I went into Honeymoon Phase excited because the premise is right up my alley, but the execution didn’t fully win me over. The friends-to-lovers dynamic is solid, and the emotional foundation between the main characters feels genuine. Luke, in particular, is a standout — his quiet devotion and consistency carry a lot of the story. My main issue was pacing. The emotional resistance and miscommunication stretch on for too long, making the middle of the book feel repetitive. While the characters’ fears are understandable, the story leans heavily on delay rather than growth, which made parts of it feel slower than necessary. There are moments of warmth, humor, and heartfelt connection, especially involving family, but the tonal shifts between grief and comedy didn’t always blend smoothly for me. I wanted a bit more forward momentum and slightly less internal back-and-forth. That said, it’s not a bad book — just one that didn’t quite meet my expectations. Fans of very slow-burn, emotionally driven romances will likely enjoy this more than I did