I didn’t like Aiden at first. I didn’t like how he talked about girls especially Jennifer. The girl he casually with. Put her down so much and it annoyed me. As the story progressed I couldn’t get enough. I love how Claire and Aiden were together. I loved their love story. The conflict had me rolling my eyes because it was dumb and needed a conversation and all that conflict could have been avoided. I’m just glad they got their happy ending. The Florida fiends were awesome also

2.5 stars.

The way "Crossing the Line" by Heather Garvin is written makes this book fly by. I loved the use of short chapters here. I found myself more engaged by these quick bursts told in a dual POV by Claire and Aiden at the beginning of the book. The story starts off quick but strong.... and I do mean quick! The two main characters meet in a bar after not seeing each other since high school (and also...not even really knowing each other during high school so......what???), and then, BAM!, they are traveling down the entire coast of the country together in the blink of an eye. Despite its haste, the first half is engaging. I felt the chemistry brewing between Claire and Aiden, and I found myself rooting for them to get together after Claire was cheated on by her ex.

Unfortunately, the longer the book goes on, I found myself getting more and more annoyed with the story. The will-they-won't-they is slow...almost *too* slow. Once the pair gets to Florida, miscommunications, petty jealousies, childish demeanors, and a crapload of petulance on Aiden's part make the back half of the book almost entirely unenjoyable. I'm all for the grumpy/sunshine trope, in fact, I almost always love it, but Aiden is such an unresponsive, standoffish jerk that it turned me off completely. I couldn't connect with him once he was back in Florida. Around 3/4ths of the way into it, I found myself not caring whether Claire and Aiden ended up together because they are clearly both too immature to enter into an adult relationship. And also, the cheating! UGH! The quickest way to kill my book-reading mojo. There is also some rampant misogyny going on here. Aiden and his friends are total douche-bros who debase women, berate workers for doing their job, call each other "sissy" despite being "friends," and screw anything with a pulse, but not before criticizing all the other women in their general vicinity. Isn't this sooo tired in 2022? Also, the Natty House made me cringe internally and externally. Skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Garvin, and Tuskan Publishing LLC for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

This was cute, but I feel like there’s some problematics that this book will make you think is normal: going back to your ex when your mad, forcing her to look at him so that he can explain. Apart from that, there is some really cute interaction between them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this novel, we found Claire's life, a girl that decided to go to her village to give a surprise to his boyfriend. But when she arrived to see him, she found him with another girl in his house. Because of that, she decided to go to a bar and found an old classmate from high school. The one that she didn't talk to or seen since that time.
At the bar, with some drinks on, with an impulsive decision, she decides to go to Florida. Aiden didn't want to let her be alone and drunk on a train to Florida, so he decided to go with her.
While they were on the train, they decided that when they got there, each one will go their own way and they will not get together. But that didn't occur, and they started hanging out but not will occur a friendship between them...

It is a book that, in my opinion, happens very quickly. The way the writer narrates makes a train trip occur in a little time. Just like in Florida happen a lot of events on a short time.
The book brings us different cliches, such as romantic crushes since childhood and sunshine and grumpy characters.
I haven't gotten to engage with the characters as much as I would have liked, because a romance takes place too quickly and you don't get to connect with them or with the romance.
Some situations that appear in the book I see as a bit immature for people who are studying at the university.
But it is a book that you can read it quickly. And it is pretty entertaining to clear your mind.

The publication to my audience will be upload on the 18th of December, on my Instagram account @layaluciasbookshelf_

Have you ever made a last minute decision to just jump on a train and go on a holiday?

That's just what Claire Ackerman does after a bad night when she storms into her hometown bar with her old high school classmate Aiden Lewis. The two of them haven't been in contact after some sort of incident that clearly intimates the two were some sort of friends.

Despite their unexpected reunion, they hare fairly hostile towards each other, yet end up on a very long train ride to Florida, a place Aiden swore he'd not return to.

It was the premise of this book that intrigued me, and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the slow burn from hostile to tentative friends to more between Claire and Aiden. Both have their issues and both clearly need to address something in their past that tied them together. When it was revealed I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't one of the few things I guessed, Heather Garvin has a lovely way of writing conflict and, importantly, resolution.

Thank you Netgalley, Tuskan Publishing and Heather Garvin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review:)

Read this if you’d like:
-Grumpy x sunshine
-Second chance romance
-Open door romance

I love these style of covers, and I will request anything with a similar style. So when I started reading this I was genuinely excited that I was enjoying it so much. Let me say THANK YOU HEATHER FOR SHORT CHAPTERS. Long chapters have been so prevalent it is so nice to see short chapters!!! Also wish Claire had her sundress on in the cover

Aiden and Claire had so much chemistry and also unresolved business from the past and they happen to casually meet again. Throughout the book we see so much character development, and both characters were so real. I felt like Aiden and Claire are both people I know in real life. Watching them deal with their childhood trauma, and work on overcoming it was beautiful to read. I love these characters, and thank you again heather this book got me out of a terrible slump!

100% read this, it was SO good.

I enjoyed this Rom Com! It was overall a pretty quick read and once I started it I was pretty invested. I loved the chemistry between Claire and Aiden. Their dialogue and banter was quick-witted and very fun to read. One aspect that I loved was how by them getting to know each other they learned more about themselves overall and their character‘s both grew significantly. I’m more of a sweet romance kind of gal so some parts were a little much. I thought that the plot was very clever and left me wanting to figure out what would happen next and how the story would end. Overall I really liked this book!

**Thank you to Netgalley & Tuskan Publishing LLC for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.**

This book was a quick and easy read to get through. The story starts out with Aiden, a guy who works so much so he doesn't have to live life, because when he does he gets hurt. It's better to keep himself and his emotions locked away.
In comes out FMC, Claire. who has just found out her boyfriend of two years has been cheating on her. So in she walks into the bar Aiden happens to be at, unbeknownst to them, they don't think they would cross paths with one another again.

They haven't, since one faithful night in high school.

So our story evolves, and Claire wants to take an adventure, to Florida Aiden doesn't know why, but he feels he has to go with her, To look out for her, and to figure out why he suddenly starts to feel things and likes it.

I liked that even though both of our mains felt attraction, and irritation with one another, the progression of it all came to an explosive moment, where they had to face their fears of the past, and what happened all those years ago, and deal with their feelings and happenings of now.

The spice happened naturally, and even their miscommunication was dealt with maturely, I thought.
A quick read if you're into something that has a simple storyline, and cute banter.

Crossing the Line by Heather Garvin

What I loved about this book was the timeline, which feels like a very technical thing to love about romance book but there it is.

I often get stuck on how quickly the timelines move in romance books, two weeks after meeting they're getting married, like once you meet a person you just never part again. But I really appreciated how much more accurate the timeline was here even though the emotions, romance, love change tenfold.

Crossing the Line follows Claire Ackerman's breakup spiral into a last-minute trip to Florida with high school "friend" Aiden Lewis. It's grumpy/sunshine, great character development, and some slighty steamy love scenes.

I highly recommend picking this one up. It just released this past Tuesday 12/6.

Thanks to @netgalley and #TuskanPublishing for this advanced reader.

#BookReview #Bookstagram #HeatherGarvin #CrossingTheLine #TuskanPublishing #BookishLife #Reading #Bibliophile #BookPhotography #BookRecommendations #InstaBooks #BookNerd #RomanceBookstagram #RomanceBooks

"Her nose crinkles when I try to compliment her like she doesn't believe me. And when she smiles, the concrete inside me seems to chip away."

This was such a fun premise for a book! Old high school classmates that never really interacted aside from one emotional night? A RUN IN AT A BAR THAT TURNED INTO AN OVERNIGHT TRAIN TRIP TOGETHER TO FLORIDA? I had such a fun time reading the tension and banter between Claire and Aiden. They were such a great balance for one another!

The entire book takes place over the course of a couple days, but I do wish that timeline were a little longer! Both characters had past relationships that left them in a bad place, so their reactions and hesitations toward one another and their growing feelings was understandable. I feel like I wanted Claire and Aiden to spend even MORE time together and get a little more out of each of them emotionally, but what we got from both characters in this book was laid out well and left me rooting for them the whole way.

I 100000% loved all the other characters in the book and hope to see past characters being used for Heather Garvin’s books in the future!!

Claire and Aiden went to school together, and now meet years later in a bar. Both seem dissatisfied with life, so when she suggests a random trip to Florida he heads off with her - will he be a rebound or do they have a chance together? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

If you are looking for a grumpy x sunshine book that is adorable and quick to read, "Cross the line" is your best option.

Narrated in two voices by the main characters (Claire and Aiden) and with short chapters, the reading is super agile and dynamic. It is ideal to read in one sitting or in a weekend.

Although the plot may seem simple, the evolutionary arc of the characters is very broad. Especially Claire's. Both protagonists couldn't be more different, but at the same time I felt like they fit together perfectly.

Both Claire and Aiden find themselves in less than ideal situations when they meet again, but that leads them to take an unexpected trip to Florida and from that point on, it's impossible to stop reading.

Their story is full of ups and downs that, in my opinion, are resolved in a satisfying way. I'm not a big fan of the cliché of bad communication but, in this case, it wasn't too terrible to read. Mind you, there were some of Aiden's attitudes that didn't quite convince me, but I forgive him because, overall, he's a very fun character with a good backstory. On the other hand, Claire is the complete opposite: a ray of light in the darkness. She's the typical tender protagonist that you warm up to and want to protect under any circumstances as you read on and get to know her story.

Overall, it's an easy read with several of the clichés I love (and one I loathe):

Grumpy x Sunshine
Second Chances
Unexpected journey
Miscommunication
Double POV

The spice level of the smut scenes is pretty subtle for what I'm used to reading, but, as always, it's not something that bothers me in books.

It was my first time reading the author and I wouldn't mind reading something of hers again. I quite liked her narrative style. Her pen is light and fresh.

Many thanks to the publisher and to NG for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very Lovely book! Highly recommended, so cute 🥰 I really enjoyed the characters, they are so cute, I like this cozy books
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book

after catching her boyfriend cheating on her, claire ends up at a bar. there, she sees someone from high school, aiden lewis. claire decides she wants to go to florida and aiden has the urge to join her because he’s worried about her traveling alone.

i loved seeing their story unfold. it was lovely to see them slowly open up to each other and realize they had similar experiences growing up.

the story picks up right away, as they begin their train ride to florida. this was such a fun, easy, and quick read! i liked that the chapters were short and i could not put this book down 🤍


their first few conversations after getting on the train told me that claire and aiden would have great banter between them…and they did!

“We should have rules.” “No flirting.”
“Uh, I wasn’t—”
I drop my voice to a whisper. “You said I look ‘too fuckable’ in this dress.” “Which I hope is not how you flirt because that’s just sad, but either way, I don’t want you looking at me that way.”
“Okay, but fair warning, I’ve never been good at following rules.”

“What are you so mad about?”
“I’m mad because we still have over twenty-five hours before we’re in Florida, and I’m already going to break rule number one.”


thank you Netgalley, Tuskan Publishing, and Heather Garvin for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review <3
all thoughts & opinions are mine!

Happy pub day to CROSSING THE LINE by @heathergarvinbooks ! Thanks to the author and @netgalley for my e-arcs in exchange for an honest review! Available TODAY from Amazon and on KU!

I devoured 85% of this book in one day! I would have read finished it, except I couldn’t stay awake! 😅😍😍😍

Would you follow someone you knew in highschool all the way to Florida on a 30 hour train ride?

Happy pub day to this gem of a book! I could not get enough of Aiden and Claire! 😍

Highschool acquaintances who shared a “moment” (but not a romantic one!) who meet up again a few years after graduation in a bar in where they went to highschool…. What could go wrong? They both liked each other in highschool but were oblivious to each other/didn’t run in the same circles etc…. But could all that change with a trip to Florida… a place Aiden swore he would never go back to? They both have a lot from their past to face/overcome, but maybe their time in a Florida can help them face their baggage?

I loved the easy banter Aiden and Claire had. I think it helped that they knew each other from highschool, it made their easy camaraderie that much more believable. I loved getting both their POV because it’s so obvious that they like each other… but they won’t act on it.


There was something different about this one that I really liked. I don’t read very many “knew each other from highschool” romance books, so this felt like a breath of fresh air! Also, having them mostly in a different location/state where the consequences of their actions didn’t feel as high, really helped with the romance and the tension/angst. The steamy part was 🔥🔥 and while I would have loved more it fit for their story!


READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨knew each other from highschool
✨ acquaintances to lovers
✨ dual POV
✨ road trip vibes (30 hour train ride)
✨ shared trauma (parents fighting/divorced) -which is only reflect on from their memories
✨ open door
✨ sexual tension
✨ “don’t flirt with me”
✨ “I don’t like Her” to “she’s mine” vibes
✨ opposites attract

I lhighly recommend to fans of contemporary romance/rom coms!

3.5 ⭐️

so i have some mixed feelings about this one...

what i will start off by saying is that it reads SUPER FAST because it has very short chapters, which i actually really liked and appreciated.
i easily fell into the story because of it's fast pacing, and the fact that the author got straight into the story.
ngl there were a few, not problematic but questionable things that i overlooked but the slowburn made me completely und utterly hooked!

to be honest, me and Aiden, we didn't connect so fast...i had a very hot n cold relationship with him but the man did hop on a train for basically a stranger so we can excuse parts of his personality.
i also know that Aiden did get "burned", and it had a massive impact on his said personality (still doesn't give reason to some of his actions) but i did end up feeling that he's the type of person that just despises liars, and if he finds himself in a committed relationship, he truly will put everything into it

but overall i enjoyed the journey of Claire and Aiden's story! they did feel perfect together, i just wish there were more personal moments because it all seemed vague (and pretty trusting) when they only had about one interaction in high school.
but it's truly a whirlwind romance, with the miscommunication trope...so beware of that one ;)

*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘶𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘓𝘊, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯-𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*

“You’re my next great adventure.”

This book did not disappoint and I enjoyed every moment between Claire & Aiden. The blurb had created some mystery about Claire & Aiden's connection and I wanted to know so bad how their story is going to unfold. Both of them were jilted by the same kind of past, the difference was just that Aiden was closed off and Claire still had her trusting nature intact. They were polar opposites but they shared a connection since the moment they met and I loved to see them get together against all odds! (view spoiler) Overall, I liked the writing style, the chapters were short but meaningful and I was satisfied with the pace.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

A sweet, fun and easy read. Likeable characters and interesting plot. Overall I enjoyed it but didn’t get overly attached. I think this book will appeal to younger readers.

Very spur of the moment adventure loved it! Claire and Aiden had a vulnerable moment together years ago, then ignored each other years later they bump into each other at a bar. The grumpiness of Aiden is cute, he really cares for Claire even if he doesn’t want to. Was surprised to see 90 chapters, but they ended up being very short. Could not put down, until I realized it was 3am and had 30% left. The short chapters made the story fast pace, love the side characters very encouraging to the MCs. The building relationship is very believable. Both Aiden and Claire seem to have an easy time to be vulnerable with each. The writing is great.

This was very incredibly cute and a very light read! It was funny and oh my god my favorite was that the chapters were SO SHORT!! It was so digestible and I LOVED IT! My only critique is that there were times where it was implied she was not like other girls by Aiden and then grated my nerves! I feel that in this day an age, that trope should completely burn and not exist anymore. Trying to make the heroine special by pointing out basic details of the way she acts and differentiating it from "most girls" is very annoying and implies the behaviour of "most girls" is somehow cringe or worse. That's all! This was very minor but I am especially particular about this so felt that I needed to share it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Heather Garvin for providing me with an earc I exchange for an honest review! ❤️❤️