Heartstopper meets Eat Pray Love in this swoony, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Adib Khorram about two former classmates unexpectedly reuniting in Italy.

Ramin Yazdani’s marriage proposal has just gone bottoms up: his ex dumped him in public for being boring. Bent on proving him wrong, Ramin books a spontaneous solo trip to Italy. When he runs into his high school crush while in a gelateria, however, his resolve to reinvent himself is put to the test.

Noah Bartlett’s in a rut. Since his divorce, he’s become a bit of a homebody. So when his ex-wife insists he join her and their son on an Italian holiday, Noah reluctantly agrees. But his reticence turns to excitement when he sees his former classmate, who’s aged just like a fine wine. As a teenager, Ramin fascinated him—and since Noah now knows that fascination was code for crush—all those feelings are quick to come rushing back.

Soon Ramin and Noah are tumbling headfirst into a relationship. Only Ramin fears Noah’s feelings won’t last without Ramin’s adventurous new persona—and Noah’s not sure he can be the supportive partner Ramin deserves. With the days counting down to the end of their trip, can their love last without the magic of Italy?

There’s something special about an MM romance written by someone who actually knows what it’s like to be a gay man navigating love, desire, and insecurity. I’ll happily read the occasional MM romance written by women, and I’ve enjoyed many of them, but books written by gay men just hit differently. They get it. The emotional beats land harder. The body image stuff feels real. The way attraction, longing, and vulnerability intertwine feels lived-in instead of imagined. This is exactly that kind of book.

From the very beginning, I recognized Ramin and Noah. I’ve known these men. I am these men in certain ways. Ramin’s insecurities, especially his body dysmorphia, struck a deep chord with me. The way he sees himself versus how others see him is painfully familiar. That internal voice telling him he isn’t enough, that he has to become someone else to be worthy of love, felt incredibly authentic. It’s not exaggerated or melodramatic. It’s quiet, persistent, and exhausting. If you’ve ever struggled with similar thoughts, you’ll feel seen by this book.

Noah, on the other hand, is pure gay-crush perfection. Recently divorced, a little lost, and still trying to figure out how to show up fully for someone else, he’s warm, attentive, and deeply caring. He’s also allowing himself to fully explore his bi side. The fact that this is a second-chance romance makes everything richer. These two already have history. (Noah was one of the few guys in high school who stood up for Ramin instead of bully him.) There’s unfinished business. There are old feelings that never really went away. Watching them reconnect in Italy, of all places, adds a romantic backdrop that feels indulgent without being overdone.

What I really loved is how this book handles intimacy. The sex scenes are hot, yes, but they’re also emotionally grounded. They feel genuine, not performative. There’s trust, curiosity, and a sense of mutual desire that doesn’t tip into caricature. They were realistic and so on point. It was very refreshing to see. I also loved that these scenes don’t exist just to be spicy; they deepen the relationship and show how Ramin and Noah connect physically in a way that mirrors their emotional vulnerability. Honestly, they were so well done that I felt fully immersed in those moments right alongside them.

The romance itself unfolds naturally. There’s no unnecessary drama for drama’s sake. The conflict comes from fear, self-doubt, and the very real question of whether something beautiful can survive once the vacation ends. It didn’t fall into melodrama or cliché. It just was, and I really appreciated that.

What makes this book shine is its heart. It’s sexy, tender, and emotionally honest. It understands the complexities of queer love without turning them into obstacles that must be loudly conquered. Instead, it lets the characters grow, stumble, communicate, and choose each other in ways that feel earned.

If you’re looking for an MM romance written by an actual gay man, one that understands body image, longing, second chances, and desire with authenticity and heat, this book absolutely delivers. It’s beautiful, emotionally resonant, and unapologetically sexy. I adored it.