Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Casablanca for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
Evan Miller has recently moved to Ravenswood, and while he appreciates his job as a metalworker and many of his co-workers, he’s less of a fan of the boss’s son trying to ingratiate himself with him. Especially once said nepo-baby keeps throwing condescending hints about Evan’s next-door neighbour, Ruth.
Ruth Kabbah is shunned by most people in Ravenswood because of events in her past. She barely ever leaves her house, except once weekly, to have lunch with her mother and sister. She’s autistic, has very little patience for anyone else’s nonsense, and is obsessed with comics. When her new neighbour, a tall, hot, bearded guy, knocks on her door, presenting her with a Shepard’s Pie to boot, she is deeply suspicious. On the other hand, she’s not going to turn down free food. Her stove was removed after an accidental fire, and she really only lives on cup noodles and fast food. So delicious, home-cooked meals outside of her mother’s dinners are a rarity.
Despite Ruth’s initial hostility, Evan finds her fascinating and keeps showing up on her doorstep with food. Ruth decides she can lend him comics in return, and is rather surprised that Evan is not only reading them, but is quite happy spending hours discussing them with her. As their friendship grows, so too does the attraction between them, but Ruth’s only previous relationship was a very toxic one, so she’s wary about getting involved with anyone else. She’s both grateful and frustrated that Evan keeps being a gentleman who respects her boundaries and backs off the minute she has hesitations.
Can Evan convince Ruth that she’s not, in fact, a “jezebel” who should be afraid to leave her house? Can he prove to her that she is worth loving, just the way she is?
Full review here.
