If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley
Published by Montlake on April 1, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
Fate connects two people in life-changing ways in a deeply romantic and emotional novel about hope and second chances by the author of Would You Rather and The Roommate Pact.
Uncertain of what tomorrow brings, Elliott Holland decides to live it up—on the eve of a stem cell transplant to treat her leukemia. It’s destiny when she crosses paths with handsome and charming Jamie Sullivan. The chemistry is magic. So is a beautiful evening that ends with a bittersweet kiss goodbye and no expectations of ever seeing each other again.
One year later, Elliott’s future looks good. Her cancer is in remission. Her career in graphic design is taking off. And she’s finally met Carly, the young woman whose stem cell donation gave Elliott a second chance at life. Then, in a twist of fate both blissful and unfair, she meets Carly’s boyfriend. It’s Jamie, the man Elliott kissed like it was her last day on earth. Neither of them has ever forgotten it.
Now, the most difficult decisions of all lie ahead. Whatever risks there are to the heart, one need wins to grab hold of everything that can make someone feel alive again.
Feeling uncertain about the stem cell transplant curing her cancer, Elliott decided to be someone else and enjoy a night out on the town. During her reveling, she met a man who left a big impression on her. After a tough year fighting the leukemia, Elliott was ready to embark on the next chapter of her life and begin building her future. And then, what she hoped would happen, she crossed paths with HIM again. Is it fate? Is it meant to be? Only time will tell.
Ashely won me over with Would You Rather and continues to charm me with her heartwarming stories. Elliot was a character who won me over immediately, and I was so invested in her future. I feel for people who battle cancer, but my heart aches for those who have to face that challenge multiple times. Elliot had spent so many years dealing with her illness, it just didn't seem fair. I was rooting for her as she slowly tried to reclaim her life and make up for the years she lost. She wanted to finish school and start a business, and I was there to support her in all those endeavors.
When she crossed paths with Jamie again, I hoped for them to have their second chance, to see where that one night could have gone. The complications pained me because it was easy to see the writing on the wall when it came to these two - they belonged together. Love triangles are not my favorite, but I thought it was handled well and didn't drag on too long, and thank goodness, because this match was fated.
There was so much warmth and joy shared between these two, and they supported each other in the best possible ways. I simply adored them together. They were both such wonderful people and even better as a couple. For a book that started with a woman facing her mortality, it turned into a rather joyful and uplifting tale of finding your passion and your people which I adored.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows
Published by Avon on November 29, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
A sweet and spicy holiday romance between a spirited artist who returns to her small town for Christmas, and her older brother’s best friend, a serious architect who pushes all her buttons—but whom she can’t seem to stay away from.
Lena’s plans are simple. Surprise her family for Christmas, don’t tell them she lost her job, and most importantly, spend the week relaxing with the people she cares about.
But when she arrives in Juniper, she discovers she’s not the only unexpected guest this year. Her older brother’s best friend, Gavin, is back after disappearing three years ago without a word. He has the kind of charm Lena has always been drawn to, but she knows he’s also the kind of temptation she needs to stay far away from.
Gavin has built his architecture career out of planning strategies for dealing with the unexpected—but he didn’t have a strategy for the possibility of seeing Lena again. Though he’s been dreaming of her since the day he left, he can’t risk giving in to his feelings when they could upend the only family and home he has ever known.
New try to be friends again. Just friends.
But as the pieces fall into place about why Gavin left, staying friends is the last thing on his mind…and on Lena’s. All the plans they’ve made might end up completely wrecked. And for once, maybe they want it that way.
With her Christmas plans ruined by the stomach flu, Lena decided to return home for the holidays. Little did she know that her brother's best friend and the man who disappeared from her life several years prior would also be joining them this year. Though they made plan to try and be friends again, those plans were wrecked when their hearts got involved.
This was such a lovely and heartwarming romance. Being a brother's best friend romance, Lena and Gavin had a LOT of history, and apparently, that history included mutual pining for many years.
The thing that made this one such a hit for me was Gavin. I wanted EVERYTHING for him because he was wonderful and deserved to be loved. Gavin had been abandoned by his father, his mother, and his grandmother who put him in foster care. Gavin yearned for a family, a "home", and he found that with the Santoses. So, I sort of understood why he never acted on his feelings for Lena. He feared that if he and Lena didn't work out, he would loss her AND her family. Given his history, those were high stakes.
The Santos family was something special to be a part of. I had such a wonderful time celebrating the holidays with them. From their interesting tradition of picking out the tree to all the baking. The mood was fun and celebratory, but there were these moments, these heart to hearts that really moved me. No lie, I cried a few times. There were these really meaningful moments. I was especially touched by some of the talks shared between Gavin and Lena's mom, and Gavin and Lena's brother - simply beautiful.
But Gavin also had a heart of gold. He was sweet and helpful and never failed to express how grateful he was for this family who took him in and treated him as one of their own. He also had a soft spot for fosters, and there was a very sweet but jaded foster kid he bonded with in this story. I loved their time on page together and was glad this was part of Gavin's story.
Overall, this book was fun and feel-good with a super heartwarming ending and a grand gesture/declaration that had me pumping my fist.
Let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment