A unique second chance romance.

I enjoy Gilmore's writing so even though this sounded a bit odd, I gave it a shot. I found this to be a pleasant surprise. It's full of heart, vulnerability and a unique take a on second chance romance. Liam and Paige were a great pairing. They had a lot of chemistry and I liked that they actually communicated and talked about the past. The characters felt realistic too.

This has a dual timeline which can be tricky to blend well into the present storyline, but Gilmore accomplished this. I really liked having the two timelines to see the characters growth and the issues with their romance before.

Would recommend!

Oh, the JOY of reading a Clare Gilmore book. Clare was born to write and tell stories, there is absolutely no doubt about that.

This is a second chance, dual timeline story. The vulnerability and growth you want is there, and it was done so, so well. These characters were crafted with so much heart and realness; I felt for them, and I felt WITH them as well.

I can’t recommend this author enough. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Clare Gilmore was made to tell stories. Anything she writes, I will read. Forever. I was moved to overwhelmed tears at the end of this book.

There is something about the way Clare crafts her characters and narratives that I attach to in a visceral way. I can feel myself absorbing every emotion her characters experience — the beautiful and the painful. There is so much of both in this story. Paige and Liam are the very definition of “right person, wrong time” and even that doesn’t adequately describe them. The “wrong time” was truly the right time for putting their lives on the paths they are meant to travel even if it means utter devastation in the moment. It makes everything that’s waiting when they find their way back to each other that much more certain. They know what broke them and they know what they have to face down if there is a chance of coming out stronger on the other side.

One thing I especially love about Clare’s writing is that her characters communicate so well. This is a dual timeline, and in the “four years ago” timeline, Paige and Liam obviously make missteps in this aspect. First, they’re both young and still learning who they are. Second, they both have complicated family history factoring into that self-discovery. Third, they both have to face extreme change they are wholly unprepared for. Even in all of that, there is still such a mature directness between them and the sense that they each see things in the other that no one else does, including themselves. When they reunite, they know what they stand to lose this time around and face it accordingly based on their own needs and boundaries for what is ahead.

This is such a moving second-chance romance, but it’s also an intense study in family dynamics and especially bonds of sisterhood. It is also a love letter to the power of art. Music in this instance specifically, but easily broadly applied to all art that gets put out into the world. The story Clare has told with this book is all around beautiful.

I feel like I’m rambling at this point and yet still feel like I could continue on endlessly, so I’ll wrap it up. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griff for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely perfect. There is something so special about the way Clare writes. And after all this time I am still AMAZED. She writes with so much heart and vulnerability and it hits me right in the heart every single time in the BEST WAY.

Liam and Paige have my whole entire heart. I cannot even begin to explain why and how I love this book so much??? October is a while away, so I will be back after a reread for a fully review.

Thank you so much to SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.