Rioghnach Robinson, 2026, 5 stars.
Absolutely brilliant love story of a writer, a critic, and their heated intersections. The portrayal of each main character was vivid and unflinching because we meet them as they take bites out of one another, sparring in person and online and assaulting each other’s core character, or the parts they had assumed each other played. I am so self-conscious writing this review because the skill and level of what Rioghnach Robinson shows here is beyond what I’m capable of producing, and I’m so lucky to have spent these hours living in her storytelling. There are so many voices Robinson shows of the character’s inner lives, their professional writing tone, and then the intimate, building chats and emails they share as they start building a personal relationship.
This elevates the genre of romance, and the ways we understand how people become vulnerable to one another in a public manner. It is a burning love story that resolves in the perfect pacing. I will purchase this book, I will share this book, and I will re-read it several times in my life.
Thank you to Rioghnach Robinson, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the arc.
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