the story follows the city’s most well-known tattoo artist who has secretly had a crush on the quiet bookstore owner across the street for years. Their shops face each other, close enough to watch each other’s lives unfold from a distance. Before leaving on a business trip, Nicole’s husband suddenly decides he wants to open their marriage. Nicole, being the ultimate people pleaser, agrees right away even though it’s the last thing she actually wants. It doesn’t take long before she and Ian, the tattoo artist, start growing closer. Eventually, they decide to enter into a Dom/sub relationship just for the summer. And yes, my favorite trope is in this book too: age gap. As for Nicole’s husband, I only have one word: men 🚬🥀 This book truly feels like a masterpiece. You get to witness Nicole’s full transformation from a woman who is manipulated, deeply unhappy, and constantly shrinking herself for her partner into someone who learns that “no is a complete sentence.” It’s incredibly thought provoking, and I genuinely hope more women find their way to that kind of strength and self worth.