Love love love!!

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This book was actually incredible...

A quick introduction: At first, I wasn't sure how it would go because it starts off with Stella who has Asperger's and is convinced she needs coaching on how to be in a relationship. She's really cajoled into this thinking by her mother, who is pressuring her for grandchildren despite the fact that Stella isn't in a relationship and is committed to career advancement. Meanwhile, her father is pressuring her to take a promotion she doesn't want because she doesn't want to be a manager and has a desire to stay technical in her job. Thus, the introduction of Michael, the male escort who Stella hires to help her practice relationship essentials.

Self-worth: Stella realizes her self-worth and embraces her unique personal traits BEFORE Michael sweeps her off her feet. This book really stresses that a man does not provide self-worth: self-worth really stems from being confident and comfortable with who you are in all other aspects of your life.

A working woman in a STEM field!!! This was so amazing to see a self-sufficient, career-driven, successful woman in a STEM field. Stella is an econometrician, which is super cool! We need more super smart career women main characters in romance novels! As a woman in a STEM field myself, I love that Stella's career and intelligence play a central role in this book.

Consent is a theme in Stella and Michael's interactions: Michael never does anything that Stella is not okay with, and he stops immediately whenever she is uncomfortable with something. He is extremely considerate and patient with her, and it was so refreshing to see consent as a central theme in a romance novel. We normally see consent and sentiment go out the window with respect to sex in romance novels, with no one asking or giving consent. This should not be the norm (because what does it teach our society), but Michael asks for consent and responds to any lack of enthusiasm, hesitation, or verbal or physical refusal on Stella's part by stopping and doing whatever she's comfortable with.

SPOILER ALERT:


The turning point in Stella and Ann's mother-daughter relationship: When Ann comes to Stella's defense at the gala after Stella and Michael break up, I actually cheered out loud. My boyfriend asked what I was cheering about, and I then explained the entire plot leading up to this moment and gushed about how excited I was that Ann was supporting Stella after Ann's unfavorable introduction as an aspiring grandmother. When Ann says that the noise of the party is "getting to her", she's really identifying with Stella in that moment, which is a main factor in the brilliance of this scene.