Love Notes #2

ARC received from publisher

Author: Jodi McAlister

Thanks, @atriabooks and @jodimcalister for the gifted copy. 

Fiona Fisher has just had the rug pulled from under her feet: her husband, with whom she has three beautiful kids, left her for a whole second family she had no idea existed. This is the final blow in Fiona’s self confidence. She thought her own family was proof to her parents and siblings that she could have a fulfilling life away from their suffocating “academic expectations”. Now, she’s broke, devastated, humiliated and unequivocally ‘proven wrong’. 

Satoshi Tsukamoto also has a lot to prove. He may be the owner of Tsundoku, the popular wine bar/bookstore and on his way to becoming a Master Sommelier, but the watchful eye of his older brother and business partner makes him feel like he always comes up short. His favorite time of the day is when Fiona crosses the door with her kids. He has no idea how that happened but he’s head over heels in love with her (them, actually).

They make no sense. She’s older, has no time for anything other than keeping afloat and getting her kids everything they deserve. Sato is overworked and exhausted. But when they finally give in, all they have to do is believe they do deserve each other. 

I’ve loved this couple ever since I caught Sato making googly eyes at Fi in ‘An Academic Affair’. Their journey isn’t easy because neither one believes they can have what they want. They both come from families of high achievers who can’t seem to understand that people can aim for things that are not what they consider ‘worthy’. Their biggest hurdle is overcoming those feelings and not what they feel for each other. 

What you get: a mama bear who can’t believe she’s indeed very talented; a hot, pansexual, Japanese wine connoisseur who’s head over heels with a single mom; a clueless, selfish ex who needs to touch grass, a bookworm non-binary kid, lovely and ‘elegant’ twin girls, annoying family members who are obnoxious out of love, secret spicy times, lots of wine and an HEA to make you tipsy.

I must confess that I wanted more of Fi and Sato together… But I have a feeling we will catch up on an Elias or an Isamu book. Please? 

Representation: MMC is Japanese. MMC is pansexual. FMC’s older child is non-binary.

Content notes (including but not limited to): cheating (not MCs), divorce, toxic relationship with family members, child abandonment