The work follows these two characters as they compete to complete lists compiled of tasks meant to get them out of their comfort zones, conveniently written by each other. For Lana, this means learning how to be comfortable being alone; for Seth, the search for stability is at an all-time high. Lana and Seth both know each other quite well even though they haven’t spoken in over two years (thanks to a disastrous high school reunion), nor have they been in constant contact since the beginning weeks of the freshman year in college.                                                                                                                                                                      

The prize is their very own column, and Lana has been looking for a way out of writing dating advice for quite some time now; so, may the best journalist win. However, the competition between them catapults the magazine to new heights. The social media uproar is evident from their very first post, and the drama just keeps getting juice here the further along in the competition these two go. Lana is tasked with becoming the best independent version of herself through partaking in activities that she wouldn’t even dream of if she was still throwing herself into relationships one after another. Seth wants her to be a little bit spontaneous, but still learn that she can be the very best version of herself, by herself. He does this by asking her to kiss a stranger, sign up for speed dating, go on a blind date, and even have a one night stand; while those may seem like normal things that people would do in their 20s in Los Angeles, Lana is not the type to put herself out there like that. In contrast, Lana is determined to show Seth how to settle down into life in Los Angeles. Her list is less daunting, but for someone like Seth, who hasn’t known the idea of home in a very long time, the list can get pretty heavy. She wants him to update his wardrobe past just T-shirt and jeans, invest in some actual furniture, so that he has something to come home to after work, go to therapy, and delete all booty calls from his contact list. 

These two could not be living more opposite lives. Ballard takes her readers through the entirety of the ten weeks, showcasing all of the binge, worthy moments, both big and small. As readers see these two characters evolve and get a little bit more comfortable with being uncomfortable, we also see them finding their way to each other. 

This was my very first time reading anything written by Ballard, and I have to say that I was blown away. She grasps the differences between their personalities effortlessly, and she allows her readers to understand that there is no wrong way to live your life, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little bit of help along the way. My favorite part of this work was the effortless banter that occurs between Lana and Seth, because I could totally see how they got along so well as children. They didn’t necessarily push each other’s buttons on purpose as much once the competition started, but I thought the transition between when Seth first shows up in Los Angeles, and the ending of the book was seamless. The chemistry between these two characters was off the charts, and I liked that even though Lana had been at the same company, working with the same people for the majority of her adult life, Seth could read her better than any of her coworkers.

I don’t want to spoil the ending of this one because it really is worth the read. However, I will say that all of the tantalizing and torturous slow burn that occurs throughout this work is worth it. Lana and Seth will pull at your heartstrings, so be prepared to laugh, gasp, and throw the book across the room in frustration, because there are definitely all kinds of moments that call for these types of reactions.