A review by peytonm
Embers by Claire Kent

5.0

I was looking forward to the story of Rachel and Cal, and their relationship is so interesting! Cal is Rachel's dead boyfriend's father. By the time their romance plays out, it's been many years since the boyfriend's illness and death at the very beginning of the apocalypse. Cal was initially extremely closed off, loosened up for a time, and then closed back up. I felt for Rachel so much as she lost the human connection she desperately needed from him.

Spoiler

That's why the separation that Cal stupidly initiated didn't bother me in the end. They did need time apart, so he could understand she wasn't just with him due to proximity and she could realize she was a whole person without him. He went about it a dumb way, but I understood it and thought it was a great choice from the author.

When they came back together and he protected her from harm, I was all atwitter! He also realized the error in his ways, my heart! It was great seeing the other couples thriving too. Loved this.

12/30/22 reread: Still highly enjoyable! I love this genre of romance.