This is a must read. I listened to it in one day. Could not put it down. This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I was angry, I cried and I laughed. I have not had a romance book grip me as much as this one did for a while. 100% recommend.

This book is a really lovely telling which summarises that family is what you make it, not where you come from. I really loved how Anna’s secrets were realistic and how they explained why it was so hard for her to trust Gabe let alone anyone else. I’m not quite sure what I expected the tragedy to me but I thought it would be something bigger than it was. On the whole the book had me wanting to listen on and really enjoying Anna and Gabe’s ups and downs and rooting for them until the end.
The narration was really good and felt like a right fit for the book. I would love to read on about the rest of the family.
The book does contain topics like violence, abuse and sex without being graphic.

Oh my goodness! What a star-crossed romance. Anna and Gabe couldn't be more different, and the obstacles and twists that keep them apart. I was glued to this book until the end and I loved the narrator.

It’s books like this one, that make me fall in love with reading again!

I predominately read thrillers, so for a contemporary, romance to sneak in and twist my heart apart, is a rare thing.

This is such a powerful book about self discovery (and so much more). As the narrative spans a significant amount of time, we are carried along on the journey with Anna and Gabe. Through their emotional development, life struggles, life accolades and everything in between.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking mesh together. It’s a beautifully written story that will stay with me for a long time. The audio narration by Kate Handford was brilliant. This is my first by Melissa Wiesner, however won’t be my last. I’ve found a new favourite author.

Many thanks to @bookouture @bookoutureaudio for this phenomenal ALC 🙏

Read the synopsis, don’t read the synopsis, but READ this book.

Melissa Wiesner's "It All Comes Back to You" is an exquisite book that left an indelible mark on my heart. The intricately woven narrative, characterized by its seamless pacing and the profound growth of its characters, resonated with me on a deeply emotional level. The story introduces us to Anna, a determined young woman working tirelessly to support her college education, and Gabe, a bright and affable individual from a loving, close-knit family. Their undeniable connection, set against the backdrop of contrasting backgrounds, unfolds in ways that are both heartwarming and poignant.
I have switched between the ebook and audiobook version and the narrator was just amazing in bringing to life these characters and their story. You could easily get immersed in the storyline and feel all their emotions whether there was happiness or sadness involved; and the story surely had both in spades.
"It All Comes Back to You" is not merely a romance; it's a profound exploration of personal growth, the intricacies of human connections, and the unspoken secrets that shape our lives. As the years pass and circumstances change, the story leads us back to the town where it all began, where tragedy reunites Anna and Gabe. Their emotional reunion feels like finding solace in a long-lost home.
As secrets unfold and truths come to light, the emotional intensity of the narrative only deepens.
Melissa Wiesner has masterfully crafted a tale that embodies the complexities of love, resilience, and the human spirit. "It All Comes Back to You" is an unmissable journey that resonates long after the final page.

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I’ll definitely be a return customer! Her writing style reminded me a bit of Colleen Hoover, which I consider to be a top compliment. I respect the way the author was able to tell the story of Anna and Gabe without it feeling too creepy in the beginning stages when their relationship very well could’ve taken a much different turn. It was nice to be able to read how it grew organically over time. All the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall into place throughout the book and the all of my questions were answered in the end. Thank you to NetGalley for the much appreciated ARC and for introducing me to a new author to add to my repertoire.

2.5 stars

I usually love a friends to lovers book. This one was a sweeping tale over a 15yr period. As such, there were a lot of secrets, lies, miscommunications and the like to extend this story over time. I know many/most people who enjoy contemporary romance books love the angst so this book will be right up their alley!
I took off a full star because UCSF is a graduate university only. The author and editors could have easily done a quick search to verify— Anna could have done her undergrad at Stanford or UCB and med school at UCSF. Sloppy.
Thumbs up for the narration- great job, Kate Handford
*Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the audiobook copy for review.

I’ve been more on a contemporary romance kick lately. This book is written well but it just didn’t do it for me.

The story follows Anna and Gabe over a 15 year span, coming together and pulling apart over and over again.

I found the characters extremely frustrating. I wanted to reach through the pages numerous times to just slap them. I felt like the character development was lacking, like we were only just skimming the surface. This book just didn’t give me the warm fuzzy feeling I look for when reading this genre.

Lots of thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook. This review is my honest opinion and given freely.

This is one of my favorite books of 2023.
I absolutely loved Anna & Gave so much! Kate Handford effortlessly made it that much better as the narrator!

This book definitely gave me Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry & Katherine Center vibes. Do not sleep on #MelissaWiesner.

Thank you, Thank you, Melissa Wiesner, Bookouture, Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & audiobook! All opinions are my own.

It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner (Narrated by Kate Handford)

A well-developed and slow-burnt romance.

When Anna was 16, she already made up her mind to create a bright future for herself. Without family support, plus her school work, she also worked two jobs. She kept herself private without sharing much to people. Until she met Gabe. Gabe was from a wealthy family, charming and cheerful. Their extreme personalities created the attraction and they immediately became friend.

In fact both were hiding a secret. Could the secret destroy their friendship?

I love the writing style. A sweet but powerful story. Moreover, this is more than a fiction. It’s something that will stay in your mind for some time. A mixture of heartbreaking and heartwarming story too.

Many thanks to NetGalley, bookouture audio and Melissa Wiesner for the audiobook.

Format: Audiobook (10h38m)
Pub date: Aug 22, 2023

I simply adored this book. A moving story about how a seemingly tough, cool fraternity boy befriends the struggling young high schooler and against all odds, their friendship lasts a lifetime. Anna and Gabe were simply put - - the couple I couldn't help but pull for. And every barrier possible seemed like it came between them and the most inopportune times. Granted, sometimes they only had themselves to blame but it was still disappointing.

Gabe was a successful college student who goes on to be an equally successful adult with high level achievements in his field. But no matter what, he's still missing something. He's a solid family man and always has been. His parents and siblings have always come first - - along with his friend Anna who he's always considered to be like a younger sister until the day he realizes it's more.

Anna is brilliant and way beyond her years with her academic achievements which enables her to achieve the financial security that eluded her as a young woman. But no matter how successful she becomes, she still misses the mother that isn't around and can't help but sometimes be consumed by it. And tucked in there with all that confusion are the feelings she's always harbored for Gabe....the ones that are more romantic than sisterly...and that really doesn't feel right...or does it?

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio version of this book was extremely enjoyable for me. I liked the narration and felt immersed in the storyline. Top notch! 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies of both the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to read/listen to and review them both and the opinions contained within are my own.

This book surprised me. I had never read this author before and had no idea what I was getting into. The two main characters Anna and Gabe are completely different. At the start of the story Anna is in highschool and has a tough home situation, but is a brilliant student doing college classes and that is where she meets Gabe, a college student from a tight knit family. I loved how Anna was welcomed into Gabe's family. I felt their love for her! Some special moments really brought tears to my eyes. I found Anna a great character, so strong, determined and ambitious. I wasn't Gabe's biggest fan when he was in college, but I liked him more and more as he matured and ended up loving him. The connection between Anna and Gabe felt real and listening to this story I was really moved and couldn't have cared more about them if they had been real people. I just had to know if their secrets would destroy their relationship once they finally got together

Abandoned by her mother at a young age, 16yo Anna has been making her own way in the world for some time now. She loves school and is taking college-level classes, in the hopes that by securing a good career and job, she can build a better life for herself.

But she didn't expect to be paired with college senior Gabe on one of her first projects of the year. He comes from a loud and welcoming family that's tight-knit and happy to include Anna. But she's afraid they'll find out her secret and feel differently about her. So she hides a lot from them. But Gabe seems to see right through her defenses and repeatedly inserts himself into her life in ways that she doesn't want to count on.

After knocking heads numerous times in various situations, Anna cuts Gabe out of her life for good. But circumstances keep pulling them back together. And after a while, they both realize that neither of them ever wants to say goodbye again.

There are beautiful scenes of happy family life in stark contrast to Anna's lonely existence, and wonderful scenes of friendship and camaraderie between Anna and Gabe's siblings and parents. And she comes to realize how precious found family can be.

This enjoyable slow-burn romance takes you through years of their lives together, continually asking the question, will she, won't she, will he, won't he?

Thank you to Melissa Wiesner, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Loved this story. It was a perfect balance of relatable drama, romance, suspense, and real world issues. Enjoyed the ending being a realistic expectation but not necessarily what was fully expected. Enjoyed the ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a great book. A slow moving one about a heartbreaking romance.
Great narrator.

The narrator did a fab job of voicing the characters and giving depth and emotion to the story regardless of the dialogue. The story itself was a sloww burn romance touching on complex issues such as abandonment and the effect of dementia rekated ullnesses. Although i was swept along and invested in the well written characters the story was quite predictable but this wasnt a bad point. The slow burn is the hook. A solid 5 star read highly recommended Thanks net gallery and puvlusher and author for my arc.

It All Comes Back to You, written by Melissa Wiesner, is a heart warming and heart breaking story! It tells of Anna, who is struggling to get by as a high school teenager, as she takes college classes to try to get ahead in life. She is partnered in her Economics class with Gabe, who she first looks down on as a frat boy who may bring her down. But as they work together, Anna is able to open herself up enough to become friends with Gabe, and with his family. They both seem to be just what each other needed! I LOVED THIS BOOK! It kept me going the whole way through. I really enjoyed the relationships that Anna, Gabe, and his family members develop throughout the story, and thought that it had a great ending. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook for an unbiased review.

I was rooting for Anna and Gabe throughout the entire story. Even through the tragic events this was a feel-good story. A story about determination, survival, and family. I loved every single person in Gabe's family. As they all gathered, I felt as if I were sitting at their kitchen table with all of them, joking around, caring for each other. The story line was easy to follow, and I loved following Anna in her journey of self-discovery. The writing flowed effortlessly. This was a great read.

A pretty solid romance.

At the young age of 16, Anna was determined to create a better future for herself. Despite the challenges of juggling two jobs and college studies, she never gave up. Even when she faced financial struggles and lacked any support from her family. It wasn't until she met Gabe that she finally knew what it was like to have unconditional love and support.

I love how the author didn't rush the romance. Anna and Gabe's relationship was well-developed and never felt forced. Although Anna's tendency to push Gabe away was annoying, I understand its purpose in the story's drama. Overall, a captivating romance that I didn't want to put down.

Would recommend it to any fans of romance.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Wiesner, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I believe this is the first I’ve read by this author.
Anna is a HS Junior who is a bright light in the world, but comes from a terrible background. Her mother is a drug abuser, and tends to go for the wrong type of guy…all the time. But Anna wants to overcome this and lead the best life she can! So much so that she read a very difficult book, and then went to discuss it with the author/professor who wrote it! And then she was admitted to a College Senior Class where she needs to collaborate with another student for a project…and she meets Gabe. He is dreamy. He comes from a well-educated and well-off family…the total opposite of what she is. And, he is also her partner for the class! And he’s a lot older than she is!
She is still going to HS…but takes this one college class every week. Additionally, she works at a job to try to make ends meet. She has a small apt in a not-so-great neighborhood…and, she is harboring a lot of secrets!
She and Gabe need to get together to work on projects for this college course…so he asks her to come to his house…where she meets his family. How is it possible to have such an idyllic family? One that loves and supports you?
They soon grow very close and form an unbreakable bond as friends!
This is where the story truly begins. It spans over many years following the two of them thru heartbreak, difficulties, ups and downs, love and loss…and life in general. But through all the years, Anna is harboring a lot of secrets…and then she finds out that Gabe has a few of his own.
You will find yourself laughing one minute, and then truly falling apart the next. So sad, so bright and so beautiful…all at once!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of the audiobook which was released today, August 22nd! ( I was only approved to receive it yesterday!)
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
It All Comes Back To You by Melissa Weisner.