I would just like to start out by saying that this can be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the first 2 books before diving into this one (even though I did not do that). Anyways, I really enjoyed Marigold and Liam’s story. For some reason, a second chance romance where divorce is involved, is way more intriguing for me to read. It delves into the reality of how hard a marriage can be, and how it can fall apart if you don’t work hard at it. So, this story isn’t just rainbows and butterflies. But I enjoy when a story is real and raw and mature, so this book was definitely in my wheelhouse.

Liam and Marigold were such beautiful and complex characters, and I was just cheering for them from page 1. Marigold is my soul sister. She loves to paint, it’s her true passion, and that is literally my profession so maybe I’m a bit biased on why I love her so much. She and Liam are truly good parents, even though they feel like they aren’t, and isn’t that just so relatable? Liam is an absolute sweetheart who would move mountains for Marigold. So their pining for each other and absolute angst and tension is just, wow *chef’s kiss.* You don’t need the spice to feel their chemistry and enjoy a beautiful romance.

Also, those little boys were absolute cuties and my heart goes out to them. I love when the kids in books are sweet and cute and not absolutely snobby and awful. Thank you Juliana for writing about sweet children.

Anyways, absolutely ate up this book and loved it. Juliana is truly a very good author so I will be going back and reading her other two books promptly. The excerpt for Adam’s book has me absolutely itching for his story next!

I highly recommend reading this if you enjoy:
- Second chance romance
- Slow burn
- Forced proximity
- Single dad/single mom
- Closed door

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4)

I’m always a big fan of second chance romance & that did not change for this book! + the addition of a parent trap moment from their two sons was so sweet and special 🥹🫶🏼 it gave me so much nostalgia to watching that movie growing up!

My only couple of qualms with the book that didn’t make it a 5 star for me were: the inner dialogue of the main characters tended to be repetitive & I wanted to see a little insight into the dynamic that led to their separation. I felt like the Liam that Marigold described from the past was not at all like the Liam who was flirting with Marigold and being such an attentive father. Maybe a couple of more flashbacks scenes would’ve given me the little bit more that I needed for this story to totally work for me.

Regardless, this series is truly something special and I absolutely love Juliana’s writing style! 💞 I can’t wait to read what she writes next!!!

Read if you like:
💞 second chance romance
👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼 the parent trap movie
👩‍👦‍👦 single mom
👨‍👦‍👦 single dad
👥 dual POV
🚪 closed door
🔁 forced proximity
🗣️ witty banter and flirting

4.5 stars
I would be lying if i said the divorced trope isnt an ick. BUTTTTTTT i loved how it placed out in this book.
Marigold and Liam long lovers at such a young age. and to just forward and divorce!!! WTH
I knew Marigold and Liam would soon get back together because their chemistry was never dead.
As both adults, they were never really ever to stay away with still being active parents in their twins life but they knew it just wasnt going to work out. Until assigned to work together for their son's festival.
This second chance romance rekindled sparks that were always there and true love that was never forgotten.
This book really showed how much co parenting and work and stress and family life can really take a toll on a person or a couple.
One of my favorite Juliana Smith books!

The sweetest of second-chance romances!! I loved their lack of animosity and the insight into the world of young single moms. I myself am not a mom, so I got to see sides of a romance that I didn't feel like I had previously seen! If you love sweet romances where people do anything for their kids - you'll love Rock and a Hard Place!

**Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I’ve now read two books in the Wells Family series and they are both so adorable! This one took a little longer to get invested for me, but then I didn’t want to put the story down. I loved The Parent Trap as a kid and having that as the running theme was so cute! The twins were adorable and I liked that the plot didn’t feel rushed. Overall, this was a sweet and clean romance book! 4⭐️, 0.5🌶

Marigold and Liam Wells had ended their marriage years ago, hoping to put enough distance between them to move on. Unfortunately, fate had different plans when they were unexpectedly thrown together to work on their twin boys' spring festival school project. The close proximity reignited old feelings, making it nearly impossible for Marigold to keep them at bay.

✨Thoughts✨
I have always been a sucker for second chance romances, and this novel delivered just that. It had all the elements of a classic parent-trap-style romantic comedy that had me hooked from the very beginning. Both Marigold and Liam were delightful characters, and I couldn't help but root for their rekindled love. Their playful banter and undeniable chemistry made it clear to everyone in town that they were meant to be together.

The author's ability to construct the story was truly impressive. She portrayed the struggles of a failed marriage and the challenges of co-parenting with such relatability, making it easy for readers to empathize with the characters. I found myself completely enamored with the narrative and the Wells family as a whole.

Overall, if you're a fan of second chances and sweet, wholesome romances, this is a book that should not be missed. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the author for providing me with this advanced reader's copy. All the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
4.5⭐️

This book just hit on a completely different level for me. If you’re a married mom with kids- I can guarantee this book will speak to you in a way no other book has ever done before.

I’ll be honest, I don’t usually love or gush over second chance romance.. but holy cow. This book got me right in the feels over and over again.

This story dives deep into the struggles of marriage and parenting. It paints you a vivid picture of what it’s like to be in the trenches of the early years and how sometimes you lose yourself, and each other.

I feel like I could’ve written certain chapters in this book. I had tears in my eyes multiple times while reading. At one point I was definitely sobbing and texting my best friends who are also moms to little ones.

The way they break and find their way back to each other is just beautiful. There’s no better word to describe it.

This book just became one of my all time favorites and holds a special place in my heart. I hope it does for you too. 🫶🏼


Review will be posted to Instagram on release day!
@spines.and.readwine

Trope:
✅️Second chance romance
Divorced couple forced to work with each other
✅️Slow burn(?)
Stomach butterflies started in the middle of the book

The plot had a lot of potential as someone who loved parent trap. Reading this felt like it was more of a family fiction than a romance novel. I love how intact the family is. I loved the kids. I wish the story line had included their relationship before, instead of just the characters reminiscing.

Marigold and Liam met in high school, fell in love, got married and became parents, but their marriage fell apart and led to a divorce seven years ago.

tropes:
•second chance
•the parent trap
•single mom/single dad
•Dual POV
•forced proximity

This book was absolutely perfect. This is my first time reading Juliana and I can't wait to read more (yes, I know I skipped all the other books in this series, haha).

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of second chance romance, especially when they were married, but this summary said: I need to read this book now!!! and I don't regret it.

This book was beautiful in many ways, the way the author developed the story, slowly but how it should be for them. being parents, being married, then divorced, the fear of failing again, it was very REALISTIC. how they fell in love again, stronger, more determined, more themselves.

I absolutely fell in love with Liam and Marigold. The love they had for each other. Liam and Marigold struggled to find their way back to each other. Liam would do absolutely anything for Marigold and their boys. I admired Marigold for her strength, she is the perfect mom for Miles and Dallas, always putting them first. She is amazing in every sence.

They learn from the mistakes they made when they were young, immature, and trying to continue living that teenage fairy tale. And that was incredible to read because it was the big step they needed to start walking and meet in the middle.

The boys were so adorable, mischievous, curious and in love of their parents. And the final list!!!!

Liam and Marigold were so in love even after years. WHEN YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW.

To be clear: there is no cheating during marriage.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC.
Thank you to juliana for writing this beautiful story. I loved it.

This was such a little cutesy romance novel that made my heart feel so full.

If you're a fan of second-chance romance, you will adore this novel.

The narrative follows separated parents, Marigold and Liam, as they navigate being put together on a stool for their children's school fete. Thing ended pretty sourly and they haven't communicated since.

When I tell you this book was wholesome, I mean it with my entire soul. The growth in Goldie coming to terms with the feelings that were still there and Liam's comment about never stopping loving her. My heart needs stitches.

An honestly soothing and totally unique read.

Ahh this book is so cute! I am loving the Wells family series. I loved how Rock and a Hard Place focused on a divorced couple with two little boys. There was so much real + raw emotion in it, and it really captured marriage and motherhood beautifully. Huge fan of the second chance romance vibes. The ending was super cute. I’ll definitely keep reading Juliana Smith!

Oh my gosh, this book was the absolute sweetest, I loved it so much!! I am a huge fan of Juliana Smiths writing and I could not wait to read the next book in the Wells Family series. I’m so glad to say I loved it just as much as I hoped I would!

There’s so much I loved about this book. I loved the second chance romance, and the parent trap aspect. I loved both Marigold and Liam and of course the twins. The boys made the story so fun with all their schemes. This is a closed door romance, but you can totally feel the tension between the two! If you’re looking for a great series to read, I highly recommend checking out this book and all the books in the series!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I do not usually search after many of the tropes included in this book but I was convinced by the promise of a good slow-burn (one that delivered!)

Tropes Included:
-Second Chance
-Parenthood
-Slow Burn
-Closed Door
- Book Husband
- Rom Com

This can easily be read as a standalone or after reading the other 2 books in the series.

The quality of writing was charming and I wouldn't change a thing about the pacing of this book. Luke and Marigold's devotion to their family and one another was heartwarming to read and eloquently explored. The characters had a depth to them that is usually uncommon for 300-page novels and the twins provided the perfect amount of entertainment to balance out the slow-burn pining.

The only thing I would have liked to see more of is Marigold's friends and family. I know this is a part of the Wells Family series but I felt as though Marigold lacked a support network outside of the Wells' and would have liked a little more exploring of her family dynamic and friendships.

A nice light read with a soft, happy ending.

"What makes you so sure you could fall in love with me again?"
"What makes you so sure I ever stopped?"


Thankyou to NetGalley and the Publisher for an E-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Every single book I've read of Juliana's has made me kick-my-feet giddy and this is not an exception!! Her romances make me so happy!

I don't ordinarily read a second chance romance (in fact, I don't think I've read more than one or two ever) but this has opened my eyes as to how sweet they can be! Every relationship is tumultuous, and I think the main part of Liam and Marigold's story was learning again how to show up for each other and to fall in love with each other again - but did they ever really fall out of love?

This is absolutely for people who love:

❤️ second chance romances
❤️ golden retriever MMC
❤️ the parent trap
❤️ cute twin sons
❤️ sweet romcoms
❤️ forced proximity

Thank you to Juliana and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

I'm still riding the emotional rollercoaster hours after flipping the last page of Juliana Smith's upcoming gem, "Rock and a Hard Place". Seriously, this book is like a hug for married couples and new parents—it'll have you laughing, crying, and reflecting on the beautiful chaos of family life.

Marigold and Liam, our childhood sweethearts turned co-parents, stole my heart from the get-go. Their journey from newlyweds to mom and dad of energetic twins felt so real, I found myself nodding along in solidarity. Smith's knack for capturing raw emotions had me reaching for the tissues as the story unfolded.

But let's talk about those twins, Dallas and Miles—they're like pint-sized superheroes, stealing every scene they're in. I swear, they're so adorable, I wanted to adopt them as my baby daughter's playmates!

As someone navigating her way through motherhood, Marigold's struggles hit home. Smith describes the highs and lows of parenthood with such authenticity, it's impossible not to empathize with Marigold. And Liam? Let's just say every mom deserves a partner like him—supportive, swoon-worthy, and ready to save the day at a moment's notice. Well, I am talking about the after-the-divorce-Liam here, okay?

And can we take a moment to appreciate the Wells family? From Luke's romance with Layla to Calla's swoon-worthy story with Nathan, each book in this series is a heartwarming delight. But "Rock and a Hard Place" takes it to a whole new level of perfection.

So mark your calendars for February 24th, because "Rock and a Hard Place" is hitting bookstores and trust me, you won't want to miss it. A huge shoutout to Juliana Smith and Netgalley for letting me dive into this heartwarming tale ahead of time in exchange for an honest review.

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?"
"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱?"

Juliana’s writing just keeps getting better and better! Honestly I think this is her best work yet.

This is the second chance trope done right. I absolutely adored Liam and Marigold and the boys. This book just hit me in the feels in all the right places. The love that the two of them share is truly special and it never wavered. I love how real their problems were it was easy to find a piece of yourself within the characters. Honestly, I can’t adequately put into words how much I loved this book. It’s one of those books you just gotta read to see what I’m talking about.

I’ve read and loved all of Juliana Smith’s books and I was so pumped going into this one! I knew I would fall in love with Liam and Marigold and their boys 🥹❤️🫶🏼

The “Parent Trap” theme was really fun and creative and I found myself routing for them to get back together from the very beginning. Sadly, I don’t think Liam and Marigold can beat out Luke and Layla as my top Well’s family couple because I just loved their friends to lovers story too much!

overall, it was a cute read that gave me all the warm and fuzzies and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the ARC of Rock and a Hard Place in exchange for an honest and independent review.

Rock and a Hard Place is wonderful rendition of second chance loved mixed with a hint of mischief in all the right places that has you rooting for our main characters over and over. This is the third installment in the Wells Family series, and the first of which I've personally read (no worries-I'll be running to pick up the first two right after I finish this review).

In a strange turn of events, Marigold Wells somehow finds herself begrudgingly paired up with her (super hot) ex-husband for six whole weeks while they strive to win their twin boys a field trip by creating the best carnival game for their school festival. Liam and Marigold were hot and heavy high school sweethearts with a flame that burned bright and fast. As reality sunk in with regards to just how much sacrifice and work it took to keep their family afloat at such a young age, their love quickly spoiled and turned to years of resentment, heart break, and silent suffering on both of their parts.

Fast forward seven years, and Liam finds himself desperate to right his wrongs with Marigold and Marigold is hesitant to let her guard down again for fear of failing all over again and crushing her boys hopes as well as her own. As the weeks go on, Marigold starts to imagine herself falling back in love with her husband, or did she ever fall out of love entirely in the first place? Throwing all caution to the wind, they slowly start to explore these feelings and take a trip down memory lane to come to terms with what tore them apart in the first place in hopes of rebuilding a new connection from the ashes of their previous relationship.

This novel spoke so truthfully to the struggle that couples face while raising children and literally being "in the trenches" in those early years while you try to keep 72 plates spinning. It explores the very real reality that some couples face who simply grow apart and become comfortable living in silence in a loveless relationship. However, it doesn't have to end there, as this book clearly shows. This book sparks a sense of urgency in reevaluating your own relationship goals and family life in hopes of learning from the mistakes of Liam and Marigold.

Does love deserve a second change? Or is it better to let sleeping dogs rest while you pick up the scattered pieces and move forward? I highly suggest you add this one to your TBR list to find out!

“Come on. Get mad. Yell if you want. Throw a hair dryer at my face like that first time we argued. But for the love of God, just say something.” - quite actually a scene out of the Parent Trap.

A Rock and A Hard Place follows Liam and Marigold, divorced parents who are tricked into working together for their sons’ school event fair. The two learn to navigate a new normal of co-parenting and working in close proximity of each other while being unknowingly “parent trapped.”

I normally and not one for books with children but this was so good!!! The parent trap is a classic movie and one of my all time favs and this book really met the nostalgia that is found with that movie!! The pacing of this book was perfect and the two characters really expressed their longing for each other through their own POVs. Would highly recommend this cute read!!

i fell in love with this book before i even started it. and i was hooked from the start when i first got a snippet of marigold and liam's relationship with each other.
and oh how i fell for liam myself.
i want a jealous sweet man like liam. and i look up to marigold in so many ways. the way she took care of everyone around her and how she learned to take care of herself was so special and inspiring.
i loved these characters so much and don't get me started on mischievous miles and dallas. i loved their personalities and the way they were always up to something. they cared so much for their parents and i loved that.
and what a perfect ending. i can't even describe how sweet and amazing it was.

*thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me the opportunity to read this precious book! all thoughts and opinions are my own.
and thank you so much juliana smith for sharing this amazing book with the world