Before: A história de Hardin antes de Tessa

The backdrop feels so vivid and integral to the characters' journeys. I'm curious whether the author envisioned this environment from the start or let it develop organically.

Their moments of vulnerability really hit close to home for me. I wonder if others felt the same level of empathy or if it was just me.

Sometimes the romance felt front and center, but other times it took a backseat to self-discovery. I'm curious about how that balance was crafted.