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Cottonwood Cove #1
Into the Tide
She’s my best friend’s little sister. Completely off-limits. But every man has his breaking point.
Lila James is my best friend’s little sister, and I’ve always looked out for her.
She's five years younger than me, and when she left for college, she was just a kid.
But now she’s home for the summer—and she’s definitely not a kid anymore.
She’s beautiful, smart, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
Dark eyes. Long wavy hair. And legs that are meant to be wrapped around me.
I'm the guy who likes to have a good time.
Keep things light.
When her brother asks me to hire her at my restaurant, it's a no-brainer.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
Until she asks me for one more favor.
She wants me to be her first.
Take her V-card.
Go where no man has gone before.
Her words, not mine.
And damn, if I don’t want to go there more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
She's only here for the summer, and she says it will be our secret.
It’s temporary.
We’ll go back to being just friends at the end of summer.
She promises that she won’t fall for me.
She knows better.
But Lila isn’t the one I'm worried about.
**This is book one in the Cottonwood Cove Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
Lila James is my best friend’s little sister, and I’ve always looked out for her.
She's five years younger than me, and when she left for college, she was just a kid.
But now she’s home for the summer—and she’s definitely not a kid anymore.
She’s beautiful, smart, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
Dark eyes. Long wavy hair. And legs that are meant to be wrapped around me.
I'm the guy who likes to have a good time.
Keep things light.
When her brother asks me to hire her at my restaurant, it's a no-brainer.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
Until she asks me for one more favor.
She wants me to be her first.
Take her V-card.
Go where no man has gone before.
Her words, not mine.
And damn, if I don’t want to go there more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
She's only here for the summer, and she says it will be our secret.
It’s temporary.
We’ll go back to being just friends at the end of summer.
She promises that she won’t fall for me.
She knows better.
But Lila isn’t the one I'm worried about.
**This is book one in the Cottonwood Cove Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 16, 2023
7548 people are currently reading
36842 people want to read
About the author
Laura Pavlov
59 books10.8k followersLaura Pavlov is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 Bestselling author. She writes sweet and sexy small town romance that will make you both laugh and cry. Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome kids who are currently adulting, one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. She's living her own happily ever after in Las Vegas. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves hearing from readers!
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Website➡️https://www.laurapavlov.com/
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Pav-Loves Readers ➡️ https://bit.ly/2OKU6T5
Newsletter ➡️ https://bit.ly/2M3MzRv
Facebook➡️http://bit.ly/3eSvEdp
Goodreads ➡️ https://bit.ly/31sh2Oz
BookBub➡️http://bit.ly/3ii8Vdp
Amazon➡️http://amzn.to/3c1xKZX
Website➡️https://www.laurapavlov.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,029 reviews
July 11, 2023
3.75⭐️s. This is such a fun summer read. It's brother's best friend, boss/employee, a small-town romance, and takes place over one summer. I loved the small-town setting and the big cast of characters, especially Hugh's siblings (they had such a fun dynamic). Lila and Hugh start with more of a saucy attraction (lots of spice!) that then turns into a deeper connection which I loved. And there were so many fun scenes and plot points, like skinny dipping in the cove, going to a wedding, and working at a restaurant.
A few things I didn't love: sometimes the writing felt a little too direct like it needed more 'show don't tell'. Lila's big goal for the summer is to lose her virginity which is a totally fine plot point, but sometimes I thought it was talked about wayyy too much and got a little repetitive.
Other than that, a great read! I'm definitely going to check out more books by this author and read the second book in the series.
A few things I didn't love: sometimes the writing felt a little too direct like it needed more 'show don't tell'. Lila's big goal for the summer is to lose her virginity which is a totally fine plot point, but sometimes I thought it was talked about wayyy too much and got a little repetitive.
Other than that, a great read! I'm definitely going to check out more books by this author and read the second book in the series.
June 30, 2023
Small town and brother's best friend!? Yes, please!
I really loved how Hugh saw Lila in such a different way during the summer she was staying home before she started her first job after college in Chicago. They definitely had a simmering attraction until it finally turned into something more after they were around each other so much. Lila is helping Hugh with his business and Lila asks Hugh for help with her list of things to do before the summer is over. One of my favorite parts of this book, though, was how close Hugh was with his family. We get fun text messages and see Hugh bring Lila as his date to a wedding where they have to share a hotel room. This as just so spicy and fun and I really loved how the ending played out! I didn't feel like either one of them was settling and I just loved how much they fell in love with each other.
I am already dying for book two!!
I really loved how Hugh saw Lila in such a different way during the summer she was staying home before she started her first job after college in Chicago. They definitely had a simmering attraction until it finally turned into something more after they were around each other so much. Lila is helping Hugh with his business and Lila asks Hugh for help with her list of things to do before the summer is over. One of my favorite parts of this book, though, was how close Hugh was with his family. We get fun text messages and see Hugh bring Lila as his date to a wedding where they have to share a hotel room. This as just so spicy and fun and I really loved how the ending played out! I didn't feel like either one of them was settling and I just loved how much they fell in love with each other.
I am already dying for book two!!
August 18, 2023
4.25 stars
You'll be catching me reading all of Laura Pavlov's back list sooner rather than later if the first two I've read of hers is anything to go off!
I read 'Under the Stars' earlier this month and was obsessed so I decided to start the series from the beginning. I loved Hugh and Lila's book as well. Brother's best friend, forbidden romance, it was so good! I'm excited to read more from this series, and now that I've met the cousin's from the other books I want to get to those as well! I love finding new to me authors x
You'll be catching me reading all of Laura Pavlov's back list sooner rather than later if the first two I've read of hers is anything to go off!
I read 'Under the Stars' earlier this month and was obsessed so I decided to start the series from the beginning. I loved Hugh and Lila's book as well. Brother's best friend, forbidden romance, it was so good! I'm excited to read more from this series, and now that I've met the cousin's from the other books I want to get to those as well! I love finding new to me authors x
March 6, 2023
Someone slap me for waiting so long to read a Laura Pavlov masterpiece! Into the Tide was swoony, sexy, and just downright FUN. I smiled the whole time — when I wasn’t blushing, at least. ;) The creek scene will live rent-free in my head for the rest of my days. And the angsty deliciousness of best friend’s little sister? I ATE IT UP. The writing was fluid and swept me away. The story was addicting and fun. An easy five star read that I won’t forget!
April 26, 2023
”No one knows what they’re doing until they find someone worth doing it with.”
Laura Pavlov just smashed it out of the park with this first book in a brand new series. And with this hero, because I’m in love with Hugh Reynolds. He’s my favorite of her heroes so far, so I’m calling dibs!
”I’d never had a problem controlling myself around women. I wasn’t that guy. This would be a piece of cake.”
Hugh is a hardworking guy, someone who put his own plans on hold indefinitely to be there for his family. A real man with a protective streak and his heart in the right place, who is as growly as he is gentle when it matters. And hot. He is also not looking for a specific lady or a relationship. But both are about to be thrown in his lap.
”This girl turned me on in a way no one ever had, and she could make me laugh without even trying. When I was with Lila, it was easy and honest and real.”
While Lila is a virgin, she’s not one of those clueless ones who only manage to piss me off (I mean, this being the 21st century and all). She's a strong girl with a good head on her shoulders who knows what she wants. Maybe she wasn’t aware of what that was until she returned to Cottonwood Cove, but she is now.
And what, or who, she wants is going to change them both.
“I don’t think you’re desperate, Bear. I think any woman would be lucky to be with you.”
Lila comes back home for a break before she needs to start a new job in Chicago. She might be sort of ready for corporate America, but she’s definitely ready to wind down after all the pressure from college. When she ends up helping Hugh at the restaurant, that’s not surprising. Neither is it surprising when she goes to live with him in his casita, next to his own house. They're friends and all.
“Because you’re afraid of my brother? Or afraid of your feelings? Which one is it, because I know that you want me, and I obviously want you.”
Everything else that happens between them? Hell yes, that was surprising, especially for them. But also right. When she makes a bucket list of things she wants to do while she’s home and includes losing her V-card, something changes.
Maybe "changes" is the wrong word… Maybe something had been simmering between them for a bit.
"I wasn’t nervous with Hugh. He encouraged me to take what I wanted and not to be afraid to use my voice. Or my mouth, apparently."
I loved that, even though she's a virgin, she knows how to tempt him. He may think he shouldn’t, but he's a goner after a certain scene… and I may have a new fantasy I need to act on related to skinny dipping.
Just saying.
I blame Laura for this.
“What is it that I deserve, Bear?” I asked, closing the distance between us.
“Everything. Every. Fucking. Thing.”
They're amazing together. Every single thing about them screams "meant to be," even if her brother is an overbearing ass. I sort of forgave him in the end. Sort of.
His family's group chat is hilarious, and I can't wait for each of his brothers and sisters to meet their match.
"I always found her. Like she was calling to me from wherever she was."
A lot of what they have remains unsaid, though. So much so that it can be seen as something only physical, uneventful, that will pass.
And they both know she has a job waiting for her in the big city and that his life is rooted in their little hometown.
"#13. Tell Hugh Reynolds that I love him. Not a friendship kind of love. That I-can’t-live-without-you, people-write-poetry-about kind of love. The real deal."
The real question is: how can they work? What is he willing to give up for her, and what is she willing to do for him?
And what will it take for them to finally come out and say what everybody already knows they're feeling?
P.S. You need to read the bonus scene too. If you're not in love with Hugh yet, you surely will be then!
"He kissed me like it was the first time. He kissed me like it was the last time. He kissed me like it was forever."
This is the story of an unwavering friendship that becomes more, and a love that is built on strong foundations that you know will last. Their love comes through on every page, and you will want to follow them into whatever tide. It's that good.
Laura Pavlov just smashed it out of the park with this first book in a brand new series. And with this hero, because I’m in love with Hugh Reynolds. He’s my favorite of her heroes so far, so I’m calling dibs!
”I’d never had a problem controlling myself around women. I wasn’t that guy. This would be a piece of cake.”
Hugh is a hardworking guy, someone who put his own plans on hold indefinitely to be there for his family. A real man with a protective streak and his heart in the right place, who is as growly as he is gentle when it matters. And hot. He is also not looking for a specific lady or a relationship. But both are about to be thrown in his lap.
”This girl turned me on in a way no one ever had, and she could make me laugh without even trying. When I was with Lila, it was easy and honest and real.”
While Lila is a virgin, she’s not one of those clueless ones who only manage to piss me off (I mean, this being the 21st century and all). She's a strong girl with a good head on her shoulders who knows what she wants. Maybe she wasn’t aware of what that was until she returned to Cottonwood Cove, but she is now.
And what, or who, she wants is going to change them both.
“I don’t think you’re desperate, Bear. I think any woman would be lucky to be with you.”
Lila comes back home for a break before she needs to start a new job in Chicago. She might be sort of ready for corporate America, but she’s definitely ready to wind down after all the pressure from college. When she ends up helping Hugh at the restaurant, that’s not surprising. Neither is it surprising when she goes to live with him in his casita, next to his own house. They're friends and all.
“Because you’re afraid of my brother? Or afraid of your feelings? Which one is it, because I know that you want me, and I obviously want you.”
Everything else that happens between them? Hell yes, that was surprising, especially for them. But also right. When she makes a bucket list of things she wants to do while she’s home and includes losing her V-card, something changes.
Maybe "changes" is the wrong word… Maybe something had been simmering between them for a bit.
"I wasn’t nervous with Hugh. He encouraged me to take what I wanted and not to be afraid to use my voice. Or my mouth, apparently."
I loved that, even though she's a virgin, she knows how to tempt him. He may think he shouldn’t, but he's a goner after a certain scene… and I may have a new fantasy I need to act on related to skinny dipping.
Just saying.
I blame Laura for this.
“What is it that I deserve, Bear?” I asked, closing the distance between us.
“Everything. Every. Fucking. Thing.”
They're amazing together. Every single thing about them screams "meant to be," even if her brother is an overbearing ass. I sort of forgave him in the end. Sort of.
His family's group chat is hilarious, and I can't wait for each of his brothers and sisters to meet their match.
"I always found her. Like she was calling to me from wherever she was."
A lot of what they have remains unsaid, though. So much so that it can be seen as something only physical, uneventful, that will pass.
And they both know she has a job waiting for her in the big city and that his life is rooted in their little hometown.
"#13. Tell Hugh Reynolds that I love him. Not a friendship kind of love. That I-can’t-live-without-you, people-write-poetry-about kind of love. The real deal."
The real question is: how can they work? What is he willing to give up for her, and what is she willing to do for him?
And what will it take for them to finally come out and say what everybody already knows they're feeling?
P.S. You need to read the bonus scene too. If you're not in love with Hugh yet, you surely will be then!
"He kissed me like it was the first time. He kissed me like it was the last time. He kissed me like it was forever."
This is the story of an unwavering friendship that becomes more, and a love that is built on strong foundations that you know will last. Their love comes through on every page, and you will want to follow them into whatever tide. It's that good.
March 18, 2023
DNF at 38%. I’m obviously in the minority here but this one just didn’t work for me.
I loved the Honey Mountain series so I was really excited for this new one but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. The brothers best friend trope is such a fine line for me. It can be done well or it can be done really badly and this one wasn’t good.
Lila’s brother was an asshole. Controlling, overly protective and just down right disrespectful- talking over and FOR Lila in multiple instances. He completely overruled Lila, blatantly ignoring her feelings and wants. And this was all before the MCs even got together AND before the “brother finds out” reveal. Just a big yikes all around.
The MCs had good chemistry but their dialogue seemed forced and awkward in some cases and it just made it hard to really connect to them.
I loved the Honey Mountain series so I was really excited for this new one but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. The brothers best friend trope is such a fine line for me. It can be done well or it can be done really badly and this one wasn’t good.
Lila’s brother was an asshole. Controlling, overly protective and just down right disrespectful- talking over and FOR Lila in multiple instances. He completely overruled Lila, blatantly ignoring her feelings and wants. And this was all before the MCs even got together AND before the “brother finds out” reveal. Just a big yikes all around.
The MCs had good chemistry but their dialogue seemed forced and awkward in some cases and it just made it hard to really connect to them.
March 21, 2023
There is more chemistry between me (a woman in a relationship) and my Amazon delivery driver I see once a week than there is between the 2 main characters. Admittedly, I skimmed the last 20% bc I was so bored.
Waaaaaaaaaaay too much useless dialogue, which is ironic considering this is a book we’re talking about.
Waaaaaaaaaaay too much useless dialogue, which is ironic considering this is a book we’re talking about.
June 12, 2025
2⭐️
The phrase "they had me in the first half" applies perfectly to this book and how I felt cause literally what was that last 40%? 😭
The characters were probably some of the best yet one of the worst parts about this book. Let's start with the good! I thought this book had some of the funniest banter and the Reynolds brothers were such a highlight. I loved listening to their texts between each other cause it was just so funny. Both Lila and Hugh held such good values when it came to their families; they would do anything for them. The love ran deep and I thought it was expressed extremely well. They were funny and relatable and I enjoyed them for the most part. Unfortunately, that's about as far as it went.
The love and tension was so superficial and lacked so much substance between Hugh and Lila. 3 chapters in and it was all about sex sex sex. The insta-lust was ridiculously heavy and it stayed that way through the ENTIRE book. Some of the scenes were fun but after the first 60% of the book it just went downhill cause it was ALLLL about losing her virginity and the amount of sex they were having. What happened to the siblings? What happened to the banter? What happened to the angst? It all just fell super flat. Definitely disappointed.
The plot itself had SO MUCH POTENTIAL but man did it suck. I really wanted to know more about Lila's dad and their history with his addiction and alcoholism, but that was just a tiny fraction. The main plot of this book was just sex and I just don't think that was for me. It also didn't help the plot that it was a pretty short book and I think it could've done with being a bit longer for backstory and depth purposes.
Overall, the best thing I can say to describe this is it had such great potential, but ultimately fell flat and the execution could've been better. I liked how the book started and continued until about the 60% mark, and then it just disappointed me. I miss the humor and jokes and tension between the characters, even the side characters!! I don't know why the sudden change happened, but I definitely preferred the first half to the second.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I want to be an audiobook girly soooo bad 😭
This sounded perfect to do my crafts to so I'm hoping to love this more than previous ones ✨
The phrase "they had me in the first half" applies perfectly to this book and how I felt cause literally what was that last 40%? 😭
The characters were probably some of the best yet one of the worst parts about this book. Let's start with the good! I thought this book had some of the funniest banter and the Reynolds brothers were such a highlight. I loved listening to their texts between each other cause it was just so funny. Both Lila and Hugh held such good values when it came to their families; they would do anything for them. The love ran deep and I thought it was expressed extremely well. They were funny and relatable and I enjoyed them for the most part. Unfortunately, that's about as far as it went.
The love and tension was so superficial and lacked so much substance between Hugh and Lila. 3 chapters in and it was all about sex sex sex. The insta-lust was ridiculously heavy and it stayed that way through the ENTIRE book. Some of the scenes were fun but after the first 60% of the book it just went downhill cause it was ALLLL about losing her virginity and the amount of sex they were having. What happened to the siblings? What happened to the banter? What happened to the angst? It all just fell super flat. Definitely disappointed.
The plot itself had SO MUCH POTENTIAL but man did it suck. I really wanted to know more about Lila's dad and their history with his addiction and alcoholism, but that was just a tiny fraction. The main plot of this book was just sex and I just don't think that was for me. It also didn't help the plot that it was a pretty short book and I think it could've done with being a bit longer for backstory and depth purposes.
Overall, the best thing I can say to describe this is it had such great potential, but ultimately fell flat and the execution could've been better. I liked how the book started and continued until about the 60% mark, and then it just disappointed me. I miss the humor and jokes and tension between the characters, even the side characters!! I don't know why the sudden change happened, but I definitely preferred the first half to the second.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I want to be an audiobook girly soooo bad 😭
This sounded perfect to do my crafts to so I'm hoping to love this more than previous ones ✨
Read
March 14, 2023💕 INTO THE TIDE COVER + BLURB REVEAL 💕
Into the Tide: https://geni.us/intothetide
𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆
𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁.
Lila James is my best friend’s little sister and I’ve always looked out for her.
She's five years younger than me, and when she left for college, she was just a kid.
But now she’s home for the summer—and she’s definitely not a kid anymore.
She’s beautiful and smart and everything I didn’t know I needed.
Dark eyes. Long wavy hair. And legs that are meant to be wrapped around me.
I'm the guy who likes to have a good time.
Keep things light.
When her brother asks me to hire her at my restaurant, it's a no-brainer.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
Until she asks me for one more favor.
She wants me to be her first.
𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘝-𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥.
𝘎𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.
Her words, not mine.
And damn if I don’t want to go there more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
She's only here for the summer, and she says it will be our secret.
It’s temporary.
We’ll go back to being just friends at the end of summer.
She promises that she won’t fall for me.
She knows better.
But Lila isn’t the one I'm worried about.
Cover Designer @byhangle
Photographer @madisonmaltby_photo
Into the Tide: https://geni.us/intothetide
𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆
𝗼𝗳𝗳-𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁.
Lila James is my best friend’s little sister and I’ve always looked out for her.
She's five years younger than me, and when she left for college, she was just a kid.
But now she’s home for the summer—and she’s definitely not a kid anymore.
She’s beautiful and smart and everything I didn’t know I needed.
Dark eyes. Long wavy hair. And legs that are meant to be wrapped around me.
I'm the guy who likes to have a good time.
Keep things light.
When her brother asks me to hire her at my restaurant, it's a no-brainer.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
Until she asks me for one more favor.
She wants me to be her first.
𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘝-𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥.
𝘎𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.
Her words, not mine.
And damn if I don’t want to go there more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
She's only here for the summer, and she says it will be our secret.
It’s temporary.
We’ll go back to being just friends at the end of summer.
She promises that she won’t fall for me.
She knows better.
But Lila isn’t the one I'm worried about.
Cover Designer @byhangle
Photographer @madisonmaltby_photo
March 6, 2023
Gosh. I love Laura Pavlovs writing style SO MUCH. She is the freaking queen of dialogue between siblings. This book brought me right back to Honey Mountain and it made me soooo happy. I’m so excited for the rest of this series and for each siblings story (especially Cage 😉)
I loved Hugh and Lila’s story and it reminded me a little of Vivi and Niko.. maybe it’s just the long haired hottie but I still loved that it brought me back to that book!
This was done sooo well.. and I completely devoured it!!
Forced proximity
Overprotective brothers best friend
Her first time
Small town
Spice - 2 🌶️
I loved Hugh and Lila’s story and it reminded me a little of Vivi and Niko.. maybe it’s just the long haired hottie but I still loved that it brought me back to that book!
This was done sooo well.. and I completely devoured it!!
Forced proximity
Overprotective brothers best friend
Her first time
Small town
Spice - 2 🌶️
June 5, 2023
4.5 stars! Into the Tide is the first book in Laura Pavlov’s Cottonwood Cove series and I ate this book up! I had read the first book in this author’s Honey Mountain series a while back and thought that was cute, but it never pulled me in. But I’m so glad I gave this series a try (thanks to multiple friends telling me to lol), because it was soo good! I could see the author’s growth and these tropes just worked so well for me: small town and brother’s best friend.
Lila is back home for the summer after finishing college and she’s agreed to help out her older brother’s best friend, Hugh, at his restaurant. Lila also makes a list of things she wants to accomplish/do/have fun with while she’s home…including losing her virginity. And she’s convinced it should be Hugh! 👀 I loved the history between Hugh and Lila…the nicknames “Bear” and “Snow”, their chemistry and steam, keeping the relationship a secret from her brother, so so good! Lila’s relationship with her brother was nice to see as well, he really became like a parent figure to her since they lost their mother and then their father struggled with alcohol.
Things definitely worked very well and easy, so a bit of lower angst for me with the relationship, but this was just such a fun ride and I loved their chemistry. I especially liked how Hugh immediately goes for it towards the end and there isn’t a second thought for him once he knows she wants this to work just as much as him. The audiobook was especially well done and I can’t wait to now get to the second book in the series and possibly even go back to the Honey Mountain series because some of those tropes sound so good too!
Lila is back home for the summer after finishing college and she’s agreed to help out her older brother’s best friend, Hugh, at his restaurant. Lila also makes a list of things she wants to accomplish/do/have fun with while she’s home…including losing her virginity. And she’s convinced it should be Hugh! 👀 I loved the history between Hugh and Lila…the nicknames “Bear” and “Snow”, their chemistry and steam, keeping the relationship a secret from her brother, so so good! Lila’s relationship with her brother was nice to see as well, he really became like a parent figure to her since they lost their mother and then their father struggled with alcohol.
Things definitely worked very well and easy, so a bit of lower angst for me with the relationship, but this was just such a fun ride and I loved their chemistry. I especially liked how Hugh immediately goes for it towards the end and there isn’t a second thought for him once he knows she wants this to work just as much as him. The audiobook was especially well done and I can’t wait to now get to the second book in the series and possibly even go back to the Honey Mountain series because some of those tropes sound so good too!
June 4, 2023
2.5 stars… maybe I’m the problem? but why does a man in his 30s feel the need to control who his sister falls in love with? Like who cares if she’s with your best friend as long as it’s her choice….
I wanted to like this so so so bad but I think this is a good example of why I don’t always like the brothers best friend trope. Both the Hero and the heroine’s brother treated her like a kid for most of the book… they didn’t want her hanging out with certain people, or didn’t agree with her choices? She’s in her 20s!!!! She can do what she wants without y’all bugging her LMAO. Hugh and Lila’s story was ok. Hugh was too back and forth and cared too much about what Lila’s brother thought instead of actually choosing her first. He didn’t listen to her (listen I LOVE an unhinged controlling man at times but this wasn’t it). Lila’s brother Travis just ruined it all for me tbh.
BUT, the spice was good and the way Hugh took care of Lila in the bedroom was HOT.
I think it’s a me problem so don’t let this review deter you from reading.
I’m excited for the next book though!
I wanted to like this so so so bad but I think this is a good example of why I don’t always like the brothers best friend trope. Both the Hero and the heroine’s brother treated her like a kid for most of the book… they didn’t want her hanging out with certain people, or didn’t agree with her choices? She’s in her 20s!!!! She can do what she wants without y’all bugging her LMAO. Hugh and Lila’s story was ok. Hugh was too back and forth and cared too much about what Lila’s brother thought instead of actually choosing her first. He didn’t listen to her (listen I LOVE an unhinged controlling man at times but this wasn’t it). Lila’s brother Travis just ruined it all for me tbh.
BUT, the spice was good and the way Hugh took care of Lila in the bedroom was HOT.
I think it’s a me problem so don’t let this review deter you from reading.
I’m excited for the next book though!
March 16, 2023
Waaaaaay too much dialogue. Like get to the point already
March 24, 2024
This was…. So extremely cringy 🥲
June 5, 2023
I loved this book. I loved this feeling…
This couple was really good.
It’s worth the reading.
This couple was really good.
It’s worth the reading.
May 24, 2023
This one cracked me up.
Let me begin by saying brother's best friend is a go-to trope, but I do think it can very easily go corny.
Everyone and their mother is just absolutely *taken* by Lila and her beauty/smarts. It's insane how every character introduced into the story unabashedly fawns over her. She'll literally just answer a question or add to a conversation and the love interest will be like "You're so fucking cute, Lila..." It actually made me laugh out loud several times. Especially the scene where she goes to therapy and her therapist (the love interest's MOTHER 🙄) is literally like, "I love the way you delve into your feelings, you are a therapist's dream..." Hahahahaha, still gets me. This is one of those the heroine's-tragic-flaw-is-that-she-cares-too-much type of novels. Other than just simply *caring* too much for others 🤭, she is perfect in every way.
Also, the older brother is 🚩controlling🚩 to the point (again) of laughability. Every single scene he's in he just reminds her that she's going back to Chicago to make a better life for herself, even though she's already graduated college and was like Olympic bound for running? Well, he does that between fawning over her to all of his friends constantly. "She's so brilliant, can you imagine being that smart and amazing? I'm so insanely proud of her. It makes me physically ill how proud I am of my gorgeous and flawless brainiac sister..." (I am obviously paraphrasing, but not far off😂) It's also one of those main character runs to ✨escape ✨ kind of things. The forced sass of Lila made me cringeeeee. There was a lot of smirking and eyebrow raising 🙃🙃.
The banter between the H's siblings was entertaining. If anything, a little forced at times. The lake scene was hot. The bikini wax scene, not so much. Like Neosporin is not sexy, okay? Just, no.
The lols are endless in this little treasure. I did not DNF, but the cringe is reeeeal with this one. ❤️❤️
Let me begin by saying brother's best friend is a go-to trope, but I do think it can very easily go corny.
Everyone and their mother is just absolutely *taken* by Lila and her beauty/smarts. It's insane how every character introduced into the story unabashedly fawns over her. She'll literally just answer a question or add to a conversation and the love interest will be like "You're so fucking cute, Lila..." It actually made me laugh out loud several times. Especially the scene where she goes to therapy and her therapist (the love interest's MOTHER 🙄) is literally like, "I love the way you delve into your feelings, you are a therapist's dream..." Hahahahaha, still gets me. This is one of those the heroine's-tragic-flaw-is-that-she-cares-too-much type of novels. Other than just simply *caring* too much for others 🤭, she is perfect in every way.
Also, the older brother is 🚩controlling🚩 to the point (again) of laughability. Every single scene he's in he just reminds her that she's going back to Chicago to make a better life for herself, even though she's already graduated college and was like Olympic bound for running? Well, he does that between fawning over her to all of his friends constantly. "She's so brilliant, can you imagine being that smart and amazing? I'm so insanely proud of her. It makes me physically ill how proud I am of my gorgeous and flawless brainiac sister..." (I am obviously paraphrasing, but not far off😂) It's also one of those main character runs to ✨escape ✨ kind of things. The forced sass of Lila made me cringeeeee. There was a lot of smirking and eyebrow raising 🙃🙃.
The banter between the H's siblings was entertaining. If anything, a little forced at times. The lake scene was hot. The bikini wax scene, not so much. Like Neosporin is not sexy, okay? Just, no.
The lols are endless in this little treasure. I did not DNF, but the cringe is reeeeal with this one. ❤️❤️
November 30, 2024
him having long hair makes it impossible for me to fantasize
March 16, 2023
4.5 stars - such a good start to this new series!
lila is back in her small town after graduating from college and her brother forbids her from living with their father who struggles with addiction so she ends up living with and working for his best friend, hugh. hugh’s always been protective of lila but his feelings develop under such close proximity even though he knows her brother would kill him but sometimes it’s worth the risk.
this was so good! brother’s best friend but she’s also still carrying her ✨v card✨ so when she asks him for help, he resists before giving in to their chemistry. hugh was so hot and did so much for lila. i loved his whole family and i’m so excited to see their stories play out in the rest of the series.
emotional, sweet, spicy, a little bit of everything.
lila is back in her small town after graduating from college and her brother forbids her from living with their father who struggles with addiction so she ends up living with and working for his best friend, hugh. hugh’s always been protective of lila but his feelings develop under such close proximity even though he knows her brother would kill him but sometimes it’s worth the risk.
this was so good! brother’s best friend but she’s also still carrying her ✨v card✨ so when she asks him for help, he resists before giving in to their chemistry. hugh was so hot and did so much for lila. i loved his whole family and i’m so excited to see their stories play out in the rest of the series.
emotional, sweet, spicy, a little bit of everything.
March 18, 2024
i’m not particularly fond of the brother’s best friend trope so i’m not sure why i thought that i might like into the tide. this book was boring, repetitive (it was mentioned thirty-six times throughout the book that lila was a virgin), and vapid. lila’s brother, travis, was strangely consumed by lila’s doings and whereabouts like… focus on your wife and child instead. lila was more tolerable than our hero, hugh, but that isn’t a strenuous feat. i suppose that he ate with “She’s a grown-ass woman with a mind of her own. And you’re a grown-ass man with a wife and kid on the way. Stay in your own fucking lane, brother.” i loved that lila did what she wanted despite the discouragement and protests of others.
also, your therapist is normally someone that doesn’t know you personally. that’s a fact that can be easily researched online.
also, your therapist is normally someone that doesn’t know you personally. that’s a fact that can be easily researched online.
March 21, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
It was a really nice book, I liked it.
I didn’t gave it 4 stars because the fact that she’s a virgin was way too present in the book. I understand the importance of this element in the story but it was too much in my opinion.
BUT
The relationship between the Reynold’s siblings is >>>>
And their family group chat is HILARIOUS (and just for that part, the book is worth it).
I’ll definitely read the next one, which is boss - assistant 😏
🎧 I was listening to Morgan Wallen while reading Into the tide and it really added to the experience, 10/10 definitely recommend.
It was a really nice book, I liked it.
I didn’t gave it 4 stars because the fact that she’s a virgin was way too present in the book. I understand the importance of this element in the story but it was too much in my opinion.
BUT
The relationship between the Reynold’s siblings is >>>>
And their family group chat is HILARIOUS (and just for that part, the book is worth it).
I’ll definitely read the next one, which is boss - assistant 😏
🎧 I was listening to Morgan Wallen while reading Into the tide and it really added to the experience, 10/10 definitely recommend.
June 30, 2024
The beginning was good. Hugh was perfect fiend/boyfriend material. Man with a big heart. Lila like any other girl wanted to finally start her life without anyone decision involved.
…..
First 4 chapters were good (as introduction) and I continued till chapter 6. Then skipped to chapter 8 and read to chapter 10. From chapter 10 skipped to chapter 13 and read till chapter 20 ….lastly skimmed through epilogue.
….
I was not fan of writing and got bored quickly.
I feel like Lila’s virginity was kind of the main topic of the book.
…..
First 4 chapters were good (as introduction) and I continued till chapter 6. Then skipped to chapter 8 and read to chapter 10. From chapter 10 skipped to chapter 13 and read till chapter 20 ….lastly skimmed through epilogue.
….
I was not fan of writing and got bored quickly.
I feel like Lila’s virginity was kind of the main topic of the book.
March 17, 2023
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Hugh and Lila are just perfect!
There's no other way to describe them, and I'm not just talking about them as a couple or a sure thing, but as friends, as business partners and as their own person!
Lila is Hugh's best friend's little sister and the angst that comes with this trope is definitely present here!
I loved that they were close friends before anything else, that he was protective of her since childhood... That he was the one trying to resist the pull between them, but also the one who was falling harder.
He was perfect to her, respecting her desires and dreams, and being a safe heaven for her while she tried to help her dad and reunite her family, and although the virgin girl trope doesn't appeal me that much, the topic was so fluid and funny here, that I didn't really care about it.
Her brother annoyed me a lot, and if he hadn't seen the light at the end, I'm pretty sure he would've got himself a long rant here 😂😂.
Overall this is a great start to a new series, with interesting characters, the right amount of sweetness mixed with funny moments and obviously, a hero with huge BDE and the big appendage to fit the energy! 😂🔥
I seriously can't wait to see his siblings falling in love! Bring them on! ❣️
🎧 About the Audiobook Narration 🎧
Narrated by Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright and it was amazing!
I love his narrations and she was spot on!
Hugh and Lila are just perfect!
There's no other way to describe them, and I'm not just talking about them as a couple or a sure thing, but as friends, as business partners and as their own person!
Lila is Hugh's best friend's little sister and the angst that comes with this trope is definitely present here!
I loved that they were close friends before anything else, that he was protective of her since childhood... That he was the one trying to resist the pull between them, but also the one who was falling harder.
He was perfect to her, respecting her desires and dreams, and being a safe heaven for her while she tried to help her dad and reunite her family, and although the virgin girl trope doesn't appeal me that much, the topic was so fluid and funny here, that I didn't really care about it.
Her brother annoyed me a lot, and if he hadn't seen the light at the end, I'm pretty sure he would've got himself a long rant here 😂😂.
Overall this is a great start to a new series, with interesting characters, the right amount of sweetness mixed with funny moments and obviously, a hero with huge BDE and the big appendage to fit the energy! 😂🔥
I seriously can't wait to see his siblings falling in love! Bring them on! ❣️
🎧 About the Audiobook Narration 🎧
Narrated by Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright and it was amazing!
I love his narrations and she was spot on!
March 27, 2023
What’s with the virgin obsession in here? And the overly controlling brother? Best friend’s sister is always a fine line for me and this wasn’t it. Also, there are soooo many characters.
August 10, 2023
I reaaaaally wanted to like this book, but the writing was just not my style at all. I probably skipped/skimmed more pages than I actually read 🙃
June 13, 2023
враження після прочитання цієї книжки: мило, дуже мило.
хоч і початок дуже довго розгойдувався і щось цікаве почало відбуватися з середини, але все одно ця історія лишає приємні враження.
мій улюблений троп «кращий друг брата» входить в чат і збиває наповал))) Х'ю дуже милий, турботливий та ніжний, а також чудовий брат і друг. обожнюю книжки, де ці теми піднімаються легко, я буду з нетерпінням чекати, коли всі його брати та сестри теж знайдуть своє щастя. Ліла ж дівчина з розумним язиком і точно знає, чого хоче, без краплини сором'язливості. вона мені дуже подобається. і загалом герої класні. а разом вони – неймовірно гаряче поєднання. і деякі сцени у мене досі застрягли в голові))
по мінусах. окрім затягнутого початку, постійно дратували подруги Ліли, які більше ні про що не можуть говорити, як про цноту дівчини. як вона їх терпіла? мінімум поваги до особистого життя. далі Тревіс, брат головної героїні, який майже замінив їй батька-алкоголіка, був трохи нав'язливим. можна зрозуміти чому він її так оберігає і це відносно мило, але все-таки можна було вже зрозуміти, що його сестра, яка закінчила коледж і має роботу вже виросла з того віку, коли за нею потрібно постійно наглядати. щодо їх сумнівного батька, то я завжди чекала якусь підступність, що він от обов'язково щось зіпсує, але цього не сталося. і це добре, що їхня сім'я змогла об'єднатися, все це заслуга Ліли, звісно.
легенька книжка з літньою атмосферою, без лишньої драми. трішки гаряче і солодко, якщо відкинути частину з нудним початком.
4/5
хоч і початок дуже довго розгойдувався і щось цікаве почало відбуватися з середини, але все одно ця історія лишає приємні враження.
мій улюблений троп «кращий друг брата» входить в чат і збиває наповал))) Х'ю дуже милий, турботливий та ніжний, а також чудовий брат і друг. обожнюю книжки, де ці теми піднімаються легко, я буду з нетерпінням чекати, коли всі його брати та сестри теж знайдуть своє щастя. Ліла ж дівчина з розумним язиком і точно знає, чого хоче, без краплини сором'язливості. вона мені дуже подобається. і загалом герої класні. а разом вони – неймовірно гаряче поєднання. і деякі сцени у мене досі застрягли в голові))
по мінусах. окрім затягнутого початку, постійно дратували подруги Ліли, які більше ні про що не можуть говорити, як про цноту дівчини. як вона їх терпіла? мінімум поваги до особистого життя. далі Тревіс, брат головної героїні, який майже замінив їй батька-алкоголіка, був трохи нав'язливим. можна зрозуміти чому він її так оберігає і це відносно мило, але все-таки можна було вже зрозуміти, що його сестра, яка закінчила коледж і має роботу вже виросла з того віку, коли за нею потрібно постійно наглядати. щодо їх сумнівного батька, то я завжди чекала якусь підступність, що він от обов'язково щось зіпсує, але цього не сталося. і це добре, що їхня сім'я змогла об'єднатися, все це заслуга Ліли, звісно.
легенька книжка з літньою атмосферою, без лишньої драми. трішки гаряче і солодко, якщо відкинути частину з нудним початком.
4/5
September 10, 2023
Час на кордоні, і справді пройшов швидше, правда потім, мені довелося боротися зі сном щоб, все ж таки дочитати.
Так як я почала з третьої книги, серії, а вже знала який буде кінець. Але було цікаво почитати про героїв, їх почуття і перешкоди на шляху. Мене вразила історія Ліли, дівчина пройшла через, так багато речей і все ж залишилася, доброю та людяною. Інколи мене бісив Х'ю через свою боязнь розказати другові, але і це можна зрозуміти. Відносини героїв були динамічними, і навіть якщо все відбувалося протягом трьох місяців, мені це не здалося швидкоплинним. Люблю коли автор пише від лиця двох персонажів, тому що так ми дивимося на ситуацію з обох сторін. І звісно ж другорядні персонажі, і знову це любов. Сім'я Х'ю це мрія кожного, це приклад до якого варто йти. Загалом мені сподобалося тому можу поставити 5/5
Так як я почала з третьої книги, серії, а вже знала який буде кінець. Але було цікаво почитати про героїв, їх почуття і перешкоди на шляху. Мене вразила історія Ліли, дівчина пройшла через, так багато речей і все ж залишилася, доброю та людяною. Інколи мене бісив Х'ю через свою боязнь розказати другові, але і це можна зрозуміти. Відносини героїв були динамічними, і навіть якщо все відбувалося протягом трьох місяців, мені це не здалося швидкоплинним. Люблю коли автор пише від лиця двох персонажів, тому що так ми дивимося на ситуацію з обох сторін. І звісно ж другорядні персонажі, і знову це любов. Сім'я Х'ю це мрія кожного, це приклад до якого варто йти. Загалом мені сподобалося тому можу поставити 5/5
March 8, 2023
ARC REVIEW
You know those books where you want more of the couple and less of the family? Yes? Well I wanted more from Hugh and Lila, more time, more pages, more love. A loving small town story but unfortunately too boring for my taste. I missed the bite, the fireworks.
I liked the story but the spark didn't fly. Unfortunately, I felt a little overwhelmed by Hugh's siblings and unfortunately the story of Lila's father didn't pick me up either.
Some problems were just too loud and too much for me personally.
Nevertheless, Hugh and Lila were a great couple who deserved more couple time. I love the "Best Friends Sibling" trope, but I just missed the feeling here.
3 ⭐️ / 5 ⭐️
_____________________________________
You know those books where you want more of the couple and less of the family? Yes? Well I wanted more from Hugh and Lila, more time, more pages, more love. A loving small town story but unfortunately too boring for my taste. I missed the bite, the fireworks.
I liked the story but the spark didn't fly. Unfortunately, I felt a little overwhelmed by Hugh's siblings and unfortunately the story of Lila's father didn't pick me up either.
Some problems were just too loud and too much for me personally.
Nevertheless, Hugh and Lila were a great couple who deserved more couple time. I love the "Best Friends Sibling" trope, but I just missed the feeling here.
3 ⭐️ / 5 ⭐️
_____________________________________
June 15, 2023
Моя оцінка 4,5/5
Я фанатка заборонене кохання і все таке. Ця книга просто бомбезна, але Тревіс.
Х'ю це просто щось, але якби він не боявся, що скаже друг, то у них з Лілою вже давно все вийшло, і не треба було їй їхати в Лас Вегас. Х'ю це просто ідеал хлопця😍
Ліла турботлива і любляча дитина, яка завжди буде зі своєю сім'єю до кінця. Так сподобалося, що вона не поклала руки, а почала лікувати батька.
Сім'я Рейнольдсів це просто вогонь, мені подобається, що у них немає секретів один від одного, завжди прийдуть на допомогу, як вони жартують з другої половинки брата чи сестри🥺🥰
Тревіс має велику гіперопіку над сестрою, те можна, те не можна, що за фігня.
Я фанатка заборонене кохання і все таке. Ця книга просто бомбезна, але Тревіс.
Х'ю це просто щось, але якби він не боявся, що скаже друг, то у них з Лілою вже давно все вийшло, і не треба було їй їхати в Лас Вегас. Х'ю це просто ідеал хлопця😍
Ліла турботлива і любляча дитина, яка завжди буде зі своєю сім'єю до кінця. Так сподобалося, що вона не поклала руки, а почала лікувати батька.
Сім'я Рейнольдсів це просто вогонь, мені подобається, що у них немає секретів один від одного, завжди прийдуть на допомогу, як вони жартують з другої половинки брата чи сестри🥺🥰
Тревіс має велику гіперопіку над сестрою, те можна, те не можна, що за фігня.
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