Item: The Anti-Boyfriend
Rating: 4.00
Author: cocktailsandbooks

by Penelope Ward

At first, my neighbor Deacon frustrated me.

Sure, he was great-looking and friendly.

But our walls were thin, and on occasion, he'd bring women to his place and keep me awake while he "entertained" them.

As a single mother to an infant, I didn't appreciate it.

So, finally it was my turn.

When my daughter wouldn't stop wailing one night, Mr. Manwhore came knocking on my door.

Miraculously, at the sound of his voice, Sunny stopped crying. And when he held her...she eventually fell asleep in his arms.

Deacon was rough on the exterior, but apparently on the inside? Mr. Single-and-Ready-to-Mingle was a baby whisperer.

After that night, we became friends.

He'd go for coffee runs. Come over to chat. Normal friend stuff.

But over time, our conversations ran deeper. We got closer.

Until one night we crossed the line.

Our friendship turned into a complicated mess.

I'd gone and fallen for a guy who'd sworn off commitment and kids.

I knew Deacon was starting to care for me too, even though Sunny and I didn't fit into any plan he'd ever imagined for himself.

He was wrong for me--so wrong that I'd dubbed him the "anti-boyfriend."

Then why did I wish more than anything that I could be the one woman to change him?

Penelope Ward is one of my go-to authors. I always enjoy her interpretation of whatever trope she takes on. I really enjoyed this one. A single mother starting a new relationship is always interesting, but a single mother with a special needs baby...I knew the hero was going to be someone special.

Deacon had his issues and he didn't go about dealing with them (when they reared their ugly head) the right way, but everything he did before that proved he was a guy worth investing the time in. He didn't shy away from Sunny and following his growing love for that little girl had me willing to forgive him when he finally did something to prove he was the anti-boyfriend.

I couldn't put this one down and I really enjoyed the slow burn, friends-to-lovers storyline. Carys and Deacon were exactly what I needed right now.

The Anti-Boyfriend

by Penelope Ward

Reviewed by Cocktails and Books on Sep 1, 2020

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