Flirt by Adriana Locke

Flirt is as close to a perfect love story as it gets. It’s cute and clever with a cast of characters that I completely adore.

Moss and Brooke are coworkers at the home remodeling business Moss’ parents own. They’re great friends but nothing more until a rather funny post advertising the fact that Brooke needs a quick boyfriend is put on social media. Moss winds up getting roped into the whole thing, and then he and Brooke devise a mutually beneficial plan to fake date. From there, we see these two go from just friends to a whole lot more and navigate some very heavy situations and feelings along the way.

Moss is hands down the swooniest hero I’ve read in a while. He’s charming and witty but then has a vulnerability to him that is so endearing. He’s the sort of character where you love him but then sometimes he frustrates you but not in a horrible way. He’s damaged, but it’s understandable. Moss is complex and yet everything I could’ve hoped his character would be.

And Brooke? She’s spunky and smart and is the sort of character where in real life you’d want to be friends with her. I love that despite having a less than stellar family and an ex that’s dating her aunt, she’s trying to live her best life. She’s doing things on her own terms after her divorce, and she’s thriving. Her drive and independent nature are admirable, and she makes for the perfect counterpart to Moss.

Then there are all the secondary characters, and they’re just as phenomenal as Moss and Brooke. All the Carmichaels are wonderful and add plenty of humor to the book, but I think Banks is my favorite out of the lot. He’s the hilariously bratty/naughty youngest brother, and the way his character reacted to the others was comedic gold. He’s totally adorable. However, I think it was Honey, Brooke’s grandmother, and Damaris, Moss’ mother, that stole the show as far as the secondary characters go. Both women offer a maternal sweetness that Brooke’s own wretched mother lacks, and they’re filled with all sorts of brilliant wisdom that you only come by after living a full life. Overall, all these other characters served to strengthen not only the bond between Moss and Brooke but the story itself.

I could keep going on and on about how much I love this book and how great the characters are or how wonderfully written it is, but in the end you just need to know one thing: Flirt is nothing less than an incredibly well written story of two people that aren’t looking for love, but sometimes fate (and a slightly meddling family) have other plans. This book is absolutely not to be missed, and I assure you that you’ll be left with a smile on your face.