Eliot Beck is the youngest sibling of a large, dysfunctional family. She leaves the comfort of the routine she has built for herself in New York City for her family’s private island in Canada to attend her older brother Ted’s wedding. She hasn’t seen her family for over three years, not because she doesn’t love them, but rather because she does not want to tell them about the OCD that has consumed her life for a very long time.

I was really interested in the very beginning of this book. It quickly grabbed my attention and I settled in for a fast-paced, fun read, but that is not where this story led. The book is incredibly interesting, but it is not the typical romance many readers are accustomed to. This book requires a lot of attention to detail, and is full of very complex ideas and issues. I had to take breaks throughout the story to be able to stay focused, because a LOT was happening in this story.

I applaud the author for sharing her own OCD diagnosis, and using her experiences as a basis for some of the things Eliot goes through from childhood into her adult life. I am just not sure I would call this book a romance. That may mislead readers into thinking they are getting one kind of story, when what they are getting is a much more complex family drama.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Noyes, and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author: Emma Noyes

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Publication Date: September 10, 2024 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)