Book 726: Must Like Spinach – Con Riley

After finishing His Horizon, and absolutely adoring it, I knew I had to seek out more works by Con Riley. Thankfully I recently received a Kindle Unlimited membership (to Tim’s regret at this point I’m sure) and I found quite a few books by Riley on there. We all know more will be forthcoming, but I am trying to show some self-restraint.

I chose this one out of those available because it was a standalone. And more importantly it had an adorably quirky title that just called to me even though I’m not the biggest fan of spinach.

Starting off in the fast-paced environment of an elite business fast track, protagonist Jon has made an ass of himself and is being given a second chance by being sent to Seattle. Once he arrives he meets the adorably quirky land lady Peggy and the questionably sketchy Tyler, aka the love interest.

“‘Look at what my Jonathan made happen.’ My is such a small word. How can it catch at his chest like it’s covered in huge hooks?” (Loc. 3,011)

I’m not going to lie, I got mad Mrs. Madrigal from Tales of the City vibes off Peggy. Not so much for her liberal free-wheeling ways, but from her wanting to make her own family and just loving her tenants to pieces.

I was a little worried at first when the book started out with a ham-fisted analogy,

In fact, he’s wilting in this city like the solitary plant in the waiting room where she herds him. All of its leaves are withered, its roots barely covered by dusty compost. It’s starved of sunlight in this windowless place, slowly dying in a corporate climate where only fake things flourish. (Loc. 75)

But it did get better and I found myself enjoying it, if not as much as His Horizon. Considering I’m working backwards in Riley’s back catalog I’m not too surprised. Even the queen (for me) Annabeth Albert, had a few bumpy books a few years back!

This was a low crisis romance with mostly miscommunication and lack of information causing the few tense moments. Jon starts off with a lot of presumptions and those are slowly proved wrong by Tyler. Tyler doesn’t trust that Jon wants to stay and is planning to stay. So yeah, pretty low drama in this one.

The last chapter was a bit of a letdown. It seemed to happen a little too late in the story and it made their kiss and make up a little underwhelming. I think if it would’ve been pulled forward a couple of chapters there could’ve been more tension building before the make up and the adorably dorky epilogue.

Recommendation: I enjoyed this, but not as much as His Horizon. I liked the NYC to Seattle shift and the slow reveal of Tyler’s backstory and personality in comparison to the inner turmoil of Jon’s corporate drive versus finding his passion. I definitely got Tales of the City Mrs. Madrigal vibes from Peggy and that’s not a bad thing, but could’ve been leaned into a bit more and it probably would’ve made the story that much stronger.

Opening Line: “Jon’s about to get fired.”

Closing Line: “Spring will come regardless, and he can’t wait to see what comes up.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read)

Additional Quotes from Must Like Spinach
“‘Sure, what I do won’t ever make me as much money as you, but it’s still important. It’s real. I get to be part of people’s lives when it matters, and that has to be worth a whole lot.’ He takes another step back. ‘It’s worth a whole lot to me, anyhow, and I’m not about to get looked down on ever again for doing something I love.'” (Loc. 1,568)

“One thing I learned this year is that I won’t reward bad behavior. Not anymore. Not ever. Not even for cuties like you.” (Loc. 1,825)

“‘Jesus, Jon. I really thought you were kidding about getting dirty.’ He shifts to avoid a puddle of liquid ash and bumps Jon’s hip with his own. ‘Just in case you were wondering, this is the worst date ever. I don’t care how big your dick is, I’m definitely not sucking it when we get home.'” (Loc. 2,309)

“There’s a simple comfort in each point of contact between them, a profound ease that’s far from sexual in sharing both a bed and worries with someone who has no expectations.” (Loc. 2,760)

“He’s done with pretending that it’s normal to feel this way every time he drives home lately. There’s no way that feeling so much warmth every single time he sets eyes on this man can be temporary. It’s more than that, he admits, as Tyler walks back to the house ahead of him. Fuck his stay being finite. The way he feels right now is so much more than short term.” (Loc. 3,051)