DNF

I had SUCH high hopes for this debut novel, and I think, in the end, it was a “it’s me and not you” situation. I completely get why so many people enjoyed this book. The story started on a high note; Alaska settings and grumpy heroes are my catnip! The hero was giving me Luke from Gilmore Girls-but-younger vibes, and I was here for it. But then… he got less grumpy? He was actually very flirty with everyone. Almost every single female local he came across he had dated or thought about dating and TBH, it put me off and really dented his whole “grumpy diner-owner” motif. Plus, people kept talking about how lazy he is. There is a difference between grumpy and belligerently lazy and the hero was starting to slide to the less desirable of those two options.

I probably could have gotten passed my dashed grumpy hero hopes if I liked the heroine even a little bit. Everyone she comes across seems to love her; I found her to be a bit of a dud. She was judgy and righteous, and I just couldn’t get beyond it. I honestly did not understand why the hero liked her so much. I would love for someone to explain it to me.

Combine a hero and heroine I don’t click with, no sexy times, and weird slapstick humor that seemed out of place most of the time, and you have a DNF recipe for this reader.

Overall, if the main characters aren’t working for me almost halfway through the book, I am pretty darn positive they won’t work for me the rest of the book. I’m not saying “no, never” to Ms. Morgenthaler’s future books, but this book didn’t work for me.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

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