Goodreads: Meet Me Halfway
Published: 29 March 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Panda Rating:

^{(4.5 pandas)}

Madison gave her heart to a boy at the age of sixteen, but all she got in return was a broken heart and a swollen belly. Alone with a baby and desperate for the love she hadn’t found, she turned to a man who sealed his claim of devotion with a diamond ring. He promised her a family. A life. A future. But his lies had only been a cover for the personal hell he introduced her to daily.

Now, at twenty-five, Madison has long since stopped believing in love. It’s simply not a square on her bingo card. Balancing single parenthood, three jobs, and online courses, she doesn’t have the time anyway.

So when the broody neighbor living in the other side of her duplex leaves a rude note on her door, she’s not interested. Not in his dark hair, not in his physique, and definitely not in the dimples she’s only seen a hint of. She’s one hundred percent, absolutely, not interested.
Not even a little.

Author’s Note: Head to the author’s website for a full list of all content descriptions, tropes, etc.

TL;DR: I stayed up all night reading this and basically finished it in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down! This had so many of the things I love:
– Single parent trope
– Grumpy neighbour/hate to friends to lovers
– Slow burn romance
– Amazing friendships, adorably angry doggo, and ALL. THE. BANTER!
– Explosive chemistry and the sexual tension, folks!!! 🥵
– Gentleman in public but a dirty talking alpha in private 😌
– So many sweet domestic couple moments at home ft. cooking, taking care of her when she’s sick, bonding with the kid, falling asleep in the backyard while stargazing… I can go on!

A note: Maddie deals with a lot of things that led to situations that were hard to read, so I would advise checking the CW/TW below but the author also provides a list at the beginning of the book and on her website!

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CW/TW: topics such as mental and emotional recovery from previous spousal abuse, stalking, alcoholism, sexual harassment, and assault, sex on-page

This was an absolute treat that I gobbled up and my only regret is that there aren’t more books in this series (yet?) cos I definitely want more! Madison was such a fantastic character and I rooted for her so hard! She’s a brilliant single mum and I wanted to body slam literally every single person who was a heinous human being to her. I don’t understand how people can be so cruel and blindly hypocritical but damn if I didn’t love the way that Maddie handled every situation. I don’t think I’ve ever read from a single mum’s perspective like hers before—working three jobs to make ends meet, studying at night to follow her passion, being as active and present as a mum who works 60 hours a week can possibly be—and my awe and respect for single mums has shot through the roof!

Jamie was such an adorable, smart and sassy 8yo and I absolutely loved how present he is in this story. He has such a healthy and loving relationship with his mum and seeing how fiercely protective he was of her and how much he adored her brought many a happy tear to my eye. Maddie also has a fantastic support group around her with friends like Layla and her awesome parents. The friendship banter, folks. It was EVERYTHING! 😍 I’m so glad that I was home alone because the way that this book had me cackling at random moments was *chefs kiss*. I love it so much!

Not gonna lie though, I was a bit worried about Garrett at the beginning because he was not… It. Nope, he was rude, judgemental, and condescending and I wanted to give him a big ol’ gentle slap for the way he treated Maddie! Thankfully, once he realises that he’s made the biggest error in judgement (why you judging in the first place tho bro) he quickly cleans up his act and we start to see more of his softer, sweeter, SWOONIER side. The way this man had me catching my breath with the way he was a total simp for Maddie! 😮‍💨 He’s not without his own baggage and with Maddie’s baggage (as she says) filling up a whole plane, I loved watching the two of them go from antagonistic neighbours to good friends and eventually to lovers! Combined with their undeniable chemistry and the absolutely sizzling sexual tension that just grew and grew and grew, it made for one intensely explosive moment when they finally get together. Like, it was so rude and had me absolutely weak! 🥵

This was not what I expected when I picked it up but there was so much I loved about it and that it got on my radar to begin with! There were some tough moments and very serious/heartbreaking situations that were hard to read but overall, this was a sweet single parent slow burn romance ft. a fierce single mum, a grumpy simp neighbour, an adorably sassy kid, a hilarious bestie, and so much delightful banter and intense chemistry and tension that it set my Kindle on fire!

Have you read Meet Me Halfway or is it on your TBR?

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