For the last four years, Rowan Roth has competed, head to head, with Neil McNair. She always saw him as the enemy, but as she embarks on her very last opportunity to destroy him, by winning Howl, she finds herself coming to some rather startling realizations about him.
I am filing this one under Made-My-Face-Hurt and Made-My-Heart-Explode, because that is exactly what happened as I read this incredible book. I mean, in a word, the book was PERFECTION, and if I were to list all the things I adored about this book, it would take me days. Therefore, I will limit myself to five fantastic facts about this book.
1. This was a love letter to Seattle. Even if Rachel Lynn Solomon hadn't told me so in the end notes, I would have known this to be true. Solomon took me on a wonderful tour, and her affection for the city showed in every way. I may never have visited Seattle, but once I do, I will know all the things I need to see in person.
2. This was about saying goodbye. It was the end of an era for Rowan, and while many of her classmates would stay in-state for college, she would be flying clear across the country to begin her new chapter. It was bittersweet, and I could feel all her emotions, that were wrapped up in this night.
3. Rowen and Neil went to a stupendous high school. I would have loved to have had an event like Howl as my senior goodbye. I guess you need to know, that Howl was the annual scavenger hunt/assassin game organized by the student council. Let me tell you! I had a fantastic time at the event, and I wasn't even playing. I must say, it was a brilliant way to have our characters say goodbye to high school and their hometown, and also a great way for them to bond. So. Much. Fun.
4. The romance was all sorts of gooey goodness. These two were so tailor made for each other, and I wanted to physically push them together, where they belonged. As they peeled back the layers, more and more was revealed, and even I started to regret that they wasted all those years fighting their magnetic attraction to one another. There were these super fun moments, these incredibly honest moments, and these very tender moments, all of which filled my heart with so much warmth and joy.
5. As a romance reader, I really appreciated Solomon taking on the genre's critics in this book. Rowen was an aspiring romance writer, but she felt like she had to keep it a secret, because of the way people look down on romance. But, the genre was defended, left and right, and that made this romance reader very happy.
I said five things, but I have to mention something that we Rachel Lynn Solomon fans will appreciate. I spotted two characters from her previous books in this story. It was funny, I noticed the second reference first, and then went back, because I thought a name looked familiar, and I was right! You all know I live for those "easter eggs", and oh, it delighted me.
If this is a preview of Solomon's upcoming adult contemporary romance, SIGN ME UP! This book hit all the right notes for me, and was a veritable treat to read. I have a lot of love for RLS's previous books, but this one, it owned me. Solomon always makes me cry, but for once, the tears were only the happy kind.
All these years, we were fighting when we could have been...not fighting.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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