A story of forbidden love that takes place during the fall… what could be better? This is a great story about two people who meet by chance and fall head over heels immediately. But something is wrong… her parents own the company she works for and have forbidden her from fraternizing with the tenants. What could go wrong with some sneaking around? And what could go right? Definitely read Madison Wright’s first book, Just Go With It, as well!!

"He is a shooting star on a cloudless night, sunrise over a crashing surf, the first flower in spring."

Ellie works for her parents, who are incredibly strict when it comes to business. As Ellie is struggling to balance pleasing her parents and friendships with her tenants, she meets Cam. As if she wasn't already tiptoeing a thin line, her attraction to him only complicates things more.
Cam is everything Ellie needs, but can't have.

This is a slow burn/forbidden romance. Ellie and Cam are adorably frustrating at times.

Overall a cozy, fun read.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Madison Wright for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review***

Forbidden love? Honey sweet tea and daisies? Penis shaped chocolate? This book has it all.

Following up from Just Go With It - Just Between Us follows Cam and Ellie as they meet as strangers and realize they’re each other’s missing piece. This story is so sweet and fun - and at points utterly heartbreaking. Imagine finding the perfect place to call home isn’t actually a place, but a person. That’s what this book feels like.

And some of the characters from the first novel make appearances in this one too - which I love since we see their HEA continue to play out as this story unfolds. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

3.5⭐️I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t really connect with either main character. I felt like Ellie and Cam were a cute idea, but I didn’t feel the passion and chemistry between the two of them (this is a closed-door romance, but still, I didn’t feel a thing). I felt myself more wanting to root for Ellie when it came to the horrifying way her parents treated her and wanting her to stand up for herself - which I guess she did? but I didn’t feel like their relationship was completely resolved at the end, I don’t know. Overall, it was an easy read and definitely gave me all the cozy, fall feels.

Thank you to Madison Wright and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! ✨

Just Between Us
Synopsis: Ellie Bates is going to be in major trouble. Her parents own an apartment complex that she manages, she is on her last strike, and if she breaks any rules she will get fired. But not breaking the rules is easier said than done after Camden Lane moves into the complex. Dating residents is off-limits and getting close to him is not a rule she will break. Camden cannot get Ellie off his mind, he is in town for work but his focus keeps going to Ellie. Between her not being able to break the rules and his coming date to leave, nothing can happen between them. But the more time they spend together the harder it is to resist each other. Lines blur, how will they decide what is more important to them?

Thoughts:
While Just Between Us was a light, sweet, and easy read, I really struggled to get into it. The storyline had the potential but it just fell flat for me, I couldn’t connect with Ellie and I didn’t like how much she desired her parents approval but nothing got solved with that. Her parents treated her awful and everyone let that happen, which isn’t something I would have been okay with. With Ellie and Cam, I struggled to like them together because of their lack of communication and constant back and forth not in a fun banter type of way. I think the lack of communication was slightly overused and made me want to yell at them. One thing I did not know going in was that it was a clean and closed door romance, which I wish I knew because I don’t tend to like those types of Adult Romances. But I am glad I read it and think the author will improve overtime!

This book includes:
- forbidden love
- slow burn
Thank you Madison Wright and NetGalley for providing an arc for an honest review.

Just Between Us is a cozy, low stakes romance set in Nashville following Ellie as she navigates her working relationship with her parents/bosses and trying to juggle her personality with her professionalism. Enter Camden, her new tenant, and watch the star crossed lovers attempt to strike a balance so Ellie doesn’t lose her job.

This books definitely falls into the Instalove category and it is a closed door romance. It’s a very sweet story that makes you want to cuddle up with a blanket and hot cocoa and just enjoy the easygoing characters and their easygoing ways.

The one issue I have (and it’s a personal pet peeve of mine) is when Ellie says her parents aren’t bad parents but they absolutely are. Her mom emotionally abuses her and her dad lets it happen. Her brothers while they do offer distractions also allow that type of behavior to persist. I don’t enjoy when characters downplay their own suffering, especially when it’s their parents who still play an active role in their lives that do the harming. This is a personal issue for me and I wish that Camden could have said or done something in her defense (or really anyone) instead of letting her continue to suffer.

All in all this was a quick and romantic read. It’s definitely a good contender for a book club pick because it has a little something in it for everyone.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s closed door but I didn’t feel like it took away from the story at all. This is book 2 in the series but can be read as a stand-alone without being confused.

This was my first book by this author but won’t be my last. I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

The chemistry and connection this book radiates is magical! I binged this book in about 6 hours because I was hooked from the start! Ellie and Cam meet at a bar, where musicians are playing and they start dancing. And believe me there was an instant connection. Ellie manages her parents apartment complex, that just so happens to be where Cam is staying. Her parents have a strict rule about no connections with the tenants, but what happens when that connection and fate alike, make the perfect match between these two? This romance was such a swoony story, honestly made me jealous of how much chemistry these two have! Madison is such a brilliant writer, I was thrown into the story by her writing and I didn’t come up for air until I was finished with the book! I love how I felt like I was actually there watching these two. Madison’s writing is fantastic and it makes the story so much better. Honestly unlike anything I’ve read before. Not many books can keep my ADHD brain focused for the ENTIRE book in one sitting, but this did just that. I want to pick it up and start all over to feel the butterflies of Ellie and Cam again.

Go check out Just Go With It and Just Between Us today! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Madison Wright and NetGalley for the 2 arc copies of this beauty.

"You're a striped sweater in a sea of black dresses."

AHHHHHHHHH Camden Lane is THE boyfriend, he can do no wrong and no one can top him ✋🏼

this was soooo sweet with no third act break-up, mature conversations, real life problems(family) and lots of swoony moments!!!!!

hands down best arc I've received this year, thanks to netgalley!! 💞💘💞💝

To start out: huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible book before pub date! And a huge thank you to Madison for writing such a wonderful warm and cozy fall read!
I read this in two days, only coho does this to me usually but I just couldn’t get enough of Ellie and Cam. I’m in love with their love story and I need more!!
This lovely read comes out 11/18 so if you need a romance with all the fall vibes and something that will keep you awake at night wanting more then get your copy asap!!
I won’t say much more about this because I feel like this love story just has to speak for itself but I will say you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to read more by Madison!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pub Date: November 18, 2022

Cam and Ellie have an instant connection during a fun night out, only to discover things between them can never go any further. As her parent’s employee, Ellie struggles to follow their strict rules and earn their approval. On her journey to forget Cam, Ellie realizes that maybe the life she thought she wanted all along isn’t what her heart desires.

This is such a fun, easy read. I instantly enjoyed the writing style and cozy fall vibes. I kept thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading and thoroughly adored this sweet story.

I love a book that includes the male POV. Cam was so patient and gentle with Ellie and having his POV really showcased his tenderness. Ellie was such a fun character, especially with her vibrant style and lively personality. The character development was great and I was so glad to see how Cam and Ellie discovered what they truly wanted in life.

The chemistry between the two was undeniable and the forbidden romance added the perfect anticipation. You can’t help but fall in love with Cam and Ellie.

This is a perfect fall read, so grab your cozy blanket and pick this one up if you haven’t already!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This book is a hot cup of tea (with honey) on a cool autumn night.
Ellie is a free spirit with a colorful personality and wardrobe.
Cam is strong and steady, with a big heart and a killer smirk.

I loved how different Ellie and Cam were, yet they fit together perfectly. They filled in the missing pieces of each other.

Just Between Us is an insta-attraction turned forbidden romance. This book is full of witty banter, funny neighbors and brothers, Nashville nights under the stars, and other swoon-worthy moments.

If you are looking for a sweet romance to cozy up with this fall, let it be this one. We can keep it Just Between Us.

Ellie Bates manages an apartment complex that her parents own. While trying to live up to her parents business expectations, she meets a short term resident named Cam. Cam has Ellie questioning if she wants to pursue a relationship when there is an undeniable connection between the two of them. She has to decide if she is willing to risk her job for the people she loves. I really enjoyed this book and I loved to learn more about Ellie and Cam! It was fast paced, but I loved their connection. My favorite topics and quirks in this book: forbidden romance, tea with lots of honey, Nashville, fall, daisy perfume, leather jackets, lots of soup, and of course, the older resident Ethel. While quirky at times, I really liked getting to read more about these characters and their backgrounds. Thank you for allowing me to read an eARC copy of this book!

Cam and Ellie have officially joined my list of my favorite book couples! This book was such a sweet romance. It’s a forbidden romance and the mmc is an absolutely swoonworthy character. Ellie on the other hand is such a fun, quirky character who is so lovable. Even though winter is quickly approaching, this book was such a cozy, fall read. This is the first book I’ve read by Madison Wright, and I absolutely love her writing! I found this writing style to be so unique given how well she made the chemistry between Ellie and Cam bleed off of the pages. She also does such an amazing job of setting the scene that it’s impossible not to get hooked to the story immediately. This was obvious from the very beginning of the story. That first scene was PERFECT! I also love the little details sprinkled through the book, like the stars, tea, soup, and of course the Karmadillo! I also thought that the analogies she uses are so unique, like how Cam references Candy Land to describe his relationship with Ellie. I also appreciate the simple additions like how instead of simply writing out the contents of the note after the night with Ellie, the book actually has a picture of a ripped piece of paper with Cam’s handwriting on it. Details like that make the characters so much easier to connect with. Also, the cover is so perfect!!

🧡Just Between Us 🧡

Strangers to Lovers😉
Meet Cute 🥰
Slow Burn Romance 🔥
Forbidden Romance 🖤🙊
Fall Vibes🍁
Cinnamon Roll hero 😋
Fashionable/ sweet heroine 🤗

A love story to remember between two amazing people ( Camden&Ellie) that started from the time of Halloween until Christmas and OMG the vibes of all these festivities were so vibrant and present it was like watching my favorite Hallmark movie🤩😍.

I loved Cam so much he is the perfect boyfriend every girl dreams of and the fact that he is a photographer stole my heart, even more coz I have a big passion for it. The way he described the scenes through his eyes and lens cam was so vivid and real that I could almost feel it and see it. His love for Ellie was so precious and I just loved how thoughtful he was toward her and her feelings. As for Ellie, (I would like to say first wow the writer created a fashion style like no other and I want Ellie's wardrobe NOW!) She is so cute and lovely even though at times I was irritated by her but I understood her need for her parent's validation and approval, especially with the way their relationship stands.

Camden's longing for family, stability, and love and Ellie missing that love and safety in her life made them a perfect couple and I enjoyed it loved it and highly recommend it.

So cute I created a new Goodreads bookshelf to delineate all reads like this: HEA Endings! Long overdue, dontcha think?

A SHORT SYNOPSIS: Ellie is the quirky daughter of two apartment chain magnates down in Nashville, TN. While trying to live up to their expectations for how their business should be run and her part in it - she creates a loving community of residents in the apartment complex her parents have assigned her to manage. When her parents realize she's getting a little too personal and fears it could jeopardize their business - they tell her to create professional distance between herself and her residents. But what happens when you put a quirky, lovable gal in leather pants and a smokin' hot photographer from California in the same concert venue? CHEMISTRY. And when said delicious one-night stand shows back up as one of your new residents? That you're absolutely NOT supposed to fraternize with?

MUSINGS: I think Just Between Us was absolutely adorable, and I always like a down-on-her-luck character that takes a stand. When the main character comes to a healthy level of self-acceptance and takes up for themselves in a healthy way, it's nice because we know how rare that is in real life. (I think all of us are guilty of putting up with crappy behavior from different people throughout our lives!)

CHARACTERS & PLOT THOUGHTS: Many elements of the story for us all to identify with!
- The unimpressed/ disappointed parent trope. I'm not even sure if that's a trope, but I'm calling it one because it's so relatable and real. It's not like the parents are evil... just narcissistic and demanding... which believe you me... I think anyone with that kind of parent knows there's a special kind of hell when your parent sends their food back to the kitchen for some small infraction or makes the wait staff cry? You kind of want to curl up and die. **Insert shameful facepalm**
- Love Ellie's crazy romantic character. If you're the type that loves with your whole heart, you'll definitely identify with the FMC. I also love that she's not described as overly beautiful, overly smart, or over anything but lovable. She's just that great gal next door that we all love to be friends with! Many of you will also find yourselves in Ellie's inability to ask for help and maybe in her growth to trusting others with her emotions. Whenever I discover a female character that really starts to sort their emotions out, it makes me so happy and sort of feel at home!!
- The story is predictable but in a really great way!!! Just Between Us reads and feels like heading into a weekend where you KNOW you're about to relax and eat really good food!
- My favorite part of this book is undoubtedly Camden's character. If you were looking for a sweet romance with a real-seeming man - this is the romcom for you. Wright does an exceptional job of creating a realistic MMC. He's figuring out his life path, likes the girl but remains uncertain because of her mixed signals, and showcases vulnerability that we rarely read about. In so many of the romance novels I've read, the men are tough, surly brutes who know exactly what to do, and women pull from their strength.. which is fine. But very rarely is that real life. In real relationships, strength is a give-and-take. My husband and I always joke that only one of us can have a bad day at a time, and there's a true vulnerability reflected in this book that I haven't seen in many others.
- With the realistic nature of Camden's character and how his and Ellie's situation-ship unfolds - I think this is the first rom-com in a long time I'd recommend for a guy to read!!!

Favorite Quote(s):
- "What time do you have to take it? You're not supposed to drive at night anymore.".."That was a suggestion." - I LOVE a sassy elderly character. Made me actually LOL. :D
- "Don't ask him to stay. Just make sure he knows there's something here for him if he decides to." Such healthy and wonderful advice in a world of one-night stands, dating apps, and commitment-phobes.

NOTES:
- Alternating POV
- Family expectations & disappointment (Thankfully, not many scenes made me relive childhood trauma / secondhand embarrassment lol! More just seen and understood. )
- Spice Level: 🌶🌶/5 - It's sweeter with wholesome romantic moments than anything. (Realistic love development IMO!)
- HEA Ending
- Standalone but with recurring characters. You don't have to read the books in order!
- Love the cartoon romcom cover!! I think this is one I might order to have the physical copy or gift to someone!

Such a sweet, cute story!

Ellie & Cam meet one night at a bar during a concert, and sparks are soaring. They dance and kiss under the stars, but don’t exchange numbers or expect to see each other again.
The next day, Cam walks into Ellie’s office - he’s her newest resident at the complex she manages. Can Ellie follow her parents’ - aka her bosses’ - rules and keep things professional? Or will their undeniable connection have them both finding what they didn’t know they were looking for?

Cam is an adorably yummy book boyfriend 🥰 he is exactly what Ellie needs, and I loved reading their story. I would have liked some steam, though enjoyed the book nonetheless. I adored Ellie’s growth throughout the book, in her confidence to go after what she wants in life and love.

This book is for you if you love:
⭐️ Insta-love
⭐️ Forbidden romance/dating in secret
⭐️ Cinnamon roll hero
⭐️ Dual POV/written in first person (my fav to read!)
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Closed door romance (kissing only)

This was a cute romance! I loved Cam + Ellie together from the very beginning. I didn’t read the first book in the series before this one, but I want to now! However, this is definitely a stand alone series which I love. Ellie’s parents were the absolute worst, and parts of their family dynamic were hard to read. I did love how passionate Ellie was about her job in property management though. All in all, I really enjoyed this story.

Just Between Us is just the sweetest romance perfect for lovers of the fall season.

This is my first book by this author and it was so sweet and full of fluffy moments. She’s the apartment manager and he’s the cinnamon roll new neighbor she’s definitely not supposed to date. What I loved was seeing them become friends and the slow burn of “will they? Won’t they? Who’s going to break?” Despite he isn’t meant to stay but they can’t help fall hard, I also loved the side characters. They brought so much to the story with their personalities and how they all loved her and what she did for the tenants and how much she cares about people.

The romance is a little on the emotional slow burn but it just has you begging them to finally kiss and when they do you’re just swooning. I really enjoyed the book and it felt like a warm hug on a fall day. The only thing was I felt the ending was a little rushed? I would’ve liked a little more in terms of an epilogue but I know I’ll see them again so I can’t wait for the next book.

This was a very sweet, clean read. If that is what you’re looking for, I think you will enjoy it save for the parents. Otherwise, I wish Ellie stuck up for herself sooner, but they do have a sweet connection.