road trip

Left of Forever

Happy Tuesday! Left of Forever is out now, thank you to the publisher for the ARC. 

Oh man did I love this book with my whole heart.

We got a glimpse of Wren and Ellis’s relationship in Savor It and I knew we were in for a treat with this second chance romance (you can read it as a standalone though!) but it blew my already high expectations out of the water.

It was a tender second chance story, between a couple who met when they were young, had a baby while they were still young, and tried to make a marriage work despite the odds being against them. Though things didn’t work out as planned with their marriage,there was obviously so much love and affection between them. 

I loved the careful way Ellis worked to win Wren back. He was thoughtful and considerate, and his love for his wife shined through his every action. I just really loved him as a character. I also really loved Wren, she was strong and competent and did her best at life. 

Their journey was at times heartbreaking, but also heartwarming. I really really enjoyed this! Easily one of my favorite books of the year. 

The Other Side of Disappearing

This was a soft and gentle story that I don’t quite know how to categorize. It’s an intriguing family drama, interwoven with a mystery, but it’s also a tender romance. The prose is beautifully written, quietly beautiful in a way that had me pausing often to reread.

The family drama is the main event to me, and I loved the relationship between Jess and her sister and how it grew and changed over the course of the book. My heart broke for them both, the walls they’ve had to build and how complicated their relationship had become. 

Though it’s somewhat the background story, I have to rave about the romance between Jess and Adam. Adam is such a gentle giant, so fully committed to supporting Jess however he can. Their relationship unfolded so softly, so gently, so tenderly. I just loved Adam so much!

All that being said, it was a little on the slow side for me. The mystery unfolded slowly, the romance developed slowly, I was ready for something, anything, to happen. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did! I’m not sure the story would have worked as well at a faster pace anyway. I realize this is contradictory. 

Overall though I thought it was really good, especially if you love more of a quiet, understated, thoughtful story!

10 Road Trip Romance Recommendations

One of my favorite forced proximity micro tropes: Road Trip romances. The ultimate forced proximity , with bickering over playlists and snacks. 

Here are some recs and some on my TBR!

On The Way to You– Kandi Steiner 

The Mother Road – Meghan Quinn 

The Romantic Pact – Meghan Quinn 

A Week to Be Wicked – Tessa Dare 

Cocky Bastard – Penelope Ward

Quarter Miles – Devney Perry 

Too Hot to Handle – Tessa Bailey *

Unraveling Him – Claire Kingsley 

Professional Development – Kate Canterbary *

Along for the Ride – Mimi Grace *

Love & Luck – Jenna Evans Welch (YA)

*On my TBR