5⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: adventurous, funny, mysterious
TROPES: forbidden romance, bi-awakening
GENRES: contemporary romance, mafia, lgbtq+
FAV QUOTE: Besides, Leo isn't even her type or gender preference. He wasn't your either, but did that stop you? Touche.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Leon "Leo" Caruso and Kwanchai "Chai" Agkiyama

THE GOOD: First off, I really enjoyed a mafia setting that wasn't a dark romance - I didn't think I would but that was one of the high points of this book. There is still violence and crime, cause mafia, but it was a nice change of pace to not have one, or both, of the main characters suffer because of their relation to the mafia. Leo and Chai are adorable and amusing characters on their own and even more so together. Both their relationship arc and the overall narrative is highly addicting making this a quick but fulfilling read. This was my first J.F. Miev book and I would definitely pick up another one.
THE NEUTRAL: I know there needed to be a mechanism to get Leo to Japan but he's never in school :D so exchange student felt like an odd choice. I also had to look up 4649 in reference to the license plate in chapter 3 cause I don't know Japanese humor.
THE MEH: Was the cemetery haunted? That's been bugging me.

CW: violence, mentions of homophobia, mentions of religious trauma, mentions of parental death
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.