Ready my review of the previous book in the Beginning of Always series, Halo.
This book works completely as a stand-alone story, but putting this book together with Halo makes for a lovely duet. Emil wasn’t necessarily a villain in the other book who needed a redemption arc. The events in that book served as a wake-up call, and I thoroughly enjoyed his journey toward becoming a better person.
Lindsey provides Emil’s history as a context for who he is as an adult, but never as an excuse for his previous behavior. In his own way, he is as wounded as Renzo, who is still in the process of recovering from a marriage that did a significant number on his self-esteem. They share a fairly angsty meet-cute that is immediately followed by an instant connection filled with an intensity that startles them both. Since neither feels like they are either ready for or deserving of a relationship, the retreat that follows isn’t surprising. However, an accidental reconnection that is amazingly adorable opens the path between them for more, the perfect second chance for a more “traditional” meet-cute. Most importantly, Emil and Renzo do not fix each other by entering into a tentative relationship with each other. I especially appreciated the on-page moments showing Emil’s experience with talk therapy.
Many of my notes for this review ended up commenting on elements that this book is not, rather than what it is, which is what elevates the story from generic to the excellent storytelling that I have come to expect from Lindsey. Instead of a trauma-bond relationship between two characters who experience a profound event together, Emil and Renzo develop almost an “anti” trauma-bond connection because what they see in each other is in direct opposition to what they believe about themselves. And though the events of this book occur during the holiday season, it is not a Christmas story. Instead, it is very much a New Year’s story of new beginnings.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.