[3.5] i seldom read best friend's dad romances so i'm completely unqualified to tell you how this compares, but i can make an educated guess which plot elements tend to be par for the course.
....so imagine my surprise when Ross the BFF puts two and two together before we even hit the 15% mark! *jaw drops* i was fully expecting said best friend to be kept in the dark until the Big Dramatic Reveal tore everyone apart, so what a pleasant surprise 🤣
the story is very much character driven, so don't go in expecting OTT plot twists and the like. as a result, some may call it slow/uneventful, but i tend to enjoy these types of slice-of-life stories where we focus primarily on the mcs' interactions.
Zander (24) and Harrison (41) are a playful and increasingly schmoopy pair as their relationship grows. age gaps are a hit-or-miss for me, as while i understand generational gaps exist, if it's ceaselessly hammered in with reminder after reminder, it becomes too much. luckily that wasn't the case for me here because most of the mentions were Zander acting like the "older" one, and i could relate since i'm often told that irl as well (full-on grandma on the premises 🤣).
i really appreciated the author's inclusion of Zander's motivations for becoming a teacher via his backstory, touching upon the very real impact of ADHD on learning, and peppering tidbits throughout the book about how he stays on track with his schedule, takes medication, etc.
now my attention did start to wane around the thanksgiving scene when Zander's mom and little sister make an appearance. the whole subplot with his father was necessary to sell Zander’s near unbending reticence to accept help from others (entirely understandable given what he's gone through but i guarantee it'll grate on some people's nerves nonetheless 😆). however, because of the extent to which his character is eaten up by the shadow of his dad's lingering presence, the resolution felt incomplete? it was probably a creative decision to keep the focus on our mcs in the moment, but the way the conflict with his father was dealt with off-page left me feeling a bit unsatisfied by the end.
that being said, i still recommend this to anyone who likes the trope, and i hope it works for you! 💖