Overall Grade: B+
Tropes: marriage of convenience; small town; golden retriever MMC; emotionally protective FMC
I’m late in posting this review. I’ll admit it, and it isn’t that I didn’t love Meghan Quinn’s newest Almond Bay story, The Reason I Married Him (TRIMH); it’s because it hit close to home in a way. You see, I’m Aubree. Maybe not to the depth of her pain hidden behind walls of emotional stone, but I’m similar in that I erect those stone walls of emotion and let them down only when I feel safe. Meghan Quinn captures this reality beautifully in TRIMH, so much so, that, for someone who lives it, it felt tortuous at times. Quinn’s careful development of the breakdown of Aubree’s walls is easily the best part of the book, but it also has emotional gravitas. In fact, when Wyatt’s character flaw is revealed, it adds very little to the story. For me, it felt like it explained his poor choices away too easily. What was most important about Wyatt, what brought levity to Aubree’s difficult character journey, is his way of lightening and cajoling joy into Aubree’s life.
Quinn carefully couches Aubree’s journey to feeling safe with Wyatt by crafting his character with humor and resilience. Even though Wyatt’s journey is laden with difficulties – his need for perfection doesn’t compare to Aubree’s. It allows him to empathize with her and challenge her, but his easy persona is the perfect foil to Aubree’s more challenging one. The light/dark motif of this book underscores their relationship well.
My only challenge with the book is its necessity for a slow burn. There are deep trauma walls to burn down, and it can only happen with patience, resilience, and encapsulating moments. Quinn does this well, but it also slows the movement forward. I needed to take breaks from Wyatt and Aubree’s back-and-forth banter because their chemistry is a minefield. This is necessary for this book, but it makes it harder to read than the first book of the series, The Way I Hate Him. That’s still my favorite of the series.
I adore Meghan Quinn’s romances. The Reason I Married Him adds more depth to the struggles of the Rowley siblings. Like an onion, Quinn is peeling each layer, revealing more to love about their lives in this delightful town of Almond Bay. Even more, she connects more of her universe, delighting fans like me repeatedly.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 