Thank you to Netglley, Bloom Publishing and the author Ana Huang for letting me read along with review this advanced book copy. This is the first book in the series If Love and it was a 2.5 star romance read. This is the second novel I have ever read by the author Ana Huang; since I have read twisted love. I didn't like the middle and ending of the book personally.

Really wish I would have known how this one was going to end before I started it. That being said - I rushed to buy book 2 sooooo.

I really enjoy Ana's writing. Her stories always keep me entertained. I can't say this is my favorite of hers, but it was alright. I think this will really appeal to the college crowd, but as an older 30 something woman, it just wasn't my favorite.

This is a cute love story that is also infuriating. Seeing a couple fall in love and then get torn apart? Not particularly my cup of tea here but I suppose others may like this one

I feel like this book should’ve been combined with the second, so we could have a complete story. I know I can go to book two for the HEA, but, having it all in one would’ve been my preference.

I felt very meh about the story. Took me a few days to read it since I wasn’t dying to open the book back up. Overall, would recommend for fans of the author.

If We Ever Meet Again is a college romance set in Shanghai, China revolving around foreign exchange student Farrah and her group of friends. While studying abroad as an exchange student, Farrah navigates college life as an interior design student, making lifelong memories with her new group of friends, and navigating a budding romance with fellow exchange student and former football star, Blake Ryan.

This is a steamy friends-to-lovers romance novel. And while it doesn’t end in a cliff hanger, you are left wondering what happens to the characters and you can only find out if you read the sequel.

While I enjoyed the setting of Shanghai and the descriptions of the cultural experiences and food, I found the characters to be flat and boring. I wasn’t really invested in the relationships between the main characters, and there were too many side characters to keep track of. The main romantic relationship felt a bit rushed, shallow, and immature. It also had several tropes that I don’t generally enjoy and I was frustrated by the ending.

Overall, I enjoyed the setting but found the characters and their relationships to be lacking. I think this book could be very appealing to a younger adult (college aged) audience.

Ana Huang did not disappoint. I loved this so much. I loved the story and characters. I laughed, swooned, and even geared up at some parts. This was a one sitting read for me. I couldn’t put it down.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Anna Huang did a great job of writing in a way that captured my attention, and made me not want to put it down until I was finished! I would highly recommend it!

Wow was this book good. I read it in one sitting that’s how much I loved it. The characters were so fun and I was so sad to see them split. I was just hopping that it wasn’t his baby and his ex was lying to him. I’m really excited to read the second one!

I've heard so many good things about this author and I am disappointed to say that this story didn't do it for me. I want to caveat by saying that I hate leaving negative reviews and I am grateful to netgalley and Sourcebooks bloom books for a copy of a ebook.

There will be spoilers so read at your own risk. I just felt like the FMC's whole self-worth bagan to revolve around Blake and them being together which is one of the things I hate most being done in a romance book. Girl get a back bone. I felt like Blake was just not it for a MMC and the author tried to convince y ou he was a good dude but it just did not feel authentic. The first half of the book while I was on the fence, I was hoping for it to get better and seemed promising once the couple actually got together. When it was revealed that Blake "slept" with Cleo during new years eve or whatever scheme that they were cooking up I rolled my eyes so hard. Especially after he decided he wasn't going to be honest with her was just ugh. It just took me out the story and had me skimming through the rest to get to the end. I have zero desire to read the continuing book of this couple knowing that Farrow is unemployed and has just been celibate while Blake has been living his best life screwing everything. Yeah I'll pass, just not the right audience for this story. I can see why others might enjoy this story though.

Thank you to Bloom, Ana Huang, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of If We Ever Meet Again in exchange for my honest review.

If We Ever Meet Again follows nineteen-year-old Farrah, who is determined to fall in love during her exchange year in Shanghai. The problem? The man in question is her best-friends boyfriend. Farrah's quest for love takes an unexpected turn when she meets Blake, a college football star who quit unexpectedly. Now taking an exchange year in Shanghai, Blake is determined to stay single. When Blake and Farrah meet there is an unquestionable attraction between the two, and as hard as they try to avoid it, they cannot.

If We Ever Meet Again is a wonderful coming of age story. Yes, it is a romance, but in all honesty, it does feel like you are watching these characters find out who they are. Removed from the pressures of their everyday lives and away from their families, Farrah and Blake are given the space to discover just who they want to become. I loved watching Blake and Farrah discover who they are. As a reader you can truly see them grow into themselves throughout their exchange year. I did struggle with knowing that there was a part two to their story, which is the next book in this series. While I cannot wait to learn about what happens for Blake and Farrah when they are older and meet again, it was hard to read an entire romance book knowing that I needed to read a whole other book to get an HEA. While that hindered my personal reading experience, I do recognize that for many, they will love getting to see the two part love story, and will not mind knowing that this book is only part one. I am sure in the long run I will not mind either, but for now, it was a struggle for me. I go back and forth because I am dying to know what happens next (and after writing this review will be picking up book 2) but throughout the book there was a part of me that questioned it all. Maybe I am just someone who likes their standalone romance story for a couple, but we shall see what I think after book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book. We followed Farrah and Blake, two American students (and 7 others in their friend group) studying in Shanghai for a year. Blake seems to instantly like Farrah, and while he knows that sleeping with her would be a bad idea (he doesn’t sleep with virgins), he figures flirting is fine. Farrah likes Leo, who is seeing her friend, so she’s just trying to coast and have fun.. and maybe wait for them to break up.

While Blake annoys Farrah, he grows on her as they start hanging out more (studying together, learning Mandarin), and suddenly Farrah realizes her crush on Leo is gone and she’s instead falling for Blake. Blake is anti-relationship, so while they clearly both like each other, he pulls out the “I love you..like a sister” card.

They seem ok together, and their relationship is quick and verging on insta-lovey. I found that both characters were pretty immature, and the main conflict that separates them near the end of the book is frustrating for the reader since Blake keeps Farrah in the dark and won’t give her the benefit of the doubt to trust him and keep an open mind.

Will I read the second book? Yes. I must know what’s going to happen.

The writing is not Ana’s best, as she keeps getting better with each book. You can tell this is a debut. I found it to be a little cheesy (especially with how often Blake points out that he’s being cheesy). I also had a hard time with the transitions between chapters. I didn’t think it was as seamless as she is now in her writing, and they were not smooth - to the point where I was a little confused at the beginning of each chapter about what was happening and what POV we were in.

Although this author can be a bit hit or miss for me, I do enjoy her work for the most part with If We Ever Meet Again good, just not great. The use of flashbacks to tell the story of Farrah and Blake's year-long was clever and provided me with all I needed to know about their future. Studying abroad can certainly ramp up the romance when you're two people away from home and have no true outside forces to keep you apart. But, of course, real life steps in eventually, and changes everything between Blake and Farrah seemingly for good.

Both characters are likable enough although at times I thought Farrah could do better since Blake is a bit full of himself and ultimately breaks her heart. I will say that I did not know this was book 1 of 2 and with the way things turned out for Farrah, in particular, I'm not sure I want to continue. I do think they will find their way back to one another despite Blake's decisions with his girlfriend at home but I just don't know if I'm invested enough to care.

The book is well-written and is full of teen angst which I do enjoy. But it may take me a time or two before I decide to continue with book 2.

3 stars.

If We Ever Meet Again is a romance based in Shanhghai . Farrah studies abroad for a year and quickly has a group of friends. She eventually falls for Blake who is an ex football star. Their romance grows very quickly until Blake comes back from his New Years visit home.
This book is full of new adventures , friends , love and heartbreak. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

Overall I didn’t hate the story and the prologue had me hooked. That being said I was really underwhelmed by this book. While the prologue was interesting the storyline was okay. One of main things I disliked about this story was that it contained some of my most despised tropes such as cheating and the third act break up. I was not expecting the cliff hanger that occurred up to the very end of the book I was hoping there was a resolution and that the MMC didn’t cheat and they got back together. I can’t wait to start the next book and figure out what happens between Farrah and Blake.

It's every girls dream, right? To travel abroad and find the love of your life, even when you least expect it from a certain person.
This was a cute traditional love story, with friendships and memories made, family issues, etc. It didn't end how I would have liked (now need to read book 2 to see if there is any resolution), but if you're looking for something fluffy, this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 25 June 2024

I received this book as an arc, the story fell short and bland. I thought it was going to be more along the lines of The Twisted love series but unfortunately I was mistaken.

Thank you Ana Huang and Net galley for the arc, I appreciate it your generosity 2.8⭐️

This book starts with a breakup and then flashes back eight months.

The constant anticipation of the inevitable breakup made it hard to read. And then suddenly, the main character is already with someone else, making it difficult to see this as a romance. I still didn't believe in their connection halfway through. I almost put the book down, but unfortunately, I didn't.

He cheats on her, gets his ex pregnant, and instead of being honest, he breaks her heart. The only way Blake can be redeemed is if the baby isn't his. But even then, I doubt Farrah would take him back. Terrible book boyfriend. I won't be reading the second book. In my mind, Blake is just a jerk, and Farrah finds someone better.

I was truly so excited to read this because I have read several other books by Ana however If I would’ve known it was in 3rd pov I would have never applied for an arc, I do very much appreciate the opportunity and consideration allowing me to read this as an arc. I find that it is much more difficult for me personally to connect with characters and fully grasp the book when it’s in 3rd pov. Love a lot of Ana’s work but honestly 3rd pov is just not for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

“Farrah had always equated the stars with love, which seemed as nebulous and out of reach as the diamonds in the sky. But as she stood there next to Blake, beneath the infinite skies of a foreign land, the stars felt a little closer.”

Set in college in Shanghai, Blake and Farrah meet in a study abroad program. We get to witness their relationship develop, first starting out as friends, but which then grows into a lot more than that. Mistakes are made and feelings are hurt, and their actions have consequences. Were the characters perfect? No, but that's one of the things I loved about this book. It was realistic, with the main characters being only age 19. I found myself truly enjoying following this couple and their group of friends, and the chemistry and banter was amazing.

I just finished this book, and let me tell you - my heart is properly hurting now. If We Ever Met Again is book one in a duet, and I never thought I'd say this, but Ana has made me realize how much I enjoy reading a love story with a lot of heartbreak along the way. I can't wait to start "If the Sun Never Sets" next.

Add this book to your TBR if you love these tropes:

💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Friends to Lovers
💗 Opposite Attracts
💗 Heartbreak that makes you feel like your own heart is breaking!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It was a quick read that ends on a cliffhanger. You feel Farrah's hurt when the 3rd act drama begins. Definitely makes you want to continue the series to find out what happens next.