Light-hearted but brainy, I enjoyed Sucker for You in so many different ways – as a romance, a character study, and a glimpse into the lives of squishy-headed cephalopods who rule their world. There were so many layers here, and I kept turning the pages, waiting for our heroine and our hero to melt for one another. There were some mild flaws sprinkled here and there, including some too technical passages that dizzied my mind, but overall, this is such a sweet book that’s incredibly passionate about the ocean and nature conservation and conveys it in a compelling way.

Canadian Marine biologist Isabel “Bella” Wright is horrified when she catches her fiancé, Dr. Chase Meyer Jr., cheating on her with a pickup in their work bathroom. Bella is tired of accepting the blame for Chase’s bad behavior, but she’s been putting up with it because she needs a green card marriage to stay in the country. Now the engagement is off. Bella is desperately hoping to continue working with the MORI – Monterrey Oceanic Research Institute – and studying octopuses. But it looks like that’s all about to end.

Tattooed, rough-around-the-edges Wes Monaghan has just returned from a long nature photography assignment in Costa Rica and is headed to California for his next assignment. With nowhere else to go, he heads to Monterrey in Baby, his beloved car, to stay with his friend, Erin. Only the comely girl he bumps into after taking a shower there is definitely not Erin — it’s Bella.

Banter immediately sets in as the two realize they’ve been accidentally scheduled to rent the same beach house by their mutual friends. They agree to share the space, and everything changes when Wes spots and octopus in the bay during a photography dive. Together, they embark on a quest to continue studying this wily creature, eventually bringing it in to the aquarium.

Wes realizes he may have the perfect solution to Bella’s green card problems and proposes an engagement of convenience. He needs her boat for his photography assignment and she needs a way to stay in the country. Add in a family Christmas party where they have to pose as a couple, and what could possibly go wrong?

Sucker for You is a fantastic slow burn romance with surprisingly dark and courageous character work. Bella has been through a lot and it understandably takes her a very long time to open up to anyone. Difficult childhood in foster care as a child, her misdiagnosed migraines and the trauma she experienced have left her struggling with pain, flashbacks and a deep need for stability.

Wes doesn’t try to change Bella or her need for order. He’s a cheery ball of sunshine, dyslexic and messy but a good listener. He’s had his own problems but has a good attitude. He’s a very good guy, and cares about marine life just as much as Bella does. He’s the kind of guy who exclaims “Jesus, Peanut Butter and Jelly!” when he’s stunned. He’s dorky, but also hot and confident.

They make quite a good match, equally nerdy and passionate about the ocean and its rhythms. There are several gorgeous passages about the beauty of the sea and how much they both love it which left me happily sighing. They’re both very hesitant to jump into anything real, but they finally connect, it’s some of the most sigh-inducing romance I’ve read all year.

This is a book that’s jam-packed with events that enhance the romance and help these two accept each other just as they are. This book contains a naughty, crab-stealing octopus, and plenty of other surprises.  I’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.

I did have a bit of a bone to pick. The book has an uneven tone sometimes, and the drama, comedy and tragedy don’t always land right. Also, there’s a lot of technical jargon that sometimes that feels stilted. I was able to overlook these issues, though.

This is a wonderful and touching romance that makes you care about octopus tentacles in a way you never have before and likely never will again.

Lisa Fernandes has been reviewing romance novels ever since her great aunt left a Billie Douglas book out in the bathroom. She’s currently working on a biography about Julian Sands.