This is a sweet story, perfect for lovers of the second-chance trope, with two likeable main characters who are realistic and relatable. The narrative bounces between past and present, which I found slightly distracting but does provide background insight into both characters’ present actions. This would be a fun read for someone looking to reflect on high school / teenage years as an adult and gain perspective on teenage love. It was a solid read, with fun characters and some cameos from seemingly cute aquatic animals.

Thank you NetGalley, the author & publisher for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book!

This book is a well done example of a second chance romance novel! One thing that I really loved about this book was that the thoughts & feelings of main character Peyton was worded in a way that felt relatable to the reader, even if they hadn’t had a similar experience of all consuming love at such a young age. I really enjoyed her character and she felt very down to earth and genuine. Our other main character, Hanna, was also well done and I loved seeing her open up at the end, but was slightly disappointed we didn’t get a view into her thoughts throughout the book. Their early relationship was very well portrayed and I often felt like I could visualise the characters together at that age. One thing I did struggle with was that it did feel slightly as if the book was just one big miscommunication trope on the whole, but overall, I felt that it was very cute & I enjoyed my time reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. Worth Waiting For by Kristin Keppler is a sweet and heartfelt romance that explores themes of patience, trust, and personal growth. The story follows two characters who must navigate their own challenges before finding love with each other. Keppler’s writing is engaging and relatable, with strong chemistry between the leads that keeps readers invested in their journey. The book is heartwarming, with moments of humor and emotional depth. Overall, Worth Waiting For is an enjoyable read for fans of slow-burn romances and character-driven stories.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Peyton and Hanna were high school sweethearts until graduation. Peyton hasn’t given her heart to anyone and enjoys having flings after flings she a marine biologist at her local town’s aquarium. Peyton is shock to see Hanna return after all theses years and starts to work at the aquarium as a resident vet. Peyton doesn’t want Hanna in her life but the feelings she tries to ignore keeps annoying her as she gets to know this Hanna who was under a lot of pressure from her parents in high school who didn’t really approve of Peyton but can they let go of the past to see a future. This is good second romance told from Peyton pov as some chapters is in the past as we see how they fall in love.

[2.5]
Peyton is a marine biologist at her local town’s aquarium, she’s living her carefree single life when Hanna, her high school love and the one who broke her heart, returns to town after 9 years and starts working at the aquarium alongside Peyton.

This is the second book in a series set in the same universe however, this book was easy to understand without reading the first book. It may be good to know that there are major recurring characters from the first book that may make this one easier to understand.

I was really hoping to love this second chance romance, but some things just made it miss the mark for me.
Towards the start of the book, it felt very YA and like the way the characters and their personalities were written, were more in line with someone high school aged instead of someone who is pushing 30. I enjoyed the friendships in this book, but it often took me out of the story when I would remember how old they were meant to be.
Often there was lots of retelling of events or conversations that had happened, that I think could have just been included as a scene instead.
There were sometimes time skips that I found took me out of the story, the earliest one I can think of is that the book started in May but by chapter 3 they were celebrating Christmas.

This was a cute second chance romance, it was easy to read, and I enjoyed the ending - however I do think there were some things overlooked in the creation of it.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

“Worth Waiting For” by Kristin Keppler is a contemporary romance that follows Peyton, an aquarium worker. After nine years since their high school romance, Hanna shows up as the aquarium's newest employee. Kristin has been heartbroken since they broke up and sought relief through sex and surfing. Hanna seems successful with her new PhD in hand, a girlfriend, and success. So why is she here?

The book is a sweet romance that shows a second chance love story. Unlike other contemporary romance novels, “Worth Waiting For” is only from the perspective of Peyton. I enjoyed this as I felt the reader got to relearn Hanna at the same time as Peyton. Some chapters also flashback to their high school era, which shows how their relationship was back then compared to now. I didn’t expect the flashbacks, and they weren’t my favorite part of the book as I wanted to read about adult romance in an adult romance book, but I can see why the chapters were there.

I haven’t read any other books by Kristin Keppler, but this one establishes her as a great sapphic romance author. And after looking into her other books there is another romance novel set in the same world, featuring Peyton’s best friend in this one, called “One Last Summer.” I enjoyed “Worth Waiting For” and so I will be adding the other to my reading list.

I think “Worth Waiting For” is a perfect book to add to any sapphic reader, especially if you like the second chance trope and a little bit of spice along with a sweet romance.

Worth Waiting For is a super sweet second chance romance. Second chance romance is not my favorite trope, but I truly enjoyed reading Hanna and Peyton’s story.

Hanna and Peyton were high school girlfriends who broke up before graduation. Almost ten years later, Hanna returns to their town to work as a resident vet for the same aquarium Peyton works at. This story is told in Peyton’s POV and in dual timeline.

This was technically a spin off from One Last Summer where we get Peyton's story, but it can be read as a standalone, but I think it enriches the story if you read the other first.

Peyton had her heart broken almost ten years ago by her high school girlfriend and hasn't had a real relationship since, just a myriad of fling after fling. That is until Hanna came back to town and old feelings resurfaced.

I'm a sucker for second chance romances, but this one felt choppy and all over the place. I understood the then, back in high school and the now was present day, but during the present, time jumped quickly and sometimes I didn't know what time of year it was. It was an interesting story and I enjoyed it, but the ending felt rushed and tied up too quickly for all Peyton and Hanna had been through.

Overall, I'd recommend this for a light angst read, but it wasn't my favorite.

I have a love-hate relationship with second chance romance. I love to hurt, but at the same time it's not fun to do it when you know from the beginning that it will hurt. My heart and my mental health are too fragile to deliberately expose myself to the heartbreak that is second chance. However, there was something about this book that called to me and I couldn't help but apply for an ARC. I cried on and off throughout the book. Keppler really knows how to make you feel all the emotions. Although the book was quite short, the book was perfect. I loved it!

It's been a while since I read a second chance novel that makes me want to keep reading. It's not unique but it's well done. The choice of the single POV is really clever and is really immersive I really felt Peyton's frustration, confusion, heartbreak and behind all these emotions, love for Hanna. I wanted to know so much what was happening in Hanna's head. We can guess her reciprocal love behind her actions though. I liked the secondary characters that I understand some of thel comes from a first book. It didn’t prevent me from reading this one that can be read as a standalone. They create a warm and loving atmosphere. The dual timeline was well done and Keppler tortured me until almost the end to know what happen.

Overall it's a really sweet second chance novel, about first love, growth and forgiveness.

Worth Waiting For is a cute second chance romance following Peyton and Hanna, who dated in high school and reconnect almost ten years later when they both end up working at the same aquarium. The novel being told from Peyton’s point of view only worked, since she struggled to consider how other people’s experiences might be different than hers and almost always centred herself. One of my favourite aspects was the aquarium and marine biology setting—it made for a unique and enjoyable backdrop. However, I found it difficult to fully buy into the intensity of Peyton and Hanna’s feelings, both in high school and nearly a decade later. The idea that their emotions remained unchanged over so many years felt unrealistic. Personally, I’m not a fan of dual timelines, and I didn’t feel that the high school flashbacks were necessary or added much to the story. The first few chapters were also somewhat confusing in terms of establishing the current timeline between Peyton and Hanna. The book introduced a lot of secondary characters that didn’t seem essential to the plot, making it feel a bit overcrowded. All said, it was a sweet and enjoyable romance.

It's a quite nice lesbian romance novel. It's not out of the ordinary in my opinion, but it was perfectly enjoyable and nice to read.

This was a good story of growth from who we are in high school to who we are as adults. It was a good journey of rediscovering yourself and getting to know who you are and who you want to be.

The story moved slow in some places but it was still a fun read and I enjoyed the characters learning to be themselves again.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

**ARC Review: *Worth Waiting For* by Kristin Keppler**

If you love a second-chance romance that’s packed with heart, tension, and undeniable chemistry, *Worth Waiting For* is *the* book to pick up!

Peyton Reilly has spent years avoiding commitment, content with her job, her friends, and her surfboard. But when her *first love*, Hanna Choi, suddenly reappears—at her workplace, no less—Peyton’s world is flipped upside down. The spark between them? Still there. The unresolved heartbreak? Definitely still there. And now, they have no choice but to confront the past… and maybe, just maybe, figure out if their love was always meant to be.

Kristin Keppler absolutely nails the emotional push-and-pull of a reunion romance, making you root for Peyton and Hanna even as they stumble through old wounds and new feelings. Their chemistry is *electric*, the longing is *real*, and the journey to their possible happily-ever-after is filled with swoon-worthy moments that will have you turning pages *way* past bedtime.

This is the kind of book that makes your heart race in anticipation, and you won’t be able to stop yourself from *feeling* every bit of the tension, hope, and love woven throughout the story.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

What a cute second chance romance!! I usually don’t love second chance romances. But it felt like they actually talked about their issues in this one. I can’t explain why but I have such a crush on Peyton! The vibes were perfection and I was rooting for them the entire time.

This is a story that reinforces why I love second-chance romance novels so much! I'm a sucker for it!
It's a sweet romance that started in school and could actually last a lifetime if it weren't for family, friends and possible perfect competitors who your parents like better than the girl who turns your head from the first moment.
Hanna is a good girl who is under a lot of pressure from her parents and yet she falls in love with Peyton.
Peyton Reilly is messy, not perfect and not at all what Mrs. and Mr. Choi want for their daughter.
Peyton is aware that she is all of those things, but she is also one thing for sure. She‘s one hundret percent in love with Hannah and would do anything for her.
That's the past. Of course the present looks different.
The story begins in the present and the two meet after nine years of radio silence.
Everything is upside down and every suppressed feeling, which Peyton hides well and distracts herself with random women, comes full force and front center into her head and heart.
I like Peyton a lot and was very happy to read her story.
It's very emotionally charged and always exciting when these two are in the same room.
Wonderful new characters and of course well-known and lovedcharacters are there again and everything has a nice development and comes to a wonderful end!
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and the Author for a beautul second-chance romance and the ARC!

<i>Worth Waiting For</i> is a cute second chance sapphic romance. It asks the question can we begin again after so much has passed?

Peyton and Hanna had a disastrous break up near the end of high school when the pressure of attending colleges across the country eventually tore them apart. Now they are both working at the same aquarium and Peyton is realizing she never really stopped loving Hanna. While Peyton works through her feelings about being left behind she has to decide if she wants Hanna in her life now. After some miscommunication, and reluctance to face the past we see our characters working through past hurts.

If you like second chance romances I would give this a read. It was enjoyable while also holding space for our characters complicated emotions. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 rounded up to 4/5 Stars

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I received this book as a gift from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to the author!

This is a timeless tale of high school sweethearts torn apart by the prospect of attending different colleges across the country. Nearly a decade after their breakup, Peyton and Hanna still seem unable to move on. The story unfolds across two timelines—past and present—giving us a glimpse into how they met and fell in love almost instantly. As their senior year approaches, their relationship starts to unravel, ultimately leading to their breakup. Ten years later, they cross paths again while working at an aquarium. Old patterns begin to resurface, and it looks like another heartbreak may be looming.

At first, I found the book a bit slow and felt that the characters could have displayed more emotional depth. Some members of the friend group felt unnecessary and could have been better used to explore the initial awkwardness Hanna and Peyton faced when they reunited after all those years. The last 30% of the book definitely packed more of an emotional punch, but sadly, the earlier sections felt somewhat shallow, focusing too much on their physical attraction, which made it harder to grasp the full weight of their past heartbreak. Nevertheless, it was a quick and enjoyable read. I finished it in two days, making it a perfect choice for a summer read!

P.S. I didn't realize this book features recurring characters from the author's previous novel, but I didn't feel that reading it was necessary to enjoy this one.

Worth Waiting For is a sapphic, second chance romance that revolves around our protagonist Peyton Reiley, a surfer and marine biologist, living her best single life.

When Peyton shows up for a work meeting, the last person she expects to see is her high school ex Hanna, who left her heartbroken almost trnn years ago. The storyline follows Peyton and Hanna as they navigate being around each other after so long, as well as flicking back to how they fell in love and apart.

This had me very reminiscent of my first love, the awkwardness of it all and the joys of trying to navigate a queer relationship whilst living with family. It had me smiling at the highs, shaking my kindlen during any miscommunication and heartbroken at the lows. I loved all of the minor characters included and it was good to see how they supported our lovely duo during both past and present.

At times, the miscommunication between Hanna and Peyton felt unnecessary and I would have liked to see some more development in Peyton during the present timeline - after 9 years you'd think communication would improve just a tad - but it was a satisfying conclusion.

I'd definitely suggest picking this up for a holiday read this spring/summer. Every time they went surfing I wished I was reading from a beach abroad.