If We Ever Meet Again took me by surprise. I dove into it completely blind, knowing only that I had enjoyed Ana Huang's Twisted and Kings of Sin series. While I was led to believe this series leaned more towards YA, I would argue it falls in the NA category. The characters are in college, and there's definitely some spice to the story.

One of the most surprising aspects was discovering that this is not a standalone novel. Although I knew it was the first book in a series, I assumed each book would feature different characters. However, this continuity has made me even more eager to dive into book two.

The story has a reminiscent quality of Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, and I anticipate this parallel will become even more pronounced in the sequel based on certain plot developments.

Farrah and Blake's relationship is beautifully developed. Their transition from friends to lovers is smooth, comfortable, and entirely believable. Blake, in particular, stood out to me. His journey of self-discovery and creating a new path for himself was exactly what I hoped for, right up until the plot twist. While I wished for more growth from Farrah in this installment, I suspect her character arc will expand further in the next book.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC of this re-release. I can't wait to see where Farrah and Blake's story goes next!

received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

2.5 stars

I think Blake and Farrah have the bare minimum amount of chemistry. I think they could have made good enough friends but the romance was really lacking. I also can’t stand the “poor little virgin” trope. It’s just kind of icky at this point. Also, the characters really aren’t anything special or interesting. This story plays out exactly as you would expect it to play out except there’s no ending because it’s broken out into another book that I will read just so I can read an ending and wrap this all up.

I wouldn’t recommend this book. I don’t think readers would enjoy it much compared to the other two popular series she has now, but make the later books in this series get better?

This book was very cute. I love a good banter between love interests lol. However I do feel like some parts of the book were lacking . I still think it’s a good book and I mean Ana Huang knows how to write a book boyfriend lol I just wish it had a little more idk umph?

This is just my opinion and I still recommend you give this book a try❤️

Thank you NetGalley and Ana , for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ❤️

Sometimes a book has a lot of excitement around it because of the author and this is sadly a letdown. Not only do we get a pregnancy trope but the dreaded cheating trope as well There was honestly too much drama going on in this book for me to enjoy it. Farrah is also too good for Blake. I am not looking forward to the second book.

Love this author! This one was a good drama, with some love spice in there. It was a little on the slower side not going to lie. The pace could have been a bit faster. But overall it was a decent read.

3.5 stars.

Ana Huang's "If We Ever Meet Again" is a predictable dual POV, dual timeline romance with a lot of drama and some steam, but it still kept me entertained the entire time I read it. Farrah and Blake begin their year abroad in Shanghai in a contestable acquaintanceship that eventually becomes more as they develop feelings for each other. Them not liking each other at first leads to some very witty banter and funny moments, but also so miscommunication. Blake was a football star who has since quit, much to his father's dismay. He now dreams of opening a sports bar but is unsure how to do so since his future seems a little aimless. Farrah is a design student with a big heart and even bigger dreams. They seem like polar opposites, but the more they are thrust together with their adjoining friend groups, the more they find they belong with one another. This book is cute at times and heartbreaking at others. A little spice is thrown in for good measure, which I found to be well-written and s3xy! Huang allows her audience to get to know Farrah and Blake as individuals before they come together in a romantic sense (which is all the more reason why you'll hate Blake at the end of this book!). I like that Huang doesn't shy away from using Shanghai as a character in its own right. She fills her pages with vivid descriptions of Chinese culture, landmarks, food, and customs, so much so that I felt immersed in the city itself. I also like how Farrah and Blake's friends feel like real people and not just characters thrown on the page to find scenarios for the protagonists to get together, and they are never heard from again. Despite being a rather short book page-wise, it still feels like it could have been shorter as it can get repetitive here and there. As I mentioned, I haaaaaated Blake by the end of the book, but just know going into it it ends on a cliffhanger, so I have a feeling I know where it's all going (like I said, it's predictable)! I will definitely be reading the rest of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ana Huang, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I received an ARC from #NetGalley and #SOURCEBOOKSBloomBooks and made a commitment to read and give my honest review of this book. First, I am not sure how this was an "ARC" since it has been out since Dec. 2022 (so it's a rerelease). Second, this basically is a book about lust and sex lives of a couple of college kids abroad. The story around it barely holds up. Their relationship is all hormones. AND I have spent a bit of time in Asia and have Chinese relatives who have studied in China and I didn't even feel like we got a true feel for the setting. Third, I saw the truth about the big tragedy coming a mile away (It ends up the sequel came out in Dec 2022 also and I was able to read a review with spoilers to find out my prediction was spot on). It is something that is just ridiculous that the lead male character never even considered (simply put, without spoilers, someone lied). I hate to be so negative, but this is honest.

I got this book for an honest review. Huang's story set in Shanghai surprised me with its love plot. Even though it was a bit predictable, I enjoyed the romance between Blake and Farrah. The intimate scenes were detailed and added depth to their connection.

The cultural aspect in Shanghai made the setting unique and magical. Despite lacking complexity or mysteries, the characters felt genuine, and their journey kept me engaged.

Overall, it was a light and enjoyable read. I'm curious to see what happens next to Blake and Farrah.

Ana’s writing is always next level, ALWAYS. The writing is absolutely beautiful. I had a feeling near the beginning this was going to completely gut me and it did just that. Farrah will forever be one of my favorite FMC, she slayed!! I don’t know how to feel about some of this, I want a happy ending but I just don’t know if I can forgive Blake. I will absolutely be reading the second book to find out how their story ends. This is a must read for me!! 10/10 💜 Be prepared to feel allllllll the emotions.

This was a very slow burn drama, built around new found love and desire. The writing, as always with Ana, is perfect. This story to me has been done many times only the setting to be different. For this genre it’s a well written, character driven read and well delivered.

College romance, study abroad, friends to lovers, complicated family relationships, friend group, part one of a two part series, no hea

As much as I want to love this book and this author, I simply doing think the writing is for me. I do understand that this is a rerelease of an earlier book, so it could just be her early writing, but I’ve tried some of her other books and there’s nothing pulling me into the story. The writing feels too choppy, the characters are dry, it doesn’t feel like there’s any personality.

I will say there are some good points of this book. I enjoyed reading about their adventures in china and I loved the friend group shenanigans. But, this is promoted as a romance book, and the romance falls flat. Yes, there’s spicy scenes. Yes there’s declarations of love. But there’s no chemistry between the main characters.

ANAHUANG. WHAT DID YOU PUT IN THIS BOOK. MY HEART WAS ACHING SINCE THE PROLOGUE.

This strangers to friends to lovers romance will make you want to question everything of why things have to happen in life AGH. I ADORED BLAKE AND FARRAH🫶.

Farrah and Blake met in Shanghai, where they both were in a study abroad program for a year. You are with them every step of the way— the beginning, the tension, the honeymoon stage, and everything in between. Farrah is a deeply hopeless romantic who loves interior design and is ready to make her next move, while Blake ran away from his "jock" life because he doesn't want that anymore.

Their love story will make you squeal and giggle, and then it will make you want to scream at them, but it's all amazing. You know why? BECAUSE IT'S A DUET 💞💞💞

Tropes:
❣️strangers to friends to lovers
❣️college romance
❣️study abroad romance
❣️he falls first-ish
❣️virgin fmc
❣️flirtatious mmc

I really loved the setting of Farrah and Blake's story. This one had tropes that aren't my favorite, and I feel like there wasn't quite enough character development or tension in the story. I had trouble finding the chemistry with Farrah and Blake; it felt rushed and forced at times. But I did enjoy the little pieces of China that you get to experience reading this book; the setting was my favorite thing about this read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

Ana Huang's If We Ever Meet Again is a heartfelt tale of first love unfolding in the bustling city of Shanghai.

The story follows Farrah and Blake, two endearing characters whose romance blossoms slowly yet passionately. Set against the backdrop of Shanghai, their journey is filled with moments of joy, discovery, confusion, and a touch of sadness.
Farrah, a diligent design student, and Blake, a former college football star navigating his future, are portrayed as unique individuals who find common ground in their shared values, humor, and aspirations. Their mutual support and encouragement create a touching dynamic that resonates throughout the narrative, showcasing their growth and bond as a couple.

Huang's vivid descriptions of Shanghai and other Chinese locales enhance the story's ambiance, immersing the reader in a world of romance and adventure. The supporting cast of characters, particularly their group of friends, adds layers of humor and camaraderie, enriching the overall narrative.

Although quite an interesting read, this book did feel flat for me in some ways. especially the third act break up that really exasperated me. But other than that, an okay read overall!

Thanks to Netgalley ane the publisher for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of Bloom Books USA New Print of “If We Ever Meet Again” by Ana Huang.

This was a light read for me. Easy to get through. I enjoyed the cultural aspects of it and learning new foods, language, and culture for the college students abroad. It is descriptive and immersive in the sense that you’ll feel like you are along for the semester and bantering with your best friends.

Though the plot was hard to follow for me and at times it felt dragged out, the love saga threw my heart for a loop and made up for it. I loved how unpredictable it was. I can’t say second chance is the trope for me but if you love that trope then this is for you! Ana Huang is an amazing author and while Twisted Love tops this in my charts I enjoyed the tug of my heart strings with this book. The main characters are well developed and it was nice getting to know them.

If you haven’t read this book yet, give it a chance (no pun intended). The new print is so nice, and I love the music playlist in the beginning.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ + 🌶️ 🌶️ spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Ana Huang for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

This one was adorable! I had a really great time reading this book. It was easy to get through, and helped me get out of a reading slump.

If We Ever Meet Again is the first book I've ever read from this author, and she did not disappoint. This book is filled with great characters, although there were a few characters that I disliked. This story has friendships, back and forth bater, angst, romance, love, jealousy, doubt and regret. However, the thing I enjoyed the most about the romance in this story was that the romance between Farrah and Blake had a slow burn feel to it. I enjoyed Farrah and Blake characters, and I enjoyed how the author gave their relationship time to develop and grow making their romance believable. The author wrote the story in a way that sucked me in from the very beginning and left me wanting more in the end. This cannot be the end of Farrah and Blake because I need more. They deserve more happiness. I hope Cleo's manipulation and deception is revealed in the next book because I in no terms want Blake to end up with her. I need the truth to be revealed about everything asap in the next book so we can get back to more Farrah and Blake. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series, as well as other books from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just finished Ana Huang’s "If We Ever Meet Again," and wow, what a ride! This book is an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. It’s about Farrah Lin, a college student who decides to spend a year abroad in Shanghai. There, she meets Blake Ryan, who’s as charming as he is mysterious. Their connection is instant, and you can’t help but root for them from the start.

Huang does an amazing job of bringing Shanghai to life. The city feels like a character itself, with all its vibrant energy and cultural richness. Farrah’s journey is so relatable—she’s trying to figure out who she is and what she wants, all while dealing with her past. Blake is this perfect mix of confident and vulnerable, and their relationship feels real and raw.

What I loved most about this book is how it deals with the messy parts of love and growing up. It’s not just about the sweet moments (though there are plenty of those!), but also about trust, forgiveness, and opening up to someone else. Huang captures all these emotions so well, and it really makes you think about your own experiences.

The side characters are great too, adding depth and warmth to the story. The friendships in the book feel genuine, and they add a nice balance to the romance. Overall, Ana Huang’s writing is beautiful and engaging, making "If We Ever Meet Again" a book that’s hard to put down. If you’re into contemporary romance, you need to read this one!

Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books and Ana Huang for the ARC! This book was very different than other Ana Huang novels. This book upset me so much because it had almost all of the tropes that I despise but I was entertained. It was still enjoyable and a quick read. It ended on a cliff hanger and now I just need to read the second book. I believe this was one of Ana Huang first ever books, and I can definitely tell that. Her other series are so much better, but like I said, I still throughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the setting of Shanghai. Blake and Farrah’s story is fun and this was a quick read. I can’t wait to read the second installment.