Books like 'The Joy of Us'
Readers who enjoyed The Joy of Us by Kennedy Fox also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary christmas forced proximity grumpy sunshine friends to lovers from hate to love age difference
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Maybe We Won't by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA sexy and soul-stirring novel about love, family, and rediscovering what matters most by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe We Will.When workaholic Boston attorney Deirdra de Messiéres is passed over for a well-deserved promotion, she takes a two-month hiatus to show her boss just how much he needs her and heads home to Silver Island...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers grumpy sunshine humor contemporary tearjerkers length-medium -
![A Greene Family Christmas by Piper Rayne]()
A Greene Family Christmas by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsPreparing a Christmas to remember is no small feat with a family the size of the Greenes. Especially, when the woman who has always been the planner down to every minute detail falls ill, only five days before the holiday.The family has no choice but to scramble to ensure that nothing is amiss. Cookies need to be decorated, gingerbread houses assembled and decorations to be hung...Categorized as:
christmas friends to lovers grumpy sunshine age difference contemporary humor length-novella m-f -
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![Gotta Be Bayou by Erin Nicholas]()
Gotta Be Bayou by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsHow do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine — Max — Keller and their one hot night together, there's a threat made against her and Spencer's protective instincts get all riled up. Again... -
![Strictly Pretend by Carrie Elks]()
Strictly Pretend by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsA knight in shining armor? Hardly. More like my worst enemy wrapped in a swoon-worthy tux… When Brooks Salinger saves me from heartbreak at a wedding, I never expect to see him again—let alone find him back in my life, set to destroy my family’s bookstore.But when he offers me a wild deal—pretend to be his girlfriend at a ritzy wedding in exchange for saving the store—I reluctantly agree... -
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![Christmas Ever After by Sarah Morgan]()
Christmas Ever After by Sarah Morgan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSkylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright... -
![His Wounded Heart: Small Town Romance by Caitlyn O'Leary]()
His Wounded Heart: Small Town Romance by Caitlyn O'Leary
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s my soulmate. But will I be enough to heal his wounded heart?SimonThe Navy’s been my life. Being a SEAL is all I ever wanted, commanding them a dream come true. But I lost sight of everything else and missed the big things—things going on right in front of me. How could I not see how much my sister needed me? I knew her husband was off and should have checked him out...Categorized as:
age difference forced proximity friends to lovers military contemporary length-medium -
![Scrooge and the Girls Next Door by Melanie Jacobson]()
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door by Melanie Jacobson
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhen the sunniest woman in Creekville buys the house next to the grumpiest man on the street, sparks fly . . . and not just because she keep blowing his fuses...Paige Redmond has done everything the hard way, from her wild child past to being a single mother raising her own delightful wild child now. But since landing in Creekville, she's turned it all around...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine christmas from hate to love contemporary humor clean small town -
![Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott]()
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
A vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man... -
![Hauling Ashe by L.B. Dunbar]()
Hauling Ashe by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLife might be a highway but the last thing this grumpy silver fox expected was a cross-country road trip with a ray of sunshine."My sister is driving to California. She could give you a ride.""What?" Tucker Ashe and I say in unison.Mae FoxSurely, my older sister has lost her mind. There is no way I'm driving her insufferable – albeit sexy silver fox – boss two thousand miles... -
![Anger Banger by S.M. Shade]()
Anger Banger by S.M. Shade
The residents of Happy Haven Trailer park have been waiting for this for a long time. The slumlord who abandoned this place and let our homes deteriorate has been court ordered to live here while making repairs. Imagine our surprise when the guy who shows up to move in to the dilapidated trailer across the street isn't the sixty year old man we expected, but his son...Categorized as:
from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity new adult found-family contemporary humor -
![The Accardi Twins: A Mafia Romance Duet by Siobhan Davis, Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb)]()
The Accardi Twins: A Mafia Romance Duet by Siobhan Davis, Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb)
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA dark mafia romance duet from the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis. Includes exclusive brand-new BONUS CONTENT. Cold King of New York - Summary An emotionally detached mafia don must guard his heart from the beautiful, feisty rookie spy assigned to seduce their enemy before he breaks all his self-imposed rules and places her in greater danger... -
![Almost Pretend by Nicole Snow]()
Almost Pretend by Nicole Snow
Opposites attract in this sizzling, feel-good, grumpy sunshine romance about a lively illustrator and the brooding billionaire she literally falls for. Eleanor Lark is an upbeat illustrator plagued by headaches and unruly strawberry-blond hair. After a grueling cross-country flight, she blacks out cold... -
![A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella by Audrey Carlan]()
A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella by Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Audrey Carlan comes a new story in her Marriage Auction series…“’Tis the Season,” some people say, as if the month of December could somehow magically make the world a better place. Fat chance of that happening in Sin City.In my world, nothing is merry and bright. More like dark and dank... -
![Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa brings us a light-hearted small-town romantic comedy full of a swoon-worthy billionaire, single dad romance, and big laughs. I need a massive break.So long to my cheating boyfriend and betraying roommate.Goodbye hectic emergency room and long hours... -
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![Protector in a Kilt by Kait Nolan]()
Protector in a Kilt by Kait Nolan
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA captive who dreams of her freedomIn public, violinist Elizabeth Duncan is the toast of the entertainment world. A prodigy who's been wowing audiences with her music since she was only twelve years old. But behind closed doors, she's desperate to escape the man who's turned her passion into a prison. When the specter of violence becomes more than a threat, she sacrifices everything to run... -
![Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared.Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end.When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers forced proximity sports contemporary length-short m-f -
![The Wild Card by Cassie-Ann L. Miller]()
The Wild Card by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt was supposed to be harmless. One fake date with a football player.Except Harry Westbrook is the exact opposite of harmless. My first mistake? Underestimating that boyish smile, those playful eyes, the charming words on those perfect lips. He claims to have a crush on me. But, as hot as he is, I'd bet he's scheduling booty calls like a dentist booking teeth cleanings... -
![The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz]()
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting?When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off to the West...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary humor menage length-long -
![Semantic Error 1 by Soori Jeo]()
Semantic Error 1 by Soori Jeo
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIs this an Error or Love? Sangwoo Choo is a stickler for rules. So when his classmates free-ride on a group project, he doesn't credit them. But this prevents one senior, Jaeyoung Jang, from graduating. And like oil and water, Sangwoo and Jaeyoung don't mix. Can Sangwoo debug Jaeyoung — a semantic error in his perfect life? This volume collects episodes 01-15 of the webcomic Semantic Error...Categorized as:
from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity queer contemporary bisexual length-long -
![Flirting With Forever by Claire Kingsley]()
Flirting With Forever by Claire Kingsley
He’ll break all her rulesNora Lakes is sophisticated, successful, and happily single. Career problems aside, her life is fine the way it is, thank you very much. Sure, her best friends are all moving into a new season of life—full of husbands and babies and white picket fences. But that’s not what Nora wants. Neither is the gruff, tattooed guy next door. Tattoo artist Dex St... -
![The Plan by Karla Sorensen]()
The Plan by Karla Sorensen
Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be... -
![Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell]()
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love contemporary m-f -
![Pretty Drunk by Lacey Black]()
Pretty Drunk by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHallieNo one pushes my buttons the way Logan Johnson does. I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to ignore him, which isn’t easy when you live in a small town and share the same friends.So, when I have a little too much to drink and need a place to crash after our friends’ wedding, it would figure I find myself at Logan’s house. What I’m not expecting is ending up in his bed. With him. Naked... -
![May's Ride with Thunder by Eve London]()
May's Ride with Thunder by Eve London
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHe’s the protector she didn’t know she needed; she’s the love he never thought he deserved.AshleyWhen the Savage Bones MC targets my family’s ranch, I’m desperate for help. I turn to Thunder, a much older member of the Mustang Mountain Riders, and offer him the only thing I have. When he turns me down, I’m left questioning everything...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary bikers length-novella -
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![Holiday Heart-On: A Steamy Romantic Comedy Anthology by Serena Bell, Sylvie Stewart]()
Holiday Heart-On: A Steamy Romantic Comedy Anthology by Serena Bell, Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGet a head start on the holiday spirit by reading for a great cause! Nineteen of today’s most entertaining rom-com authors have teamed up on #Books4Beats. This collection of festive shorts ranges from sweet to steamy and promises to entertain... -
![Isabelle and the Beast by Marie Soleil]()
Isabelle and the Beast by Marie Soleil
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt was supposed to be a quick meeting.I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone... -
![Play Pretend by Claire Brooks]()
Play Pretend by Claire Brooks
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA year ago, I told a lie...now, it's haunting me. Ronan Caldwell is my grumpy, too-handsome-for-his-own-good neighbor. He’s the town’s brooding sheriff...and my fake boyfriend.I’ve been lying to my family about dating him for the past year, convinced no one would ever know. But then they dropped a bomb—they’re coming to visit. Desperate to keep my story straight, I beg Ronan to play along... -
![The Scrooge of the Mountain by Tessa Klein]()
The Scrooge of the Mountain by Tessa Klein
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHe’s big and grumpy. A real scrooge of a mountain man.And now I’m stuck with him for Christmas.As a perpetually single Christmasholic, I have a complicated relationship with my favorite holiday. I love spreading joy, but I hate having my relationship status shoved in my face.This year will be different. This year, a matchmaker set me up with someone who loves Christmas as much as I do...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine christmas contemporary praise-kink suspense length-novella -
![Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente]()
Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSo let me get this straight... For the next few days I’ve got myself a grumpy fake husband who’s also kind of my...bodyguard?I guess that’s a better way to spend the weekend than binge-watching reality television, especially since it’s kind of my fault we’re on the run from the mob and I need a protector.Oops... -
![50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover by Kelly Siskind]()
50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover by Kelly Siskind
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom Kelly Siskind comes a slow-burn romantic comedy about one man’s creative attempt to win back his high school sweetheart after a change in fortune gives them a second chance at love.Growing up, I had it all—my art, close friends, a gorgeous girlfriend who owned my heart—but then my life exploded.Turns out my father was laundering money, and my whole family got shoved into witness protection... -
![Love You From Afar by Morgan Paige]()
Love You From Afar by Morgan Paige
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI always thought a person had to be a ghost to haunt you, but Everett Thompson is very much alive, and to make matters worse, he's my fiancé's brother.For years, I promised myself I would stay away from him. I tried putting as much distance between us as possible, yet here we are on a twelve hour road trip together... -
![Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne, Anthony LeDonne]()
Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne, Anthony LeDonne
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne--and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne--comes a new holiday romcom that is sure to warm even the coldest heart.Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn't get worse... -
![Holiday Rogue by Rebecca Zanetti]()
Holiday Rogue by Rebecca Zanetti
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDanger and Mistletoe are a Deadly CombinationBosco Albertini learned the hard way that focusing on his career is a lot safer than investing in love. So when he meets his sweet new neighbor, he puts her firmly in the friend zone, despite her soft hazel eyes, sharp wit, and tempting curves... -
![Spectrum by M.J. Duncan]()
Spectrum by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSparks fly the moment Bryn Nakamura lays eyes on Anna Fitzpatrick, and not in a good way. Driven, reserved, and recovering from another encounter with a life she would rather leave behind, all Bryn wants is to forget about Anna and focus on her beloved vineyard—but Fate has other plans...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers from hate to love f-f contemporary queer length-long -
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![The End of Us by Kennedy Fox]()
The End of Us by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat happens when a stalker threatens your life and you’re flown to a private beach house with your sexy new bodyguard? You break the rules and hope he falls madly in love with you.The End of Us is an age gap, bodyguard, forced proximity standalone romance...Categorized as:
forced proximity age difference grumpy sunshine contemporary new adult cold hero length-short -
![The Saint by Nana Malone]()
The Saint by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsKaya Reynolds is a distraction, a rage-inducing pain in the butt, and an absolute magnet for trouble.But when you’re a Rogues agent, you don’t get to pick your assignments. Unfortunately, you don’t get to decline them either.And that’s how I ended up fake engaged to the most infuriating women I’ve ever met... -
![The Doctor Who Stole Christmas by K.C. Crowne]()
The Doctor Who Stole Christmas by K.C. Crowne
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA grumpy doctor.A wicked blizzard.And only one bed in sight.What could possibly go wrong?I never expected to find myself trekking through a blizzard...All to deliver "vital documents" to the elusive Dr. Grump's remote cabin...Categorized as:
forced proximity christmas grumpy sunshine contemporary super rich hero length-medium -
![The Grump Who Saved Christmas by Tracy Leigh]()
The Grump Who Saved Christmas by Tracy Leigh
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhen I first met Callum Reed, I thought he was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen.Until he opened his mouth and ruined it all.Because the sexy-as-sin man dressed in a tailor-made suit is trying to steal my ranch from me... -
![The Fastball by Emily Childs]()
The Fastball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's the coach's aggravating daughter. He's the shy guy on first base. And they have no idea they're keeping the same secret. After a devastating accident that leaves his throwing hand in shambles, MLB first baseman, Dax Sage, finds out the woman handling the PR for his recovery is none other than the gorgeous, frigid daughter of his head coach... -
![My Ex's Dad is Coming to Town by Eve London]()
My Ex's Dad is Coming to Town by Eve London
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSometimes, love finds you in the most unexpected places... like in the arms of your ex’s dad.WinterThis Christmas was supposed to be about getting away from the mess I left behind, not cozying up to the grumpiest man I’ve ever met—who also happens to be my ex’s father. But Cole’s steady presence and the way he sees past my defenses make me feel safe in a way I never thought possible...Categorized as:
age difference christmas grumpy sunshine forced proximity contemporary length-novella -
![Charlie Takes a Chance: An Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Carina Taylor]()
Charlie Takes a Chance: An Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Carina Taylor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Charlie is hired to repair a lodge in Pine Ridge, she's stuck sharing a house with the grumpy ranch manager. And he is not happy she's here.Charlie is exhausted—tired of being told she’s “too much” and sick of boyfriends who stick around as long as a temporary tattoo... -
![Isabelle and the Beast: A Sweet Rom-Com Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Marie Soleil]()
Isabelle and the Beast: A Sweet Rom-Com Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Marie Soleil
It was supposed to be a quick meeting.I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone... -
![Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Breanna Lynn]()
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Breanna Lynn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThis Christmas, rockin' around the Christmas tree has a new meaning. Lilah Evan Andrews is a grinch. I don’t know why he hates me so much, but I have no problem giving just as good as I get from him.And that includes kissing me senseless.Now that he has, I won’t let it stop there. Good girls may end up on the nice list, but the naughty ones get Os for Christmas... -
![Baby For The Off Limits Boss Daddy by Callie Stevens]()
Baby For The Off Limits Boss Daddy by Callie Stevens
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI never thought I'd break the bro code and HR rules in one fell swoop.Rowan Headley tops the list of people I never wanted to see again.She shattered my best friend's heart, turning him into a shell of his former self.I hate her for what she did.But guess who my company's new hire is?Yep, the last person I expected - Rowan Headley.It’s awkward, it’s tense, but we have to put up with each other... -
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![Runaway Love by Lea Coll]()
Runaway Love by Lea Coll
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA dream wedding, a bride with cold feet, and the mountain man that comes to her rescue.I never thought that, on my wedding day, I would literally bolt from my wedding, and into the arms of a grumpy mountain man. Emmett offers me a much-needed respite from the chaos, inviting me into his cabin to "hide out" until all the wedding guests leave...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine christmas forced proximity contemporary humor small town length-medium -
![Luca & Ivy and the Four Calling Birds by Ellie Hall]()
Luca & Ivy and the Four Calling Birds by Ellie Hall
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWould you rather be stranded in a snowstorm with Miss All-things Christmas or the Grinch?IvyIf you ever find yourself on the run, do not, I repeat, do not drive off the road and into an icy pond. Should you have such an accident, do not wander into the woods to a chalet with a blazing fire. But if you lose feeling in your toes and go inside to warm up, do not, I repeat, do not, doze off...Categorized as:
christmas grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love contemporary humor length-short -
![Nanny for the Grump by Kate Lovelace]()
Nanny for the Grump by Kate Lovelace
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHe’s a smoking-hot single dad and a world-class grump. I’m a runaway bride in need of a job. Being his nanny is my only option.On the surface, it doesn’t seem like the worst job in the world.He’s a total hunk with an adorable, eight-year-old son, and a huge house in the middle of nowhere.It’s the perfect spot to disappear...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine from hate to love age difference contemporary suspense abuse length-short -
![Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison]()
Grinch Kisses by DJ Jamison
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI'm the grinch who saves Christmas … Yep, you read that right. Every year I save Christmas--and Christmas Falls--by organizing a massive festival that sustains tourism for our little town. But it turns out when Christmas is your life 24/7, the shine wears off the twinkly lights after a while...Categorized as:
christmas grumpy sunshine forced proximity age difference m-m contemporary queer siblings-bff -
![Charlie Takes a Chance by Carina Taylor]()
Charlie Takes a Chance by Carina Taylor
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhen Charlie is hired to repair a lodge in Pine Ridge, she's stuck sharing a house with the grumpy ranch manager. And he is not happy she's here.Charlie is exhausted—tired of being told she’s “too much” and sick of boyfriends who stick around as long as a temporary tattoo... -
![Off-Ice Collision by Cali Melle]()
Off-Ice Collision by Cali Melle
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsVaughn One moment in time, one freak accident, and my entire hockey career was over. Two years had passed since my injury and I am still mentally struggling with this loss. Mad at the world and everyone in it, I sought solace at my parents' lake house for the summer. It was supposed to be somewhere for me to be alone and heal...
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