Fiona Fisher thought she had it all: a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.
Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, catastrophically in love with.
On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?
Release Date: Sep 15, 2026
Series: Love Notes
Book: 2
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Atria
Price: $11.99
My first McAlister, and it won’t be my last.
It started out slow. As in glacier. As in, I put it down and was scared to pick it back up. Let’s preface this with I didn’t read the first book in this series. I’d never read this author before, and I didn’t know she was a sadist who loves to deliver readers a good dose of edging. Glad to know that after I moved past a couple of chapters, I was rewarded, the same way someone with a praise kink likes to hear the words ‘good girl’. Because hoo boy, this book went from turtle-paced to drama ratcheted up to nine thousand. But what’s it even about?
Unrequited love. Falling for a married woman. A soon-to-be divorced woman finding herself attracted to the one man she doesn’t think she should be. Her best friend, who’s been around her for years, and he’s so gone for her he might die if he doesn’t shoot his shot. Satoshi and Fiona are such an adorable mess. They are so human, and McAlister does this amazing job of capturing how messy we are in the everyday world as we fight for survival at the worst moments of our lives or when we try to capture the happiness we deserve for a split moment.
Satoshi is a wine expert, seeking to become one of the foremost wine experts by taking the Master Sommelier exam. He owns a wine bar, and Fiona is his most loyal customer. One he’s steadily fallen for. But for Fiona, Satoshi is the best friend who she doesn’t want to lose, even as she realizes what she feels for him is far more than friendship. There is the messy divorce Fiona is going through, the insecurities she has about her body, about people she cares about being honest with her, and about being treated like she’s important. Yet, Satoshi has his own struggles, about wanting to be taken seriously. To be seen as someone who’s worth being seen with, and not being treated like a kid when he’s nearly thirty years old.
What unfolds is this story that’s broken up into a before, a during, and a bit of an after. The elements at first seemed like a drag, but they were a solid setup for what came next. Watching these two fall for each other, get together, and ultimately overcome their baggage while navigating complexities that would make anyone doubt themselves brought tears to my eyes, multiple times. Fiona and Satoshi were so personable, easy to relate to, and root for.
If you enjoy books by Kate Clayborn or Maisey Yates, I believe you love this one. What keeps this from a five… it was the slow start. Otherwise, it’s perfect. I recommend the emotional rollercoaster and the payoff.
~ Landra
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