This was a sweet, quick read that could have been condensed by about 50 pages. The connection between the two main characters while backpacking through Europe was believable to me and very enjoyable to read. It made sense that two lonely people trying to escape difficult families and recent tragedies would gravitate toward one another. I loved both Ellie and Ash and was rooting for them even though I knew the premise of the book meant that they would soon be apart.

However, once the two left Europe, things slowed down for me. I found myself skimming through descriptions of gardening and English estates and was really hoping for more substance. There was a good opportunity for something big to happen when the two come together again, but it was a bit of a letdown. I’m not sure if it was pacing or length, but something just didn’t completely work for me.

Still a very enjoyable, cute love story that I would recommend to anyone that is in the mood for a pick-me-up!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

BOOK FRIENDS! Add this to your summer TBR immediately! This is the perfect summer read!!! I devoured this in under 24 hours and I loved every second of it.

This book was all sorts of cute and gave me second hand butterflies the whole time I was reading it.

Ellie and Ash meet while they are both traveling across Europe. They immediately hit it off and have the most insane chemistry that made me GIDDY. They make plans to meet up in a few days but Ash doesn’t show up. With no way to find him Ellie is left wondering if she really could fall in love in 3 days or if it was all in her head.

6 years later they meet up and Ash is ready to do anything not to let her slip through his fingers again.

UGH. I am obsessed. This would have been an immediate 5 star read for me, BUT I do feel like there was too much back and forth during the third act breakup. I also feel like Ash could have done a bit more groveling 😉

The title alone did it for me. I knew I would like this book just as much as the rest of paige toons books I've read. I loved the instant connection that Ellie and Ash had when they first met. The 3 days they spent together were enough for them to fall in love. But it was always the right person wrong time. It was always something getting in the way of them being together. You just don't know if they will ever end up together.

What if I Never Get Over You was equally addicting to read- I didn't want to put it down AND felt forgettable. There were too many convenient solutions and situations. Did I like it? Yes. Would I want to pay for it? Nope. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It look a bit to get into this book but once I did, I found it to be very entertaining. I found it a little implausible that Ellie would end up working for Ash’s family but it was just a minor thing in the big picture of their story. Would definitely recommend.

3.75!
Gosh, what an epic book! It had me emotional and swooning at the same time. My second read from this author, and the emotional punch her books have put me in shambles. I love that so much. I needed to feel something outside of my ordinary, and this did just that! There's no better feeling, in my opinion. The connection between the characters and tension and yearning was so beautiful. I am obsessed with one! The sequencing was the only thing that bumped down this emotional story for me. It sometimes felt jumpy and in cohesive with the way everything panned out. Don't get me wrong, I loved the ending, but it felt like there were comma splices in the sequencing and different parts of the story. I would have loved to see fewer gaps between the characters' personalities, clarity in their decisions, and maturity in the time changes.
Nonetheless, I still very much enjoyed it. Still, I would love to see a smoother plot regarding how the time frames were changed throughout the story. I still recommend this book and want to own a physical copy for my book collection because the emotions I felt while reading this one were incredible. I still very much recommend this one! I can't wait to see what's next for this author. Emotional melodramas are kryptonite, and Paige Toon excels at creating compelling and heartbreaking stories while also pulling at my empathetic heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

After falling in love with Seven Summers, I was so excited to dive into another Paige Toon novel, and What If I Never Get Over You did not disappoint. This book captured my heart with its beautiful mix of romance, longing, and emotional complexity.

The story follows Ellie and Ash, who meet during a dreamy interrailing trip in Lisbon. Their connection is instant and electric, and Toon’s writing makes every moment between them feel so vivid and real. Fast forward six years, and they’re reunited in Wales under very different circumstances, adding layers to their relationship that kept me hooked. Ash quickly became a new favorite. His vulnerability and love make him such a memorable character.

The Welsh setting adds a cozy backdrop, and Toon’s ability to create a full world with endearing side characters is wonderful. The book explores themes of love, loss, and finding oneself in new ways. If you’re craving a romance that balances warmth with emotional depth, Paige Toon never misses the mark. :)

It took me on an emotional journey filled with heartbreak, hope, and unforgettable moments. Ellie and Ash's story is the ultimate "right person, wrong time" situation x's at least three. Their connection is absolute fire but with that comes some messy, raw, and the kind of love that just wouldn't let go, even through years of separation and life's obstacles.

Paige Toon's writing completely transported me into these pages, bringing every setting and emotion to life. I could fully see the gardens in Wales and feel the missing chances when Ellie and Ash would come together to yet again be pulled apart. Their family dynamics also added a layer of depth showing us the struggles and strength that come from tough backgrounds.

By the time I got to "Part 4" I could have read another entire book of their journey. The story of rediscovery felt like a reminder that true love, even when repeatedly tested, can always find its way back.

Beautiful, powerful and absolutely unforgettable!!

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book!  I was drawn in by the “Before Sunrise” movie vibes in the beginning, and stayed for the Downton Abby-ish tension and drama. 

Ellie and Ash first meet while traveling in Europe. They have an instant connection and end up spending a few days exploring together. In a short time they get to know each other fairly well, discussing hopes and dreams for their futures, what they wish they could change about their lives, as well as simpler things like taste in music. However, they never end up discussing important details, such as last names. While they are forced to part ways, they agree to meet up again in a week. That planned second meeting never takes place. Ellie shows up, but Ash never shows.

Six years later, Ellie has made some major changes in her life, largely inspired by her conversations with Ash. She has stood up to her family and pursued her dream of gardening and gets a job working at large privately owned estate. While working at this estate, Ellie finally encounters Ash again! He is eager to have her back in his life, but she is hesitant not knowing if their lives will actually work together in the long term.

I was fully absorbed in this story as I read it! I was eagerly trying to guess what would happen next and even while having an idea of what their HEA would eventually look like, I had no clue what all they would have to experience to get there. And there was definitely drama. Yes, my heart broke and I was teary eyed through most of the last 15-20%, but my heart was mended by the end.

This is a book I can definitely see myself re-reading. I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can always count on Paige Toon to deliver the emotional gut punch! Sometimes when I read, I want it to be easy, sometimes I want to escape to a wholly different world. Sometimes I just want to feel. And when I want to feel, I read Paige Toon.
Here, we follow the love story of Ash and Ellie as they meet and fall in love as young twenty-somethings interrailing in Portugal. I don't know if I believe in soulmates, but Ash and Ellie feel like true soulmates. After a whirlwind romance, the two are separated with no way to find or get ahold of each other, only to show up several years later in different life circumstances, which have molded them into different people than they were when they originally met. Ash and Ellie strive to mold their lingering feelings (they are each other's "one who got away"....*sigh!) into a stable relationship while battling issues such as their stations in life, their friends and family, and their readiness to be in a relationship. Both characters are well rounded individuals and I love how Toon writes her stories without letting them become bogged down by utilizing popular "tropes". As my daughter likes to say, 10/10 recommend you pick up this book!
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnum Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

There was something about this book that made me unable to put it down, but also left me a little empty and just wanting MORE. I understand the breaks in time, and that they were needed to see just how much life went by while these 2 humans were just waiting for their time to be together, but at the same time, the time gaps were just that, gaps. I LOVED Ash and Ellie, I was rooting for them every single step of the way. Their stories as individuals, and together were equally beautiful. I just felt like there was too much depth and description put into some things, and not quite enough where I wanted it. Overall, this was a beautiful love story that just shows one meeting, one person, one moment can truly change the trajectory of your entire life.
1 like

I enjoyed reading this book. It is the story of Ellie and Ash and how they meet and fall in love. The book takes place over 4 parts. They fall in love in 3 days during the first part but then have to find each other again as they move on through their lives. As the story goes on and you find out Ash is really royalty in Wales, their love story becomes more complicated.

I LOVED this book so much! The chemistry between the two main characters was amazing and kept me invested. It wasn’t a book that I could guess what was going to happen, it kept me on edge and guessing. I’m going to start reading all of Paige Toon’s books now!

DNF.

This did not stand up to Toon's other work for me. I liked the second chance romance concept but just couldn't get into anyone, or care enough about the two MCs. After reading Seven Summers this was just a disappointment without many high stakes, or a romance I felt invested in.

Love, love, loved it! Have I found my new favorite author? Swoony story that made me laugh and ache, that sped through time when it needed to, instead of dragging the reader through details we didn’t need, and slowed down during quiet moments that we absolutely needed. Loved that these two characters were obsessed with nature, and that we saw that love constantly. I wished it were longer!

My only suggestion is to open that door just a little bit more please! I got super disappointed every time it closed…

Thank you NetGalley, and Penguin, for the arc.

2.5⭐️


Ellie y Ash se conocieron en Portugal mientras viajaban para conmemorar a sus amigos fallecidos. Pasaron tres días juntos, se enamoraron, y ella tuvo que regresar a casa para informar a sus padres que no seguiría el camino que ellos deseaban. Planeaba reunirse con él en Madrid, pero Ash nunca apareció y no lo volvió a ver en seis años.

Durante ese tiempo, Ellie logró muchas cosas: se separó de sus padres, comenzó a vivir su vida y cumplió su deseo de convertirse en jardinera.

Consiguió un trabajo para un vizconde, y para su sorpresa, el hijo de la familia resultó ser Ash, quien en ese momento estaba en una relación con Beca, con quien planeaba casarse. Esto la sorprendió, ya que durante su viaje, él le había hablado de Beca, pero la describió como una amiga.

Beca decidió terminar su relación al ver el regreso de Ellie, Ash se interesó nuevamente en Ellie e intentaría recuperarla. Sin embargo, Beca no deseaba realmente romper con él; quería que él le suplicara que volvieran, demostrando así que la amaba. Pero sus planes salieron mal. Este hecho debió ser una gran señal de alarma, ya que evidenció que, desde el principio, otros tomaban las decisiones y Ash simplemente se dejaba llevar. ¿No hubiera sido más lógico que él terminara la relación? Al no hacerlo, quedó claro que no amaba a Ellie y que solo buscaba libertad, mientras que Beca representaba responsabilidad.

Una vez soltero, Ash intentó recuperar a Ellie. Ella, lamentablemente, aún no lo había superado y aceptó su regreso. Sin embargo, no contaba con que él intentaría restaurar su amistad con Beca. Cada vez que su ex lo llamaba, él salía corriendo para estar con ella. Cuando tenían citas, a menudo no aparecía porque debía pasar tiempo con Beca. Esta sabía perfectamente lo que hacía, y todo esto resultó muy doloroso para Ellie.

Los padres de Ash no aprobaban su relación, así que su padre lo amenazó para que regresara con Beca. También comenzaron a presionar a Ellie, diciendo que perdería su trabajo. Al sentirse sola, decidió irse para que él no tuviera que renunciar a nada.
Se suponía que él también sufría, pero se iba a que Beca lo consolara. Digo "se suponía" porque todo esto es desde el punto de vista de Ellie.

A los pocos meses de irse, Ellie leyó sobre el compromiso de Ash y Beca.

Pasaron dos años y ella seguía estancada, añorando a alguien que no la había priorizado. Entonces, al enterarse de una noticia que sabía le dolería, decidió buscarlo.

Al investigar, descubrió que el compromiso era falso.

Cuando finalmente lo encontró, lo vio cambiado y amargado. Sabía que aún lo amaba y decidió hacer lo imposible para que la perdonara y le diera otra oportunidad. Claro, porque todo había sido culpa de ella, y no del tipo que salía corriendo cada vez que Beca lo llamaba, que se iba días enteros para estar con otra, que cancelaba citas sin remordimientos. No, él no era culpable de que Ellie no se sintiera segura en su relación; la culpable era Ellie.

Al final, volvieron a estar juntos y eso fue todo.

Me quedaré esperando para siempre una disculpa de él por no hacerla su prioridad.

Paige is a new to me author and I’m so glad I happened across her book. The title caught my attention and I decided to give it a go. She writes extremely well and I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.

Three days to fall in love six years to forget. This was absolutely mesmerizing, a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from, the stars colliding in all the best and worst of ways. I can’t think of a more gut wrenchingly accurate way to describe love and loss than this book showed it. My kindle was drenched in my tears as I read this book, but I couldn’t stop. It was eloquent and so satisfying. I am so glad that I read this. It was a great reminder of how short life is and how important it is to live for myself and no one else.

Thanks NetGalley, Paige Toon and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the e-arc.

🔎 ARC Review

What If I Never Get Over You

@paigetoonauthor
@penguinrandomhouse
@netgalley

Publication Date: April 24th, 2025

My Rating:
🌟 4/5

Three days to fall in love. Six years to try to forget.

Ellie didn’t expect to fall in love while interrailing through Europe. But she also didn’t expect to meet a man like Ash. Three blistering days in Lisbon is all it takes to form an unforgettable connection—a bond deep enough for them to scrap their itineraries and plan to meet again in Spain. But Ellie arrives late, and Ash is nowhere to be found.

Six years later, Ellie has landed her dream job working as a gardener for a viscount and viscountess on their sprawling five-hundred-year-old estate in Wales. She finds peace amongst the towering topiary hedges and colorful gardens, but her idyll is shattered when Ash crashes back into her life. And when it becomes clear why he didn’t show in Madrid, her heart breaks anew—for what the truth means for her, and for his fate.

But they have never been able to resist each another, and when the sparks of their attraction fly, Ellie’s life will catch flame. She will have to make a choice.

🔎 My review
This is my first book by Paige and it was so good. I loved the beginning and how Ellie and Ash met and the ending was all I ever wanted! Everything in-between was well written, but I was screaming and Ellie and Ash the whole time! Definitely worth the read

Thank you @paigetoonauthor, @penguinrandomhouse, @netgalley for the ARC!

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This was such a sweet read. This is my first time reading something by this author, and it did not disappoint. Ellie and Ash’s love story was so beautiful and emotional. They meet during a backpacking trip and their connection is instant. When plans to meet again in the future fall through, Ellie is left to forget about Ash. That is, until years later when they meet again in the most unexpected way. Thank you so much NetGalley and Paige Toon for the chance to read an early copy of this book! I look forward to reading more written by this author.

Wow wow wow! Paige toon is an auto read author for me and I’m so thankful to read this new one by her! I love the characters (which I always do!) and didn’t want it to end. She is a master at character building and making you fall in love with them.