Nikki has it all—a great career, a gorgeous apartment and a boyfriend who is basically perfect. Okay, maybe things have grown a little too comfortable… but Nikki can handle it if it means keeping hot and wholesome Bron in her life.
Then the unthinkable happens and Bron walks out, leaving Nikki feeling like a total failure. They were supposed to have marriage and babies… but instead she’s got a guilty conscience, pissed-off parents who just want her to win him back and the realization that without “Nikki-and-Bron” to hide behind, she has no idea who she really is.
Desperate to pull her out of her slump, best friends Alicia and Chay embark on a mission to help Nikki find Nikki again… by tossing her straight back into the dating pool. There she meets Mike – sweet, laid-back and the first white guy she’s ever been with. There’s no doubt there’s some serious chemistry between them, but is becoming part of Mike’s world taking Nikki even further away from herself?
Then Bron unexpectedly comes knocking, just as things are getting serious with Mike, and the rule book goes right out the window…
*This e-ARC was sent to me by Bookouture, please read our disclaimer policy for more information*
The Review
Everyone has their go-to genre for escapism.
I’ve made it clear a number of times on this blog that romances are my favourite.
Consequently, it was no surprise that I flew through this book. LeeSha McCoy wrote a heartwarming book centred around self-love and fulfilling relationships whether that’s romantic, friends or familial.
“Love comes when it’s time, just like the changes in our lives.”
Nikki was a very relatable character and I think that’s why she became very easy to connect to. McCoy does a great job at setting up her backstory and weaving together Nikki’s insecurities as we begin to embark on this self-love journey. There seemed like a tad of a personal note with Nikki’s thoughts that only propelled the plot onwards.
People-pleasing seems like a direct consequence of those with strict parents/parent. McCoy shows us how it can ultimately begin to rule every aspect of your life. From the relationships you keep to even the way you view yourself every morning.
It’s completely detrimental to you living a loving and fulfilling life.
Nikki’s relationship with her parents was a focal point of the book. You could tell just how much her father’s opinions, especially, meant to Nikki. I really liked how McCoy layers this plot point with anecdotes from Nikki’s childhood and even with the relationships between other family members. Thus, the reader is left rooting for Nikki as she continues to discover who she is.
My absolute favourite thing about this entire book was the way friendships were displayed in this book. It’s often said that friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Nikki’s friendships were so loving. They encouraged her. Supported her. Grew with her. Cried with her.
Every single interaction made me smile. They provided true comic relief in this book.
The comedic elements in the book really made this an easy read. I loved hearing about Nikki getting out of her comfort zone and trying all these different things such as yoga and even just trying to go with the flow in life.
It’s so easy to want to control every aspect of life. But sometimes understanding that life has other plans and the best thing you can do is ride the wave, is the best thing you can do for yourself.
“Some people meet their forever person as soon as they leave the one that wasn’t, some don’t meet them for years. And some people are only meant for a season, as a lesson.”
It was clear that Nikki struggled with control but I think that stems from her parents being so strict. There’s evidently a link between her overthinking control issues and her inability to stop her people-pleasing habits.
It manifested into her relationship with Mike and it’s hinted at about her years with Bron. Two very different guys but have profound impacts on who Nikki becomes. Whilst, I was unsure about Mike I liked who Nikki became once she met him.
I actually really liked the ending of this book. I won’t spoil it but I think it truly showed Nikki’s growth.
My only small problem was that I think this is more contemporary fiction than a romantic comedy. The romance was key to the plot (of course) but this felt like Nikki’s story to self-love.
A plot angle that I will always happily advocate for.
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