I loved this book so much, I immediately went out and bought the book for my trophy shelf. But then again Ana Huang is one of my top favorite authors!! She can do no wrong it seems when it comes to romance! And this book was just the perfect book to end this series off on! Thank you so much for the ARC. I can not wait to see what Ana Huang comes out with next!!

I loved a lot of this book. The near miss will they, won't they moments steeped in scorching tension, the steamy banter & a perfectionist, and headstrong FMC that was wonderfully relatable. I also really enjoyed all the laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story and the side characters that were just as lovable and memorable as the FMC. I didn't love the MMC in this story and I found it pulled me out of the story quite a bit. His thoughts and actions often didn't sit well. There were parts that I also found quite repetitive and could have done without. 
Overall it was an okay read for me that did have its moments but not something that I would likely read again.

Thank you so much to Ana, Bloom Books, and NetGalley, for the ARC copy of If We Were Perfect. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I did not read the first 3 titles in the series.

I enjoyed Sammy & Olivia's story.
I'm not huge on second chance romances, so I may not have picked this one up on that alone.

The spice was pretty low.

I felt a little disconnected by not reading the first three books
But understand the story overall.

This was a book I read. I wish the couple stayed ex’s. I didn’t care for their vibe. I’m also not a big fan of 3rd person books.

The end of an era! If We Were Perfect brings us back to the world of the If Love series, this time focusing on Olivia—A Woman With A Life Plan—and Sammy, the almost-NASA-astronaut-turned baker. While that may sound a bit out there (no pun intended), this is a return to classic, sweeter Ana Huang, with a focus on people trying to figure out their lives and fight the forces of love and romance that keep infiltrating it. Olivia and Sammy bring a bit of the spice, but far less explicitly than her Twisted Series, and there's satisfying resolution of other pairings' plot lines as this book concludes. Will definitely be handselling this to folks who are fans of the If Love series, and also could see selling it as a standalone, especially to young professionals who want the career—but also the partner.

Once again, Ana Huang does not disappoint! For all the second chance at love girlies, this is for you. I read this as a standalone and didn’t feel lost. I definitely plan to go back and read the rest of the series after reading this one!

Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

The conclusion kind of. To the If Love series, this is a unique book. I think seeing as how this was the beginning of the Ana Huang Universe. Not this book but this series. It's a sweet ending to see how she later ties in this book to the others. I love it. Ana Huang you are a genius.

Plot: Olivia is an ambitious woman who always has a plan. By 32, she will have her MBA, a job on Wall Street, a husband, and two kids. When a flooded apartment puts a wrench in her plans, she finds herself moving into ex, Sammy's, place. It is clear that feelings between these two still exist, but can events from the past be forgiven? Is now the right time?

Thoughts: Although book 4 of a series, I read If We Were Perfect as a standalone and did not feel as though I was at a significant disadvantage. I assume that the previous books were slightly spoiled (e.g., certain couples' backstories were briefly shared that I assume are the plotlines of books 1-3). That said, this book was a pleasant surprise! It included two of my favorite tropes: second chance romance and forced proximity. Additionally, there was emotional substance and strong female characters.

Ana Huang never disappoints. It feels bittersweet knowing this series has come to an end. Thank you so much NetGalley, Ana Huang and Bloom for this eARC!

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

This is the perfect book for all those who love second-chance romances. Olivia and Sammy originally met during a year abroad and fell in love. They were happy and their friends thought they would be end game. Until something happened and they broke up. No one, not even their friends, knows just what was said because they refuse to discuss it with anyone. Years later, Olivia is working in the San Fransisco branch of her company for the summer. Determined to make the best of the summer, Olivia starts dating and just so happens to run into no other than Sammy during a particularly disastrous date. What’s worse? She gets home to find her apartment flooded and the next thing she knows she is forced to live with Sammy as she has nowhere else to go. With two ex’s living together what could go wrong? There’s no way their ever-present attraction could complicate things, could it?

Taking out all of the favorite romance tropes that are present (forced proximity, taking care of each other while sick, etc) this book is the pinnacle of character development. Yes, there’s an amazing romance and the perfect length slow(ish) burn present. But what I appreciated was the development in both Sammy and Olivia. It is neither super overt nor sudden, but throughout the book, readers can see how different experiences and interactions impact the two of them and how they develop as a person because of it. Because that’s what life is isn’t it? We all grow (hopefully for the better) based off of our interactions and experiences. Nothing happens automatically, and you can see that with these two. I honestly wish every book could have character development like this one.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit I struggled with the other books in this series. The first two because I had wished they were one book (that’s a me thing I don’t like duology romance I want to end the story with the HEA) and the second book had me wishing there was a bit more. Don’t get me wrong, all three were four stars in my mind, but this book, five stars hands down. Not only did it give me everything I had wished for in the other books, but I was invested in the characters in a way that I rarely find myself to be. Maybe I see myself in Sammy and Olivia in various ways. But more than that, it felt real, and that’s rare in romance. I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was such a bittersweet read for me. I absolutely loved Olivia and Sammy and their story. I loved this book so much but I am also sad that this series is over now.

I generally enjoy Ana Huang’s books so I wasn’t surprised that I loved this too. I was brought to tears multiple times while reading this. Their banter was excellent too.

If you have read and enjoyed other books by Ana, you might like this too! This series is very different from her other works but still so good with extremely loveable characters. It is an interconnected standalone so it can be read on its own, however, I personally recommend reading the whole series in order because that way it’s more exciting when you see characters from the previous books.

The epilogue in this felt like an epilogue for all the couples in this series and it was so so so adorable. Would highly recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of If We Were Perfect by Ana Huang.

From the moment I discovered that this book comes with a playlist, I knew I was in for a treat. There's something about music intertwined with storytelling that amplifies the reading experience, and Ana Huang's latest novel does just that.

If We Were Perfect centers around Olivia, a high-strung perfectionist who somehow becomes the exception to all of her ex-boyfriend Sammy's rules. This second-chance romance is rich with the familiar yet beloved tropes of forced proximity, offering readers a delightful blend of tension and rekindled feelings. As the story unfolds, we're treated to moments that are both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, perfectly encapsulated by quotes like, "Olivia had put up with an unwilling near-lap-dance; he could put up with ice cream," and "In the grand scheme of things, the small movement was nothing. Or it would've been nothing had her gaze not collided with a pair of familiar onyx eyes that sucked her in like a black hole."

Sammy's journey is one of reluctant heroism, captured beautifully in the line, "Yet, here he was, playing the knight in not-so-shining armor to the woman who'd smashed his heart into smithereens a lifetime ago. Masochists had nothing on him." This perfectly encapsulates the emotional complexity of his character, as he navigates the pain of the past while being irresistibly drawn back to Olivia.

And let's not forget one of the most charming aspects of this novel: baking men are hot. Sammy's culinary skills add a delicious twist to the narrative, making the romantic tension even more delectable.

Ana Huang also knows how to weave humor into the most unexpected places. Olivia humorously compares one of her friends, whose "skin pale enough to qualify her as Edward Cullen's long lost sister," adding a lighthearted touch to the story.

If We Were Perfect is a captivating read, blending romance, humor, and just the right amount of angst. Ana Huang has crafted a story that's as sweet as it is spicy, making it a must-read for fans of second-chance love stories.

YES YES YES ANA HUANG HAS DONE IT AGAIN! the dynamics between Olivia and Sammy had me daydreaming. Second chance?! Dual POV?! Third person?! Shared living?! Count me in!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ana Huang for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.75 Stars

This was a super cute and fun read! Very easy to binge quickly. I did find myself loosing interest throughout, but overall really cute story.

Honestly, I really loved this book.

Was some of it predictable? For sure.
Was some of the drama a little over the top? Definitely
Did I enjoy the ride? YES.


Sometimes you need a little cotton candy second chance love story to read in between serious titles and "If We Were Perfect" fits the bill. I loved that Sammy and Olivia's drama was more about being the "wrong time" than the "wrong person". I also really loved how when they got mad, they TALKED IT OUT LIKE ADULTS rather than storming off in a huff and creating a miscommunication drama. Everything about these two just felt so honest and real and believable. I truly can see both of them in my own friends, which is exactly what I wanted in this story. Loved these two and loved this story.

I haven't read anything from this author even though she is pretty popular. I loved the writing for this book and will definitely be picking more up from this author.

If We Were Perfect is the final book in the If Love series by Ana Huang. I always wondered about Sammy’s and Olivia’s relationship. The book did not disappoint.

I’m always a fan of Ana Huang, and I’m so happy that this series has been picked up for traditional publishing! If We Were Perfect is actually the first book in this series that I’ve read, and after this I’m excited to go back and read the rest!

I think this book did a really great job of being a romance novel while also commenting on complicated family and workplace dynamics. Both Sammy and Olivia have to navigate complex issues within their own families, while at the same time Sammy is managing a business that is growing beyond what he can handle himself, and Olivia is trying to make a name for herself in an industry that is run by the good old boys club. And in all of that, we still get a really beautiful second chance romance where the characters grow back together and ultimately find a beautiful kind of love that’s far better than the first time around.

And let’s not forget, when it comes to spice, Ana always delivers. It certainly wasn’t the spiciest of her books in terms of book/spice ratio, but what we did get was top tier and so much fun to read!

3.5 ✩

If We Were Perfect is the fourth and final book in the If Love series. This was the first book I've read from this series. I had no issues following along so it can be read as a standalone book. The characters from previous books are mentioned, but they aren't as intertwined into the story as they are in the Twisted series.

This story follows Sammy and Olivia. They were once lovers, but broke up several years prior. Olivia needs a place to stay and Sammy, being the kind gentleman he is, offers to provide her a place to stay in his house. It becomes evident that the chemistry is still there and forces Sammy and Olivia to work out why they split and if they can begin again. Both characters go through some character development and growth. There's quite a bit of miscommunication in this story, which is my leave favorite trope.

Overall, this was a cute read. It did start out a little strange and a bit dry, but the story picks up as it goes. It could get better if it was dual perspective, but I don't hate the third person narrative. I probably won't reread this book, but I might suggest it to a friend looking for a cute, quick read with minimal spice.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ana huang can do no wrong! Loved this book!! I just wish it was dual POV. Can’t wait to read more of her books.