This was the first book I’ve read from Melissa Wiesner! It was so good it makes me want to read the rest of her books.

Anna and Gabe get paired up to do a group project together. She’s a high school student taking college classes and Gabe wants nothing to do with her in the beginning. Well they both want nothing to do with each other but they know they need to work on this project together 😂

They eventually start spending more and more time together because of this project. They become friends but they’re so much to Anna that Gabe doesn’t know. He starts to wonder where her mom is and why he never sees her. Anna just blames her moms work schedule but then Gabe shows up to her moms job and realizes things aren’t adding up. He realizing Anna has way more on her plate than she lets on.

Throughout this book Anna carries the weight of the world on her back and Gabe just wants to help. He tries to be a good friend to her but he breaks her trust.

Over a span of 15 years of this friendship they have grown close, grown apart, grown feelings and kept secrets. It wasn’t an easy love story but where’s the fun in that? This slow burn was so worth it. I just wish the author could’ve added a few more chapters. 😍🥹 I couldn’t get enough of them at the end.

I’ve never read any of Melissa Wiesner’s books, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came across this one. When I started reading It All Comes Back to You, I was a little unsure about the beginnings of the plot. Anna being so young, and sensing the start of something between her and Gabe at some point. But the story just flows over a span of years throughout their friendship and I quickly found myself falling in love with both of them. Anna’s story broke my heart and Gabe is just perfect. There’s so much growth in both of them throughout this book, it’s a true testament of outstanding character development. There’s a couple storylines going on in this book, but it’s not confusing at all. I really really loved it! Thank you so much to the Publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review! This will be in my top reads of the summer for sure!!

It All Comes Back to You, pitched as “An absolutely unforgettable and heart-shattering romance, perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Lucy Score and Carley Fortune, that does keeping secrets destroy true love?” left me wanting…

The “secret” in this story that was so “destructive”….well, I personally found it trivial and preposterous.
Oftentimes kept secrets result in missed opportunities for life altering courses, chances, etc. Some secrets cause great heartache and pain and redirection of life as you know it, as you planned it…

Then there’s a “secret” revealed such as this one, which should have zero impact on life except for maybe the memories it holds, which should be ever-present regardless, especially in these circumstances. Yet it causes such shock and grievance, when it should change absolutely nothing. It’s a mere trinket, lost & found. It doesn’t change the past or the future, nothing at all really, unless you’re a querulous, dramatic, self-pitying grown woman like Anna.
Acting as though she’s been punched in the face at the reveal of this scandalous “secret” only shows you how infantile she behaves and while it should be a huge red flag & deterrent for best friend/eventual love-interest, Gabe, it’s like the total opposite. He’s riddled with guilt and assumes all of this unwarranted culpability and throws himself at her feet basically, pleading forgiveness. I could understand the female MC being a little miffed at the lapse in time before finding out, but that’s about it. So IDK, it was just all very over-the-top, very soap opera to me.

And of course she’s harboring her own “secret” too. But I won’t go into that….

The endless reiterations of certain things, that readers do not need, because we won’t forget so fast that we require reminders sprinkled throughout like clues in a scavenger hunt, was unnecessary.

The passage of time was abrupt and choppy.

I found the majority of the banter between these two MC’s awkward and sophomoric from start to finish.

So yea, this is a friendship turned romance over a couple decades. Newfound family, purpose & worth with a happy ending. While the cheese factor is alive and well and despite the fact that I obviously had issues, in the end, I did see and feel the authors intentions of portraying that once in a lifetime kind of love & the difficulties along the way. I just happened to have some struggles getting there.

I know I’ll be in the minority here because I’m sure many readers will enjoy this book. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub dat: 8.22.23.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
I loved this book! What a beautiful story of a strong young girl striving to overcome her horrible childhood to become a doctor. A wonderful family who welcomes her to their home and the boy she falls in love with but struggles to commit to, the search for a mother who left her, what a beautiful story that made me cry, cheer, love, and feel proud! I can’t wait for this authors next book!

This was a heartwrenching story that straddles the lines between women's fiction and romance, coming of age and YA. It's told from the POVs of Anna and Gabe, two unlikely friends that morph into so much more.

Anna has been on her own for years after her mother abandoned her. When she meets Gabe in a college class at the ripe age of 16, she's learned to trust no one. Gabe couldn't be more of Anna's opposite. While no one's childhood is picture perfect, Gabe's comes pretty close. Aside from some drama related to his father's dreams for him, Gabe's family is supportive and loving. The story spans several years as Gabe and Anna grow together, even when they are apart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were engaging, and the situations they found themselves in brought me to tears. I routed for Anna throughout the story, hoping she'd find the closure she so desperately needed. The romance between her and Gabe was believable, and I love a good slow burn. I also loved Gabe's family and how welcoming they were to Anna, as well as the special relationships she formed with each member.

There weren't many things I didn't like. The huge time jumps were a little annoying. They may have been better incorporated as flashbacks in the chapters written in the present day. But this was a minor irritation.

I would have liked more closure surrounding the mother's story. Anna got her closure, and I get that how she handled it was part of her character arc. But after all the build-up about finding her mother, I felt let down.

Overall, I would recommend this story to fans of women's fiction and romance, and those of us who love the intermingling of the two. I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Aww what a lovely story I loved Anna and Gabe and his family. When we first meet Anna she is 16 years old living on her own and life is very hard having a terrible landlord everybody thinks she lives with her mum. She then meets Gabe at college he is older than her but there is a connection but they both have secrets his family are lovely to her and welcome her with open arms when she spends alot of time with Gabe discussing projects and college work but happiness doesn’t last,

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC

This book has stolen my heart. I finished it several days ago and I'm still thinking about it.

Sixteen-year-old Anna is driven, whip-smart, and so very alone. While in a program that allows her to take college classes in high school, she's paired up with popular frat dude, Gabe, for an assignment. Neither is happy about it . But first impression aren't always what they seem. As Gabe learns more about Anna's situation, he realizes she needs real help. Soon, Anna is spending time at Gabe's family's home, surrounded by his big, loving family who treat her like one of their own

But as their friendship grows, so do the secrets between Anna and Gabe. Over the next fifteen years, a PhD for Gabe and a medical degree for Anna, distance, and time, their friendship remains. But as their feelings grow from friendship to something more, can the secrets they hold close keep them apart?

This was a book that broke my heart (more than once) and then stitched it back together and I loved every minute of it. The cast of characters felt so real, from Anna to Gabe to each member of Gabe's family. Wiesner's writing is smooth and poignant with strong pacing.

This is not a story about the easy road to love. It's a bumpy ride with heart-wrenching detours. There is pining, there are times I wanted to yell at a character or two, there are times I swooned with just how special the relationship is between Anna and Gabe.

This is such a lovely , lovely read. I suspect it will be one of my favorites this year.

Spice level: 2.5-3/5. There are only a couple of these scenes. They aren't graphic but written with lots of emotional language.

Ugly Cries: 3

Rating: 5/5 stars

Wow! This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I think it's safe to say I felt everything while reading - stress. tears, butterflies, angst. It gave me Binding 13 vibes which is one of my most favourite reads of the year. Highly recommend!

The story follows a young Anna, a gifted 16 year old hiding secrets, and Gabe, a frat boy on told of the world. When paired together for a project, the two strike up an unlikely friendship and his family takes Anna under their wing. However, when the truth threatens to come out she runs. When reunited years later, a spark is re-ignited between Anna and Gabe, but will more secrets create too many obstacles?

Anna was such a strong character. The things she had to ensure on her own and the drive she had to reach her dreams was inspiring. At times I was frustrated by her actions and reluctance to trust others, but it made sense with everything she'd been through and the guilt she carried. Gabe was just lovely. I am so glad the author didn't focus on any OW drama which sometimes happens when the MC is a frat guy. Honestly, it made his connection and care for Anna so much sweeter. Finally, Gabe's family was so fun. There were so many sweet moments and it was so apparent they all loved Anna as their own. The moments with Dorothy especially had me smiling like crazy.

Read if you love:
- found family
- mystery
- dual POV
- second (actually third) chance romances
- who did this to you

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

It all comes back to you was the best book I've read in a long time. Perfect in almost every way. I just wish it didn't end. I need to know more!

This was such a well written book that I ended up reading it in one sitting. The storyline flows really well and the characters are all well written. I loved the ending, it took my breath away.

Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

This book said.. your heart? I will destroy it, put it back together, and destroy it again.. A hs junior, Anna, taking a class in college meets Gabe. Secrets take a turn and she takes a separate path. Crying, screaming, and holding onto hope while back and forth between the present day and 15 years ago. I do not give a lot of 5 stars.. but this deserves them all!

An absolutely beautiful and heartfelt second chance romance. This book has just about everything you could possibly ask for! Slow-burn romance, friends to lovers, a rollercoaster of emotions, and a touch of spice. I could not put this down!

Huge thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced reading copy. This is absolutely one of my new favorite books.

Solid 3 stars. The story follows Anna and Gabe who are thrown together when they’re young and then follows them through adulthood. Anna struggles with the circumstances of her past and Gabe gets pulled into it when he learns something about it that he keeps from her.

I really cared about the characters. I loved reading about Gabe’s big, welcoming family. I liked the premise. I think relative to the length of the book, the ending was somewhat abrupt and I would have liked more closure or an epilogue.

Likes: found family, friends-to-lovers, slow burn, dual-perspective

Dislikes: large time jumps, needed more closure.

A very emotional story so be sure to have tissues nearby. If you love Colleen Hoover and the way she tells and writes a story you will love this book. I was so engross with it I was already half way through it before I knew it. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Thank you Bookouture & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story was as heart breaking as it was rewarding. A total emotional journey of the lives of Anna & Gabe.

Anna has a rough life, abandoned by her mom at 14, she takes high school and college courses, while also working at the grocery store. Her only goal in life is to work hard at school so she can become a Doctor, and escape the horrors of her life. When she’s paired up on a project with Gabe, she is apprehensive to open up or depend on the happy go lucky, frat boy. But the more time they spend together, Anna finds herself being welcomed into Gabe’s family and home life. Although it feels good to be a part of a family, Anna is still trying to process through all her trauma.

Told over the span of 15 years, with chapters alternating between when they first met, the middle years, and current time. A beautiful story of Gabe and Anna being weaved together comes alive. Not only did I love witnessing their love story, but I just loved seeing how much Anna was able to overcome from her past. The ending was perfect, but I did feel like it was a little rushed.

Absolutely beautiful! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It has been awhile since I’ve read such a well rounded book. It All Comes Back to You is heart shattering, but left me with the warm fuzzies by the end. This novel includes abandonment, homelessness, a broken family & found family, love, romance and loss. So many emotions!!

Anna Campbell has been through so much at just 16 years old. She’s a determined, ambitious girl with dreams of becoming a doctor. Gabe Weatherall, a 21 year old college student, has a lot going for him in the economics world and he has a big, loving family. These two become partners in class for a project but neither of them expected to become incredible friends, and later on, lovers.

As the years go by we get to see how they developed together and individually. I seriously loved every single character in this book. Anna, Gabe, and his family are all so well developed and had such depth that I found myself so immersed in their stories! It added so much authenticity to the story and I really appreciated that. I felt like I was apart of the Weatherall family!

This novel takes you on a crazy beautiful ride and it is 100% getting your heart ripped out! You won’t be able to put it down. I was truly sad when I finished, because I was not ready to leave Gabe and Anna’s world!

Read if you love 🫶🏻
▫️Friends to lovers
▫️Slow burn
▫️Found family
▫️Dual POV
▫️Third person
▫️Strong FMC

A big big thanks to Bookouture & Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC!! 💕

Anna and Gabe do not meet under the best circumstances, however they will forge a friendship over the years that will end up turning into a love that secrets can endanger.
It All Comes to You is a slow-burning romance. It's a sweet romance without too many shocks, with relatable characters. You devour it without even realizing it with chapters that alternate points of view of the main characters and secondary characters that you will adore.
Undoubtedly a perfect read for a relaxing moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I could not have loved this book more.

Anna, loved such a hard life alone when she meets Gabe and his family instantly takes her her was so amazing. There was a lot of side characters, all of whom I loved. I loved Anna’s character growth and the development of her and Gabe’s relationship over the years. This book will definitely be on my mind for awhile.

Anna was 16 years old when she met Gabe Weatherall in a college economics class. They are drawn to each other, but Anna has a difficult life and she doesn’t want anyone to get too close. When Gabe and his family finally understand what a struggle Anna’s life is, they want to help her. Years later, the girl Gabe called “kid” is all grown up, and their attraction is undeniable. But they both have secrets they’re hiding from the other that threaten to tear them apart.

Fans of friends-to-lovers stories will love this heartwarming found family novel. Anna is a scrappy, strong heroine who understandably shies away from trusting others. Even though Anna is only 16 when she meets Gabe, their relationship is platonic and wholesome and doesn’t become romantic until quite a few years later. When they finally do start dating, they are really cute together! The Weatherall family is charming – warm, supportive, and giving Anna a safe haven – and my favorite aspect of this sweet and emotional story!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Anna is just a teenager when she is paired up on a school project in her advanced college class with Gabe. Gabe is a young adult in college. While at first Anna believes Gabe is this frat party boy, she quickly learns he is super intelligent and has a huge heart. They start meeting at Gabe’s parents house to work on this project and have dinner with his entire family every Sunday night. Gabe’s family quickly becomes attached to Anna and Anna to them. The closer Gabe gets to Anna, the more he realizes that something isn’t adding up. He has never met her mother and neither has his family. Her mother never seems to care what Anna is up to or how late she is out. There’s always excuses when they invite her mother to something of why she can’t come. Gabe starts digging to find the heartbreaking truth to what Anna is truly dealing with. His family has an appealing proposition for her when the truth is uncovered.

As the years go by, we get to see how the relationship of Anna and Gabe grows, along with them as people. We see all the hurt, heartbreak, and also heartwarming moments. I don’t want to spoil too much of the story.

What I loved:

❤️ Friends (Enemies at some points almost) to Lovers
❤️ Second Chance Romance
❤️ Strong Female Lead
❤️ Heartwarming Story
❤️ Found Family
❤️ Easy to Read
❤️ Realistic/Likeable Characters & Plot

What I didn’t like:

❌ Slow Burn
❌ Not Enough Spice
❌ Would’ve like Anna’s mom explored a little more at the end
❌ Would’ve liked an epilogue like a few years down the road at the end
❌ Seemed a little YA at points

Thank you Melissa Wiesner, NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book!