Not Mine to Love by Rosa Lucas:

4 stars

Georgie thinks she knows who she is, and that’s half the problem right there. She’s an IT nerd who actively avoids attention and struggles to stand up for herself. Patrick is a self-made man who has trouble seeing people who don’t meet his standards, including the little sister of his best friend, whom he hired solely for the sake of that friendship. Despite—or maybe because of—their differences, sparks fly when they’re together.

I found Georgie all too relatable; when she was anxious, I felt anxious. When she panicked, I panicked right alongside her. Some moments were genuinely hard to read for that reason. Sure, it was a little over the top, but only just.

Not Mine to Love kept worrying me. Georgie and Patrick seemed too different for the longest time, but Patrick’s backstory not only gave it credence but also explained why he is the way he is. Then I worried that I was reading the wrong book – I’d seen an ad and read a snippet that didn’t seem to fit. It did, and this was the right book. However, by that point, I wasn’t sure there was enough room left in the book to wrap everything up. It came together quickly, and in another mood, it might have been too quick, but today, when Georgie was in Norway, it felt right.

This is not a realistic story, but mostly in the way of money, helicopters, and lavish apology gifts. People who seem to be opposites do attract and often turn out not be so different after all. Patrick and Georgie help each other grow in significant ways. That willingness to recognize personal shortcomings and work on them while choosing to support another imperfect soul is love with a capital “L”. I ate it up.

I also appreciated that Maren and Fee were likable. So often, the secondary women in a romance fall into frenemy/mean girl stereotypes; not here. Not to say that there were no shortcuts or stereotypes. Craig was a bit much, but he had a role to play and did so with gusto. He was a necessary evil.

Not Mine to Love was exactly the romance I was looking for: relatable, funny, and with a compelling romantic interest. This story is suitable for readers looking for mid-level steam, personal growth, and some sightseeing in their contemporary romance. Summed up in a single word: satisfying.