I would like to thank St. Martins press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

so this book was extremely hard to read with all the characters and their back stories that I did not really follow at all.. it’s definitely a very slow burn book and for sure does not work as a standalone novel.. you’ll get way to confused if you don’t read whatever novel comes first.. it was boring.. but I would definitely need to read the first book to understand anything.. and Duncan and Temperance were extremely immature in my opinion.. they’re both characters that did not heal in ANY WAY..

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon
I want to say right away that the description should have said this was a sequel. This book was very hard to read because there were a million characters whose backstories must have been established in the earlier novel, it does not work as a stand-alone. The novel is a slooooow burn second chance romance between Duncan and Temperance. They are both unhealed characters who, even in their thirties, contestants say what they actually mean and want. This was tough for me. Because they aren't acting like adults. If they were in their 20s the angst would make more sense. Maybe I'm not the right audience. Definitely needed to have read the first book. Great for lovers of Hallmark and Lifetime movies.

This is the second book In her series about the Brady family and I was delighted to be back at Cloud Tide! I loved spending more time with this family and getting to see the continuation of the relationships from “Bend Towards the Sun”. However, this book was a really slow go for me to get into the relationship between the 2 main characters. I wanted more of them together! By the last section of the book I felt like they finally got momentum and we finally got some time with them to be invested in their relationship. This book was just ok for me as I wanted all the feels I felt in book one, however by the end it left me looking forward to the 3rd in the series.


Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

On-again, off-again. Hot and cold. Push and pull. Just a few ways to describe the relationship between Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady, which began way back when they were eighteen. And now, after not seeing each other for more than a year, they’re brought together again for the wedding of Duncan’s brother and Temperance’s best friend. With this second chance presenting itself, will they finally get it right?

I stayed up reading this until 2 a.m., which was when I had to finally force myself to go to bed (but I finished it as soon as I woke up in the morning), so I think that should be an indication of how much I enjoyed it. Enemies to lovers, second chance romance, a large group of close-knit friends—all of my favorite components of a romance book are present. Unfortunately, there’s some miscommunication that is dragged out for too long, but I know sometimes that’s just a part of the genre. Looking forward to reading more of Jen Devon’s works!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for the gifted eARC!

Wow I did not enjoy this one. Overwrought, way too many characters, repetitive, and unlikeable (in a boring way) main characters. Temperance may be the worst FMC I’ve ever read in a romance; being sleep deprived and liking high end underwear aren’t personality traits.

Honestly this reads like if Happy Place had a baby with Yours Truly but that baby had really bad colic and wasn’t cute enough to make up for the constant crying.

Right Where We Left Us

"Real love can be messy, T.J. Anyone who says otherwise is either doing it wrong, or they just haven't gotten down to the bones of it yet."

Oh my stars, the PINING! The second chance romance worked SO WELL for me! I do NOT often say that, but I adored the pining, the backstory, the chemistry, the BANTER and the delight that Jen Devon wove into Duncan and Temperance's love story.

Set back at Cloud Tide winery, Temperance and Duncan are continually thrown together for wedding related activities to celebrate Rowan and Harry. The meddling friends work, and eventually Temperance and Duncan call a truce because they'd rather not waste another second not being together.

SO DELIGHTFUL. Devon has a beautiful way with words. Her imagery and love declarations - my heart.

Y'all don't sleep on this one! Much like Duncan, this one is "the embodiment of full-throttle joy".
Check this one out for:
Second chance romance
Forced proximity
Best friend's brother
Small town setting

Right Where We Left Us is on shelves June 18, 2024! Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

This was a cute read. I read it quickly while I was on vacation. I didn’t like being introduced to so many people so fast with the beginning of the book but since it was a large family, maybe that’s how it had to be done. I wanted the main characters to be more developed Because I was really starting to like them

Right Where We Left Us is a contemporary, slow-burn, second-chance romance that has the reader drawn to Temprance and Duncan as the protagonists as the story progresses. There is so much angst and tension, but there are also very sweet moments throughout that tug on the heart strings.

Although this book moved at a slower pace, in my opinion, and seemed to drag on at times, Jen Devon has done a fantastic job at painting vivid pictures of settings and characters alike. It felt like I was in attendance at Brady family events and various moments throughout the novel.

Overall I enjoyed this read, it is a book I would recommend.

I'm thinking this was a case of the book not being for me. I usually love an angsty romance but this was too much for me. I was angry at the characters the entire time and that lead me to not really care about them. Plus I felt zero chemistry between Duncan and Temperance.

Bend Toward The Sun is one of my all-time favorite romance books and I eagerly anticipated the return to the Brady vineyard and all of the family’s shenanigans.

TJ and Duncan’s story is a slow burn, second chance romance. If these tropes are your jam then I think you’ll like this book! Personally, they are not for me and so I struggled to be invested in this story. It took me a very long time to read it. It’s a lot of angst and the couple spends a lot of time apart, but I just wanted to see them together.

Right Where We Left Us, written by Jen Devon, is a captivating homage to the concept of forced proximity and second chances. The narrative revolves around Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady, who believed they had everything figured out in their youthful, idealistic love years ago. However, fate had different plans for them. Years later, they find themselves circling each other in their close-knit community, using sarcasm and dark humor to maintain a distance when circumstances bring them together. A family event involving the Bradys will test the boundaries of their unspoken agreement, forcing them to either come to terms with their differences or form a pact to navigate through the situation. The novel delves into themes of family dynamics, personal authenticity, and the struggle to stay true to oneself amidst external pressures. It seamlessly blends deep, thoughtful moments with steamy, romantic encounters. The characters, representing both traditional and chosen families, are skillfully developed, with Temperance embodying resilience, adventure, and optimism, while Duncan exudes hidden selflessness, mischief, and determination. Despite its strengths, I found it challenging to connect with the failed relationship between the protagonists and was put off by the clichéd phrases scattered throughout the book. While angsty romances can be compelling, this particular execution fell short for me, leading me to question whether this author's style aligns with my preferences.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Right Where We Left Us is a captivating story of love between two individuals who are perfect for each other but find themselves at the wrong time. The story is beautifully narrated in immersive and heart-achingly gorgeous prose, making it an unforgettable read. This second-chance romance unfolds slowly, building tension until it ignites into a passionate and fiery love story.

I normally love a second chance romance but this just didn’t do it for me. The female main character annoyed me a bit. And there were SO many side characters it was hard to keep track. I kept feeling like I was missing something.

Temperance Jean Madigan and Duncan Brady have a history. Their whirlwind secret romance years ago has culminated in occasional fast and furious hook-ups and sporadic run-ins. These two have a pull to each other that they can’t escape and at times is frustrating to witness. Temperance is dear friends with the Brady family. She and Duncan are bound to cross paths often, which they do- at Duncan’s brother’s summer wedding.

The wedding changes the course of their relationship trajectory. It sets in motion events which lead to a beautifully complicated, complex, and chaotic second chance romance. I almost had too much of the back and forth in this one. I kept reading and by the end of the book the totality of the relationship makes sense and is understandable. Extremely slow burn and angsty, but the conclusion is worth it! Stick with it to get the complete picture of what makes these two such a couple to root for. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There were things I loved about this book and things that made me want to put it down and move on. I thought the character development was really good! The place where it just was like, alright already was with Temperance. The author didn’t do her justice in the first 3/4 of the book, so when the last couple of chapters came, I didn’t buy it….she showed zero of the emotions in the begnning. I know romances are the push pull thing, but there wasn’t enough of Temperance to hold on to.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I was excited for this ARC copy after seeing all the positive reviews on Goodreads. I never say no to a romance especially a second chance one. The plot felt a bit drawn out but there was plenty of spice to keep you engaged. If you like a spicy slow burn and a fan of the Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Carly Fortune style and detail of writing then this would be for you.

This was a sweet second chance story with a lot of heart and character development. I thought the main characters were enjoyable and I loved the secondary characters. This has a good amount of spice and longing, too. The writing is super strong and the dialogue is believable.

Overall, I thought it was too long and that there were some pretty big plot holes. I think it could have be at least 50 pages shorter and told the story highlights well.

Whew. This one was a doozy and not in a good way. I really wanted to love this but there was just a lot going on. The plot had so much potential but it felt so unorganized. The main characters were likable but there were so many side characters intermingled with the Brady family that I couldn’t keep track of who was who. The main characters seemed to just get in their own way..they gave me whiplash. They have feelings for eachother but kept their distance to instantly being super involved. Sometimes I felt like I must have missed a chapter where they mended things..nope. It just was happening out of no where. We finally get the end where they are together and it felt rushed but then dragged on for a few more chapters. The book should have ended with them being together and the last chapter should have been an epilogue. All in all. I liked the idea of the book but it felt really messy.

Thank you for the early copy. As a second-chance romance addict I just couldn’t bring myself to finish the book after several attempts to pick it back up.

My mistake was assuming that even though this is a 2nd book that I would still be able to enjoy the book as a stand alone without having read the first story of the series.

I found it incredibly difficult to keep track of all the characters being introduced alongside all at once. It would have been better in my opinion to space out the character introductions or even have more clarity of the relationships and ties that brought them all together and who belonged with whom and how they were related, etc.

There was so much going in the beginning alongside with the over-descriptions of everything that honestly it sidetracked me of what was actually going on.

I think the overall idea of the two main characters was good. I liked Duncan’s character and was starting to form a connection with Temperance but in the end I couldn’t force myself to read something that I was not genuinely enjoying.

I wish I had more positive things to say since i hate giving bad reviews.

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP Griffin & Jen Devon for a digital ARC of Right Where We Left Us in exchange for an honest review.

The gorgeous cover drew me in immediately. It is perfection.

I loved the TJ & Duncan's story. Young lovers who has a magical fling in their teens & then were on & off over the years & then the occasional hook-ups. But now, they are in forced proximity which makes it impossible to ignore their feelings. Will they finally get it right?

You would think with all of their history, that there would be lots of action between TJ & Duncan, but nope - this was a sloooooooow burn. This was my first read by this author so I didn't know what to expect. The pacing was not great & it seemed like literally everything was over described. I feel like this book could have been cut by at least a third without all of the excessive wordiness. Sometimes less is more & I think this book could have benefited from that.

I enjoyed the concept & I liked the characters well enough & the setting was gorgeous. This was one of those books that I feel like it had all of the ingredients to be spectacular, but they just didn't get mixed in the right way, causing this one to fall a little short.

3/5 Stars for me.