2.5/5 stars

This book didn’t really work for me, though I can see it appealing to some readers. While the writing itself was decent, the story felt too unrealistic. The main character, a failed actor-turned-handyman, suddenly becomes a thief after overhearing a conversation about a safe. He somehow figures out who the woman is, where she lives, and steals her dad’s valuable coin collection—all without much effort. Then, two regular people, a builder and a graphic designer, decide to track him down. It just didn’t seem believable to me.

The characters were also hard to connect with. Andrea, the main character, is 36 and takes care of her father, but she comes across as immature. Her relationship with her high school ex-boyfriend, Dustin, felt rushed and unconvincing. They went from not seeing each other for nearly 20 years to suddenly making wedding plans after one dinner. There were also several random story points that didn’t really go anywhere, like Andrea’s on-again/off-again feelings about the sheriff and unresolved side characters.

Overall, I couldn’t get into the plot or the characters, and the dialogue felt unnatural at times. It was just too far-fetched for my liking, and the story didn’t seem well-organized. However, the author’s writing wasn’t bad, so I’d still consider reading other books from them.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

#TheHistoryofUs #NetGalley

It was a sweet story with some nice character development. What I felt was lacking was originality. I didn’t feel personally connected with the book or characters, probably because it was a little cliche. But still a sweet read.

I loved this book. Idk why it took me so long to read it it. But it was so good! I need the physical copy. It literally had me in from sentence one.

Not entirely sure if I would’ve picked this up otherwise if I hadn’t had it on my backlist. This is a personal reason. Although I’m sure there are a lot of readers who would have loved this, it wasn’t for me.

The representation of Alzheimer’s was good, because it isn’t used as much as I think it should be. As someone who has a parent with dementia, that is so important to see representation in books that are consumed at a high rate. Is it sad? Yes. Is it an experience to help others who may be going through it? Yes.

The story was very predictable and a basic small town second chance romance.

I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, so this sucked me in.
Well written, a very good plot with a splash of mystery.
Really good chemistry and romance 💘

A cute, quick read about high school sweethearts who find their way back to each. A break-in at Andrea’s house leads to the search for Dustin’s shady brother in law. Traveling around the #olympicpeninsula the couple is able to discover the miscommunication that led to their #highschoolromance demise. Check out this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book when you want a #romancenovel with a little bit of #whodunnit mystery. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #my2023readingchallenge #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks

I haven't read a heartwarming, reassuring romance in a while. However, I'd say the casual writing style is what caught my attention right immediately.
A second chance romance with excellent, faultless writing, a compelling story, with a hint of mystery. I would always select all, but if it can all be condensed into one short, excellent book, I'm on board and will tell everyone I know about it.

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

The novel does not shy away from the messiness and complexity of familial relationships, but instead embraces them in all their flawed, imperfect glory. compelling and thought-provoking read that tackles weighty themes with sensitivity and depth

I just love Jennifer Bradley, and this book is no exception. I've said this in every single review, so why change tradition now--PLEASE WRITE A CHRISTMAS BOOK! 😍

This book is a super cute, small town second chance romance. while it's not my fave of hers, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would widely recommend it.

This book was great, well-written with great characters and an interesting plot. I love when a book stays with you in your mind long after you've finished it, and that's how this one was to me. The author's writing was flawless and kept me engrossed throughout the entire book. Overall it was a great comforting read and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I am cleaning some of the arcs I have on hold and doing a chapter 1 vibe check, and after reading chapter 1 I can tell this book is just not me. Something about the pacing and the way the scene played out with her ill father... just did not hit the vibe check.

Sorry, I really hate doing it.

This story was a Second chance romance with family grief/trauma, family illness and a bit of suspense thrown in.
I enjoyed the start it was fast passed and had me interested. Andrea is dealing with her father's illness then gets something very closed to her stolen. This leads her to reconnect with her ex and first love Dustin. I liked how the people in this story were all connected in some personal way. I did however find myself getting a bit bored with the journey our couple took (literally) the story slowed down as they chase after Andrea's lost possessions and I found I had lost interest in the story by then. Overall for me it was just as OK read but I'm sure other would enjoy it more

Andrea and Dustin parted years ago, both hurt and not knowing the full truth. Years later they meet again, when it seems like his brother in law Cade has robbed her house. Will this time spent together trying to track down Cade lead to a second chance for them?
A great read. I liked how it was told from both points of view.

I liked this book immensely. It was sweet, real, and layered. The main characters were funny and caring. I couldn't predict their reactions, which was a good thing. I loved Andrea's complex relationship with her parents. Its depth was refreshing. Dustin's family was wild. Their dynamic exemplifies the perfect not-so-perfect sibling relationship. They were irritating and lovable. I also liked Dustin's opinions on shiplap and interior design. It took me several chapters to get used to the writing style.e I am not sure why exactly, but it might be because I haven't read in this genre in a while. All in all, it was a sweet story about second, third, and fourth chances and missing coins and the relationships reformed on the trip to find them.

This was not my favorite love story, but it had moments. I liked this quote from the book "Emotions are like water. They can do a lot of damage if you're not careful." This story is about lost love, reconnecting and realizing that you never stopped loving them. But like life we guard our heart and don't always say what we want, fear of rejection or making assumptions.

Andrea Wint life is turned upside down when her house is burgled and her fathers very valuable coins are stolen from a safe in her house. Her father is the late stages of Alzheimer's and the coins are one thing he is able to connect with and seems to remember
.
To help her track down the coins and culprit she turns to Dustin who just happens to be her former high school sweetheart. Can they find the coins and also heal each others broken hearts?

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC for my honest review.

Jennifer Bardsley’s latest release brings us to Port Inez, Washington 18 years after Andrea Wint and Dustin Karlsson’s high school romance came to a heartbreaking end. While they may have been perfectly content leaving each other in the past, a string of criminal activity brings them back into each others lives.

Entering the Andrea and Dustin’s quiet corner of the Pacific Northwest brought the coziest vibes, and instantly made you want to wrap yourself in a warm blanket, sit on the waterfront, and gobble this novel up. Bardsley put together a perfect combination of heartwarming romance, thrilling crime, and an unexpected touch of family drama that kept me hooked. We get to know Andrea and Dustin, as well as their respective families - the parent and sibling relationship dynamics are sure to ring familiar to many of us.

This is the first novel that I have read by Jennifer Bardsley, and this introduction to her writing only added to my urge to visit Washington State. The moments that we get to travel to the bustling Seattle or simply look out at the view from Andrea’s window seat painted a beautiful picture of this part of the country.

Released on July 12, novel is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or support your local booksellers by finding it on Indie Bound.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Story of Us by Jennifer Bardsley - this one just touched me. I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry they had with each other. The Love story of two who lost touch, but with a little mystery thrown in… fun! Also, the mother/daughter relationship & parent with Alzheimer’s was so good. I could relate and it made it all the more special. Loved all of this book!

Harper’s landing is a fictional place but I love it so much. Jennifer has a gift for building amazing worlds and characters. You’ll fall in love with her books. She’s an auto buy for me.

I'd say this was an overall average read for me. I enjoyed Andrea and Dustin acting as amateur detectives to find her missing coins. The scenes between the Karlsson siblings and their whole dynamic was entertaining, too, although Leanne was definitely a frustrating character.

There were parts of the book that definitely seemed to drag and I found myself getting bored with some of the long conversations. I also wasn't really feeling the chemistry between the two MC's much, either.

This book reminded me of something by Nicholas Sparks in a lot of ways, so I'd recommend it if you're a fan of his.