Margot, aware of her age as if it's the specter of a life not lived looming over her.

Iris, prescient, acute, perceptive beyond Margot's carefully tended and manicured facade. She see the person Margot barely admits even to herself, let alone those closest to her.

Sharp wit, snark, friendly sparring jabs designed to lay bare the situation, but not to harm. Humor in the subtle, very British way that doesn't call attention to itself.

The fascination of watching two cubes of ice melting, softening in one another's presence (in spite of cold studio) as familiarity and comfort grows to a shared desire.

With their inner monologs laid in plain view we watch them twist and wrangle their growing feelings into something they can accept, or at least pretend they have control of, till the attraction is inescapable, like a paperclip approached by a magnet.

Then, even knowing it has to come, we're still jolted when Margot makes not one decision, but two, and the story takes a different turn leaving chaos hidden and visible in its wake. The cold stoicism here cuts like frost in the lungs - sharp, jagged, but real. Their leaning on friends and family felt very authentic, intimate; Iris coming apart under Elsie's scrutiny, Theo picking up Margot's pieces off the floor.

I really enjoyed this story in its subtle building of stakes between Margot and Iris, the tension Simon brings to their tentative budding relationship, and the comedy of Elsie and Theo from the sidelines. I did find the "beat too long" a little over-used, but that aside the inner monologuing was very intimate and dropped me right in their thoughts.

I received an advance review copy for free through PenPinery and am leaving this review voluntarily and I want to read the rest in the series now! Definitely recommend for lovers of slow burn, meaningful relationships!