4⭐️ 2.5🌶️

MOOD: challenging, hopeful, emotional

TROPES: bi-awakening, forbidden romance 

GENRES: small-town romance, lgbtq+ romance 

FAV QUOTE: He doesn’t look up at first. I get the feeling he’s ignoring me, which can’t be right. Priests don’t ignore people. 

MAIN CHARACTERS: Zaiden Nyles and Ellsworth Sanna

I originally read this in the Shatter Me anthology. I did not realize that when I picked it up so, yes, I have a horrible memory and, yes, I have very specific tropes & themes that I like to read. Still a good read, still a little heartbreaking, still needs more lube. Will I read it again in another year? Probably. It was my fav out of the anthology - which I do have - so I'm glad I got this standalone version from the library and didn't accidentally buy it too. If you also read it in the anthology I'm not really sure the epilogue makes it worth a whole re-read, even though it was cute and did go with the rest of the story, unless you liked the story the first time around which I did.

CW: sexual content, death, homophobia