The tempo was slow, but the story happened over a short period of time. I wish there were a few more flashbacks so I could get deeper into the history of Duncan and Temporance. I like the story of these two characters, but I just wanted a little more about them and their history.

The premise is interesting and the writing is fine but I quickly discovered that this book just isn't for me.

This is a second chance romance. A slow burn. They were on and off as young adults. Buy life and other people get in the way. He has do get himself right before he can get the girl of his dreams. It was such a cute story.

I’m not a big fan of second chance romances but I heard such great things about this author so I wanted to give it a try. This book has the best of the best angst. And while I love me a slow burn and some angst I felt it got repetitive with Tj’s constant rejections. But I will say, I was so happy when they got back together.

Also thank you for the way the past was woven in. That was major brownies points for me on the second chance front. I hate dual timelines most of the time and the way the story worked even while not having them was done so well in my option.

I’m on record more than once saying that second chance is not my favorite trope and it has to be done *really* well for me to love it. Great news—Jen Devon has a beautiful way of telling stories and wove this second chance for Temperance and Duncan as such a moving and satisfying way.

Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady were secretly together when they were 18, burned out brightly, and have found their way to each other on and off over the years since. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and it’s hard on them both with the lingering feelings still simmering below the surface. When it’s time for Harry and Rowan’s wedding, planning and scheming land the two of them in too many situations for their avoidance strategies to hold up any longer. They’ll both be forced to face all they’ve been suppressing and decide if they can move forward or have to move on.

The yearning and chemistry between Temperance and Duncan is palpable from the very beginning. Really, it was evident in Bend Toward the Sun, but now it’s in full focus with the two of them front and center. They seem determined to misunderstand each other or push the other away, but it’s evident in each interaction that the respect and longing is deeply ingrained. It hurt my heart every time they held back from communicating the way they needed to and drove the wedge further apart. Their journey to finding their way back to each was beautiful and tender though. It felt very rewarding when they finally got there. Even as I found myself thinking that I didn’t fully understand what drove them apart to begin with, there is a quote from Temperance that brings it around to have me thinking, “Yeah, that’s fair and accurate.” I appreciated the book not being full of flashbacks to establish their backstory. There are some details of their division that could have been provided that way and been a little helpful, but I think ultimately the way their story is told eventually fills in the important parts.

I loved Bend Toward the Sun and I am so happy that this follow up did justice to the Brady universe. I’m already looking forward to more. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A second chance romance with forced proximity that I wanted to love but couldn’t quite connect to. It centers two people who are forced to be around each other in preparation for a wedding, and other events, because of their close family and friends. The couple has been in and off for fifteen years. The twists and turns were lack luster and didn’t have the teeth I wanted it to have.

Similar to her first book, this book was very descriptive and a little boring. It picked up a bit towards the end but the middle/ body of the book, it felt like it wasn't going anywhere. We knew where it was going but it just felt stagnant.

I understand a need to relive the past in second chance romance novels, but with the in depth description of everything, it took away from the characters and story itself. I also felt the characters were flat. In Bend Towards the Sun, she painted Duncan as a funny, class clown but one who can love easily and I was excited to see where that was going with, Right Where We Left Us. However, it fell flat after a few chapters in. Same for Temperance. There wasn't much character to her.

The ending felt rushed with the drama between Temperance and her parents and Duncan & the Madigans. You build this drama and this secret pay off with parents and then at the end, the mom offers her daughters to be a part of the clinic and thats it? I get that we don't need to draw out family drama and move past it, but it just felt blah.

I think the idea of the story was great, a second chance at love but overall, it just felt anticlimactic.

First of all thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I was surprised by this book. It’s one where not much happens plot wise (it all takes place around the wedding of the couple from the first book) and despite the characters shared past has no flashbacks but I was so deeply invested. Not only in the romance but
Both characters careers and their relationships to their families. This was my first Jen Devon but won’t be my last.

I am at a loss for how to rate this book. It’s either a 4 or a 2 due to the plot. I think there are going to be 2 distinct camps on this one. There really isn’t a lot happening in the book plot wise. BUT, i didn’t put it down. It was really beautiful writing. To the point where I wonder if the great writing overshadowed that the two leads maybe shouldn’t be together? I mean, they don’t have a lot in common excite ties to the family and it felt a little toxic. I think I kept reading hoping he could move on from obsessing over her. So kept my interest. I would give this a shot and see what camp you fall in.
Definitely gave me the Carley Fortune vibes (minus the cheating tropes).

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Right Where We Left Us was a quick and enjoyable second chance romance. I did think it started out a little slow, but I was able to read it in one sitting and absolutely loved the dual perspectives. It had a good blend of humor, romance, and also some steamy moments. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable contemporary romance!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jen Devon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Right Where We Left Us is a heartwarming romance novel focusing on the Duncan and Temperance. The writing is gorgeous and the plot relatively well-paced, but unfortunately, this book falls flat. Duncan, part of the larger Brady family, and Temperance fell in love as teens but have broke up after Duncan made a choice that meant he had to leave her. This plot point, which could be resolved with one single conversation, is supposed to provide all of the tension for the book. It does not work at all. There is so much plot (meddling parents! siblings with their own issues! blood disorders!) that does not actually serve the conflict. It just muddles the story and meant there were many points in the book that I had to remind myself what the overall issue was. Seeing more of Duncan and Temperance when they first fell in love as teens would have helped, instead we just are supposed to feel their undying love and connection. I think if this had been streamlined (less plot/side characters/issues) and more of the relationship itself developed the book would be a lot stronger. I had not read the first book in this series so all of the characters were new. If I were to do it over I'd make sure to read that first to get the background.
Overall a nice idea for a story, but not well executed.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Heartfelt, sensational, and so very many more adjectives! I loved Temperance and Duncan and eagerly awaited their story from book one, Bend Toward the Sun. Devon is back with rich settings, a lovable and realistic cast of characters, and a horniness that will make you blush with this one. 100 gold stars!!

I selected this book from Read Now because I love a second chance romance. I couldn't get into it. But I do think this writer has some serious chops. There are great zingers throughout.

I received this as an ARC, and I do wish I’d read the first book of the author’s, because I found all the side characters to be very confusing and hard to keep track of. While I do think some might really enjoy this (especially if you liked the first one and all the characters), I found the plot to be a bit underdeveloped for why the two main characters couldn’t be together. It felt like a really long way to get to an end result with no clear understanding of why. I almost think since this was based so much on the characters’ past relationship, it would’ve been easier to jump back and forth in time to tell the story. I found myself confused for a lot of this book.

DNF @ 10%. I'm trying really hard to get into this book, but just can't. Temperance is a really hard name to constantly be reading and I keep thinking its definition as a word is also connected with the character, but either way I'm not into it. I find the descriptions and setting over formulaic. It simply makes it so hard for a ready to engage in the setting. Sadly, going to pass on this one.

3 stars out of 5.

This book was just Ok. The plot of really unbelievable and everything could have been fixed with a simple conversation. It was a bit repetitive and I'm not sure why Temperance kept rejecting Duncan. I also thought there were way too many background characters to keep up with and hardly any of the characters were really developed. I did like the writers style and the premise of the book. It just could have been executed better IMO.

Temperance and Duncan were once lovers when they were younger. Things got messy and they have been on and off since then. Both of them are at the families vineyard/house for a wedding between Temperance's friend and Duncans brother. This throws them back into close contact. Will this reignite their old flame? Read on to find out.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down bc it got repetitive.

As teenagers, Temperance (TJ) and Duncan fell in love, but as adults they can't stop hurting each other.

This book was an angsty second chance with both characters nursing long time hurts pushing and pulling each other (well mostly TJ). While Duncan’s family (including TJ's older sister who married Duncan’s brother, and best friend Rowan who is marrying another brother) do a bit of meddling, these two just can’t seem to get it together.

And therein lies my issue with this book. I'm all for a slow-burn second chance, I don't even mind angst and mutual pining, but it just got repetitive with TJ constantly rejecting Duncan for no real reason. Worst still up until the near end she was still refusing to communicate.

This really caused the pace to languish. At no time I felt there was any real character growth for their happy ending, except for Duncan. Both of them desperately needed therapy, especially Temperance with her wealthy parents interference. I would've loved to have seen Temperance confront what her obstacles to being with Duncan in a far more constructive manner, so that this second chance felt like they had a solid footing.

Structurally, I’m glad we weren’t subjected to dual timelines with flashbacks. It was much better woven in the way it was which made it more seamless to the pace. However, I think cutting out a few chapters would’ve tightened it up more.

Despite my misgivings about the plot and character development, this was still an enjoyable read. Unfortunately I just think this didn't quite live up to its promise.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance or friends to lovers. That being said, this book sucked me in immediately and I read it in one sitting, then immediately went to download the first book in the series. This is one of my new fave authors, hands down. My only complaint is that I need the entire series ASAP. If I don’t get Mal’s story ASAP, I will riot…

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon is a masterful tribute to the trope of forced proximity and second chances. Devon’s story centres around Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady who several years before the novel’s main timeline thought they had it all figured out. That their big, young, optimistic love was enough to get them by. Little did they know fate had other plans for them. Many years later they orbit around each other in their small community with several connections in common using sarcasm and dark humour to keep distance between themselves when they are forced to be in close contact. A Brady family event will push and pull the boundaries of their unspoken arrangement more than either is aware. They’ll have to agree to disagree or make a pact if they want to get through this in one piece. The themes of different families and their values, striving to be the best, most authentic version of yourself despite outside influences are intricately woven throughout this work. This novel is equal parts deep and thoughtful and steamy and romantic. The range of the characters and what it means to be both traditional and found family are expertly navigated and flawlessly executed. Temperance is equal parts resilient, adventurous and optimistic. She does everything with kindness and a genuine heart. The authors ability to make her both relatable and inspiring was a delight to witness. Duncan’s often hidden selflessness, sense of mischief and fierce determination are like a force of nature and provide a layer of complexity to his character and added readability that make this work simply amazing. Jen Devon is a delight to the genre and her story was one that I’ll be reaching for again. Thank you to NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for the pre release copy.

I rather liked this book. Duncan Brady, for me, was SWOONWORTHY! Okay, he had his "issues"...don't we all? However, he was definitely a "giver" before he was a "taker"...I can deal with that! His character captured my attention from the get-go which is probably why I stuck to this story like glue. I live for the angst, and there was no shortage of it here.

Poor Duncan was tormented by his love for and regrets about his teenage love, Temperance. He was also regretting not doing what he truly wanted to do in life, become an Architect. Of course, now 14 years has come and gone, they are adults, and they are still not together. He still loves her. She loves him. They just can't seem to get beyond their past history, get out of their own heads, and get it together. His family and her friends know they belong together and do what they can to help them along, but it's not quite working.

I love all the angst, so Duncan, his emotions and his point of view had me near tears more than once during this read. I just wanted to hug him! Temperance, not so much. To be honest, I didn't really like her at all. She annoyed me. I kept trying to see her point of view so I could conjure some sympathy for her, and quite frankly, I just couldn't. Considering all she'd accomplished in her young life, I expected her to be a bit more secure in herself and capable of speaking her mind rather than letting her insecurities rule her head and her heart and running from all confrontation.

The side characters, of which there are many, are interesting, sometimes more so than the main characters. There are definitely a few of them I'd like to read more about. That being said, there was always lots happening with everyone and at times I found it hard to keep track. This author is very descriptive and there were plenty of pictures painted in my mind so I felt like I was there in the story watching and waiting. I'm not sure all the "activities" happening around the main couple were absolutely necessary for the story to work, but that's not my call. That's why I'm just a reader. For me, it was a bit overdone, but not bad. I will say, I thought the ending came on fast and wrapped up neatly even faster. This love story was a true slow burn and I would have liked more time devoted to that happily ever after that I patiently waited for all story long. That being said, I will still give this book 4 stars and recommend it because there's much more here that I liked than disliked. This author has quite a way with words and I do enjoy that!