Heidi McLaughlin’s After All is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and second chances. The story follows Brooklyn, who finds themselves at a turning point in life, grappling with the weight of past decisions and the desire for a fresh start. McLaughlin’s writing beautifully captures the complexity of emotions as the characters navigate their intertwined lives.

The protagonist's journey is both relatable and inspiring, showcasing the struggle of moving on while holding onto cherished memories. The supporting characters, add depth to the narrative, each bringing their own perspectives and challenges to the table. McLaughlin excels at creating vivid, multidimensional characters that resonate with readers.

The pacing of the novel keeps readers engaged, as the blend of tender moments and emotional turmoil unfolds. McLaughlin’s signature style combines heartfelt dialogue with rich descriptions, making it easy to immerse oneself in the story. Themes of forgiveness and redemption are woven throughout, encouraging readers to reflect on their own experiences and relationships.

Overall, After All is a beautifully crafted story that reminds us of the power of love and the importance of embracing new beginnings. McLaughlin has created a compelling narrative that will leave readers both satisfied and introspective long after they turn the last page.

I really enjoy Heidi McLaughlin books, I have read many. This was no different. There was a lot going on and I was here for it all. Drama, grief, longing, mistakes were made and forgiveness found. Loved it.

4.5 stars

I wish I'd loved this one more but it just wasn't for me. I'm sure others will love it more. I just couldn't connect with the main character and didn't find her cute or nice. I wasn't following the love story and really hoping it went one way or another. I found the lack of wanting to know and lack of doing anything for so many years unlikely. I wish I'd loved it more.

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

I was more than ready to get swept away in the first book of Heidi McLaughlin's new Cape Harbor series. I really enjoyed this contemporary romance that has it all - forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and second chances. And the small town setting is always a favorite - especially when it's set at the beach!

I loved this story filled with secrets and regrets and family and friendship. It was great to meet all of the people of Cape Harbor and discovering the importance of their relationships and how their lives are intertwined. I'm excited to read the next book, Until Then, and hope that there's more to come.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

This book is about forgiving past sins and finding happiness again.

I enjoyed the book but I feel it had elements of other books written about the same thing.

This sweet, wistful romance will both make you swoon and frustrate you a little.

Bowie and Brooklyn were never really together, but perhaps they could have been. Brooklyn's long-time boyfriend Austin, who was also Bowie's best friend, died tragically, however, and guilt (and other issues, to be sure) over their close friendship drove Brooklyn to leave town.

Now, 15 years later, she returns with her teenage daughter Brystol, beckoned back by Austin's mother Carly. It won't surprise you that Carly has reasons for wanting her granddaughter and would-be daughter-in-law close, although that particular plot point is milked far too long. Brooklyn's acclimation back into the world where she lived for quite a few years proves awkward and, occasionally, painful.

Bowie is the star of this show and the heart of the book. He loved Brooklyn from a distance, grasping at their friendship because it was all that was offered to him. He wanted more, and when he thought he had a chance at it, Brooklyn left him and never returned. Now, having her in his orbit, he realizes that fighting against those feelings is futile. He loves her.

You will enjoy the building of the romance, and you will enjoy getting to know Bowie and Brooklyn better, as well as Carly. Unfortunately, you do not get to know Brystol very well. She is almost too good to be true. You don't find out how she feels about her life with Brooklyn prior to returning to Cape Harbor, and you don't find out much about what she wants and needs. The same with Simone, Carly's best friend and caretaker of the inn Carly owned. Simone is a pretty important character, yet we know nothing about her.

You do get some glimpses at Rennie and Grady, the characters who will drive the second book in this series. I'm excited for that one because Grady intrigues me a great deal.

The last quarter of this book drags, dear reader. I kept thinking that the space Heidi McLaughlin devotes to what happens in those chapters could have been better served by focusing on Brystol and Simone. I thought there were several stopping points that would have worked better than where the book actually does end.

Let me know what you think of this book. Do I need to revisit it? Did you think that Brystol and Simone got their due?

Such a sweet story! I didn't expect some of the turns. I love both lead characters and the owner of the Inn. Such a great read and I rate it a 3.4

Carly woods is standing in the Driftwood inn in her granddaughter's room. She always watched the Austin woods vessel out at sea. Carly married a fisherman and had a family. Brooklyn is on her way to cape harbor. She has a teenage daughter Brystol. I really like the name Brystol. Bowie is getting a divorce. He owns a construction company. Bowie and Rachel are getting a divorce because they can't afford ivf. Brooklyn misses the love of her life Austin. I really liked the characters. I didn't like the fact that Brystol was hidden away to so many

After All is a second chance at love Story. It was an OK story. I struggled at times to keep reading. It has all the "feels" but fell flat for me. Not the authors best work .

After All by Heidi McLaughlin I would give 3.75. It was not my favorite from her, but still kept my interest to finish the book.

A beautiful, beautiful second chance romance from Heidi McLaughlin!! Set amidst a Pacific Northwest backdrop, After All follows what happens when Brooklyn Hewett returns to the place where everything in her world fell apart 15yrs earlier. When she and Bowie Holmes come face to face there are definitely fireworks, though not exactly of the passionate kind as they both harbor old hurts. But as is apt to happen when feelings are involved, they both realize
that those fiery feelings are more passion than hate. I savored every bit of this story. I loved how Heidi wove the past into the present with everyone’s memories. I loved how Brooklyn’s friends were able to embrace her and calm her fears, while also letting her know how sad (and hurt) her absence made them. Wonderfully crafted.

i am blown away this this book, i was going through a mess of emotions while reading it.. for me is one that you felt love and loss, everything in between i can't wait to see what Heidi is going to come up with next.

DNF...

The beginning was wicked slow. Then it became an angst ridden festival of guilt. -You get some guilt. You get some guilt. Everyone gets some guilt.- For my first book by McLaughlin, I found it to be a frustrating train wreck. Ain't nobody got time for that. At least, I don't, especially if the characters don't captivate me.

Someone PLEASE send a therapist to Cape Harbor - PRONTO!

Brooklyn Hewett left Cape Harbor, Washington the day her boyfriend was laid to rest. Heavy with guilt about the fight they had and who she was with when Austin died, she left without a word to anyone and didn’t return for 15 years - until she was summoned home to help bring life back to the Driftwood Inn, the seaside resort owned by Austin’s mother, Carly.

Once Brooklyn arrives at the inn with 14 year old daughter Brystol in tow, she’s forced to work with Bowie Holmes - also known as Austin’s best friend, and her confidant throughout her relationship with Austin. It’s a reunion neither was aware was going to happen, nor were either of them happy about it. But as they work together to repair the Driftwood Inn, they finally have a chance to talk about the past and repair their relationship.

I really liked the premise of the plot, but the execution was a hot mess. After All was a guilt-fest of epic proportions - both self-inflicted and imposed on others. It was tiresome by the half-way point of the book, and never let up. Brooklyn felt guilt for leaving and never coming back, Bowie felt guilty for not trying to find Brooklyn, Carly felt guilty for becoming a recluse (but oddly enough...not guilty for the one thing she SHOULD have felt guilty for), everyone felt guilty for not reaching out to Carly after her son’s death. Geesh. Go see a therapist already!!! All of you!

The main storyline between the hero and heroine was bogged down by the author’s attempt to make things way more “dramatic” than they needed to be, which resulted in a jumbled, barely comprehensible mess. So much of the story felt...contrived. Forced. Clunky. Cape Harbor is a fishing town, where everyone is aware of the dangers of fishing. People had died in the past. So what made Austin’s death so tragic, so worthy of commemorating - with a town festival no less - year after year? The fact that all these people are still having a memorial service for someone who died 15 years ago is just...odd. He didn’t die heroically. In fact, he was reckless and foolish. The whole situation with the town “idolizing” this kid in his early 20s never added up for me, which means a good portion of the book is nonsense.

Add in that the author tried to build extra suspense by only doling out crucial information about the past in bits and pieces and this book just frustrated me. The prologue did nothing to draw me in (actually, it mostly caused confusion), and it took several chapters for me to get interested. At 25% my husband asked me about the book I was reading - as he often does! - and I was at a loss for how to describe the story. Very little was making sense at that point. Because again, the author didn’t just come out and tell us what the history was. She was trying to be all mysterious and dramatic. But it didn’t work for this reader.

I’ve read quite a bit by Heidi McLaughlin, and this is the first time I’ve felt like the writing, the storytelling, was...off. To me it seemed like she was trying to build a story with more depth, but instead created more chaos. I really feel like if she’d just stuck to the story with Brooklyn, Bowie, Brystol, and Carly - and not tried to bring in the whole town - After All would have been a much cleaner, more compelling story. Will I read the rest of this series? Eh, probably. Ms. McLaughlin did manage to create a sufficient amount of interest in Austin’s friend group that I’ll most likely read more. I just hope the stories aren’t plagued with the same issues I had with this one...

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely love everything that Heidi McLaughlin writes. After All is a complete standalone novel. This book is about love, loss, regret and learning to move on.

Brooklyn had a good life in Cape Harbor but when tragedy struck she left town and didn't return for 15 years. When she finally returns she has a hard time seeing the people from her past. She wants to just do the job she came to do and leave again. When feelings for someone from her past start to bubble to the surface she isn't sure how to deal with them.


Bowie has been in love with Brooklyn for as long as he can remember. He moved on with his life after she disappeared but has never found peace. When he runs into her in Cape Harbor he is very upset and has a hard time holding back his feelings. Will these two be able to work through the issues from their past or will it continue to push them apart? 

I loved the connection between Brooklyn and Bowie. The secondary characters added lots of depth to the storyline. I loved the close relationship between Brystol and her grandmother. I really hope we get another book with a look into this couple's future!

Brooklyn hasn't set foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years. - not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin. She has focused on raising her daughter the past fourteen years in an effort to move forward. When the opportunity to renovate the old Driftwood Inn, she knows it's time to go home. Bowie, Austin's best friend still lives in Cape Harbor and Brooklyn hasn't been able to forget him since they spent the night together - the night they both lost Austin. They are brought together for the Driftwood Inn project and as they are rebuilding the Inn, they realize they are rebuilding something else.

This was a beautiful story. I could not put it down. But that's what Heidi McLaughlin does best - writes book that you cannot put down and that will stick with you for a long time. I laughed, I cried and I fell in love with these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had been dying to get my hands on this book by McLaughlin as soon as it was announced and let me tell you, she did not disappoint with this book. It is raw and emotional. It had me on my toes. It had me swooning. I felt a full range of emotions while reading this book! I highly recommend it!

From New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes a heartfelt story about overcoming great loss and forgiving past sins to find happiness again.

Brooklyn Hewett hasn’t set foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years—not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin Woods. Desperate to move forward, Brooklyn has focused on raising her daughter for the past fourteen years. But when the opportunity comes along to renovate the old Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows it’s time to go home.

But it won’t be easy. For one, Austin’s best friend, Bowie Holmes, still lives in Cape Harbor. Brooklyn hasn’t quite been able to forget him: not since the night they spent together—the same night they both lost Austin. Separated by tragedy and guilt, they’re brought together by the Driftwood project. And as they rebuild the inn, they discover they’re also rebuilding something else.

Brooklyn’s always been desperate to move on, not knowing that she first needs to reconcile past transgressions. She can’t forget, but she can forgive—Austin, Bowie, and herself—on her way toward long-awaited happiness.

After All is book one in the new Cape Harbor Series and if this book is anything to go by Heidi McLaughin will certainly have a hit series on her hands.
This story covers many different troupes, it’s an enemies to lovers, a friends to lovers, second chance romance as well as single parent so it will appeal to all lovers of romance. It’s a great read that will draw you in and captivate you from the very first chapter until the very last page.
Brooklyn and Austin were a couple, they had plans for their futures but when tragedy struck they both knew life was never going to be the same in the small town of Cape Harbor. Brooklyn needed to escape her past and that meant leaving Austin the love of her life behind what neither of them knew when they said goodbye was they were about to bring a new baby into the world........
Brooklyn is now back in town and this time she has the daughter Austin knew nothing about with her.
This book has all the feels, it has strong characters with depth, it has a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you navigate the secrets, the twists and turns as this couple find each other again. After All is a beautifully written love story that will leave you wanting more from the residents of Cape Harbor.