Beautifully Compelling & Heartfelt! Fantastic Story & Narration🎧

I love checking out new to me authors and love it even more when I am completely blown away by their book and that is exactly what Melissa Wiesner accomplished. This is a fantastic story, a story that not only captivated my attention the entire time, but tugged at my heartstrings too. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, and I absolutely adored the two lead characters, Anna and Gabe. The secondary and support characters were amazing too. Anna's and Gabe’s upbringing could not have been any different. Gabe comes from a loving and supportive family, while Anna did not. She was raised by a single mother and making ends meet was a struggle. Anna was wise beyond her years and highly intelligent, so much so that she was taking college courses when she was just sixteen-years-old. Her professor partnered here with Gabe for a project in that college class. Being partnered with a kid did not thrill him at first, but it did not take him long to learn she was the real deal and to warm up to her. The two connected like no other, and their friendship continued to grow, even his family took a liking to her. She never talked about her own family, but he knew she did not have it easy. When he found out what she was hiding, he took matters into his own hand, except that was not the only secret she hid from him. This is a beautifully written story that spans over the years. The plotting and world building are fantastic, as is the character growth and development. I loved all the layers of the story and how everything played out. There is plenty of drama, some angst, some heart-rending moments, heartfelt emotions, and a friendship that morphs into more. Melissa Wiesner, thank you for this amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Kate Handford did an amazing job bringing these characters and story to life. She understood the characters she was portraying, gave each their own distinct voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. Her character voices were consistent throughout the book and she was believable in every role she played. She set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into her performance, making you feel them all. Handford is a versatile voice artist and an entertaining storyteller who is a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this amazing listen.

I had tears in my eyes the whole time I was listening to this story. They were a mix of sad and happy tears which you do not always experience when reading a heart wrenching romantic novel like this one. Melissa Wiesner does an extraordinary job writing the thoughts and feelings of Anna and Gabe. You can feel the love Anna, Gabe, and his family feel for one another through this emotional and beautiful writing.
Although this is a romance story, it touches on the hardships that many Americans, young and old, face on a daily basis. As someone who does not live in poverty like Anna, I was able to understand the struggles someone young but determined faces. Although frustrated about their relationship throughout the story, it was well worth it in the end, as Melissa wrapped the story up nicely.
This is a beautiful story about never giving up on the people that you love and care about and no matter how hard it may get. Thank you Melissa for writing this amazing story. I cannot wait to read more from her.

3.5 stars! an emotional rollercoaster of two people who are threaded together.

anna and gabe meet each other during a shared class and their lives begin to bleed together. once secrets are shared, emotions run higher.

years past and when anna returns home, anna and gabe must now face their past and secrets in order to see if their future can actually be something.

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i liked it okay but i was hoping to love it! it just had a little bit of everything i love but it all felt a little anticlimactic to me. i think it would’ve read better in a first person narrative too.

what i did like:
- gabe’s family was so fun, sweet and warm
- anna’s ambition and strength. her past was so hard and she remained so sweet.
- the longer timeline really helped developed their characters which would’ve otherwise fell flat

not my favorite (and mild spoilers)
- anna was 16 when gabe was 21 when they first met. nothing weird happened and gabe just saw her as a sister but just didn’t sit right with me.
- for reason above, it was hard for me to really read the chemistry even when they got older.
- the narrator just wasn’t my favorite.

thank you netgalley and publisher for an audiobook arc in return for an honest review.

If you are looking for a book to put you in your feels - this is the one! Emotional and heartbreaking while also being heartwarming and inspiring. Full of strength, love, loss, complicated coming of age emotions, growth, self reflection, kindness and hope - It All Comes Back to You was a fantastic emotional rollercoaster!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy!

*Check TW before reading

It’s happened again. I’m in love with a fictional man and would like to express order a Gabe to mend my poor shattered heart. This man IS perfect.

For me this was a slow burn in the beginning but once I was in I was 💯 immersed. We meet Anna and Gabe on the first day of college, they are assigned as partners on an assignment. Gabe is none too pleased to be working with a 16 year old but soon a friendship grows and the way his whole family welcome her on the most beautiful way, we follow them and the family for years, we find out who they become but most importantly we are there front and centre to witness them eventually realise that they’re in love, it doesn’t go smoothly, but does it ever? Most beautiful for me is when Anna realises that Gabe IS her family. Stunning, get the tissues ready and enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookature Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Great story with great characters. You are rooting for Anna but also hoping she comes to her senses and realizes that Gabe is there to help. I enjoyed the progressing timeline and getting to see these two really mature and grow throughout the book. It really is a great slow burn romance.

*Slow Burn
*Friends to Lovers
*Found Family
*Second Chance

A sweet slow burn love story that transitions from young adult friendship to their one true love. Anna has always taken care of herself. Her mother abandoned her at 14. Anna’s focus was school, to earn a scholarship as her ticket to survive poverty and provide stability. Gabe is one of a kind guy with a solid family. He was raised with no hardships however he is humble enough to recognize when some he cares about needs help.
Anna and Gabe’s relationship is unique. I highly recommend this story

Admittedly, I was frustrated for much of this book. I felt the female lead character was inconsistent, occasionally strong and independent then switching to weak and immature. Granted, maybe she needed closure before she could recognize the best things in her life and accept that she deserved to be happy. Although I thought the back-and-forth went on a little too long (thank goodness every chapter didn't begin with "three years later"), I really liked the story and family of characters.

Thanks to the publishers at NetGalley for the advance copy.

4.5⭐️

It All Comes Back To You is beautifully written and will tug at your heartstrings. It’s heartbreaking & heartwarming, touching & tender, it follows a beautiful friendship that develops and endures over time.

Circumstances throw Anna & Gabe together as teenagers, and a touching and tender friendship develops between them. Anna is fierce and resilient but like pretty much everything else about her, her feelings are carefully tucked away. Even though she becomes part of Gabe’s life and Gabe’s family, she’s driven forward by a past she can’t forget, and although their friendship endures they’re both living very different and separate lives. They’re brought back together once more, united by tragedy. But has anything really changed? She’s spent a decade and a half keeping him at arms length so does she even know how to let him in?

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up because I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator! The story also held my attention. I typically like the friends to lovers trope but this was harder for me to switch mindsets because of the nature of their friendship for the first half of the book. Too many “kid” references I guess. Gabe seemed too good to be true and Anna seems very stubborn. A lot of their tension seemed over dramatic of her but I got it she was 16 and struggling. I stuck through to see their story through but I wasn’t swooning. The big reveal was predictable. The timeline jumps made it a bit choppy. It was a sweet story and I really loved the goodness of Gabe’s family and the purity of their relationship.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this cute story in advance.

This was a very enjoyable read (listen). The narrator is clear and has good pace and kept my attention throughout.

Wiesner's narrative is possibly, slightly predictable, as this coming-of-age novel has an ending which is satisfying and beautifully scripted, but not really unexpected.

I think that Gabe was a little too perfect, but the relationship which develops between him and Anna is slow burning and felt authentic. Gabe's family, which come to meant so much to Anna, are warm and loving and a perfect antidote to Anna's homelife.

As Anna's back story unfolds it is hard to listen and believe that any mother could treat her own flesh and blood in this way. Anna's tenacity and determination are strengthened as a result of this. I really loved the conclusion that Anna comes to at the end of the novel as she realises what love and family really means.

Four and a half stars as it was a little predicatable, but fabulously crafted. Don't miss this or be surprised if you shed tears!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet and sad book. I adored Ana and Gabe and was so sad for both of them throughout the book. I feel like I don’t have the words to really express how wonderful this book was. I felt so deeply for both of them and could not wait for them to fall in love.

My heart! This read is easily in my top favorite books. Ever minute of this book was absolutely perfect to me. I loved watching all of these character grown up and change over the course of about 15 years. Most people can relate to that feeling when you’re 15 and everything feels like the end of the world, but maybe those hard things that helped shape you, were the best things to happen.

If you’re a Colleen Hoover or Carley Fortune fan, I think you will LOVE this book.

This was a decent story with a fantastic audio narrator.

It had a consistent pacing…it was slower than I typically like but I was so invested in the story and finding out what happened to Anna’s mom that I didn’t mind it.

I also really enjoyed the love and support she found with Gabe and his family.

I think the characters were well developed and liked how everything played out.

I would read another book by this author.

IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU
“It all comes back to you” by Melissa Wiesner is a gripping and emotional novel that you will not be able to break away from. This heartbreaking story will have you diving into the complicated past of Anna and Gabe.
“It all comes back to you” follows the past and present of Anna and Gabe. Anna was a troubled teenager who is incredibly gifted and is accepted to a college scholarship while in high school. Anna was paired with the ‘womanizing’ Gabe. During this book you follow their ever building relationship but Anna is keeping a huge secret from Gabe and his family. Anna pushes Gabe away to stop both him and his family from uncovering the truth, and vows never to see them again. This is until Gabe and Anna reunite years later….. And the whole truth is uncovered. Will their friendship survive the years and the many secrets?
Melissa Wiesner incredible character building has readers rooting for Gabe and Anna. You are able to feel the heartbreaking moments that are uncovered for both characters. The contrast of both characters is unmatched and readers understand the differences between growing up with nothing and growing up in a privileged household. You are left with an overwhelming feeling of wanting a different life for both characters and the positives and negatives to living different lives. Anna is one of the most resilient female main characters and her constant battle with trust is absolutely heart shattering.
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel which is narrated perfectly and you are able to hear the angst behind the characters. I do wish I had read the physical book as well to be fully immersed in Anna and Gabes world. Wiesner included enough heart wrecking moments along with some heartwarming moments that keep readers wanting more. I was engrossed in the emotional ride of this audiobook.
I rate this book 4 stars and recommend this heart wrenching novel to all readers who enjoy emotional reads. The realistic issues mentioned in this book are written beautifully and some readers will be able to relate heavily to this book.
“It all comes back to you’ by Melissa Wiesner is a gripping, heart wrenching novel that will have readers struggling to put it down. The incredible character development, relatable content, contrasting backgrounds leave readers feeling all the emotions throughout the entirety of this novel. I recommend this novel to all readers who enjoy emotional reads.

This was my first romance genre book, I usually read only thrillers (and some bit of romance in those books).

When Gabe and Anna are paired up as project mates, least do they know what is waiting for them in the future.
As they continue to work on their project and Anna meets Gabe's family, they all appreciate Anna's achievements at such a young age. Gabe's parents are always looking out for Anna and treat her like family. Anna's relationship with Gabe's grandmother is what I loved the most!

This was a heart warming story, really good development of characters and everything progresses well. I like a book which has so much of positivity

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Wiesner, and Bookouture Audio for approving the audiobook ARC.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. I thought this book was amazing. I don’t say that often but I loved that this author went with a really deep topic. When I first began the book I was thinking it was going to be a teen romance book but that was just the beginning. The book develops as the characters get older and problems develop. I liked this style of writing. I thought the development of characters really helped the story feel complete and well rounded.

I loved this book! Really heart-warming and gave me all the feels.

From the initial horror of a college-aged boy being paired with a school-aged girl, for a project, grew a life-long friendship. The kind of once-in-a-lifetime connection between two people that will literally melt the hardest heart.

Melissa Wiesner's stunning writing covers so many major, modern day issues; Opioid addiction, child neglect, societal expectations and judgment, friendship, family, resilience and acceptance.

Gabe's family were utterly wonderful and it was ironic that Anna's career in medicine was the kind of work Gabe's father had hoped for him, Anna's strength and resilience in light of the life she led as a young teenage girl were inspiring and I was so invested in her and her hopes for the future. Her determination to find her Mum showed a love and loyalty that inevitably wouldn't be justified, and shows that blood isn't always thicker than water, when compared to the relationship she had with Gabe's family, something so many people can relate to, in reality.

I didn't feel the big "secrets" between Anna and Gabe were that much of a big deal. They were absolutely integral to the story, however not so much secrets as looking out for each other's well-being, certainly in Gabe's case.

Excellent narration, clear and believable.

A really great read! 4 star! Thanks to Netgalley, Melissa Wiesner and Bookouture for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This is my first book by Melissa Wiesner and won’t be my last!
After being teamed up together for a college assignment, Gabe and Anna soon become best friends despite coming from very different backgrounds. Anna has secrets and doesn’t want anyone to get close to her; Gabe is an unexpected source of support, strength and comfort for Anna when she finally lets him in. This story of loss, friendship and love follows Gabe and Anna’s journey through several years and is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The story touches on trauma, the importance of being part of a loving family, learning to trust, forgiveness, and overcoming life’s challenges.
I felt the characters were all relatable and I loved the development of the characters throughout the story. I feel like some parts were a bit drawn out and repetitive at times but it didn’t put me off – I couldn’t wait to dive back into Gabe and Anna’s world each day. Excellent narration by Kate Handford! If you enjoy a friends to lovers romance, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Melissa Weisner, Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced audio edition in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This book is very well written and narrated and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I would recommend <3