Behind His Eyes by Claire Kingsley

Okay girls, picture this: me, sitting cross legged on the couch with a messy bun and a glass of wine in hand, and Behind His Eyes by Claire Kingsley absolutely ruining my sleep schedule because there was no way i was putting it down until I knew everything.

Girls, this book is one of those "I'll just read one more chapter"situations that turns into an "oops its 2am and I have an emotional hangover".

Let's meet the characters shall we?

First up, Nicole Prescott. She literally stumbles (adorably drunk, dropping things) back into Ryan's life. She's beautiful, she's vulnerable, and she's carrying scars from being hurt in ways you instantly ache for. But here's the thing: Nicole isn't written as some helpless damsel. She's relatable in that messy, real life kind of way. You root for her beause you are her at some point in your life- the girl just trying to piece herself back together.

Then there's Ryan Jacobsen. Whew. Ladies, take a seat. Because Ryan is all man now- sexy, sweet, rocking the broody "I have secrets you'll want to unwrap like christmas morning" vibe. The stubbly jaw, the abs (yes they deserve their own special mention), the green eyes that could ruin your life in the best way possible... and oh, did I mention he's an artist? An artistic soul with hidden pain? Yeah, Claire Kingsley basically built him in a lab to mess with our emotions.

Ryan is the kind of guy who says "I can't, I shouldn't, I won't" while his actions scream "okay fine, i love you and i'll do anything to prove it". It's infuriating, it's addictive, and it makes the push-pull between him and Nicole absolutely delicious.

Now let's dive into the story.

Here's what hooked me: Nicole and Ryan's connection is instant and complicated. It's childhood familiarity mixed with adult attraction that burns hot enough to fry your Kindle. Their chemistry is magnetic- you know they're meant to be, but the universe (and Ryan's broody baggage) keep throwing roadblocks.

Nicole is ready to risk her heart again. Ryan? He's stuck behind those green eyes. where pain and fear have him locked up tighter than my jeans after Christmas. And yet, everytime he tries to push her away, the gravity between them just pulls harder. It's the perfect storm of angst, humour, and slow-burn steam that keeps you flipping pages like your life depends on it.

I loved this book because it isn't just a love story- it's about healing. It's about two broken people who don't magically fix each other but instead find the courage to fight for love depsite the mess. Claire Kingsley writes it in a way that's relatable, funny, sexy, and completely addictive. I laughed at Nicole's clumsy, wine-fueled charm. I swooned (ok drooled) over Ryan's totured-artist-turned-irresistable-man vibes. And i'm not ashamed to admit I got misty eyed when their vulnerabilities cracked wide open. Basically, I felt all the things, and isn't that what we want from a great romance?

Behind His Eyes is that perfect blend of swoony romance, gut-wrenching emotion and laugh-out-loud moments you'll want to share with your girlfriends over brunch. Just... fair warning: don't start it late at night unles you're cool showing up to work looking like you wrestled with your Kindle all night (because you absolutely will).

Rating 4/5