Holden Catalano is a charming and sexy musician, drummer, handyman, and ladies' man. He has not really been in a relationship and considers himself a bad bet. 

Laney Ellison otherwise dubbed Lala since they were kids is his deceased best friend's little sister. She grew up with his tight group of friends that are still his best friends and business partners today. And she now needs a temporary place to stay in New York. So the apartment next door to him in the building they inherited from her brother makes total sense.

Lala is a sweet and smart researcher who seems to have her life mapped out with a new job and a fiance'. She has always been off-limits but they always had a connection. 

Holden and Lala have a history that no one really knows about...a bond forged in long late-night talks, and longtime secret crushes. Now the temptation is real and living right next door. It is a struggle for both of them to do what seems like the right thing while they are also obsessed with the idea of what they had never let happen before. Lala needs some adventure and experience but also has to decide between the safe option and her fantasy. Holden cannot seem to stop himself from getting involved despite himself and others telling him not to. And it could just blow up both of their lives.

 

There is jealousy, fantasies, and a lot of hot shared nights together. Things seem so good but overwhelming at the same time.

But his life seems to be going one way while hers is going another. The angst, need, want, and fear are all real. So real that they often are too afraid to say what they really want to and keep trying to do what they think is best for the other just complicating the situation and making themselves miserable. They will have to decide what they are willing to sacrifice and if they are willing to fight for a future together even if it is not what they expected or planned. And also have to face their own insecurities about not being enough for the other.

I felt bad for both of them during this story since they really struggled so much. The miscommunication, distance, avoidance, fears, insecurities, and assumptions complicated matters but they seemed to truly want what was best for the other.  But I liked them together and wanted them to find a way to get what they really wanted and needed and to find a compromise for a future together. But they truly needed to get out of their own way.

This is an angsty, witty, hot, best-friends-little-sister romance complicated by the fact that the best friend/brother is gone.  It brings back their shared protective friend group, Brayden, Owen, and Colby along with his wife and daughter. And it sets up the next book in this series.