Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
For this fun second-chance romance, Alexander (Carolina Built) skillfully balances character development and steamy scenes with a moving story about the conflict between heritage and progress. Fiery Summer Graves and aloof Aiko Holt have held a torch for each other since their one passionate kiss in high school. Nearly 15 years later, Summer returns home to Austin, Tex., and the women get the chance to reconnect--but it won't be easy. Summer hates seeing how her community has changed since she was last home and is distraught to learn that her old high school, which was founded by her grandmother, is slated to be demolished and turned into an affordable housing development. And who's managing the project? Aiko, of course, who's all about revitalizing Austin. Heat sizzles between these two, but if they can't put their differences aside they'll have to find a way to resist temptation. Even in their arguments, Summer and Aiko are an easy couple to root for, and readers will hope to see both of them achieve their goals. Anyone looking for inclusive romance should check out this breezy contemporary. Agent: Sarah Younger, NY Literary. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In this steamy, queer Black romance from Alexander (Carolina Built), Summer Graves and Aiko Holt are reunited years after a fateful high school dance when Summer moves back to their hometown of Ivy, Texas. However, they find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the future of their former high school, which has been abandoned. Summer wants to fight to preserve the community's history, while Aiko works for the architectural firm in charge of the rebuild. The book wastes no time in hooking these two characters up, but then settles in to explore how their different opinions on the direction of their community is an ever-present thorn in the side of their relationship. The novel also explores how both characters handle complicated family dynamics: Summer's mother is struggling with her coming out, and Aiko is in the early stages of becoming her mother's primary caregiver. The novel starts a little slow, but the story picks up substantially in the second half. VERDICT While there are some pacing issues and the dialogue doesn't always flow naturally, this is a romance novel in which the plot outside of the relationship is also compelling, and that makes this book stand out.--Claudia Berger
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
When two women who were high school flames end up on opposite sides of a controversial building project, sparks fly--and a few sharp nails. When Summer Graves returns to her hometown, the Ivy neighborhood of Austin, she's dismayed to find that much has changed from her childhood memories. The neighborhood is rapidly gentrifying. The Sojourner Truth Charter Academy--a school founded by Summer's grandmother that has been closed for the past 10 years--is slated for demolition to make way for a new multiuse development, and Summer is determined not to let that happen. When Summer runs into Aiko Holt, her high school crush, at the work site, she realizes that she can't let Aiko be the one who gets away (again!). The only problem: Aiko is the architect in charge of the Sojourner Truth tear down. Will steamy romance prevail, or will the building project tear them asunder? The best moments of this novel are the nuanced explorations of the impact of gentrification on communities of color, portrayals of queer people of color and their stories, and some pretty hot bedroom scenes. As Summer and Aiko's relationship develops, they each must examine and adjust their opposing perspectives, ultimately mapping out a compromise for the building project that could serve as a model for conscious development projects in the real world. Unfortunately, the writing is uneven, featuring flat dialogue, odd descriptions, and weird choices in narration. Why do we need to know every single outfit every character wears in every scene down to the details of jewelry? Why are all the main characters' stray thoughts italicized and isolated from the narration? And it's hard to escape the feeling that we've heard this story before: It's a steamier version of Two Weeks' Notice starring Sandra Bullock. A sexy, fun romance that can get dragged down by its own prose. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
