The best fake-dating, enemies to lovers, Greek retelling sprinkled with real life truths you’ll read this summer. Overall, if you like retellings of this myth and you want something sweet and low stress, you'll probably really enjoy this. I haven't seen a single other author in recent years take on the river gods of the ancient world and spin them into their own characters.

It's equal parts rom-com and fantasy while effortlessly weaving in Greek mythology elements and characters. Its somewhat the fluidity in accepting that toxic masculinity and female oppression has made society had not be able to express what they like in the first place.

The romance is perfectly paced, complementing rather than overriding the anxieties and expectations that both characters wrestle with throughout the book. Zeus is an interesting character but we don't see much of him and there is just a glimpse of the other gods, though Styx makes more of an appearance than most.

Many thanks to Penguin Random House SA for including me in this readalong and for the beautiful gifted copy. The romance felt forced and didn't sit right with me - their relationship didn't feel natural and it was quite cringey at times. And the achingly romantic, slow burn tension that develops between Hades and Persephone (taking them from enemies- to friends and beyond) was beautifully written and really gave us a chance to explore the nuances of the trust, respect and love that gradually grows between them. It’s a careful line that Fitzgerald balances admirably with a sharp wit and genuine understanding of the simultaneous contemporary and historic issues she’s writing about. All fans of Greek mythology, originals and retelling, experience the patriarchal and misogynistic frustration of these men and their rule.If Hades is feeling anything like this then it’s only a matter of time until we make some stupid, reckless decision – and let’s face it, they’re my speciality. Although some moments I found her annoying especially at the start when she went to Hades asked for help and obviously in his place - I would have been the same - she threatened him and FORCED her way in there and not only that she started being mean to him because she didn’t felt welcomed. This will forever and always be my favourite book about Hades and Persephone (because I’m a little sick of the smutty or all serious no-fun ones on the market at the moment), so if you want a bomb ass fun book about fake dating and trying to take down a parthenon then please pick this one up. I adored how fearless Fitzgerald was in creating a whole new profile for Hades and think she succeeded in bringing him to life in such a believable way. I think she's probably aware that Persephone and Demeter predate most of the Olympians by about a thousand years, that we have pretty compelling evidence for this and that Hades was added on as an after thought much later when a more patriarchal religion subsumed those early goddess worship cults.