This book just sucked me right in. The premise is unique, and there is a gradual build towards finding out what these characters were hiding.
Rana Saloomi is a lonely, unhappy woman who just feels stuck in a rut. She has a lot of regrets, issues, and fears. She is quirky, insecure,  and self deprecating, but has a sense of humor. And during a night of drinking she drunk dials a man who was her friend when they were thirteen years old...and unleashes an angry tirade on him.

Landon Roderick now lives in California, and is shocked to hear from the girl that literally disappeared from his life thirteen years ago. But now he does not want to break the contact. He has his own issues and Rana has always managed to make him laugh.

They get caught up in a virtual long distance relationship where they become more attached, develop crushes, sexual tension, and even get jealous. And even though Landon is not afraid to show off his current pic as he is a hot, tatted, handsome guy, Rana is hesitant to be more forthcoming with him.

Both are lonely and have issues, but they find a connection and make each other laugh. They have a desperate need to uncover each other's secrets and truths, but are also afraid of full disclosure and possible loss. They have obstacles such as distance, possible consequences of their secrets, and worry about acceptance.

I loved that he was just as obsessed with her as she was with him. She sees him as out of her league due to her own self worth issues, but he thinks the same of her. He really pushes her out of her comfort zone.  They also have chemistry and an easy going rapport. She makes him laugh and feel whole. He makes her feel beautiful and protected. But as they build trust, how will it be affected once they have full disclosure of their demons?

This is a sweet and heartfelt childhood friends-to lovers and long-distance love story about two people that have made mistakes. They both have a need for acceptance, love, and self forgiveness, in order to have self respect and move on. But it is not easy.  Their secrets are gradually revealed throughout so we learn them the same time the other does.

Their path was not a straight line. They veered off course and had some speed bumps, but eventually they found the right path for where they needed to be.

The characters were well developed with complex backstories that caused challenges, fear, and emotional turmoil. It was told in Rana's point of view except the epilogue. It started out as more of a funny, fast-paced, rom com with an interesting premise, but it turned into a story with more layers , surprises, and an emotional punch.

They are not perfect. Their lives have not always been pretty. They are real. They make mistakes, but they learn from them. They learn to laugh, live, and love through the challenges in order to enjoy the good stuff.

Although there were times towards the middle I got a little impatient wit the characters, their secrets, communication, and reactions, it eventually all came together and made sense. I really liked them together as adults with great chemistry and a strong connection and also enjoyed the little glimpses into their young teen past. Landon was such a sweet and swoony hero and I totally adored him. Rana was just awkward enough to feel real. This story was more than I was expecting and surprised me at times. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

It seemed a good idea at the time: look up the neighbor boy from her childhood and call him. That one phone call turned into more calls and hours on the phone as the two childhood friends who had never forgotten the other reconnected. More impulsive decisions ensue as they begin to open up over the phone, but i the moment Rana makes yet another impulsive decision that once again moves their present day relationship forward, they are each holding onto secrets that could put a stop to all the feelings building between them.

This book pulled me in with the banter and chemistry between Rana and Landon, and the premise that had me grinning from the very beginning. I was entirely entertained during the whole book, and loved every minute of this story. I want to call this a light read, but it dealt with a series of heavier issues and secrets between them that could threaten everything they have built. Even as the secrets were hinted and revealed, I was cheering, hoping they could find a way around the challenges that mounted between them.

I loved seeing the bits of their childhood, both through the letters Rana had kept and through the memories they shared with each other. Their friendship and the effect it would have on them so many years later is a sweet addition to this story.

There was more to this than I was expecting, from a pair of leads with deep loneliness and an even deeper connection, a quirky female lead and a courageous male lead, to regrets and issues that ran below the surface. What I was expecting to enjoy easily, quickly turned to a book that struck me and stuck with me. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.