Saving Anna: Friends to Lovers Romance

by T. Thomas

They're supposed to live happily ever after... but one miscalculation rips it all to shreds.

Ryan

Anna is the sweetest woman to ever grace this earth. She's beautiful, funny, smart.

And in love with my little brother.

They're a match made in heaven. I've never seen two people so madly in love.

Whoever believes young love is a passing fantasy has never seen the two of them together.

But on the night Ross is supposed to begin securing their happily ever after, everything goes wrong.

Anna is left reeling. Survivor's guilt is ripping her apart inside. She's barely functioning. Her eyes are cold. Dead.

If I don't act fast, I'm going to lose her.

I can't lose her, too. I'll do anything to keep her breathing.

I just hope I haven't waited too long.

**Please be aware that this book contains sensitive topics such as death of a loved one, survivor's guilt, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

190 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2023

About the author

If you’re looking for happily ever after, you’ll find it here.

T. Thomas is a sweet, clean romance author of emotionally gripping books that always end in love and happiness.

She has been writing since she was thirteen years old. She enjoys spending all of her spare time writing, but she absolutely detests editing and proofreading.

T. Thomas can normally be found in her little room of her own that she calls her "woman cave" writing her next book and putting off editing and proofreading for as long as possible.

Reviews

[Jessie ツ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️
this was a clusterfuck.

I was ready for a sweet, equally heartbreaking and heartfelt story. It didn’t deliver.

While there’s a sweetness & earnestness to the characters, like Ryan, there’s too many other things for me to ignore.

Mind you, it’s only 126 pgs but here’s my book of issues 🤠:

{fyi: ROSS - passsd away in prologue; ANNA - was w Ross 6 yrs in love, RYAN - Ross’s brother}

Here’s an initial list of issues, then I’ll get into the nitty gritty (Aka the ins and outs of MCs getting together):

-for all these issues to rlly hit home I first want to mention: Ross is described as an angel whose perfect, kind, sweet, and desperately in love w Anna - who felt the same.

-when the story starts it’s ONE MONTH since Ross’s death

MY PROBLEMS
•this just annoyed me but “sweet girl” used 67 times ?? like, no joke, every time MMC opened his mouth….multiple times on one pg.

•Ryan/Anna GET ENGAGED at Ross’s gravesite. 😭😭 when they were going to gravesite it crossed my mind & then I thought no, no way that would be insane

•Not insane bc they GET MARRIED AT HIS GRAVESITE TOO 😃 hello????? that’s the love of ur dead brothers life. why tf would u get married there. were mom & dad not upset??? like what was being smoked here…

•^to add on to this, it’s said many times by Ryan he never wants to take away Ross/Annas love for each other or overstep on that. Hmmm..then WHY get married at his fucking gravesite. 🧍‍♀️

•imo (obv): it was sloppy to use Anna having a dream ab Ross to be the thing that changes everything (her being ok w wanting Ryan particularly). WTF. This is where the actual PLOT is lacking. Anna is attracted to Ryan, while in the midst of grief, depression, & anxiety. Do not tell me she has a dream one night then wakes up deciding Ross talked to her in this dream and it’s ok to want Ryan. It feels cheap & like an easy way to shave off a bulk of the story.

•they NEVER DISCUSS getting together. Ryan asked her on a date, she said yes. Then, in therapy it’s mentioned she felt guilty at first but didn’t voice it to Ryan. Ryan kept saying (in his head) he can’t be w her, he feels so guilty for wanting her, he’d never do that to his brother. Then, is like give me a sign brother it’s ok to be w her. Then just gets w her. WHAT WAS THE SIGN?

(Like normally w something like this MCs have a convo ab feeling guilty, if it’s ok, etc but NOPE. How tf can they not speak ab it?????)

•the conclusion felt like “Ryan being better than Ross”. Don’t get it twisted, there’s no revelation that Ross was somehow bad. Ryan just feels he was better for Anna & what she needed. Even tho, everyone including Ryan, saw how amazing Ross/Anna were.

MOVING ON - here’s things that happen ONE MONTH after Ross’s death:

•Ryan’s alr fighting feelings/attraction to Anna; he wants her.

•Anna’s finding herself attracted to Ryan

•Ryan’s temperament is back to normal (doesn’t appear to be grieving/having a tough time)

•Ryan, while I don’t think he meant it maliciously, compares Ross and himself in regard to Anna. (i.e., he’s better for her 🫠)

•Anna’s NOT DOING WELL (depressed, anxious, suicidal ideation, grieving, survivor guilt) but Ryan still flirts (even tho he knows it’s wrong & acknowledges it would confuse her)

•Ryan’s actions go beyond just comforting Anna. He has her sleep in his bed, constantly kissing her forehead, cuddling her, calling her pet names, all round treating her like a gf. And, on its own, these things can absolutely be comforting someone who is grieving!! But, Ryan’s inner monologue made it apparent that wasn’t entirely the case. It was too messy a line.

•Ryan says this in his inner monologue:

[”I’m going to save her, Ross,” I whispered. And I was going to try to bury my feelings for her in the process. Because alive or dead, I wouldn’t go after my brother’s woman, especially one he’d loved as deeply as he loved Anna. I wouldn’t betray him like that.]

THEN, 2 PAGES LATER he’s thinking how adorable, beautiful, etc she is. grabbing her hand (out of nowhere) & staring at her bc he wants to kiss her:

[I grabbed her hand in mine. She jerked her eyes up to mine. Her lips softly parted, and it took every bit of my restraint not to taste them. I imagined she would taste like spaghetti and the chocolate almond milk she’d just drank. I was dying for a taste, but what I wanted could never happen.]

MIND YOU - early that same day Anna literally admitted to not wanting to live anymore.

And, ok understandable it can never happen. So tell me why, when it does happen, there’s no inner struggle from Ryan. He literally just decides bc he thinks Anna likes him too that it’s fine & this constitutes a sign from Ross.

IN CONCLUSION
This could’ve been a great story. The elements were there. If it was full length then enough care could be given to Anna’s grief & mental health. The story could’ve followed a natural flow of grief & made it more palatable for them to get together (i.e., yrs later, push-pull, guilt). Esp considering it was ONE MONTH after the perfect, sweet late ex died, it left a bad taste. Ryan seemed to be more concerned w his feelings for Anna than any grief over his brother.

❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 despite my annoyance, I mean this review w love <3

[Marichus Real · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna has lost her soul mate in an accident. and she feels so much pain that she is incapable of going on living without him.
Ryan has lost his little brother in an accident and if he doesn’t do something soon, he is going to lose her as well.
It is a very emotional story about feeling incredible pain after losing a loved one. Fortunately, Anna has Ryan to help her tolerate the loss of Ross and help her to see that there are more people around her that love her as well and that she is not alone.
It is well-written as you can feel Anna and Ryan’s pain, but also their new happiness.
Just one piece of advice; have a box of tissues at hand. You’re going to need them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Booklvr89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so hard. It's not extremely long, it'd say it's just right in length but I loved the characters so much that I just wanted it to keep going. It's so we'll written that you feel it in your bones.

I loved all the characters here. I love him the MC takes care of her and puts her needs first regardless of his desires. This book had me smiling, crying, recovering, then crying some more.

Be prepared folks, this book hits you in the feels. This will be an all-time re-read for me when I'm looking for something emotional.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clean romance with a sensitive subject dealing with loss.

Anna was raised in the foster system. She finally found a family who treated her like one of their own. She is in love with one of their sons and he is in love with her. But one night it goes wrong and Anna is thrown into a deep depression. Ryan, the older brother, looks out for her. He’s always been enamored with her. Can he help her?

This is a good story but a very deep subject. This is not a light-hearted romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Ryan and Anna’s book. Anna is the sweetest woman to ever grace this earth. She's beautiful, funny, smart. And in love with his little brother. They're a match made in heaven. I've never seen two people so madly in love. But on the night Ross is supposed to begin securing their happily ever after, everything goes wrong. Anna is left reeling. Survivor's guilt is ripping her apart inside. She's barely functioning. Her eyes are cold. Dead. It was an emotional roller coaster. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Ryan and Anna’s story. Anna is in love with Ryan’s younger brother, and when a tragedy happens, she is left a shell of the girl she used to be dealing with survivors’ guilt, and Ryan knows he needs to step in and help her before it is too late. This is a beautifully written emotional roller coaster, with loss, grief, guilt, survival, humor, healing, chemistry, and love, which leads to a wonderful friends / lover’s romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Anna was defiantly an eye opener it hits you with sadness from the very first page. Saving Anna is a really good read, a beautiful friends to lovers book however be prepared that you will cry throughout the book as the characters deal with grief, depression and PSDT, it does have a happy ever after ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Anna by T. Thomas is a good, and enjoyable clean slow burn emotional friends to lovers romance read. The story has a great story line, and the story is a well written read. The characters are great, and they have great chemistry. This book will have you crying throughout story as the characters have to deal with PSDT, depression, and grief.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ross dies in a car crash that Anna was also in she is racked with guilt that she survived, and he didn't. When Ryan his older brother decides to check on her only to discovers that she is dying on the inside with grief he will do whatever he can to save her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being raised in a foster system Anna finds a family, when it seemed she has found happiness Ross dies and she is wrecked with survival guilt. His brother visits her and is determined to help with her depression. Will his love for her be enough to save her?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was so good! it was definitely an emotional sad read but so perfect! i like depression and PTSD was protrayed so well in this book and i loved the story - ryan was absolutely perfect for anna - loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ross dies in a car crash that Anna and he where in, Ryan comes to see how she is doing and finds a woman in turmoil. I enjoyed reading this well written story this is a very deep story that handles what she is going through with care. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna is completely lost when Ross is killed in an accident, torn up by survivor's guilt. His older brother, Ryan, leaves her alone for a while, before making it his mission to save her from her guilt and grief. The story is sad and emotional, with a happy ending that makes it all worthwhile. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brit’s Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read that made me feel so connected to Anna and Ryan. Not many authors know how to do this but you aren’t left devastated because there is always healing. The care and love Ryan shows Anna is so beautiful. To be so selfless and not having a hidden agenda. I loved this book!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a fantastic read. You will definitely need the tissues!!! It's an amazing story and highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angelica Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book filled with lots of emotions and wonderful and caring characters. I enjoyed reading about Ryan and Anna.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was so sad but so sweet. It was heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Definitely recommend to anyone. No spice which honestly I was first like this book won’t be good but it truly was a work of art. BRING THE TISSUES

[C H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

First ever T Thomas book I really don’t like. Story was longer but it was just dragging out and on constant repeat. Literally one paragraph will have the same thing repeated at least more than once just worded differently. This was a waste of time and money

[evieo17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet wholesome read. For me, it was also a very quick read. Something to tide you over till the next big read.

[Tippiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

pățan ideal

[Nikki Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella. Definitely a tear jerker, but all the emotions and how Ryan took care of Anna was perfect ❤️