[4.5]

The first half is pure sitcom energy that had me bursting out laughing regularly (very hard to do btw), then the second half is filled with a complex discussion about relationships and marriage and gay culture vs straight culture. I adored both halves despite how disparate they were but can see why I saw a lot people really hating this after reading the first book.

I think this does fail as a romance on most levels, but as a contemporary novel about two messy people trying to figure shit out this succeeds enough that it didn't lose points because of the lack of romance. The only thing I think that held this back from a true 5 is that it is very long for what it is and the relationship conflicts felt a bit repetitive at times.