Definitely diving into the next book in hopes Farrah and Blake will get their HEA! But I did enjoy reading this book and the story line. Set in Shanghai, a group of American college students studying abroad find themselves together as a little family away from home. After trying to ignore their feelings, Blake and Farrah finally give in to a relationship and their chemistry is perfect between them. The last third of the book and ending had my heart hurting as Blake struggles to decide what to do after making a terrible decision. Will they ever see each other again? Will they rekindle their relationship in the future? I can only hope so!

I knew in my heart of hearts and in my logical brain that this wasn’t a HEA because it is clearly stated SO WHY AM I CRYING

This is so incredibly precious, touching, beautiful and heartbreaking. i want it all to be a lie and him not to have a baby with Cleo or whatever her dumb name is 😭😭😭

If We Ever Meet Again tells the story of Farrah and Blake - two college age Americans studying abroad in Shanghai that eventually fall in love.
I was immediately intrigued at the beginning as a pretty dramatic scene is shared. Then, the book cuts to the past where the story begins. We meet the MC’s who have immediate chemistry. I loved their lighthearted banter and was drawn to how relatable they were.
They deny their feelings for each other for a while until they finally decide to take a leap of faith, resulting in the sweetest love story! Both characters have aspirations and dreams and I loved how supportive they were of each other.
I also really enjoyed their friend group. The side characters each had their own defined personalities that all blended together seamlessly, creating the perfect little “family” that made you wish you could be a part of.
Though the ending was frustrating and left me wanting to pull my hair out a bit, I’m looking forward to reading book two and finding out what happens later on with the characters!

“you said once every second counts, and I don’t want another second to go by without you knowing that I am totally, completely, one hundred percent in love with you” 

• 

this story of first love will lodge itself in your heart and crush it in the best way. warning: farrah & blake’s story ends on a cliffhanger, but don’t let that stop you, because we are promised a satisfying continuation in book 2!  

 •

read if you like: 
♡ first love  
♡ insta-adjacent romance  
♡ self-discovery 
♡ coming-of-age 
♡ identify-shaping cultural experiences  
♡ found family  
♡ a friendship group you’ll wish you were part of  
 
trigger warnings: 
☞ parental death  
☞ verbally/mentally abusive parent

not too sure how i feel on this one. it was a quick read but i did not love it. i also did not love the characters.

Once again Ana Huang has done it. Between giggling like a school girl, utter shock, tears of sadness and joy. The love story between Farrah and Blake had me biting my nails. Having another country and culture intertwined just made me feel like k was there in Shanghai eating with them and experiencing life with them. Just enough spice and just enough pull away to keep me coming back for me. I have yet to be disappointed with any of her books.

This book wasn't for me, the writing never engaged me. Fingers crossed for the sequel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"If We Ever Meet Again" by Ana Huang is a captivating romance novel set against the vibrant backdrop of Shanghai. The story follows 19-year-old Farrah Lin, who is eager to experience love during her year abroad. However, complications arise when she falls for her friend's boyfriend, only to find herself increasingly drawn to Blake Ryan, a former college football star seeking a fresh start.

Huang expertly captures the emotional turmoil and excitement of young love. Farrah and Blake's chemistry is palpable, and their journey from physical attraction to deep emotional connection is both heartwarming and realistic. The setting of Shanghai adds a unique and enchanting dimension to their story, enhancing the overall appeal of the novel.

The narrative is well-paced, with the developing romance balanced by personal growth and the challenges of living abroad. However, the presence of love triangles and the potential predictability of certain plot points might not appeal to all readers.

Overall, "If We Ever Meet Again" is a charming and engaging read, perfect for fans of contemporary romance. Huang's ability to create relatable characters and a compelling love story makes this novel a delightful addition to the genre.

3 Stars

With this being a book by Queen Ana, I thought I was going to really like this book… Unfortunately that was not the case. This book was ok, but I could definitely tell that this was Ana’s first book ever, as the writing quality was not that good. There were also aspects to the story that I am not a big fan of personally, like the insta love vibes. With that being said, I did enjoy the studying abroad and the friendship vibes in this book.

If We Ever Meet Again tells the story of first love and the ups and downs a relationship can take. Parts of it really tugged at the heartstrings 🥺 With strong cultural elements and vivid descriptions, it’ll make you feel like you’re in Shanghai with the characters.

The growth Farrah had throughout her journey was beautiful and probably my favorite aspect of the story. It can be hard to find yourself at such a young age, but watching her grow up through the pages was the self discovery the story needed.

This book is hotttt 🌶️ with the perfect amount of witty banter to keep you flipping pages. It was an easy, fast read but warning: it does end on a cliffhanger. I’m excited to see how Blake & Farrah’s story evolves in the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

☆☆☆ (& ½)

Farrah and Blake were cute. I like Blake as a character. Is his ego a little too big for his own good? Yes. The peak factor of this book was the setting of Shanghai. The imagery was nice, but not too exuberant or glorifying. It was a cute little story that made my mouth gape when Blake CHEATED on Farrah. And THEN he proceeded to refrain from telling her because he's a wuss at his core (grrr).

Some technical critiques I noticed were how I found myself confusing her friends. There are a lot of characters and, at times, They seemed to blend in with each other. I had to go back and remember who was who and which characters were in relationships. The sex scenes were also written awkwardly. I had a hard time reading them. I understand in the beginning, it should be awkward because it's Farrah's first time. However, the writing style of the sex scene seemed like the author was uncomfortable writing them.

Overall, it wasn't bad for a first published book after All I've Never Wanted. Let's see what happens to them in the next book... hopefully Blake's a better person?

This book had some really cute and spicy moments in the romance, but the ending was too predictable. I did really like Farrah and Blake. I’m excited to continue with this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

📖 If We Ever Meet Again
✍️ Ana Huang
🗓️Jun 25 2024
📝 SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books

Genre:Romance, New Adult
Summary:
Farrah is an aspiring interior designer, Blake is an ex football player. She dreams of love, he does not. But fate brings them together even though they both have just one year on Shanghai. Can love conquer all in the end?

Diverse cast of characters?:
Exchange students from all over, then we have our cliches… good girl, football player… but they were all a fun bunch.
character development
I think unfortunately most of the characters felt fabricated and flat, they should have been more rounded and three dimensional. Each of them fit a certain role.
Hero: Blake Ryan
Heroine: Farrah Lin (19)
Setting: Shanghai, China

<b> Fluency/Writing: </b>
This is written in third persons POV. I personally enjoy second person POV more, but this was ok.
I haven’t read anything else by Anna Huang yet, so I can’t judge her writing beyond this. I understood that this was her first never and originally self published? I don’t know how heavy this was edited afterwards. I have nothing against the writing, but it did not blow me away, let’s say it like that.

I liked it a lot that it took place on Shanghai, which was so interested. I liked how she integrated culture into the romance.

I was thinking that both books of this series are not overly long, so just wouldn’t have minded one book instead of a duet.

I kind of predicted the storyline. It was a bit frustrating! While this had cute aspects and a couple of nice spicy scenes, I found this underwhelming. I probably will have forgotten about this soon.

Also, the pacing was off, it was too rushed.

What I’ve learned while reading:
“We did not come all the way to China to eat McDonalds” Farrah said and I chuckled, because that’s exactly what I did 15 years ago…. 😂

Cover: it’s cutesy and simple, exactly how I like them:
Series or standalone:
Part one of a duet
⚠️: cheating, unexpected pregnancy
🌶️: 2/5
🎧: I switched between reading and listening, also doing both at the same time. Mandarin Chinese is literally Chinese to me and seeing it at the same time as hearing it made it so much easier for me, even if it wasn’t too much. But I liked the foreign language aspect here. Anyway. The male part is narrated by Aiden Snow and I love Aiden Snow! I also liked Cindy Kay. But Aiden Snow could read a shopping list and it sounds sexy!

❤️: 2/5
⭐️: 2,5/5
Do I recommend: this wasn’t my book, so probably I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you like the multicultural aspect and some upper NA, why not… or simply if you’re a sucker for Aiden Snows voice, like I am…

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. I love Ana Huang books and this book was no different. This is the first book in the If Love series. I can already tell this series is going to be very different from the twisted series. This book starts at the present and then goes back in the past to show us how the main characters got to that point. I didn't expect the journey these characters went on or the twist that caused where this book started. This book was a quick light read, once I started I could not put it down. I will be reading book two in the series immediately.

For AH's debut, I would say this was decent, the writing was not up to par with her most recent series but I get it lol. This is in 3rd person's POV so if you're not into that be warned it isn't YA but some of the banter/ character interactions read as YA. If you like new adult books with found family, a friend group and young love oversees then this is your book. The MCs were okay for the most part they got together pretty early which reduced the plot a bit. I liked the romance and I think the banter was nice. There is a bit of smut which was good for the smut lovers out there. Overall this was okay and if you like upper new adult romance then I would recommend it. Thank you Bloom Books for the arc.

It appears I have a penchant for well-crafted tales of romance! Initially uncertain about what to expect from Huang's book, I braced myself for a potentially mundane and foreseeable narrative. While I could foresee the general direction of the plot, I unexpectedly found myself captivated by it. Although it may have followed a familiar trajectory, I couldn't resist becoming enamored with the characters, Blake and Farrah.

So, let's discuss the term "smushy." The book delves into explicit sexual encounters, which may not suit every reader's taste. If such content makes you uncomfortable, this book might not be for you. However, despite not typically gravitating towards such material, I found the depictions digestible. The authenticity of the scenes added depth to Blake and Farrah's relationship, intensifying their connection. Alongside the physical intimacy, there's a strong undercurrent of romance—the "mush." While characters acknowledge the clichés of love declarations, Huang skillfully integrates them into a compelling narrative, particularly as Farrah searches for her ideal partner, adding substance to the plot.

Set against the backdrop of Shanghai, the novel's cultural dimension enriches the reading experience. Detailed descriptions of the setting transported me, infusing the love story with a sense of enchantment. Huang's evident familiarity with the geography lends authenticity, prompting me to explore further after reading. This distinct setting distinguishes the book from typical romance narratives rooted in familiar locales like the United States, enhancing its memorability.

In essence, this book provided a guilty pleasure. While lacking in complexity and unpredictability, it offered a refreshing change of scenery. Believable characters, coupled with the allure of Shanghai's student life, drew me into Blake and Farrah's world. Ultimately, I found myself eagerly anticipating their future adventures.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved how the setting played a big part on Blake and Farrah’s love blossoming. Really like how their group of friends was present throughout the entire book and weren’t abandoned. Great writing flowed nicely. All characters seem to be developed well. Definitely felt like the story wasn’t finish, good thing there is a book #2.