witchbuns

Kate Clayborn, 2026. Five stars in every language.

I re-read parts, I self-imposed speed bumps to not rush through this book, and I savoured every word. Griff is an incredible MMC that I’ve never seen before, which complements Layla as FMC, because we trust her as a well-composed physician who manages everything except her own honesty. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is tired of traditional romance and wants to spend time understanding what it means to be fully vulnerable in a relationship, at the risk of causing friction and revealing the unsorted pieces of ourselves.

Kate Clayborn’s books make me reconsider my understanding of romance and true love because she creates so many layers of self-knowledge within her characters. There is no happily ever after in her books although we satisfy a third act tradition, because what we find, as a destination, is a happily-working-within-thy-self type ending. I loved the turns in this book and the art + craft that she shares to deliver us two love stories, from both Layla/Griff, and Emily/Michael.

I think what surprised me most was how much Kate Clayborn wanted to centre Griff, because to me he was the main character. The dual POV was so balanced – I delighted going within both the perspectives, but I felt they all lead to Griff. He was the more interesting character, or perhaps he had the most pain and trauma that was explored, that made me excited to find that next layer of him, from both his perspective and Layla’s. What didn’t surprise me was the dignity that was given to Jamie as ex-husband, and to Emily as ex-sister-in-law, because Kate Clayborn doesn’t write villains and she’s too skilled to operate in two dimensions. Even the dreadful in-laws are given grace and understanding. 

I am so impressed with the skill in this book, the restraint in the scenes to pause our expectations and let the characters find another layer, an uncertainty that still exists. There is a bit of wandering, in the French way, where we see the characters explore and ask and find what can be new. Absolutely beautiful.