5 Coming to Terms with Their Past Stars!!

I’m a long-time fan of Ms. Yarros’ writing and this book is a wonderful reminder of how much I love her contemporary stories. This book is a journey of Allie and Hudson’s love story. I was immediately captivated when we first meet them as Hudson is rescuing Allie and her sister in a raging storm. I love that we get flashbacks through the years of what brought these two together in this elite seaside town and a longer family history that comes to crashing point as secrets are revealed.

Along the way, Allie and Hudson remember what it felt like to be best friends, which leads to a fake relationship for a multitude of reasons that leads to a love that was always meant to be. Their road though is filled with twists and turns and a cavalcade of emotions. Coming to terms with their past, and what’s meant to be in their future.

This is a definite must read if you love stories that make you think about what could’ve been and what’s supposed to be.

This book felt a bit different to me than Rebecca's other contemporary romances because it was such a deep dive into the world of ballet. But otherwise, all the hallmarks of her stories were there: two beautifully flawed main characters, their siblings and family drama, secrets, difficult choices, and a fantastic love story.
Hudson and Ellie were classic opposites attract when they met as teens and became best friends in the small town where he lived and she visited for the summers. He was in love with her. Tragedy struck, and they didn't speak for 10 years. You eventually find out the reasons. As the present months go on, Allie does rehab, and Hudson is able to spend more time reconnecting with her thanks to his niece. There are lots of other things going on, too, with his niece, and with Allie's sisters and mother.
Even knowing nearly nothing about ballet, this book drew me in and kept hold of me. I had to know what happened that night and how these two would end up.

First of all the cover is gorgeous. This is a 4 star cosy romance read and overall I enjoyed reading it. Readers should expect to be taken on a roller coaster of relatable real life situations and emotions. This is a must read for romance readers filled with plot twists, engaging characters, angst, love and more.
For me personally, I felt this story could have been told in less pages and had a greater impact and some parts felt a little random.

I adore second chance romances and I am totally in love with Allie and Hudson's story. The ballerina and the Coast Guard rescue swimmer who had a mountain of challenges to face between them somehow managed to fight for what they ultimately wanted...each other. This story had me from the very beginning and kept a grasp on my page after page. I couldn't get enough of the strong, intelligent, and passionate Allie and the kindhearted, brave, and sexy Hudson. I enjoyed the refreshing honesty with which they dealt with each other and the smoldering chemistry that made their love inevitable. Oh, and I can't really leave a review without mentioning the lovely and sassy Juniper...I adored every scene she was in! I really enjoy Ms. Yarros' contemporary story writing (as well as her fantasy ones) and am so glad that we're getting books in such vastly different world to enjoy. No matter the genre, this author has a way to pull at your heart and make you feel all the feels and, really, what else can you ask for in a book?!? Go get this one, you won't regret it!

This story.
My heart.
Hudson and Allie.

The first chapters pulled me into this world and the characters. The ballet dance elements were such a fun world to be in with the Rousseau sisters who were among the top ballerinas in the world. Hudson first met Allie when they were teenagers- he helped save her and her sister Eva. Since that day the two were connected. They became fast friends. 10 years go by and the two are brought back together.

“she was the entire ocean, as beautiful as she was impossible to fathom. But damn if I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life figuring her out“

I liked the characters. I loved how the world was built. Absolutely adored the chemistry. The story flowed forward. I could not put this boon down. It was absolutely worth of wait. Hudson's love towards others (his family and also Allie) was admirable. The way he handled things made my heart cry. I tryly recommend this book to everyone who likes good guy heros!

*May Contain Minor Spoilers*
I received an ARC of Variation by Rebecca Yarros from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, I would have likely purchased upon release because i love Rebecca Yarros's work. Unlike many who have found her through her famous fantasy novels, I enjoyed her emotional romances first. The cover is gorgeous. I love the colors and much prefer covers like this over ones with people on them. I'm always nervous to read her books because she has an amazing way of telling stories but they always make you feel something. Sometimes that something is heartbreak. Fortunately, while there are aspects of this book that tug at the heartstrings it is overall a HEA.
Variation is a contemporary romance with the main characters being a famous ballerina and a coast guard rescue swimmer. It ticks off quite a few of my favorite tropes being a Dual POV, second chance romance and includes a high stakes fake relationship, one bed scenario, and the perfect amount of spice. Absolutely loved this story.

I absolutely love Rebecca Yarros's writing style in all her books and Variation was no exception. This was a very cute second chance and fake dating romance between the main characters Allie and Hudson. Although not as emotional or tugging on the heart strings as her other stories, I still loved the overall story. The plot line is well written and both characters sort through the trauma of their past relationship in a mature manner as they rekindle their newfound love, which I really appreciated. I really loved the use of the Dual POV throughout this book as it allowed me to better understand what happened as teenagers in the eyes of both Allie and Hudson. Throughout the story, there are some plot twists that totally left me surprised, but that is one of the things I love about Rebecca Yarros's books.

Heartbreakingly beautiful. Trust me, just read it.

Rebecca Yarros writes about the human experience in way that is authentic and poetic at the same time. This story is a beautiful depiction of life- full of imperfect people, love, loss heartbreak, trauma, redemption, hope, friendship, family, pressure, dreams, and decisions.

I was super excited to read this one, as RY has yet to disappoint me. This one lived up to all my expectations. When a book makes me feel the emotions the characters are experiencing, that’s when I know it’s five stars for me. Allie and Hudson’s story was so easy to fall in love with. I could feel their heartbreak. I was rooting for them every step of the way. Occasionally throughout the story, I would get frustrated with them. I wanted them to make more logical decisions. I wanted them to communicate. Then I realized that is exactly the story RY was trying to write for us. Just like us, they are flawed people trying to live and love. At times, their communication fails. Their messages are lost in translation. They’re imperfect people trying to navigate love, which gets messy. I related to so many of the emotions they felt. And talk about character development! I think something that makes RY’s writing so powerful is because she creates dynamic characters that are doing their best to grow as people. They are relatable and easy to root for.

This one checks all the boxes for me. There’s nothing I love more than a beautiful story that is full of raw emotion. It’s definitely the kind of story that sticks with you. Five stars.

Thank you to Rebecca Yarros and her lovely team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Variation. All opinions are my own.

(I have posted this review to Goodreads, Target, Books-a-Million, and Barnes & Noble. At this time, it is still being reviewed by BAM and B&N sites and should be posted soon).

4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, it felt very different than her other work. While the story flowed really well and I loved the depth of the characters, it wasn't as emotional for me as her other books which knocked a half a point off the score. Overall though, you can't go wrong here, the story was so great! I appreciated we had a Coast Guard hero and I really enjoyed getting to read about Hudson's career, I think it gave great perspective to the type of man he is and the integrity he has. Allie, the ballerina, who can't possibly live up to her mother's expectations but tries to anyway, needed someone like Hudson to give her own life some perspective. Seeing how they came together and grew together as young adults was beautiful and I was so excited for their future. The tragedy that ensued however, I didn't see coming and was absolutely devastating. It clearly throws both Allie and Hudson into a tail spin they struggle to recover from. And the secrets and lies that are revealed in the process were a complete surprise as well, but in the end, they were a blessing that needed to be uncovered.
Great read, you won't regret picking this one up!!

4.5-Stars

Second chances are my thing and ooh boy, did Yarros put me through the wringer, or what? However, it wasn’t a fast read for me since there are a lot of details and names to absorb in a world I had little knowledge of. I also found the build-up of tension a tad lento, but probably better seeing as nothing is straightforward. When the story’s pacing picked up around halfway, that was it; I devoured the author’s every word like there was no tomorrow.

So, is there a tomorrow for Yarros’ hero and heroine? Even before getting there, I thought I’d learnt the whys and wherefores of Allie Rousseau and Hudson Ellis’ broken hearts only to be thrown off kilter by the plot twists. I adored the flashbacks that put their teenage friendship into perspective, and in the present day, Allie’s reasons for holding a feeling of deep antipathy towards him. But there’s more to the story keeping Allie on her toes–no pun intended. Manipulation from a third party on and off social media comes to light, but in Yarros’ fashion, she reveals the biggest bombshell at just the right time.

Variation was a real eye-opener. Yarros cracked the pressure a diva ballet dancer has to stay at the top and the dangerous situations a sea rescue swimmer faces. Family plays a huge part, too. Although one has signs of dysfunction, I liked how one sibling’s competence and understanding shone so strongly. And the unique dynamics of the other, especially the youngster whose determination regardless of rocking the boat, inspired, frustrated and how could anyone say no to such inbred talent?

If angst, twists and turns, well-measured steaminess in second-chance fake-dating romance breaming with emotions is your cuppa, this standalone is not to be missed. Bravo, Yarros!

I gratefully received the ARC from Montlake, and all the opinions expressed are my own.

Variation, a new Contemporary Romance by Rebecca Yarros. This is the story of Allie and Hudson. Their story was sexy, beautiful, full of emotions, full of love and so very well written. So another beautiful and amazing story by Rebecca Yarros.

En bref, j'ai adoré apprendre à connaitre Allie et Hudson, je suis tombée amoureuse de leur histoire et de leurs sentiments et j'ai aimé les voir se rapprocher après des années sans s'être vus et surtout avec le poids des secrets qui pèse sur leurs épaules. Ils sont tous les deux touchants, ils ont su me faire vibrer avec eux et si parfois c'est un peu un enchainement de catastrophe, il n'empêche qu'ils aussi aussi su me faire sourire. Les événements ne nous laissent pas souffler, j'étais curieuse de connaitre les tenants et les aboutissants et je me suis laissée surprendre par certaines choses. Une très belle lecture qui a su me faire à la fois sourire et pleurer.

I’ve been reading Rebecca yarros’ contemporary romances since the very first release years ago. I enjoy her writing and characters and stories. Variation is what I have come to expect from her CR writing. I really liked the characters in this book. Overall the story kept me engaged and entertained. Some of the family drama was a little much for me which pulled it down a star, but overall I still loved it, would still recommend it and will reread it at some point I’m sure. Yarros does a great job with building worlds that pull you in to her stories. Great family and friend connections in this one characters that you feel like you’re experiencing their lives with them.

Long before there were dragons, Venin and war there were stories of fly boys and helicopters, all the stories that brought me to Rebecca and her amazing storytelling. It was refreshing to read another contemporary romance from her because this was where my love for her writing started.

Hudson is a rescue swimmer saving lives and helping his sister raise his niece. Allie is a prima ballerina born into ballerina royalty mending an injury. These two were friends once, mistakes were made but their connection was never lost. These two are combustible and could ignite a fire with the looks and tension they shared.

I loved everything about this story from beginning to end. Every page was filled with an engaging story that had me continuing to turn each page in awe. There’s angst, plot twists, romance and a love story spanning eleven years.

You will fall in love with Allie and Hudson and Rebecca’s storytelling.

Exceptional!

There aren’t enough adjectives to properly describe this gorgeous story.

This author is a master wordsmith who never disappoints giving us unique, highly inventive stories that have me thinking about the characters after I finish reading it.

Hudson and Allie’s story starts with their unconventional meeting as teenagers.
Told in dual POV past and present, their story is unlike any other I’ve ever read! A deep friendship developed hiding other feelings because of family expectations and societal roles.

Brutally raw, deeply emotional and thought provoking, this story captivated me from beginning to end as the author flawlessly layed out all the upheavals in their friendship. A moment in time shattered their friendship and they lost contact.

Fast forward 11 years and a precocious adorable 10 year old steals the spot light from the main characters when she makes a request of them they never imagined.

These characters were so well developed and their story unfolded seamlessly. They truly came to life and I cried along with them. Hudson was simply amazing. He at times seemed too good to be true but as the story unfolded we learn he was a broken man holding a huge secret that may change everything in his new friendship with Allie. Allie was always I initially hard to like but she had her own secrets, and tortured past making easier for me to understand her.

This was a heart wrenching story of family secrets, missed opportunities and unmet expectations.

Can you forgive and find redemption when certain secrets exist?
That question is put to the test and exceptionally explored.

I can tell you that my heart was shattered and then flawlessly put back together at the end of the story.

5 easy stars and really worthy of 5 more!

Absolutely loved it!! Great storyline. Engaging plot and the characters were all likable. And the spicy scenes were HOT. This is a fantastic novel

Rating 3.5/5 stars

Main tropes: Second chance, Fake dating, Friends to enemies to lovers, He falls first, It's always been you/the one that got away, Family focus

Secondary tropes: Military hero (Coast guard rescue swimmer), Small town, Class divide, Possessive MCs

Micro-tropes: Hero with dimples, Backwards baseball cap, Spicy mirror scene, Only one bed

Triggers: There are some potential triggers featured in this plot, if you need to then please research them prior to starting this.

‘Variation’ is Yarros’ next contemporary romance and the second chance Hudson and Allie get at being together does not disappoint.

Allie was a character who was accurately described in the book when Hudson said she was “self-centered yet selfless for her sisters, spoiled yet kind, driven yet reluctant, an open book of emotion on the stage and an impossible puzzle when off it”. She was the kind of character where it took a little while for her to grow on me but by the end of the book I was as invested in her and her dreams for the future as I was in the rest of the book and came to appreciate her protective, sensitive, and sentimental sides. Hudson was protective, observant, and very intune with his emotions. The kind of character who you could very easily become attached to and invested in. I loved how he interacted with his family and with Allie. I was invested in him and his desire for the future that he had dreamed for himself and in the moments where he let go of his tendency to be mindful of how others could react and fully let his emotions and thoughts be exposed, I couldn’t help but admire him for it.

Both Hudson and Allie were imperfect, unkempt and chaotic and in their hearts true dreamers. They had a complicated history of something that almost was before they left one another's lives and the memories ruined the possibility of there ever being anything with anyone else. In the current day events of the book they were reunited and dating under false pretences with multiple personal and shared secrets between them. It made already complicated feelings into an awkward situation but the rightfulness of them shone through and Hudson refused to lose Allie again, even if they still didn’t fit into one another’s worlds. I love the fake dating trope but when it is between two people who have a history there is something extra about it that makes it better and in the case of Hudson and Allie it was because they already knew this was the one person with whom they could be their true selves and put down their carefully constructed defences. I couldn’t get enough of the tension building and ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ elements of their romance and like Hudson I was desperate for Allie to realise that this time round things could work out especially when they had both spent years hoping the other would walk back into their lives.

I enjoyed getting to read a new contemporary romance from Yarros and at times whilst reading ‘Variation’ it felt similar to books from Yarros’ ‘Flight and Glory Series’ with the scenes depicting Hudson’s military career and the times when his career had a bigger impact on the narrative but the military theme was not as prominent in ‘Variation’. Hudson's military career and some other secondary storylines took a backseat to the second chance romance and the rightfulness of Hudson and Allie together which to me gave it the same feel as some other books by Yarros such as herLegacy series and a few of her standalones. The military theme was an enjoyable element of the book but knowing how well Yarros writes military romance I would have liked further development of it especially when you look at how much narrative focus was given to Allie and her ballet career. The secondary storylines were just as interesting as the romance development and tied the whole book together as it continued to provide a balance of sweet, funny, and heart wrenching moments which made this book as enjoyable as it was.

Variation had a very diverse cast when it came to the secondary characters and their likeability. There were ones who you couldn't help but like such as Juniper who was a quick witted and sneaky individual and I never knew what she was going to do next which kept her interesting. The rest of Hudson's family were also likeable and I would happily read books about Hunter's siblings. Allie's family were a mixed bunch, one member was likeable and I'd be interested in finding out more about her but the rest, rightfully so, we're not favourites of mine. All the main secondary characters were well written and developed and there is certainly potential for this to become more than a standalone. My only criticism of the secondary characters is when it came to the less important ones there were a few scenes where it became a jumble of names and for one scene in particular, which was an important one, I did have to go back and read the run up to it again just to get my bearings.

Overall ‘Variation’ was an enjoyable romance which in the end I was unable to put down. I was invested in Hudson and Allie and I'm so glad to have got to read this as an ARC, and I look forward to release day so everyone else can experience it too.

Favourite Quote:
“Messy is good, love. Messy is where the best parts of life happen. You don't have to be in control at all times. It's okay if you fall apart. I promise I will be right here to put you back together if you just let me."

**3.75 Stars**

Variation is a second chance romance between a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and a professional dancer who reconnect after years apart. There are a whole host of secrets and complications between Hudson and Allie, but I enjoyed immersing myself in their story and found myself rooting for them from the start. Both were hugely committed to their careers and their families, which was part of those complications. I think Juniper, Hudson's niece was one of the highlights of the book. She was tenacious and everyone around her loved her so much. This story was definitely not lacking in drama, and while I think it can add to stories at times, I found some of the drama/plot twists to not really enhance the overall book. I am a huge fan of this authors work. She can write some very intense romances that are all consuming, and while I did overall enjoy Variation, I did feel like it didn't have the same level of oomph I have gotten used to with this author's work. I loved that the main character was a rescue swimmer as I have not read another book with that occupation. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I would still encourage others to give it a read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a pre- Empyrean series Rebecca Yarros fan and can't describe how delighted I am that she is continuing with her work in the contemporary romance arena.

OG fans know her personal experience as a milspouse and how it features in her writing...Variation is no different.

As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hudson Ellis has returned to serve his home town and ultimately, his family.

As a young man, focused on his goals, his 'need' to rescue Allie and her younger sister was already in his blood and was the start of something life changing, for them both.

Variation is a friends to enemies to lovers and unrequited second chance romance with a whole lot of secrets, lies and the solution to an unknown mystery.

In typical fashion for this author, your heart will be bruised and battered as this amazing story unfolds.

Personally I felt every hour of agony that this athlete (as dancers should surely be viewed as such) went through to regain her fitness and her ability to perform some of the most amazingly described choreography.

Additionally, the characters are so well written that readers will actively hate some, revere others and will want to physically harm one or two, they will be so absorbed by the story as it unfolds.

Allie and Hudson's HEA is hard fought but so much more beautiful because of the time and adversity faced to get them there!

Another amazing addition to Rebecca Yarros' ever extending catalogue.