Like the title, this story is quietly satisfying. You have two main characters who struggle with communication, but from different directions. Steffi is slowly finding her way out of selective mutism, while Rhys is deaf and trying to become more integrated with the 'normal' world. When they're thrown together after he starts at her school, it's at first terrifying for her, but the longer they're interacting, the more she comes out of her own shell. The process is painful, exhilarating at times, and accompanied by great descriptions of her panic attacks and insights.
Their budding romance is filled with pitfalls, some resulting from frustration, others from the challenges of communication between them. It's an extremely satisfying tale. ( )

A selective mute, anxiety-ridden protagonist falls in love with a deaf boy.

I haven't read any teen romance novels before so I'm not sure whether this is good or not. A few seconds of self-reflection or critical thinking would've made them both recognize each others problems. Both want independence but have difficulty obtaining it because of their disabilities. ( )

I love all the rep in this book, especially the anxiety. I really empathized for Steffi and was rooting for all her little victories. ( )

What a great book! Gosh, I loved these characters. Steffi and Reese just grow on you right away. I completely related to Steffi with her anxiety and her selective mutism, and the way it was portrayed. I loved the way the author contrasted how it was handled between her parents, and how this both supported and hindered her. Reese was absolutely a sweetheart. I liked the inclusion of little details like hearing speakers forgetting to turn towards the Deaf person so they could read lips, how frustrating it can be when medical personnel (and other people in public) address the caregiver or partner instead of the person with the disability. And overall, I just loved how he and Steffi had to work to find ways to communicate, not just literally, but in a couple-y sense. This was a great combination of a sweet romance and a book that was inclusive.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. ( )

diverse teen romance ("selective" mute 17 y.o. girl with severe anxiety meets Deaf 18 y.o. in Britain)
I can't speak personally to the severe anxiety or Deaf culture, but it seemed like the author had really done her research, and the characters felt very authentic.
parental notes: includes drinking (legal at age 18 in England), and sex (Stef and Rhys eventually lose their virginity to each other, after first making sure each other gives consent; bestie Tem also has sex with her boyfriend, who turns out to have been sleeping around and who picks another girl as his girlfriend afterwards). ( )