Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
3/5🌶️
Tropes and themes: Peter Pan inspired love story, small town romance, forced proximity, single dad & nanny, ex-fiancé’s older brother, forbidden romance, blue collar DILF, found family (blended family), he falls first and harder, grief and healing, grumpy x sunshine & more.
Summary:
Wendy Darling sees herself as an outsider in the Davies family. Sure, they’ve been there for her for the majority of her life, filling the holes her own family left behind, but she knows they aren’t really her family. Especially not after she broke off her engagement to Peter Davies, the first man she ever loved. However, despite their breakup, she has remained tight with the family, and Peter has become one of her best friends.
Jasper Davies has been slowly receding from his family ever since his best friends died four years ago, leaving him legally responsible for their son. He might have leaned on them in the beginning, but he can’t bring himself to burden them with his issues now.
Unfortunately, his younger sister makes his life even more difficult when she tells him she cannot watch his son, Sam, during summer vacation. Jasper suddenly doesn’t know how he can swing being the port manager as well as the father-figure Sam needs.
Peter Davies thinks he’s God’s gift to Earth. Especially after he solves the problems of two of his favorite people. Wendy needs a summer job to help with income loss since she’s not teaching during summer break, Jasper needs someone to watch Sam and give him the summer he deserves. Two birds, one stone.
What no one expects from this arrangement is for Jasper and Wendy to find true love in each other, least of all Peter. That’s why Jasper and Wendy keep things secret, hoping that it won’t blow up in their face.
Thoughts:
This is a love letter to this book.
I have never read a contemporary romance before that felt so much like a fantasy novel. The author masterfully made a normal, small town, into something so preciously enchanting. The way they wove elements of Peter Pan into this story is unlike any other Peter Pan based romance I’ve ever read. It’s genuinely perfection. I loved every second, especially the setting and the adorably quirky characters.
Wendy is such a bright light in the story. I love that she’s a story teller and follows her dreams of writing a book. I love even more that Jasper is the only one who understands her goals and supports her along the way.
Jasper is such a deliciously grumpy, blue collar DILF. But don’t be fooled by his looks, he’s such a deeply emotional and haunted character. He’s still reeling from the death of his best friends, Sam’s parents, and seeing him battle his insecurities in fatherhood was so real and emotional and precious.
I love these characters. I love their relationship and their love story and the way they fit together and hold each other up. I adore the crazy and special Davies family, and I am so excited that there will be more books exploring this town and this family. I need more, desperately.
You see the “found family” trope a lot in romance, but I have never seen the trope done so well and with so much love and authenticity. The Davies family is goals on so many levels.
The spice in this book was as sweet as it was hot, perfectly matching the tension between Jasper and Wendy as they navigate their taboo/forbidden romance.
I highly recommend this book to romance lovers of any sub-genre. I think anyone can find something they love in this story. I have a feeling this series is going to be HUGE.
So There’s This Book 