★★★★★ 3
Cute but I just couldn't with the parenting
Format: Kindle
The story was super cute in the romance/chemistry department but I couldn't finish it. I couldn't get past the terrible parenting. Okay, it wasn't terrible per se, he wasn't being abused and was obviously loved, but it was like everything you absolutely don't do with a three year old unless you want your kid to be entitled, demanding, have no concept of consent, and never respect boundaries or safety rules, and feel insecure and unsafe in a world they to them, is really big and scary and new.
They constantly reward bad behavior, use bribes, give in to fits and tantrums, and there's even a scene where the kid nearly runs into traffic and they lure him back with ice cream and don't do anything that impresses upon him how dangerous that was or why he needs to listen/follow the rules. Like, he already knows he can get whatever he wants if he screams enough about it, so why should he bother even bother giving into bribes if he doesn't feel like it? Next time he's gonna do it again and you might not be so lucky. Oh, and they keep asking him open ended questions when there's only one acceptable answer, which is a great way to set yourself up for conflict and honestly kind of mean. "Do you want to put your shoes on?" What if the kid says no? You offered them a choice when there wasn't one. Great way to tell them you can't be trusted at your word. "Haha jk, you don't get a choice!" If you wanna offer a choice, offer a real choice. "It's time to go. Would you like your left shoe first or your right shoe?"
And the begging. Oh my God. They actually beg the kid to cooperate. Beg. No wonder his behavior is all over the place, he thinks he holds the most power, that he's in control, but he's only just arrived in this world and it's a confusing a terrifying place, and he doesn't know how it works, that would make him feel unsafe in the extreme, like anytime anything new happens or he encounters anything he's unsure of or doesn't like. Mom can't protect him, she has no control over anything apparently, so lashing out to find where the boundaries are in order to seek safety makes sense, except nobody sets boundaries, so he just keeps acting out and never feels secure.
The kid with behavioral issues being raised by people who never bothered to read a single book on child development/psychology/behavior management is very realistic, I'll give you that, but from someone who single parents and has worked with kids in this age range extensively and seen this far too much in real life, I just couldn't enjoy reading it fictionalized.
I spent the whole time pausing my reading to rant at the main characters' poor understanding of what kids that age need/are capable of. Weirdly, it was like the author knew that too, because the kid's reactions and outbursts and defiance was a realistic protrayal of the sort of parenting shown here.
Hint. A three year old is old enough to have real conversations after nearly running into traffic about things like why listening when Mom says stop is an important safety rule that can't be broken, and old enough for actual consequences when dangerous behavior that's been explained to him is repeated. Pretending it didn't happen and giving him ice cream so he'll be easier to deal with in the moment is lazy and irresponsible parenting that might get him killed in the future.
Second hint: letting little boys walk all over you and never have to respect the word "no" is teaching them coercion and entitlement. and we wonder why grown men don't respect boundaries or the word no and think coercion equals consent.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2025
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