authentic and results in a happily ever after, but pulls the strings of my emotions repeatedly before we get there.
Hanna and Milo are the only two members of their best friends' wedding party that belong to the Dead Parents Club and they bond as such. Unfortunately for Hanna, her ex-boyfriend is also a member of the wedding party. That's okay because Hanna is TOTALLY FINE with having the navigate an ex-boyfriend that wants to rehash the ending of their relationship and a new neighbor across the hall who inspires all kinds of naughty thoughts.
I LOVE that Milo was such a perfect book boyfriend, but he was also real and messy and didn't get everything perfect all the time. His understanding and empathy for Hanna as she grieves the loss of her mother had me swooning (as did his lines. Holy cow, the mouth on this man.). Hanna herself was a really good portrayal of grief and trying to live again after devastating loss. Her chemistry with Milo was off the charts, and I was kicking and squealing at their banter. I loved following along with their story, through the highs and lows of their time together to see who they became by the end of the novel. This book just cemented CB Woods as a must-read author that I will be eagerly anticipating new releases from.
Thank you to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for an eARC of this novel to review.
Hanna and Milo are the only two members of their best friends' wedding party that belong to the Dead Parents Club and they bond as such. Unfortunately for Hanna, her ex-boyfriend is also a member of the wedding party. That's okay because Hanna is TOTALLY FINE with having the navigate an ex-boyfriend that wants to rehash the ending of their relationship and a new neighbor across the hall who inspires all kinds of naughty thoughts.
I LOVE that Milo was such a perfect book boyfriend, but he was also real and messy and didn't get everything perfect all the time. His understanding and empathy for Hanna as she grieves the loss of her mother had me swooning (as did his lines. Holy cow, the mouth on this man.). Hanna herself was a really good portrayal of grief and trying to live again after devastating loss. Her chemistry with Milo was off the charts, and I was kicking and squealing at their banter. I loved following along with their story, through the highs and lows of their time together to see who they became by the end of the novel. This book just cemented CB Woods as a must-read author that I will be eagerly anticipating new releases from.
Thank you to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for an eARC of this novel to review.
October 22, 2025
Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
All I can say after reading this is wow. Grief is messy and it’s a bitch — and C.B. Woods depicts that so well through Hanna. I really appreciate how honest and genuine the journey of dealing with grief and loss was in this story. It’s packed with so many emotions, and you can feel them coming off the page — Hanna being triggered by her mom’s death, the pain of seeing her ex again, the fear of letting someone new into her life, and the spark of feeling alive once Milo enters the picture. Hanna’s journey felt so raw and real. It’s heartbreaking but also comforting, and it shows that there’s hope after loss. This book was an emotional roller coaster, but I’m perfectly fine with how it wrecked me.
Hanna and Milo were amazing together. They bonded over their traumas, but what they had went far beyond that, and far beyond just their friends with benefits situation. They understood each other not only through their shared grief, but through everything. They’re so in tune with one another. What they shared was deep and meaningful, and it made my heart ache. I found their relationship incredibly realistic because, as much as they wanted more, neither of them was ready for it at the time. There was so much vulnerability, honesty, and healing between them that it genuinely made me tear up. The more I read, the more I loved and rooted for this couple.
Fine Fine Fine gives you both romance and a heartfelt look into the impact of grief. There’s something in this story that I think everyone can connect to. Overall, I really loved reading this — it felt healing and cathartic in the best way.
Thank you NetGalley and CB Woods for letting be a part of this ARC Team!
All I can say after reading this is wow. Grief is messy and it’s a bitch — and C.B. Woods depicts that so well through Hanna. I really appreciate how honest and genuine the journey of dealing with grief and loss was in this story. It’s packed with so many emotions, and you can feel them coming off the page — Hanna being triggered by her mom’s death, the pain of seeing her ex again, the fear of letting someone new into her life, and the spark of feeling alive once Milo enters the picture. Hanna’s journey felt so raw and real. It’s heartbreaking but also comforting, and it shows that there’s hope after loss. This book was an emotional roller coaster, but I’m perfectly fine with how it wrecked me.
Hanna and Milo were amazing together. They bonded over their traumas, but what they had went far beyond that, and far beyond just their friends with benefits situation. They understood each other not only through their shared grief, but through everything. They’re so in tune with one another. What they shared was deep and meaningful, and it made my heart ache. I found their relationship incredibly realistic because, as much as they wanted more, neither of them was ready for it at the time. There was so much vulnerability, honesty, and healing between them that it genuinely made me tear up. The more I read, the more I loved and rooted for this couple.
Fine Fine Fine gives you both romance and a heartfelt look into the impact of grief. There’s something in this story that I think everyone can connect to. Overall, I really loved reading this — it felt healing and cathartic in the best way.
Thank you NetGalley and CB Woods for letting be a part of this ARC Team!
November 17, 2025
🌻🥹🖤🥹🖤🥹🌻
OH, MY WISTFUL HEART!!!
I am so glad that I got accepted as an ARC reader for Fine Fine Fine because I loved everything about this book. How fucked up and real Hanna and Milo were, how they worked to fix themselves into something new from the ashes of the old, how HOT they are together (also I think Arankai should play Milo in the movie adaptation because... reasons!😏)! The sweet background of Hanna's best friend getting married as the vehicle for the plot. And, most of all, I adore that this is actually a love letter to the author's own mother and to readers who have lost a beloved parent. I am fortunate not to have lost a parent yet, but I can also clearly imagine how I would react if I did. The portrayals of grief and healing in this book are so beautifully poignant and ring so utterly true. My heart aches for a future pain, while simultaneously soaring because this is a love story in every way that matters. I stayed up until nearly 3 a.m. trying to finish it and will probably reread it in the not-too-far-away future.
A couple of my fave quotes:
"Then why do you have it in your head that there's this distant future someday where it won't take you to your knees? They're two sides of the same coin - the price of love IS grief, Arizona."
"They giggled, and Hanna's heart swelled. It was the same feeling as when Cami hugged her - an impossible nostalgia for a version of her mother she would never get to know. She'd have to find Lisa in the curves of mothers who did not share her blood, but shared her burdens. She'd have to look for hard-fought wisdom carved into the smile lines of women in flower shops."
OH, MY WISTFUL HEART!!!
I am so glad that I got accepted as an ARC reader for Fine Fine Fine because I loved everything about this book. How fucked up and real Hanna and Milo were, how they worked to fix themselves into something new from the ashes of the old, how HOT they are together (also I think Arankai should play Milo in the movie adaptation because... reasons!😏)! The sweet background of Hanna's best friend getting married as the vehicle for the plot. And, most of all, I adore that this is actually a love letter to the author's own mother and to readers who have lost a beloved parent. I am fortunate not to have lost a parent yet, but I can also clearly imagine how I would react if I did. The portrayals of grief and healing in this book are so beautifully poignant and ring so utterly true. My heart aches for a future pain, while simultaneously soaring because this is a love story in every way that matters. I stayed up until nearly 3 a.m. trying to finish it and will probably reread it in the not-too-far-away future.
A couple of my fave quotes:
"Then why do you have it in your head that there's this distant future someday where it won't take you to your knees? They're two sides of the same coin - the price of love IS grief, Arizona."
"They giggled, and Hanna's heart swelled. It was the same feeling as when Cami hugged her - an impossible nostalgia for a version of her mother she would never get to know. She'd have to find Lisa in the curves of mothers who did not share her blood, but shared her burdens. She'd have to look for hard-fought wisdom carved into the smile lines of women in flower shops."
September 12, 2025
💍 Weddings, trauma, and one tattooed man who just might change everything.
📖 Fine Fine Fine by C.B. Woods
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
📝 Genre: Contemporary Romance
⚠️ TW: grief, death of parents
Hanna lost her mother a year ago, just months after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend when he fell in love with someone else. Now her best friend, Sara, is getting married to her ex’s brother, Matt. At the engagement party, she’s doing her best to show up for her friend, but all the pitying looks and “how are you really doing?” questions hit too hard. That’s when Milo—the groom’s best friend—steps in. He flirts, makes her laugh, and pulls her back from the edge. But Milo hasn’t done relationships in years, not since losing his dad 15 years ago.
This book is trauma bonding at its finest. It’s mental-health positive in such a refreshing way, and I honestly can’t say anything bad about it. Hanna and Milo’s humor and banter while navigating grief made me laugh out loud, and their chemistry? Off the charts. Milo was so considerate and gentle with Hanna, especially on her heavy days, and I adored seeing her growth. Hanna’s character development is everything—I felt so seen in how she worked through her heartbreak and grief while still standing strong for her best friend’s wedding.
It definitely felt cathartic for me, especially since I lost a parent when I was young.
Thank you NetGalley and C.B. Woods for this ARC.
Tropes:
🖋 Tattooed MMC
🌸 Emotionally Fragile FMC
🖤 Trauma Bonding
🏡 Forced Proximity
📖 Fine Fine Fine by C.B. Woods
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
📝 Genre: Contemporary Romance
⚠️ TW: grief, death of parents
Hanna lost her mother a year ago, just months after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend when he fell in love with someone else. Now her best friend, Sara, is getting married to her ex’s brother, Matt. At the engagement party, she’s doing her best to show up for her friend, but all the pitying looks and “how are you really doing?” questions hit too hard. That’s when Milo—the groom’s best friend—steps in. He flirts, makes her laugh, and pulls her back from the edge. But Milo hasn’t done relationships in years, not since losing his dad 15 years ago.
This book is trauma bonding at its finest. It’s mental-health positive in such a refreshing way, and I honestly can’t say anything bad about it. Hanna and Milo’s humor and banter while navigating grief made me laugh out loud, and their chemistry? Off the charts. Milo was so considerate and gentle with Hanna, especially on her heavy days, and I adored seeing her growth. Hanna’s character development is everything—I felt so seen in how she worked through her heartbreak and grief while still standing strong for her best friend’s wedding.
It definitely felt cathartic for me, especially since I lost a parent when I was young.
Thank you NetGalley and C.B. Woods for this ARC.
Tropes:
🖋 Tattooed MMC
🌸 Emotionally Fragile FMC
🖤 Trauma Bonding
🏡 Forced Proximity
September 17, 2025
The story kicks off with our FMC, Hanna, avoiding her best friend’s wedding engagement festivities, and drowning her feelings in whiskey at a bar. Enter Milo: tattooed, charming, and carrying his own baggage. Their chemistry is strong right from the start, and it’s the spark that keeps the book moving.
Hanna, though, can be a tough heroine to spend time with. She’s deep in grief, at times self-destructive, and caught in cycles of drinking, panic attacks, and avoidance. On one hand, the portrayal of grief and depression feels authentic and well-written, but on the other, it makes the tone of the book pretty heavy. For me, it became a bit oppressive at times, though I can see readers who are looking for a good cry—or who are processing their own grief—connecting with it more deeply.
The writing generally flows well but I sometimes found scene transitions a bit jumpy, and the constant drinking wore thin for me; almost every time Hanna and Milo are together, someone’s pouring alcohol. That said, I liked Milo as a love interest: steady, imperfect, and a great counterbalance to Hanna.
The ending delivers a sweet and satisfying wrap-up, with a little surprise that left me smiling.
Fine Fine Fine is a heartfelt, grief-soaked romance that blends mental health themes with a friends-to-lovers “distraction becomes more” arc. It wasn’t quite my cup of tea because of the heaviness and all the drinking, but others might find it cathartic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Emrae Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Hanna, though, can be a tough heroine to spend time with. She’s deep in grief, at times self-destructive, and caught in cycles of drinking, panic attacks, and avoidance. On one hand, the portrayal of grief and depression feels authentic and well-written, but on the other, it makes the tone of the book pretty heavy. For me, it became a bit oppressive at times, though I can see readers who are looking for a good cry—or who are processing their own grief—connecting with it more deeply.
The writing generally flows well but I sometimes found scene transitions a bit jumpy, and the constant drinking wore thin for me; almost every time Hanna and Milo are together, someone’s pouring alcohol. That said, I liked Milo as a love interest: steady, imperfect, and a great counterbalance to Hanna.
The ending delivers a sweet and satisfying wrap-up, with a little surprise that left me smiling.
Fine Fine Fine is a heartfelt, grief-soaked romance that blends mental health themes with a friends-to-lovers “distraction becomes more” arc. It wasn’t quite my cup of tea because of the heaviness and all the drinking, but others might find it cathartic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Emrae Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up!
I really enjoyed my time with this ARC. It's so nice to read about characters in their mid thirties that act their age, especially when a heavy amount of grief is involved. (Though the amount of therapy-going in this novel to produce their well acting age is probably the most unbelievable part) Woods handles the balance between humor, romance, and grief well. Hanna is a smart protagonist and I liked following her journey dealing with her own grief while trying to be there for her best friend and cope with growing feelings for Milo. I was worried that she would fall into the "not like other girls" trope, but I'm happy to say that Hanna felt solid. She wasn't a try-hard. She liked what she liked and got along with Chloe (even defending her) when it could have easily went a different direction. CB Woods is a girls girl! The banter between protagonists was cute, the sex scenes steamy, and the conversation between girlfriends was so easy that it made me miss my own girls. Maybe I should lead a girls' night and make everyone read this on release day....
I read this and also read (insert unnamed-FWB-by-Hoover book) at the same time....this story is what Hoover ~thinks~ she's doing. I will take Woods' work any day over the other. There are stumbles in transitions like other readers have pointed out, but they're easily forgivable with a wholesome cast. I didn't mind Logan's arc, I think that was a realistic choice compared to the typical ex-boyfriend asshole trope in a romance. Overall, it was nicely done and I recommend picking it up in November!
I really enjoyed my time with this ARC. It's so nice to read about characters in their mid thirties that act their age, especially when a heavy amount of grief is involved. (Though the amount of therapy-going in this novel to produce their well acting age is probably the most unbelievable part) Woods handles the balance between humor, romance, and grief well. Hanna is a smart protagonist and I liked following her journey dealing with her own grief while trying to be there for her best friend and cope with growing feelings for Milo. I was worried that she would fall into the "not like other girls" trope, but I'm happy to say that Hanna felt solid. She wasn't a try-hard. She liked what she liked and got along with Chloe (even defending her) when it could have easily went a different direction. CB Woods is a girls girl! The banter between protagonists was cute, the sex scenes steamy, and the conversation between girlfriends was so easy that it made me miss my own girls. Maybe I should lead a girls' night and make everyone read this on release day....
I read this and also read (insert unnamed-FWB-by-Hoover book) at the same time....this story is what Hoover ~thinks~ she's doing. I will take Woods' work any day over the other. There are stumbles in transitions like other readers have pointed out, but they're easily forgivable with a wholesome cast. I didn't mind Logan's arc, I think that was a realistic choice compared to the typical ex-boyfriend asshole trope in a romance. Overall, it was nicely done and I recommend picking it up in November!
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