William C. Morris Award-winning queer Iranian author Adib Khorram (I'll Have What He's Having; Seven Special Somethings) returns to the adult romance genre with a sincere, soft novel about two men at the crossroads of change who experience the surprising delight of a second chance at love.
Reeling from a disastrous marriage proposal that ultimately ended his relationship, Ramin drunkenly books a spontaneous trip to Milan to mend his broken heart--and maybe also ferment it in some delectable Italian wine. Meanwhile, Noah is on a trip with his ex-wife and their son, but it's more of a reconnaissance mission than a vacation, since Noah's ex-wife is set to inherit her family's wine store and she's considering moving to Italy with the boy. A chance encounter at a gelateria brings Ramin and Noah together for the first time since high school, when Ramin was a less popular student during Noah's shining days as an athlete.
Their unexpected reunion sets off a series of more coincidences that ultimately spur the pair to start spending time together. Their shared joy at resuming a friendship with an undercurrent of attraction easily transitions into something more. As Ramin works through damaging beliefs about himself and Noah figures out how to balance being a good father with his own needs, Khorram gives readers a tender novel about what to keep and what to discard as one ages. This emotional depth is wrapped up in a sweet and steamy love story about how fitting two lives together takes effort, but being seen and loved for who we are is always worthwhile. --Kristen Coates, editor and freelance reviewer