What a cute romance! Set in BC in the wilderness - what more could you ask for? The autumnal cozy vibe of this book felt like being wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket with a hot cup of tea on a rainy fall day. Loved it so much! Thank you Elodie for sending us the arc for this book!! <3

I am a sucker for a Canadian-set romance. While this one didn't have as many Canadianisms (Old Dutch boxed chips, for example), it had more of the stunning nature and wildlife found in British Columbia.

Overall, this was a lighthearted and fluffy read with the angst and drama centered around the time-jumps and letter-writing component. Why did they stop talking? Why didn't they meet up as planned? This is the primary relationship conflict and focuses heavily on the delay of information. If you are looking for an easy-reading romance with neurodivergence representation (primarily hypersensitivity and giftedness), then give this book a go.

The remainder of this review will focus on some of the aspects I didn't enjoy as much, and may be considered spoilers. CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

My primary issue with this story is that there is a certain level of suspension of disbelief that is needed. The fact that this journalism program had a component that utilized written pen pals seemed a bit off to me. Why wasn't this done digitally? It starts in 2017, so it isn't from pre-email or online forums. I have had multiple courses that utilized online forums for peer feedback so I was having trouble getting on board with the premise from the start. I wish this had been tightened up a bit because I kept getting distracted by my disbelief. Had this been done digitally, my next concerns would not have been an issue at all. Though, letter writing does have its own level of romance so that certainly works in its favor.

Another aspect that I struggled with was that we could tell by the content of the letters that we were reading all of them. Topics were carried from one to the next, and we could tell that there were no letters between the ones we were reading. This meant that this entire relationship was based on 25 letters over the span of one year, each being maybe a page or two long in written form. Considering that they started as complete strangers, I had trouble believing that this all-encompassing, never-get-over-it relationship could develop.

Finally, another aspect I had trouble believing was that Oliver couldn't find Charlee after their letters ended. Oliver stated that he tried to find her online, but that she was completely off the grid. But yet, she had been a journalist writing and publishing stories all over the world, in the same industry as Oliver (journalism) and with the same focus (environmentalism). How could a simple Google search not bring up her pieces and therefore what company she worked for and contact information? She may not have had public social media platforms, but she certainly would have had a name online.

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley, and Elodie Colliard for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Unbearably Yours" by Elodie Colliard is a captivating entry in the *It's Always Been You* series, blending romance and personal growth with a charming setting. The story follows Charlee and Oliver, who are reunited after a five-year separation to work on a documentary in the Great Bear Rainforest. The narrative beautifully intertwines their past, revealed through heartfelt letters, with their present-day interactions, making their journey both poignant and engaging.

The depiction of their slow-burn romance is one of the book’s strengths. Colliard excels in showing the emotional depth of Charlee and Oliver's relationship, enriched by their history and the gradual rebuilding of trust. The Great Bear Rainforest setting adds a cozy, vivid backdrop that complements the romance.

However, while the book offers a warm and satisfying read, some plot elements and tropes, like the "pen pals" and "second chance" themes, might feel familiar and predictable. Despite this, the characters are well-developed, and the romance is both sweet and sincere.

Overall, "Unbearably Yours" earns a solid 4-star rating. It’s a heartwarming story with strong character dynamics and a satisfying narrative that will appeal to fans of romance and second-chance stories.

: ̗̀➛ 4 stars

“It’s easy for a place to feel like home when you’re with the right people.”

I feel like I read this book at the exact right time. It delivered a beautiful, comforting story that filled my heart with warmth. Charlee and Oliver will linger in my thoughts for a long time.

The romance in this book was delicately woven throughout the narrative, seamlessly blending with the letters that served as a powerful reflection of Charlee and Oliver's relationship. I especially loved how their previous connection was explored, laying a rich groundwork for their rekindled romance. The pacing of the present-day chapters felt intentional, allowing the characters to slowly navigate their new relationship after a tumultuous five-year separation. Their love story is a poignant exploration of second chances, forgiveness, and the enduring power of true love, culminating in a well-deserved happily ever after.

What really stood out to me was how both characters yearn for the friendship they once shared. Oliver tries to respect Charlee’s boundaries, while Charlee fiercely guards her heart, and their efforts to reconnect are so tender and heartfelt. They are both hurting for different reasons, angry for different reasons, and trying desperately not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

I appreciated the gentle tone of this story—how it showed both characters fitting into their own worlds before coming together. The entire book had an autumnal, cozy feel, like wrapping up in a warm blanket with a mug of hot chocolate.

The only downside for me was that it included one of my least favorite tropes, and the plot was a bit predictable. But even with that, I still had an amazing time reading it and would gladly give it 4 stars.

When I say that was the best arc I've read so far I'm not even exaggerating! This was everything I wanted from the romance book and even more! Honestly, if you're looking for something cozy and sweet, for somethings beautiful and a bit heartbreaking, for somethings so real and vulnerable — this book is your choice. It was such a wholesome read, I finished it in one sitting just because I couldn't put this book down as the story kept unraveling before my eyes and I was so hooked with everything that was going on there.

Fair warning, this is the third book in the series of interconnected standalones, and it's the first book out of the series that I read. And you know what? I really want to read the first two books now as I fell in love with the characters from those books! It's not necessary to read first two books before reading this one as I was able to understand everything without previous background, which is really an amazing thing when it comes to interconnected standalones! I'm absolutely planning to read first two books soon still, because the way Elodie Colliard wrote this story left me wanting to read more of her works.

First things first, I absolutely loved both main characters — Charlee and Oliver, they were so wholesome and felt incredibly real. Like old friends whom i haven't seen for a very long time. From the very first scene Charlee was introduced she had me laughing so hard because of the funny comedic way her introduction happened! And Oli? Can I just say that he's the sweetest male main character? I loved how their story took unpredictable twists and turns, how it kept me wanting to know more, how their chemistry was basically radiating through this book and I was so obsessed with them! Also, the feeling of coziness and warmth this book brought? It's a perfect read for this period between summer and fall with the setting from this book.

The plot itself kept me intrigued as I really wanted to know what went down five years ago and if the characters would be able to move on from whatever happened between them. I loved how the main conflict was handled and resolved, it felt organic for the plot and characters and I even enjoyed that kind of miscommunication between them. again, It was organic and the miscommunication was unavoidable here, but it all paid out, in no way that miscommunication annoyed me.

From the very first moment I fell in love with Charlee, her quirks and wits. She was an amazing female main character, it's definitely impossible not to love her. She is smart, funny, so captivating, but at the same time she felt so girl-next-door-ish that I really felt like I knew her from somewhere! She had complexity and sometimes my heart was honestly breaking for her because of her backstory and how life treated her. And oh, that feisty side of Charlee, her intelligence and her ability to stand her ground really impressed me!

Now Oli Oli Oli! He's a golden retriever, soft boy, vulnerable sweet soul. I wasn't aware of neurodivergence and this book [and Oliver's character specifically] educated me on the matter. It's really amazing when we learn new things through the books, so this one was a totally pleasant surprise for me. Oliver is really an amazing male main character who made me giggle and kick my legs with his charming personality and beautiful words. His soul is literally something else, and he himself is a definition of down bad. His story was so carefully crafted as it broke my heart and then mended it back together again.

The romance between Charlee and Oli was so cute! It definitely was swoon-worthy, so emotional and heartwarming [even with a little bit heartbreak]. Their letters were something else entirely, Getting to know them through those letters and seeing how similar they are in the way they see the world, how their life goals intertwine, how strong and alluring their bond is — the complexity of this story with dual timeline really played its part here. I feel like their love is so pure, but at the same time so intense. The chemistry and tension in the first half of this book really pulled a number on me as I was desperately craving for more. some scenes in which they were opening up to each other made me feel like an intruder as their connection was so vulnerable and soft in those little moments, which once again proves that chemistry in this book was so electrifying and tangible.

It feels like this book found me when I needed it most, It's like it answered to my calling and presented me with this beautiful cozy story that warmed my heart. Charlee and Oliver will stay with me for a while and I feel like I'll definitely be rereading this book this fall just to feel those emotions again!

Charlee and Oliver exchange letters during university without knowing who they are. And they fall in love and want to meet. But Oliver never shaw. Five years later, they have to work together for a documentary.
I liked where the story take place and learn a lot about it! The letters were sweet and their connection beautiful. I spend a nice time reading this story!

Elodie Colliard is a new to me author, and I enjoyed this a lot!

The cover captured me right away, it's honestly adorable and I love the fall vibes and the color and the art and everything about it. IF we're judging books by their covers, this would be one of the best!

I loved so much about the book. The setting was amazing, loved Pine Falls and I want to visit it. Oliver and Charlee are adorable. This is the definition of a cozy read, it was so heartwarming! Oliver honestly is my favorite type of MMC, and not enough books give enough love to the men who are gentle and nerdy. I really loved him.

Definitely recommend this book! And will have to take a look at Elodie Colliards backlist after this :)

With a cover like that, you know this is going to be a fantastic read. Elodie Colliard writes love like it's a symphony. Charlee and Oliver were once academic penpals who fell in love over letters. Five years later, they both walk into the same conference room, shocked to see each other again. A second chance romance that will tear at your heartstrings. Set in the British Columbia's rainforests, this book has an incredible backdrop, acting as another character in this wild romance.

This book was both hilarious and adorable! Eloise’s writing pulled me in from the first line and kept me hooked till the end. I read this book in one sitting.

I loved the characters growth and dynamics.

I can’t wait to read more of Elodies books

thank you Elodie and Netgalley for this arc, this definitely is a fav and argh .... broke and healed my heart.

This has everything going for it, and while I lobe a second chance romance, it's also a story of rebuilding trust and friendship. All while dealing with grief, no matter how recent or long ago it was. And this was a slow burn, and it well worth the wait

Charlee was such a fun character, and her job sounds amazing. And she probably has THE most memorable entrance ever 🤭🤭

Oliver... I love him. I think he's my fav mmc. He is someone who wears his heart in his sleeve, and he's honest about his emotions.

I love the idea of pen pals, and falling in love with each other's words... this seems like such an old fashioned idea, but in a world of technology, this was romantic.

T R O P E S

🤎pen pals in college
🤎dual timelines (in letters)
🤎friends to lovers
🤎slow burn
🤎second chance romance
🤎no third act breakup
🤎found family
🤎cinnamon roll mmc
🤎it's always been you.


And thanks Elodie...I NEED TO VISIT CANADA AND SEE THE SPIRIT BEARS !

And we see characters from previous books and I love it !

Charlee is a journalist covering climate change for Wild Planet, a global monthly publication that covers issues facing the planet (think Nat Geo). She is very direct and a vagabond who travels the world for her next story. She hasn't put down roots in the 5 years she has had the job and always likes to be on the go.

Oliver is also a journalist who works for Wild Planet but he also holds his wilderness and remote first aid certification to assist people who want to hike and need guidance into the Great Bear Rainforest. His true desire is to buy back his grandparents restaurant in his hometown of Pine Falls in British Columbia, where he also lives.

We find out through a series of letters from 5 years ago that these two were paired together for a school assignment where they had a pen pal they had to send articles to to help critique and hone their writing skills. Although they never met because they lived in different places they became friends and eventually fell in love with each over their year of correspondence (Very You’ve Got Mail!) They planned to meet but Oliver never showed up to their meeting place and they lost touch.
Charlee and Oliver and both contacted separately by their bosses that a TV show wants to come and film a docuseries in the Great Bear Rainforest and this contract could help save their magazine as print media is on the way out and money has been tight. Charlee’s Toronto branch is on the verge of closing and this may be their last hope so she jumps at the chance. Oliver is not convinced at first but the money he is going to get for this adventure will help him get the restaurant back.

When they meet and realize who the other journalist is, tensions rise and old feelings resurface. Charlee is holding onto anger and resentment to Oliver for never showing up and Oliver desperately wants to avoid Charlee but realizes that he can't stay away and he still has feelings for her. When the truth comes out, can old wounds finally heal and will it lead them together again?

Overall thoughts? I really liked it! The first chapter had me cackling (you lost it?!?!) I love characters that don't get embarrassed easily and can adapt and go with the flow.

The long lost pen pals angle was such a cute way to introduce us to their history without a flashback or a wordy character monologue. These letters literally show these two falling in love and are so poised and enchant the reader to understand what these two meant to each other.

Present day, clearly these two have a connection and are visually attracted to each other. The emotional link they forged through the letters was deep and made their initial meeting very tense and I was filled with anticipation. I loved it! As they spent more time together they seemed to fall into a truce and mutual agreement but I would have liked them to confront those old wounds sooner so they could move forward or at least have him grovel or push back a little bit at her anger. I wanted him to defend himself and make her question what she thought she knew. I wanted them to start to learn from each other again sooner and slowly build up to a second chance romance. It felt really quick and some situations felt forced (like the bond fire) but the chemistry between these two was undeniable.

Shoutout to Emile the mail man who was the scene stealer in this book!


Huge thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Net Galley co-op for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Elodie Colliard
Genre: Romance
Troupe: Second Chance Romance, Forced Proximity

4.5! A super cozy and heartwarming romance that everyone should read! The story is told in two different ways: in letters that Charlee and Oliver exchanged for years and in the present where they meet again after 5 years after the last letter. I LOVED the way the author found to tell their story, you really can *feel* the development of their relationship in each letter.

This book tells in the most beautiful way what it's like to have a second chance in love and it goes far beyond just a trope, I’d really recommend it to all lovers of a good romance.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮.”

3.5🌟

Oliver & Charlee warmed my heart 🫶🏽 Unbearably Yours is a wholesome (yet slightly spicier🌶️), autumnal, slow burn second-chance romance that I enjoyed reading and has definitely got me ready for the cosy season.

Oliver was such a sweet, caring male main character and I loved how thoughtful he was towards Charlee, both in the letters and when they were together in person. Charlee I feel is a bit like marmite, you’re either going to love her or hate her. I didn’t gel with her character at the beginning but as the book went on I did warm to her more!

Overall, I did enjoy “Unbearably Yours” and I loved the setting of the forest, the camping and the small town vibes! I do wish the story had went slightly deeper with our backstory of Charlee and Oliver & I would have loved to have a bit more time with them out in nature together and getting to rekindle that friendship. Fans of “Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren will love this second-chance romance & it is just perfect for this next season 🍂🫶🏽

Unbearably Yours is out 3rd September 2024 🐻🤎

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘌𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

If you're thinking of reading this book: DO IT.
Unbearably Yours was a very enjoyable read! I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy read or one set in the forest.
If you love second chance romance, or enemies to lovers, or Canada generally, this is definitely the book for you.
It reminded me of an Emily Henry book - beautifully written romance where the main characters have sizzling tension, easy to skip spicy scenes, hilarious banter, and character development.

There were a few cringey or plot hole-y parts that I chose to ignore, as the book really is so well written. It hooked me in!
I loved the setting, and I didn't realise that it was the third book as it was a great standalone. There was one moment with a lot of characters where I went "ok this is a lot of characters to keep track of" where I realised it may not be a standalone.

WE ALSO LOVE BISEXUAL REPRESENTATION!

The relationship between the two main characters was really sweet to read, and she wrote the tension and buildup SO well.


Overall thoughts with spoilers:
Ok what was up with the random tent scene where he turns her down??? Not really well explained why he says no there.
It was a tiny bit creepy that he wrote sooooo many letters to her over the years - maybe like ten would have been better and less creepy? I may have misread that but I chose to pretend it was only a few letters. That’s my personal opinion though!! So maybe it’s not creepy to other people.
Our intro to the FMC was hilarious! There were sort of throwaway lines that she only sleeps with people as she doesn’t trust anyone anymore & this would have been good to be explored more.
And also the buildup was SO GOOD.

Man. It was just so good.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC - in exchange for an ARC, these are my honest, non biased thoughts. Thank you for accepting me!

4.5

Oliver and Charlee were pen pals in college for their respective Journalist programs and became great friends, building into a romantic love through the letters they sent. After setting up a date to meet in person during a college summer however, that friendship is broken and people are left feeling betrayed. Now, a handful of years later, Charlee is last minute sent to BC, Canada to be the face for a new docuseries show that will keep her company's location open amid budget cuts. Oliver has been asked to help guide the docuseries through his neck of the woods and with it, a hefty bonus that he wants to put towards buying back his old family's restaurant.

I've really enjoyed all of Elodie's previous books and this was no exception. Oliver and Charlee are both characters that feel deeply and they've both had quite the shock meeting each other in person for the first time with such high stakes. Elodie writes some great character-driven stories. Lots of emotions and feelings packed in this one. Charlee has been running for a lot of her adult life and seeing Oliver again has her asking some hard questions about herself, what exactly has she been running from? Oliver has always felt things stronger than others and seeing Charlee for the first time makes a lot of once-buried emotions come back up. Conversations need to be had though before he can even realistically think about asking for more with Charlee again.

Elodie's characters, plot, and atmosphere are great in Unbearably Yours! I've truly loved traveling across different settings in this series. A quick trope highlight here; we have a bit of friends-to-lovers, second chance, epistolary, and only one-bed.

“I can handle you being mad at me for the rest of our lives, and I can handle not talking to you for years, but what I won’t be able to do is survive if something happened to you.”

THIS. BOOK.
The best kind of romance is one that leaves little breadcrumbs throughout that keep you wondering why it didn’t work out the first time around.

Oliver and Charlee had a deep connection in the most unique want. But something went wrong. Now they are unexpectedly reunited.

This book had everything I love. The characters had conflict, but were still kind to one another. We got to see their relationship develop over time with flashbacks to when they first started dating.

The writing was also beautiful. Elodie’s descriptions gave just enough detail to set the scene.

“The thought fills me with something I’ve felt few times before when we used to talk. Something gentle and sweet, like snow falling softly outside and hot cocoa with marshmallows sprinkled on top.”


I loved this. Pick it up.

What happens when you throw two estranged ex-pen pals into a remote rainforest with a camera crew?!

Charlee has one rule: keep moving and don’t look back. As a globe-trotting journalist, she’s all about the next big adventure. So, when her job at Wild Planet in Toronto is hanging by a thread, she jumps at the chance to save the day by filming a documentary in the wilds of British Columbia.

Oliver’s all about the quiet life in Pine Falls. What he wasn’t counting on? Spending two weeks in close quarters with Charlee, the woman who once stole his heart.

I absolutely loved this book—I couldn’t put it down!

I’m a sucker for pen pal romances, and this one totally delivered. Charlee and Oliver were such a fun pair to root for, and the mix of second chance, small town, and forced proximity tropes made it even better.

The chemistry was off the charts!!

Fans of small town vibes, forced proximity, and a good ol’ pen pal twist are going to eat this up.

Thank you NetGalley and Eloise Colliard for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was really intrigued by the premise of the book- I love letters, and pen pals romance did seem like a good plot. And I really wanted to like the book more than I did.

I liked how the book alternates between letters then present when it started and I guess that's where I was rooting for it to be great

Though the book tries hard, it confuses rather than establishes the timeline and story of the MCs romance, the letters did not read heartfelt and it just escalated too quickly.

Even with having some good tropes, with a cinnamon roll hero, forced proximity and slow burn, the continuous miscommunication on the characters part dragged down the story. I would have definitely loved it more if they would have opened up and talked about everything sooner so that the rest of the book could have shown growth in their relationship.

I am no/low spice reader, so I skipped the bedroom scene, so no comments there.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Charlee, a bold and fearless journalist, is put on a 2 week assignment to document spirit bears in BC. Her fellow journalist turns out to be no other than Oliver - the penpal she fell in love with years ago. The catch? They haven’t spoken in 5 years after Oliver failed to show up for their first in person meeting. Can she survive two weeks in the wilderness with the man who broke her heart?

I was excited to see a book set in my home province of BC! It was fun to read about Charlee and Oliver’s second chance romance and there were definitely moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet.

However, I didn’t quite enjoy the portions of the book involving their letters. It felt rushed and unrealistic for them to fall in love so quickly through their letters alone. Some of the sexual segments in their letters were also really cringey to read. There were also times when Charlee was acting really immature for her age and many of the characters just felt one dimensional.

Overall, I did still enjoy the book but would probably give it 3.5 stars.

Oooooo baby! Charlee and Oliver have officially stolen my heart! OH MY GOD! These two had me giddy all through out their whole store. From start to finish. Was I expecting to fall HARD for these two? No. Was I expecting to continue craving their romance and friendship after finishing this novel? No. But guess what? I DO! Can I have more of their story pretty please?!?!

I am captivated by Charlee and her persona. She is truly an icon on her own. Life has not been the kindest to her, but she is a strong minded individual that knows how to process things in the most beautiful of ways. Her complex individuality is what makes me love her so much more. I have not fallen in love with a protagonist in a romance novel in so long, and Charlee's personality was truly a breath of fresh air.

And then enters Oliver; a true definition of a man's man in a nerdy combination type of way that made my feet kick back and forth. Learning about his past is what truly makes him worth a read. It's the way that these two endure their pasts with strong minds that captivated me the most.

Thank you to Elodie and congrats in the best of ways darling. This third installment in your "It's Always Been You" series has added their stamp of approval to the series as a whole. Cannot wait to see what else you have in store for us readers!