by Donna Marchetti

Guys…It’s so cute.

If you liked The Hating Game (which I very much did), you will really enjoy this book. It’s a sweet and cute twist on the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope, and I’m here for it. I really do just love books like this, that put your mind in a happy space especially when you’re feeling a little blue. This book gave me the happy tingles and made me laugh out loud multiple times.

The book begins with two fifth grade children from different schools being assigned as pen pals. Naomi is so excited to write her new pen pal, Luca, but when he responds, she’s shocked at his rudeness and horrible attitude. But instead of giving up on her pen pal, she decides to beat him at his own game and writes him back something equally as cruel. This begins an over decade long battle of wits and insults until, one day, Luca stops writing.

Two years goes by without a word from Luca and Naomi is a prominent Meteorologist in Miami. After one of her news spots, she receives a letter from Luca, as mean as ever, with no return address. Naomi and her co-worker/friend, Anne, then take it upon themselves to try to track down Luca, which includes several plane trips to Luca’s last known whereabouts. But during all this, Naomi is finding herself falling for her gorgeous, cat-fostering, volunteering, veterinarian neighbor, Jake.

Naomi can’t stop the feeling that she needs to find Luca but is also falling harder for Jake every day. She begins re-reading her letters from Luca and wondering what could be, but how long can she hold out for a man she’s never met (or even been nice to) before she has to give in and enjoy the guy that’s right in front of her?

I’ll stop there to avoid spoilers, but if you like romantic comedies and you’re in need of a funny, feel-good read, I definitely recommend it. I would say, my only downside to this entire book was that Naomi’s friend, Anne, was so weirdly obsessed with finding Luca that it became creepy. When she was in scenes, I didn’t really want to read them. She was pushing Naomi so hard to find Luca and demanding to be apart of every little thing and would get angry with Naomi if something happened and she didn’t immediately share it with her. Every scene with Anne, she was prodding Naomi about what was happening and then would demand to know why Naomi didn’t update her immediately if something happened. (Weird, right?) I started feeling like there might be another sub-plot where Anne is actually Luca’s ex or is toxically obsessed with Naomi in a Single White Female way. It genuinely sent tingles down my spine how crazy this woman was over Naomi’s love life.

I’m not obsessed, I just want to wear your skin.

Aside from that, I really loved reading this book. There was some good spice, a lot of good humor, and (mostly) likeable characters and kittens and puppies!

Overall rating: 8/10!