This thoughtful novel gives us two things that cannot be simultaneously true: Jude has inoperable brain cancer. This is a romance with a happily ever after. Which will it be? The author’s note explains Noelle’s inspiration and gives us a context so we can just savour it all. This works really well and it’s such a fresh way to give the novel the context it needs.

Eve and Jude have known each other forever and when Jude gets a cancer diagnosis he asks Eve to marry him so they can work through his bucket list. There’s so much tenderness as they get used to each other. Initially it’s very pragmatic, even their first steamy moments are negotiated. Their relationship grows and their feelings change as Eve takes care of Jude. It’s thoughtful and full of small moments of care. All the focus is on the progression of Jude’s illness, and we can feel their insecurities through the third person POV.

Recommended. It’s not dramatic or high in angst, but the seriousness of Jude’s diagnosis means this is not always a light read. In the end though, these two are so much better together!

Rounded up to 🌟🌟🌟🌟 - thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing and Noelle Adams for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book starts off seeming like a boilerplate marriage of convenience trope. Jude has an inoperable brain tumor with an estimated three months to live. His mother's dying wish was for him to be married, and now that he's facing his own mortality, he's able to convince lifelong family friend Eve to become his wife and see him through the end of his life. It would be easy to take the book from here, sprinkle in mutual pining, mutual attraction, and miscommunication until the book reaches its boiling point. Instead, Noelle Adams weaves in the ultimate hurt-comfort trope on *top* of everything else.

The way Eve takes care of Jude throughout this book is epic. His illness is the third main character, and it is relentless. Jude suffers physically, and that draws out the tension and angst as he and Eve fall desperately for each other, both in secret, knowing that their marriage has a very rapidly advancing end point. One might argue that Eve as an FMC is a bit too perfect; she's the ultimate caregiver. She has endless patience. She is small, timid, beautiful, and kind. I really loved her anyway, though if I were to give one criticism of this book, I guess it would be...maybe make her a little bit frustrated, a little bit impatient, maybe even once.

This book is small in that there isn't much to it beyond the way the characters confront and handle Jude's illness. There isn't much by way of secondary characters. You don't have a villain, you don't have side characters scheming or engaging in girl talk. But it's also expansive; the characters travel across continents, and the way Eve and Jude handle his bucket list is well-paced and interesting to read.

You'll really go for a ride on the emotional rollercoaster with this one; you'll want to smack the characters to talk to each other, and you'll want to pass them some tissues. I really enjoyed the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love this author’s books. Counted really hit me in the feels and I loved watching Jude and Eve fall in love. Definitely one of my favorites from Noelle.

COUNTED is a deep, emotional, and sincere love story that captivated me from the first page. I found the premise intriguing, and I was thrilled to find that the bool has everything I could hope for in a romance. Given the brief length of the novel, the narrative quickly dives into establishing Eve and Jude's history. I liked how much information was provided on their marital and family lives. Although I don't typically read third-person point of view, the writing was so good that I hardly noticed. All in all, I enjoyed reading the story, and I really liked how Jude and Eve fell in love. How they looked out for one other.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me an arc copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.

Counted by Noelle Adams is novel about love and how fleeting life can be. It's about love, hope and perseverance. Jude and Eve have known each other most of their lives. They aren't really attracted to one another but they share a mutual respect for each other. Jude receives a diagnosis that is beyond devastating. The same diagnosis that killed his mother. Her one wish before she passed was for him to marry so he wasn't alone. The only thing about about Jude is he a hermit and prefers to stay home and write novels. Enter Eve, she agrees to marry him knowing his time will be cut short. I liked the two characters but there was something missing that I wish the author captured. The story at times moved slowly and I felt that the author could have went in depth about certain things and I wished Jude and Eve were less awkward. Definitely get your tissues out for this one.

Did this read like a historical romance to anyone else? No? Just me?

Besides that, and it being written in third person, this was a solid story! I balled my eyes out and it was beautiful to read their relationship blossom and grow in the quiet moments.

I was gifted the opportunity to read this book as an ARC read. Thank you to the author and NetGalley!

WOW! I absolutely LOVED this book! The author does a beautiful job of bringing the characters to life and made me feel with my entire soul what the characters were feeling. Fair warning, this book will have you all in your feelings and you will need tissue! The spicy scenes were beautiful and I shed tears there as well. In short - yes. Yes you should read this book! Bravo Noelle! Bravo!

✩ ( three stars ) ✩

· book quote: “When she didn't say anything, Jude murmured thickly, “Does it really surprise you so much? That I might want to take care of you too?”
Her eyes burned. Her throat tightened. She fought not to start crying again. She was supposed to do better. She shouldn't let him do this. Her plan had been to stay strong so she wouldn't fall apart when Jude was gone. But the truth finally settled on her like a weight.
It was too late. It was already far too late to save herself from heartbreak.”

it’s been a while since i’ve read something that dealt with a lot of heartbreak and loss. don’t ask me why, but i love reading about heartbreak, sad endings and sometimes, maybe, not a happy ever after. they just speak to me. i devoured this book in three hours, my emotions were genuinely put through the wringer because i was at the edge of my seat the whole time waiting for the shoe to drop. i do… wish… the ending was different, though. some might think i’m too cruel to even think that but those who are like me will understand. if it were different, this book would’ve easily gotten four stars from me.

(arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review <3)

I love love love Noelle Adams' books and it was no surprise that I liked this one as well!

COUNTED is a touching love story that captivated me from the start. The premise is intriguing and the book delivers everything expected in a romance novel, great chemistry and a heartfelt connection between them that had me close to tears.

The characters, Jude and Eve, have a unique dynamic as they navigate a difficult situation. I loved how they navigated the challenging moments together and always communicated well! Despite Jude's standoffish demeanor at first, their relationship blossoms beautifully soon. The care they show for each other is heartwarming and adds depth to the story. Overall, the book is a delightful experience that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the author's future works.

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This is a short book so the story gets straight into describing Eve and Jude’s background. I didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters at first tbh (it doesn’t help that I’m not Catholic or into religion), but by the end of chapter 2 I was invested.

I enjoyed how it went into detail about their married and domestic life. It was slow, low angst and just super easy to read. I don’t usually read third person pov but I hardly noticed it because the writing was so good. I really felt for Jude’s circumstances and how it was breaking both of their hearts 😭

Overall I enjoyed the book and I loved seeing Eve and Jude fall in love with each other. The ways they took care of each other, the little touches and how thoughtful and understanding they both were 🥹 they were a mature couple and I’m so happy that their communication was great.

Read if you like:
Marriage of convenience and religion representation

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley 💚 but this is my honest review

Honestly, I was so close to rating this book 4 stars and then I got to the ending. I'm not here to spoil anything, but I personally was so mad that I literally had to put my Kindle down. But that was just me and my opinion. Until then, I really enjoyed this story and the characters. I thought it was well written and the characters were enjoyable. I liked the chemistry that Jude and Eve had. The book had kept me interested throughout and wanting to know what was happening next between the two. I definitely see myself reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me an arc copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.

COUNTED is a heartfelt, emotional, and sincere love story that had me invested from the very first page. I was intrigued by the premise and was delighted that the book contains and is everything I want in a romance. It always felt grounded and real and not once did I question something or take note that would take me out of the story. Knowing Jude only has three months to live, Eve agrees to be his wife to allow him to live as a husband before he passes. Because Jude and Eve haven't paid each other much attention since they've known each other, not to mention Jude comes across as standoffish and reclusive... so Eve knows her heart is perfectly safe and has nothing to lose in this arrangement...right?

I really, really enjoyed Eve and Jude's relationship, watching their connection and dynamic grow and unfold, and navigate this peculiar situation they find themselves in. I also loved seeing how they find ways to take care of each other and how that genuinely makes themselves feel good. It was an absolute delight and treasure to experience Jude and Eve's love. In the meantime I'll be reading the author's previous work as I patiently wait for whatever story she grants us with next!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was extremely heartwarming. Jude has been given 3 months to live and to honor his mother's wishes for him, his friend Eve agrees to marry him. It was an up and down journey of emotions over the last three months as Eve and Jude fell in love, completed his bucket list, and finished his very last book. The ending came a surprise, bring even more emotions to the table. Definitely recommend this as a read.