Breakup Buddies

I don’t love the title. I do love the premise, though, and I like the cover. Let’s give it a go, shall we?

Title: Breakup Buddies

Author: J.J. Arias and Bryce Oakley

Vibe: A lawyer and hairdresser, both whip-smart and sarcastic and kind, but each toting an assortment of issues, meet via an online app designed to help people cope with breakups.

This starts out light and quip-filled and entertaining (and don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t stop being funny or entertaining), and turns into a delicious reminder of the power of love and friendship to help you see yourself through kinder eyes.

Thoughts: This is so well written: funny without trying too hard, giving backstory through light references rather than painfully obvious info drops. I loved it. This is a deeply satisfying read, a slow burn romance with an organic, gradual evolution from friendship and attraction into increasing trust and healing. Honestly, just *reading* it is reassuring and healing in all the best ways.

It’s the best thing I’ve read so far this year. Okay, it’s January, so that doesn’t mean much, but it’s also better than any romance I read last year.

Taste:

Gunner wasn’t the kind of firm where anyone shared personal lives, and the old-school partners thought everything non-billable was TMI. (loc 124)

Alix Wolf believed two things to be constant: bad tattoos aged better than bad relationships, and beer always tasted colder and better in a dive bar. (loc 295)

Grace’s quiet awe smoothed the edges of every memory, made the awkward versions of her past selves seem a little less sharp, a little easier to stand beside. (loc 2641)

Verdict: Definitely deserves a place on the shelves. I read this via kindle unlimited, but I intend to own a hard copy. Everyone I know might be getting this for Christmas next year.