Translated into English from the original Spanish, this is a highly emotional right person wrong time, friends to lovers, dual POV coming of age story that sees two strangers meeting in Paris and striking up an email friendship that spans years.

Full of highs and lows, this story tackles mental health, addiction, family drama, career growth and so so much more. It will definitely appeal to fans of books like One day by David Nicholls and People we meet on vacation by Emily Henry.

I absolutely loved it and especially enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan and Benjamin Crow. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Release date 1/21/25

I loved this audiobook and I am not typically a romance fan but there is just something about the way Alice writes that sucks you in and takes hold of your heart...I honestly can't belive I just wrote that as I am the least romantic person but it's true.

For those who have read All That We Never Were and the sequel, Axel makes a cameo appearance 💜

I’m not sure where to start with this one…
Although I LOVED ❤️ it, I also HATED 😩 it!!
And that about sums it up!! 😮😮

Alice is a college student from London. She’s 21. She just had a really bad breakup with a guy she’s been dating for…well…forever…. And so she decides to ESCAPE to Paris for a day or two…

Rhys is an American DJ. He’s in Paris, short-term, for a gig…as per his usual. He’s got no roots and no-one to tie him down. He’s 26. He moves every few days…. And he really doesn’t have a great relationship with his family…

Both are in Paris on a random day and meet at the train station while Alice is beating up the machine trying to get a ticket out! 🫣

Rhys goes over to help her.

She knows NO-ONE and accepts his help. When she explains her situation he offers to show her around Paris. She, of course, doesn’t trust him and comes right out with her story… her breakup, and that she’s NOT looking to hook up!!! He says OK. Surprising even herself, she agrees to go exploring with him!!! 😮

They have a WONDERFUL time together, and as they settle in for the night…as friends…they see the moon through the skylight. It’s beautiful. It’s amazing. It bonds them together for life… ❤️ It’s a tender, sweet moment with NO sex, but so much RAW EMOTION…you can FEEL it through the words!!!

This is now the beginning of a long, intense, emotional, long-distance friendship! Because as she’s boarding the train, she decides to run back and write something on his hand. Her email address… And, EVERY NIGHT, from that day forward, they communicate…with, well, just the shenanigans of every day life.

Hers in school. Preparing to take over her father’s business upon graduation. The mundane tasks at school. Her home life with her family…

His being a DJ and aspiring song writer, and traveling the world… Lots of experiences. Lots of women. Lots of drinking…

The longer it goes on, the more they share. And, the more he encourages her to explore the world, and herself. Branch out. Try new things…etc, etc…

Being the reader, you can FEEL the love that they share, but it seems to never come to fruition…. And it’s lovely. And it’s horrible. And it’s heartbreaking….

I’m going to 🛑 STOP right here! 🛑. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please look 👀 for it starting tomorrow, 1/21/25…when it will be released!!

#OnlyAfterWeMet by #AliceKellen and narrated beautifully by #GailShalan and #BenjaminCrow.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me…and that’s only because I still can’t decide if I love them or hate them for all they put ME through!! 😩😂🤪❤️

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #DreamScapeMedia for an ARC of the audiobook.

One thing I will point out is that you may be better off READING this one rather than LISTENING to it, because after a while the narrating of ‘TO ALICE…FROM RHYS…. AND: TO RHYS FROM ALICE….AND THEN …SUBJECT LINE AND RE…RE…RE…RE..RE was really driving me crazy. 😝 (As pretty much the ENTIRE BOOK is written via emails, and so…narrated!) Again, this is just my opinion…and the narrators were both terrific in any case. ❤️. And…I still loved it!

⚠️ Some triggers: Lots of alcohol. Some mention of drugs. Family dysfunction. ⚠️

As for me… You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads.
Insta: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

When Londoner Ginger Davies and American DJ Rhys Baker meet by chance in Paris, they form an instant connection. Ginger is destined to take over the family business in London, while Rhys is a vagabond with no desire to settle down. After years of daily correspondence, the two spend a transformative summer together.

I loved Alice Kellen’s previous duology so much, I jumped into this one head first. While it’s not bad by any means, it doesn’t have the same depth and emotion as the Let it Be duet.

The premise is very unique. Told mostly through emails to one another, we experience the lives these two characters live from the moment they met through the years that followed. However, I think this format prevents the reader from feeling an emotional connection to the characters. It ended up feeling very plot driven (x happened, then y happened, and then z happened), then character driven and I think this type of romance requires more of a balance. That said, if you are someone who loves this type of format or the tropes in this one, I would still recommend giving it a try.

🎧 I read this one with my ears, and I will say that given the email formatting, I think this one is probably better as a physical/ebook read. After a while, the re:re:re:re becomes very monotonous. However, as narrators, Gail Shalan and Benjamin Crew do a fine job. If you don’t mind epistolary format on audio, you will definitely enjoy their narration.

Read if you like:
▪️insta connection
▪️friends to lovers
▪️emotional romance
▪️soulmates
▪️epistolary format

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy.

This book is tender and heartfelt with plenty of yearning and friendship. I liked the character progression of both Ginger and Rhys and I understand why they didn't' get together at first but I was so sad that they were seemingly letting their lives pass by them without telling the other how they really felt. While I do think its sweet that they were friends for a long time and built their relationship I couldn't help but feel like they missed out on so much time together and so many life events while just remaining friends. Yes, this built their love for one another but it made me sad. That being said, the tender moments they shared were wonderful and I loved that Ginger was Rhys' anchor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Quick Summary: An "another place, another time" romance

My Review: Only After We Met by Alice Kellen is a NA romance that tells the story of star-crossed lovers. The audiobook is scheduled for release on January 21, 2025.

About the Book: "...the romantic story of how a chance encounter can last a lifetime."

In My Own Words: Two people who happen to meet in Paris bond in a special way. As they venture through their lives and have new experiences, they stay in touch. They soon find a beautiful rhythm together.

What I Loved: Ginger and Rhys had such a deep and meaningful relationship. From the moment they met, their connection was real. I loved how they couldn't hide and didn't want to hide from each other. They supported, encouraged, and had feelings for each other. They cared and showed concern in a very real way that worked and went beyond the obvious.

Favorite Quote: "We live on the moon." (There is so much to that simple statement.)

About the Characters: The cast of characters, from the leads to the supports, presented the just right texture to the story. I really liked the differences the story featured - the generational differences, the differences between siblings, the differences between partners, the differences regarding the approaches to living life, the differences between expectations. Even in the differences, there existed similarities.

About the Narration: This novel was narrated by Gail Shalan and Benjamin Crow. I enjoyed the way they carried the characters. They expressed the story perfectly.

My Final Say: I appreciated that this novel was about finding one's true self. It was also about two people finding each other, in spite of the up and down challenges they faced. I loved how the story's movement and timing flowed. It was brilliantly done.

Other: I absolutely love the writing of Alice Kellen. Every one of her books that I've read has left a mark. Her characters are flawed but redeemable. She also does a sensational job with emotional arcs. I can always count on her writing to impact my heart.

#lunalove #USontheMoon

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA/A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the narrators, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. The listening experience was wonderful. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Alice Kellen’s Only After We Met is a tender and emotional exploration of love, heartbreak, and the unbreakable connection between two souls. This beautifully written story follows two characters as they navigate the highs and lows of falling in love, only to be pulled apart time and time again by circumstances and their own imperfections.

At the heart of the novel is the unique and heartfelt bond the characters share, maintained through a series of intimate emails. These exchanges allow their friendship to deepen even as life and mistakes push them further apart. Kellen’s portrayal of their relationship is both raw and poignant, showcasing the beauty of vulnerability and the resilience of true connection.

The characters are richly developed, their flaws and struggles making them achingly real. The push-and-pull dynamic between them is infused with genuine emotion, and readers will find themselves rooting for their happiness despite the challenges they face. Kellen masterfully balances moments of hope and heartbreak, creating a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is moving.

What makes Only After We Met truly exceptional is its ability to evoke deep feelings in the reader. The story doesn’t shy away from exploring pain, regret, and the bittersweet nature of love. Yet, it also celebrates the power of forgiveness and the strength found in enduring friendships.

If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you reflecting on the complexities of love and relationships, Only After We Met is an absolute must-read. Alice Kellen has crafted a deeply affecting novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.