That Boy

Okay, full disclosure: I went into *That Boy* expecting a light, fluffy romance, and instead got a story that had me *yelling* at my headphones—both in frustration and delight. Lisa Cordileone’s narration is a huge part of why this works so well. She gives the protagonist, Cassidy, a voice that’s equal parts sarcastic and vulnerable, which makes her internal monologues (and there are *a lot*) feel like listening to your best friend dish over iced coffee. The real magic, though, is how she distinguishes between the two love interests: one smooth and teasing, the other rough around the edges with a hint of a growl. It’s the kind of performance that makes you *believe* the chemistry, even when the plot veers into soapy territory. Now, the critiques: The pacing in the first act drags just a touch—Dodd spends a lot of time setting up the friend-group dynamics, and while it pays off later, I found myself fast-forwarding through a few repetitive scenes. And without spoiling anything, the resolution to the love triangle feels *slightly* too neat for a story that otherwise thrives on messy emotions. That said, the banter is *chef’s kiss* perfect, and the way Dodd writes rivalry (the kind where every insult is secretly a compliment) had me hooked. If you love enemies-to-lovers with a side of glamorous settings and narrators who *get* the assignment, this is a no-brainer. Just maybe don’t start it before bed—you’ll lose sleep.