Most of the characters bothered me in some way or another. The story wasn't super unique but it was interesting enough to finish the book. I think the magical aspect was a bit confusing and tedious at times and it took me out of the story

I really liked the premise of this book, but ultimately it fell a little short for me. The two MCs, Claire and Matías, are the poster children for opposites attract. Claire is a type-A lawyer and Matías is a passionate artist. The meet at the opening of his gallery show. They hit it off and so begins a year long whirlwind romance.

I loved getting to know them and see how their relationship develops. However, the story seemed a little scattered to me. It felt like we jumped from one thing to the next without time to digest what was happening.

Overall, a good story and a good read but only 3 stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved Skye's last book, The Hundred Loves of Juliet, and was really looking forward to her next release, One Year Ago in Spain. While the first few chapters set me up to dislike the FMC, her character developed as the story continued. Many of the main and side characters had flat, tropic personalities. All that said, I thought the story was charming and engaging overall, and I recommend it for romance readers who love opposites attract and second chance themes. Thank you to Random House Publishing- Ballantine for the ARC of One Year Ago in Spain, which is available now.

At the start of this novel, orderly corporate lawyer Claire falls for free spirited Spanish artist Matias. When he goes on a trip to Spain and gets in a horrible accident that leaves him in a coma, Claire flies to be by his side - only to find that she runs into his spirit/soul in Spain, but this version of Matias from a year before does not remember her. Can she make his soul return to his body by falling in love with her, all while balancing Matias’s family she is meeting for the first time, and her job that she has left at an urgent time?

I don’t think this description is a spoiler since it happens pretty quickly in the book, and is described in the publisher blurb. However, I went into this book blind so I must admit I was expecting a lighter book than the one I got. So it’s not really the book’s fault I that I was in the mood for something more fun - though it was still written with a light touch and a quick and easy read. Yet at the same time? As an easy book crier, it’s surprising to me that this book didn’t get even a single tear out of me. I loved Evelyn Skye’s book from last year, The Hundred Loves of Juliet, but this one wasn’t quite as good. I did still enjoy it though and would definitely read another by her.

3.75 stars

Claire is a corporate attorney living every moment of her life for her work. It mostly works for her as she craves order and her career is literally measured in billable minutes. She is looking for a partner in life, but thus far hasn’t found one for which she has the “spark” with. Then she meets Matias at the opening of his gallery show and wow, their chemistry is incredible. He is in the US to show his work and as a visiting professor. In essence, he is the yin to her yang. They bring out the best in each other. When Claire bails on a trip to visit and meet his family in Spain at the last minute, he goes alone and tragedy strikes. She knows the very second something is wrong and knows she needs to get to him. A wonderfully written story about what love does to and for us, how it can change us to the very core and what we will ultimately do for it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

One Year Ago in Spain is a magical story about getting a second chance for love. Claire and Matias find each other and then Matias is in an accident. Claire has to fight for their relationship. I loved the Spanish culture in this book as well.

Thank you Net Galley and Del Rey for this arc!

ONE YEAR AGO IN SPAIN was perfectly sweet and perfectly .... okay. But that's not what I'm looking for when I pick up a romance, especially by an author that I am trying for the first time. I think Evelyn Skye has some really good ideas, plots, and characters, but she needs to do a bit more to distinguish her work from the over-saturated romance market.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book that I've read by this author and I really enjoyed this one as well. I will definitely give this author's adult books a chance in the future, Especially if she continues to have this magical realism feel in her books going forward. I am always looking for more books with magical realism in it.

This was a very sweet story of a woman falling in love all over again (and even deeper) and allowing her walls to finally come down.

Plot
Claire is a lawyer at a top Manhattan firm who falls in love with Matias, a Spanish artist. After a year together she begins to question if they can last long-term because they are so different. When Matias has a horrible accident that leaves him in a coma in Madrid, she rushes to his side. There she finds his soul and can talk to him. But she is the only one. And, to make things even more complicated, he doesn’t remember her. In order to save him, Claire is will have to make him fall in love with her a second time.

His family doesn’t understand why she is not spending more time at the hospital with him waiting for him to wake up and they do not believe her when she tries to explain. Now she must find a way to bring Matias back to her. Can they fall in love again?

Why Jackie loves it
This is such a unique and fun opposites-attract love story. Claire is so pragmatic, she has such a hard time trusting her feelings and Matias is impulsive and carefree. They compliment each other so well and while their first meet-cute was instant, I loved watching them fall in love a second time.

An opposites-attract romance featuring a successful lawyer and her artist boyfriend. It's a case of love at first sight for these two but when the passion cools down they have to face the problems caused by their personality differences and when Claire's boyfriend Matías ends up in a coma after a boating accident, she's left feeling helpless until she realizes that she can see his soul - and he doesn't remember her in that state. So she kinda had to make him fall in love with her again so that he can return to his body😂
Definitely an interesting premise and I was hooked based on that alone! I found the relationship between Claire and Matías believable and Claire's character growth was amazing. But the pacing was a bit off with the changes in the timeline(past/present) and the addition of family member povs😂 like ik the intention was to add depth to the story but it just ended up being distracting 😅

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Evelyn Skye for allowing me to review this cute and mostly wholesome 2nd chance romance. This is the second book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed both. This one would be a 5 star for me if not for two things. I felt the pacing was a bit off which made it difficult to connect with the characters and follow the flow of the book. The other aspect of this book that I was not a fan of at all was a scene discussing baby photos. Perhaps I am a bit too modest or sensitive to stuff like that, but it felt inappropriate to me that there would be a discussion about a baby photo in that way. If I had known that would be in the book it would have kept me from reading it. It’s a shame that those two elements were part of this book as the overall story was very wholesome, sweet, and enjoyable. I will try this author in the future but please no more baby photo discussions. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book.

This book had a lot of potential. I LOVE a magical realism book (Ashley Poston does this so well!) but this one just fell a little flat. I think the premise is great—I just think the execution was too rushed and I did not have a true stake in their relationship. More time spent on some character development would have been helpful. The point of views from side characters were not necessary and there needed to be more build up to Claire and Matias’s romance. Overall a solid read, just not my favorite!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Being a successful New York Lawyer, Claire has always lived her life practically versus with passion but she is ready for a change. Claire was not prepared to find the love of her life when she met an aspiring artist, Matias. As the two form an intense relationship Claire is still holding back, unable to make a lasting commitment. While Matias, on the other hand, is ready to take their love story to the next level. However, Claire’s world comes to an abrupt halt when Matias is involved in a fatal accident leaving him in a coma. She must travel to Spain for the one she loves, before it is too late.
Finding herself in Spain, Claire contemplates what Matias really means to her and is surprised when his soul appears to her and only her. Matias must fall in love with Claire all over again if he is ever to return to his earthly body, but the problem is that he has no idea who she is. Can Claire prove her love to Matias, and in return gain his love all over again?
Overall rating 3/5
This was a great concept to the fairytale love story that we all want and wish for. I do find the concept of finding one's soul and having a full blown love relationship with it complex and unbelievable. But being as this is a fictional book it is an interesting concept to have not only one fall in love with you but to have their soul fall for you as well is endearing. I do feel as if the storyline was a bit slow and was hard to read at times. But if you love a true love story with struggles and a happy ending then this book is for you.

*Thank you to Evelyn Skye, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

I was lucky enough to get to review Evelyn Skye's book last year and I got an email about this one as well. i gotta say, I think I like this one more. The detail and storyline really draw you in and paint the most beautiful picture. I was hooked and couldn't put it down!

This love story! I cannot believe how heartwarming this story is. No spice no profanity 100% romance and falling in love. If you are looking for a romance to give you all the feelings this is it.

# One Year Ago in Spain
# 9/12/2024 ~ 9/13/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

From the book synopsis alone, I felt like I was rereading "Dead Romantics" by Ashley Poston, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. And while I did enjoy this novel, it fell short to my expectations for a few reasons.

I'm not a huge fan of instalove (unless it's done VERY well), so the beginning of the book already set me off a little. It felt like things between the two characters progressed way too fast and the chemistry wasn't really given a chance to build.

While the pacing eventually picks up, it feels like we get into a groove, and before you know it, the book is just over! I was left wanting MORE, which normally isn't an issue if the story is wrapped up well, but it felt like this one was only 3/4 of the way done.

Overall, the book had potential, but it just didn't live up to what I was expecting. This won't stop me from picking up more Evelyn Skye books in the future, though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Claire is a lawyer at a top Manhattan firm who falls in love with Matias, a Spanish artist. After a year together she begins to question if they can last long-term because they are so different. When Matias has a horrible accident that leaves him in a coma in Madrid, she rushes to his side. There she finds his soul and can talk to him. But she is the only one. And, to make things even more complicated, he doesn't remember her. In order to save him, Claire will have to make him fall in love with her.

His family doesn't understand why she is not spending more time at the hospital with him waiting for him to wake up and they do not believe her when she tries to explain. Now she must find a way to bring Matias back to her. Can they fall in love again?

This is such a unique and fun opposites-attract love story. Claire is so pragmatic, she has such a hard time trusting her feelings and Matias is impulsive and carefree. They compliment each other so well and while their first meet-cute was instant, I loved watching them fall in love a second time.

This was a cute, "amnesia," magical realism, romance story where the FMC has to convince the MMC to fall in love with her all over again. Unfortunately, it had the elements of a good book but the pacing, the multiple POVs and the rushed ending made it fall flat.

Claire is a major type A, super organized color code her date book attorney. Yet, she's thrown for a loop when she meets artist Matias. She's surprised to find herself enchanted by his whimsical nature. She questions if they really belong together. It takes a life threatening accident to show her the answer

On the surface, Claire and Matias are an unlikely pair. Matias is so unlike the go getters, hard wired attorneys she works with on a daily basis. He gives her a place to let down her guard and just be. Clare, though, doesn't recognize the peace that being with Matias offers her When they're not together, her practical self tends to intrude. Until facing the possibility of never seeing him again brings her to her senses. Without thought for schedules, or meetings, she drops it all to be with him.

Despite being opposite in almost everyway, they simply fit. That fact was made clear to Claire when she first ran into the spirit of Matias. Since he didn't remember her, she needed to reintroduce herself to him. In doing so, she was forced to look inside and learn who she really was. She accepted her feelings instead of trying to hide them. Spending time with this version of Matias had her seeing the beauty in the everyday. Clare realized what was really important to her.

I also loved Matias artist personality. I loved the description of his playful paintings. I wish I had the author's creativity in creating the ideas for the pictures she describes. More, I wish I had one of them for my home. His was never careless, but also didn't take things too seriously. His laid back attitude allowed him to adapt to events and to make the most of whatever came his way. Even as Clare tried to get him to remember, his spirit kept that even keel which only made Claire more determined to lead him back to her.

This is a beautiful second chance romance. It's a story of growth and discovery and finding the beauty in everyday activities. A story of learning what's really important. How opposites can compliment each other, and bring out the best. I loved every minute of it.