I’ve loved so many of Paige Toon’s books but, while I liked this one, it wasn’t my favorite. I was invested in the story while I read it, but I was somewhat disappointed in how everything played out, though I loved the ending itself. The books tells of the relationship between Ellie and Ash - the first time they meet and quickly fall in love, then when they reunite unexpectedly years later, and then when they reunite again a few years after that. I didn’t like the huge jumps in time, or how much happened in the characters’ lives during those time periods that wasn’t discussed or explained. I found myself so frustrated with the main characters at multiple points throughout the story because of the way they handled things that then led to so many misunderstandings and hurt feelings between them. Additionally, the book moved far too quickly at some parts and too slowly at others, so it felt a bit disjointed. The story kept me engaged but not invested. I’m giving this a solid 3 because I did like it, overall, but it definitely had some pain points.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie and Ash meet as kids in their early 20s, newly done with school and both on adventures traveling around Europe although they have different reasons for doing it. Ash loves it; Ellie hates it, but for a brief moment when they meet each other in Portugal, they feel a connection between each other that neither can explain but both know there’s something there. Ellie’s supposed to go one way, Ash another, but they make plans to meet up in Madrid in a week, Ellie passing her number to Ash just in case. Their connection feels like it goes beyond the basics and it never occurs to either of them to share last names or the details in their stories, like the name of her family’s business that she’s dreading going into. An emergency for Ash and a train delay for Ellie mean that they never met, her frantically traversing squares in Madrid for days before finally accepting that something happened and she’ll never know why he didn’t show up.

Six years later, she’s finally moved on from being under her parents’ thumb when she takes a dream job at an estate in Wales…and on her first day discovers that Ash withheld a lot of personal information about his identity. Their connection is stronger than ever though but there are still a million obstacles and just because they want to be together, doesn’t mean they can.

Paige Toon has the most remarkable ability to delve deep into human emotion and really make you think. I love her books and she’s truly got another hit with this one. There were times during this when I just wanted to scream, omg just exchange numbers or just talk about your emotions but part of the entertainment is winding your way through what the characters are really going through to ultimate get to the happy ending.

Right person, wrong time, done so very well!

Ellie and Ash’s story starts out strong with a serious meet cute in Lisbon. This portion of the story is so fun and the perfect example of a cute vacation romance.

Ash and Ellie in part 2 were so good and so frustrating! Not surprised at all by the ‘ending’ of this part of the book.

Part 3 had me smiling. Reconnecting & reconciliation had me so happy for these characters.

Very well paced with great conflict and a true sense of growing with the characters as you read.

Adored this book and will absolutely read more of Paige Toon’s books!

Ellie and Ash: the love story that ended before it even had a chance to start.

Met while traveling through Europe their connection was quick and intense. Two grieving people who found a connection in someone seeing them for who they really are and not with the ties of expectations hanging over them.

But life dragged them away and 6 yrs went by with the fire never really dimming until fate stepped in.

It’s the story of life with the expectations of family. The grief of loss of a best friend and the hope that the one person who actually saw them, still sees and loves them.


Paige’s books are always heartwarming. It felt like this book was the perfect book to pull me out of my book slump…. And it did. My favourite of hers is still “Someone You Used to Know” but loved the little threads of Bridgerton running throughout the book.

Think the reluctant regent and the only woman who doesn’t care a fig about the title

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Paige Toon’s What If I Never Get Over You is a rollercoaster of emotions, packed with heartbreak, healing, and second chances. While this was my first time reading one of Toon’s novels, I can see why she’s a favorite among romance readers—her knack for creating emotional depth and tension is truly on display here.

The story centers around Ellie and Ash, who meet and connect during a whirlwind trip through Europe. Their brief yet intense connection leaves a lasting impression on both, but circumstances tear them apart. Six years later, their paths cross again, but Ash has changed in ways that Ellie isn’t prepared for, leading to a heart-wrenching reconnection that forces them to confront old wounds and buried secrets.

What I loved:

The Angsty Plot: Ellie and Ash’s reunion after six years is filled with unresolved tension, missed chances, and a lot of heartache. Their chemistry was palpable, and the emotional stakes were high. I found myself eagerly devouring the chapters, especially in the first half, to see how their story would unfold.

Setting and Details: I absolutely adored the Welsh countryside setting. The vivid descriptions of Ellie’s gardening job and the sprawling estate added a lovely atmosphere to the book, grounding it in a peaceful, almost dreamlike world.

Realism in the Romance: Even though the romance bordered on insta-love, it was written in a way that felt justified. Their connection was swift but believable, and I loved the intensity of their bond early on.

Where it fell short:

Ellie’s Frustrating Character Arc: Ellie, girl, what are you doing?! While I appreciated her initial independence, her back-and-forth with Ash felt exhausting. At times, it was hard to root for her because of her indecisiveness and coldness toward him, even when it was clear they both wanted the same thing.

Pacing Issues: There were moments where the book dragged, and other times when the pacing was far too rushed. I found myself skimming through parts that didn’t seem essential to the story, while other, more pivotal moments (especially near the end) felt underdeveloped.

Character Disconnect: While I enjoyed the romance, I never felt fully connected to either Ash or Ellie, especially as the story progressed. Ellie’s actions in the latter part of the book didn’t quite line up with the character we met in the beginning, which made the ending feel a little forced.

Overall, What If I Never Get Over You was a quick, enjoyable read, but the uneven pacing and character inconsistencies held it back from being a true standout for me. That said, it’s definitely a book I’d recommend to fans of second-chance romance and slow-burn relationships, especially if you enjoy lush settings and a dose of angst.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book wrecked me and then brought me back to life. Thank you to Paige Toon, NetGalley, Random House Uk,and Penguin for this advanced copy. I am new to Paige Toons work and what a delight it has been. In What if I never get over you we meet Ellie & Ash. Two strangers bonding through grief, lonliness, adventure, and risk taking. They agree to meet up after three incredible days together but of course life gets in the way. Years later a twist of fate has them reconnecting. But we're those three days enough to weather the challenges ahead? Paige has managed to make her readers fall in love, scream in frustration, cry with relief, and cheer on her characters. If you want a happy ending romance without the cheesiness, and a slow burn spice, I highly recommend this novel. Looking forward to reading more of her books!

This is my first Paige Toon novel and after reading this I will definitely be picking up more. I enjoyed Ellie and Ash as characters.

Overall this story reminding me of the movie Serendipity (total classic), where a little miscommunication, luck and timing can change the course of your life and the people around you. If second chance romance is one of your favourite tropes you won’t be disappointed.

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book! It was my first Page Toon novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. While it was a little predictable, it was still a good story. I read it in two days, and I was rooting for Ellie and Ash the whole time!

I usually looooove Paige Toon books, so it was a real bummer that I didn't really enjoy this one. I don't really like books based upon miscommunication, which was essentially the sole focus of this one. The two love interests fell in love while abroad and didn't give each other their phone numbers or their last names. And then they find each other again 6 years later? Doesn't seem realistic. Also, who doesn't carry a phone around nowadays? Their second miscommunication at the end was just as frustrating. I'm like come on people, get it together. Selfishly, I also just did not like the male love interest's name. I found myself wishing for this one to end. I'm glad I finished it, but I don't think I would recommend it to a friend.

I liked the beginning of the book. Ellie and Ash meet in Lisbon while interrailing (like backpacking) through Europe. They are both in their early twenties, traveling alone and staying at the same hostel. Ellie's feeling lonely as she was supposed to be traveling with a friend so she spends the next few days with Ash. Their friendship turns to more and they plan to meet in Madrid after she meets her parents for a few days. She is heartbroken when she arrives in Madrid and Ash isn't there. Six years later, Ellie has changed her life from the advice Ash gave her and is now a gardener for a historic estate. She is shocked to learn that Ash, who she believed was from a working-class family, lives at the estate with his wealthy parents. Ash tells her the tragic reason he wasn't in Madrid that day. Overall I liked the story and the setting in Spain and Wales was beautiful. I was annoyed by Ellie who kept saying she was only a gardener when in reality she grew up in a well to do family, attended a private high school and graduated with a degree from an esteemed college.

Ellie and Ash meet backpacking in Lisbon and plan to meet again, but circumstances change. They meet years later in a wild twist of fate and have some shocking revelations. This was a cute book and I flew through it! Ellie and Ash were both fairly emotionally immature at times, so it annoyed me a little which is why the .5 point off! Other than that, amazing!

I really enjoyed this book, and while there were parts that I couldn't really get into, the storyline was really heartbreaking and heartwarming all in one.

We see Ellie and Ash meet each other while together, and when they finally have to part ways, the promise they made is ruined. Flash forward 6 years later, and they meet each other again. Except Ash doesn't seem to be himself, and everything he never told her changes everything.

THE PLOT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I ate up their story I cannot fib. While I wish I could have seen Ash's pov, Ellie was a great narrator. Both characters were clearly well thought out, and while this was my first Paige Toon novel, it will not be my last!

Now, why did this get 3 stars? Glad you asked.
1. Ellie, ellie, ellie. BABE. Not to say that she wasn't smart, but girl come on-he was begging at your feet, have some grace!
2. The book moved very fast at times, and way too slow at others. There were parts I skimmed because it didn't seem to affect the storyline much, but the last few chapters seemed to fly by. The pacing was a little off for me.
3. Last but not least, I just didn't really feel all that connected to the main characters or the side characters. Maybe this was because of the pacing, but I just never thought, "I love them!"

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putman for the eARC!

First, I'd like to thank @netgalley for bringing me this book for an honest review. I really enjoyed it. I have read other books by Paige Toon and have loved them. This was a story I could not put down, I read it every spare moment and was sad when the novel ended, but I was also very eager to find out the ending, hoping against hope that it would be a satisfactory conclusion. You will have to read it for yourself when it comes out as I do not give spoilers. There are many other reviews for this novel where you can read about the story line.
This is definitely a modern romance, so if romance isn't your thing, then this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you do enjoy light romance, this is DEFINITELY the book for you.
It is light-hearted, sometimes soul wrenching, and so very good.
I have Paige's previous book, Seven Summers on my TBR shelf, it will be my next read.

Ash and Ellie, what a journey! This book went straight to my heart and will live in my head rent free. For a very long time. Paige toon is just such a gifted story teller. This was perfection ❤️

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

I haven't read anything by this Author before but the summary seemed Angsty and I love a angsty romance so I was excited to read this 📖 book.

This books had some of my favorite tropes:

😍 Second Chance Romance
😍 Angst
😍 Misunderstanding causing breakups
😍 Class differences causing Tension

Ellie meets Ash while interacting through Europe in 🇵🇹 Portuga in their early 20s..They have an amazing three days together before Ellie had to leave and they agree to meet in Madrid after Ellie gives Ash her number ( he's without a mobile). He doesn't call and doesn't show up at their designated spot.

Six years later Ellie has broken free of her parents control and obtains a job as a Gardner at a Viscounts house. She is shocked to learn Ash is a part of the family living at the estate. She learns he has a girlfriend who is in the same social circle.

Ash is so excited to see Ellie that he breaks up with his girl friend, tells Ellie thst he's been thinking about her all of this time and meets her in secret at his cabin in the woods.

Ellie is aware of their class differences and believes it will be a barrier for them making their relationship known but Ash insists it's not...until he's proven wrong.

Will Ash and Ellie's class differences keep them apart forever? I recommend reading 📚 to find out.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

The author really drew me in with her writing. I felt like I was right there experiencing it all, which was heartbreak for Ellie most of this book. Ash tried his best but they were dealing with some really awful circumstances that you keep guessing if they’ll make it. I thought the ending was well done and it wrapped up the book nicely.

Would recommend. I’ve only read a couple of books by this author so far and this may be my favorite.

Goodness why was I so worried Ellie and Ash wouldn’t find their happy ending?! I wanted to shake them for trying to be cool and live off the grid and the important information one needs to find someone! I loved the beginning when they both weren’t sure if the other was feeling the same connection and I anxiously waited to see how they would get through the damage Ash’s family responsibility was trying to create. I love that no matter how many years and how much pain they had endured they still left space for each other.

This book will make you feel so much warmth at the end.I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend if you love romance.

It’s been a while since I rated a book 5 ⭐️ but this book made me swoon! I could not put it down. It made me happy, sad, mad and gave me all the feels! I love good second chance romance book and this had everything I need. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Paige Toon is an auto-read author for me. Every book I’ve read from her has my personal kryptonite: dual timeline or a time jump, and some kind of mysterious reason that the couple didn’t work or an insurmountable reason they can’t work now. Sometimes I’m just in the mood to have my heart ripped out and put back together, and that’s what her books do every time. I must say, this one was a bit less angst-filled and a little more predictable than her previous books, but I still really enjoyed it. It was fun to read about a modern-day viscount and explore the things that connected Ash and Ellie as well as the things that were keeping them apart. There are 2 time jumps and several twists and turns (though they were somewhat predictable) and it kept me wanting to read the whole way through. For that, I’ve rated it 5 stars, because while it might not be my favorite read ever, or even of this author’s works, it was still very entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.