Hey Dearies!
So, this book is actually the sequel to Story of My Life, the one I reviewed last week. Instead of the story continuing on with Hazel and Cam, this actually focuses on Zoey and Gage. Zoey is Hazel’s publisher and best friend, while Gage is Cam’s younger brother.
The book starts out right when the first one ended, which I’m going to put a spoiler alert out to everyone, especially those who haven’t read the first book yet.
It starts with Cam and Hazel planning their wedding at the same time Zoey is relaunching Hazel’s new book series. Of course, Hazel is worried that it won’t do well, but Zoey encourages her to push on and get started on a sequel to her new series. There’s just one problem: Hazel used herself for the last one as an example to work through and needs inspiration from another couple.
This is where Zoey comes in; however, Zoey doesn’t know if she is going to live out here in Story Lake because she wants to go back to New York, but everything starts falling apart for her. Zoey finds out that she either needs to move out of her apartment or buy it, as the new owners are turning it into a condominium.
However, Gage, knowing that Zoey is Hazel’s best friend and had the extra space above where his law office is, cleaned it out and offered it to Zoey to live there for the time being until she finds something else. Of course, grumpy Cam tells Gage right away that Zoey is off limits as it’s his fiancée’s best friend.
One thing I love about romance novels is that when a character is told not to do something, especially like “don’t date or sleep with my future wife’s best friend”, it ends up happening anyway! Nothing wrong with a forbidden love affair!
Anyway, both Gage and Zoey start to realize they have an attraction to each other, but make it very clear they don’t want to be in a relationship. More like a “friends with benefits” situation since they both are clearly opposites from each other.
Zoey doesn’t want a relationship because she’s not ready to settle down and has been burned before by an ex. Plus, she is very focused on getting her career back on track after being fired for helping Hazel get back on her feet.
While Gage does want a relationship, he wants to get married and start a family, but hasn’t had the best of luck finding a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. It also didn’t help that his oldest grumpy brother, Cam, was able to find love when they never thought he would find anyone to begin with.
With all that going on, Zoey is offered to help the town of Story Lake become more of a tourist destination, especially with Hazel’s new book launch, she creates a Readers Weekend. Not to mention, she ropes in all the help she can get from the town and sees if it can be a complete success for not only Hazel but for the town as well.
Of course, as in most “friends with benefits” situations, both of them start to develop feelings towards each other, and Zoey debates whether she wants to actually leave Story Lake, but also makes it known to Gage that she can’t ever have kids. She knows that one of his wishes was to have kids, but Gage is already thinking ahead of her and still wants her regardless because she has changed his wishes and wants her in his life.
There is also the “big fight” or some type of problem that separates them, this one being Zoey throwing herself out there to protect one of Gage’s clients/friends, but I’ll let you find out what happens without me spoiling it for you.
Overall, I love the chemistry between the two! Just like the last book, Hazel and Cam were complete opposites. Gage and Zoey are different in that sense since Gage is very organized, while Zoey is a mess, but she later finds out in the book that there was a reason why she has been like this; she finds out she is diagnosed with ADHD.
Not only does she learn how to handle it, but Gage is already experienced with knowing how to handle someone with ADHD, and even helps her when she feels like her life is getting out of control again. Which I honestly think makes her fall even more in love with him.
You know if you have found someone truly incredible when they can handle and show they love you more, even on your very worst days. That to me is true love! Don’t get me wrong, Hazel was in a dark place when she met Cam, but I think Zoey’s situation is a little bit different since she didn’t know she had ADHD. Gage, without question, didn’t judge her or anything; instead helped her with what he knew about ADHD that helped others.
There are a few smutty scenes, but it’s just the right amount, nothing that overdoes it. The first book was just right with them; however, I actually liked the second book a little bit more. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how the first books’ smutty scenes were with Hazel and Cam; however, I liked Zoey and Gage a bit more.
I honestly liked the sequel a bit more than the first one, but they share equal love from me! Now the real problem is waiting until the third book comes out, which won’t be until March 2027! Which I know seems like forever away, but I know that it will be here faster than we know!
Let me know how you liked this one versus the first one, and if you are excited and can’t wait for the third one to come out, let me know down below!
Also, who are we guessing the third one will be about? I did look it up and came to find out it is going to focus on the last Bishop brother, Levi! I thought for sure it might focus on their sister, but it makes sense that it’s only a 3-book series and there are only 3 Bishop brothers. I’m just curious who the author is going to pair him with!
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