moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus]'s Reviews > Nest

“It’s always been the same reason. My mama…she doesn’t have anyone else. When she told me it was wrong, that what I was going through was just a phase that I’d get over if I tried hard enough—if I loved her enough. I knew I had to try.” His arms came off me and he scrubbed his hair. “It was earlier this year when I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. It wasn’t all bad with Liddie, you know. She just wasn’t…she could never be you.” He glanced to the foliage. “Do you think…”
“Think what?” I asked.
He closed his eyes. “I want a new beginning with you, Lenny. Can we have that?”

if im being honest, i was a bit hesitant going into this after discovering the two MCs, Lenny and Julian, are first cousins. it’s just a personal preference where im not a fan of romances between characters who are blood related (i love anything taboo/forbidden but still have some limits, i admit lol. idk why, it’s just how my brain works 😭), but i gave this a try bc i loved the other two books i’ve read by Anyta Sunday, rock and True Colors! to my surprise, i became invested in seeing how Lenny and Julian's romance would develop. the friendship they bonded over the years was so pure and that’s what drew me to their connection in the beginning, but the moment they were willing to stick together in the end (once all is revealed and whether family/friends would support them or not) was when they captured my heart. 🥺🤍

im only giving this four stars bc i wasn’t in love the way i had been with the previous books i’ve mentioned. although this trope isn’t my first choice, if i loved it, i would have given it a full five stars regardless so it honestly has nothing to do with them being first cousins, but it’s more of the story/characters didn’t 100% captivate me in comparison—even tho i still pretty much adored them and would highly rec if you’re interested! i loved (most of) the side characters as well, especially their grandma. ✨