Yesterday's Plans

by Alexis Noel

Giving Grayson back the ring was the hardest thing Elodie Hudson ever had to do. Moving back to Birch Creek was a close second. At twenty-seven, she never thought she’d be living in her childhood bedroom again. Yet, here she is, washing dishes with her dad and watching Grey’s Anatomy reruns with her mom. To top it all off, Elodie is the maid of honor in her younger sister’s upcoming wedding. She's trying her best to put her feelings aside and make Brynn her priority, and against all odds it’s working.

That is until Beckett Quinn waltzes back into town, smiling his charming smile and digging up a past Elodie has long since buried. Now she’s forced to decide: let Beckett back in or put her feelings for him to bed once and for all?

When You Walk Away Book 1 of 2. HEA guaranteed in Book 2.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance

234 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2023

About the author

Once upon a time, Alexis Noel was a high school English teacher, but now she spends her days writing romance novels. When she's not writing, she can be found cooking, painting, reading, or binge watching one of her favorite TV shows. Though Alexis is currently located in sunny Florida, she plans to relocate to England in the upcoming year to be with her fiancé.

Reviews

[Hannah Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The right person transcends time.”

For so many, the COVID pandemic upended their lives and changed their paths forever. Whether you had a career you loved or a partner you thought was your soulmate, 2020 changed everything. And with that change came the ending of some things that felt endless.

In her debut, Alexis Noel captures the grief and anguish that came for the people who realized those they thought they’d spend forever with were not their person after all. The listlessness that followed that terrible time. The huge hurtle of starting all over.

As Elodie, our main character, comes to terms with the ending of her engagement, she finds herself running into a past love in her hometown. He’s different than before, but she can’t let herself believe that. Because if she does, she’ll be admitting things are really over between her and her ex. She’ll be admitting that she has to start over.

But it’s not really starting over when it’s a second chance at a love that never should’ve ended in the first place. The first book in this duet leaves us on that cliff of will they or won’t they. And if they will, how does that look? The push and shove has come to a head, and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Alexis wrote an excellent stream of consciousness that makes you ache for what Elodie has lost and struggle alongside her with each new day of healing. Beckett’s one liners were impossible to top, they had me giggling while I read and blushing as if I were Elodie. You’ll love this story if you like sweet, closed-door romance; healing journeys; contemporary references, and a slow burn of a second chance romance!

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ ARC REVIEW

If you’re looking for a small-town, second chance romance that’s all about forgiveness, following your heart, and healing after heartbreak then this is the book for you.

At the start of the book we find out that our main character Elodie has moved back home to her parents house after a failed engagement. She is completely heartbroken but her family insists it’s time for her to put herself back out there. After a disastersous date that her sister arranged, she comes home to find her high school crush on the couch. Now Elodie is faced with the impossible reality of healing from not one but two men who broke her heart.

I loved this read. There were so many little details about the way that Beckett interacted with Elodie that just won me over. Seriously he’s the sweetest. I also loved the dynamic between Elodie and her best friend Marissa because it reminds me so much of my best friend and I. There were a couple of things mentioned in talks between Elodie and Beckett (especially the things about his family) that I’m really interested to see more of. The relationship between Elodie and Beckett seems to just really be starting but I’m rooting for them. I think with a little bit of communication these two could have a really strong relationship.

[Emma Steinbrecher · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With the right person, time is irrelevant. With the right person, the outside world is irrelevant. With the right person, the future is you and it is him, and that is enough.”

I received an ARC for this book, but as you know, my thoughts and opinions are my own. ☺️

I’m not sure where to begin! This book was filled with heartbreak and healing.
I adore books that dive into the complexities of human emotions, and Alexis Noel does a fantastic job of showcasing this and doing justice to the heartache Elodie experienced.

Beckett 🥹 Sweet, Beckett. The perfect mix of sweet and sarcastic.

I cannot wait to see how this story continues and discover what the author does with Elodie’s story.

[Nicole Sleeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elodie just got out of an engagement that devastated her life. It absolutely turned her life upside down. She was trying to find a new way to live without Grayson. Moving back in with her parents wow this is not where she saw her life going. And to top it all off having to watch her baby sister get ready for her wedding when a Elodie should’ve been married here shortly as well. It’s just bringing back all the bad memories of Grayson.

But what Elodie didn’t realize was who was living in the house across the street again. Beckett was back and she didn’t know how to feel about this.

I love this story. I loved how it was written and how the story line plays out. Elodie is my favorite. Every detail was phenomenal.

Go read this as soon as it’s out ! You will not regret!

[Haleigh Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute read! I loved the family dynamic and the fact that it was a true slow burn. Elodie's heartbreak is so realistic and as hard as it is to watch her feel so sad, it paid off as we see her slowly come back to life and fall in love again. I loved this sweet second chance romance!

[KateJoanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this one as an ARC review and was surprised to realise only at the acknowledgments that it’s actually a debut, it’s very well written.
A bittersweet small-town tale of how the best made plans and dreams just don’t always work out.

Some really heartwarming and emotional insights to grieving for a relationship, being knocked down in life and feeling like you’re failing. Watching other people around you with their lives together, seemingly perfect, living your dreams while you have to pretend to be only happy for them and hide any hurt or resentment.
Yet still leaning on the support of your people to get through it and accepting that although it hurts to end chapters of our lives and break up it’s still over and for the best.

I love that nobody is made out to be the bad guy, and the relationships ended and began in small ways, with no explosions or fireworks.
Sometimes people just grow apart, and likewise we can just as slowly grow together.

This book incorporates a lot of modern references, set right in and after the covid pandemic, events depicted that really affected a lot of people and will be relatable, and possibly painful, for many readers.
It makes it a very heartwarming yet emotional read.

Also have to appreciate the inclusivity with her queer best friend, she’s happily married, awesome and has an adorable baby boy too, lovely to see a no-drama happy LGBTQ couple even if they aren’t the main focus of this story.

I do feel cheated with the ending and feel like my book stopped halfway through, I want more to the story and to see everything finally tie together for a happy ending for them all.
Though again, it is mentioned that the author intends to write a second part to this, which I look forward to reading.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this, I really enjoyed reading it and will follow for any upcoming work from this author

[Maddy Stuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that shows you it’s okay to heal from heart break at YOUR pace and love again when YOU are ready, this is it.

Elodie fresh off a broken engagement is learning how to heal well everyone around her is pushing her to just move on.

But what if you weren’t ready to move on? What if you need time to grieve what you have lost all while watching your sister get everything you didn’t.

I loved watching Elodie’s growth and that she had a truly supportive friend, who understood want she wanted but also knew when to push her out of her comfort zone.

Sweet Beckett, oh that boy, that knight in a tight black tee shirt, I wish I could find better words to describe him than that, but I’m truly in awe of his character.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful, emotional read. I loved how seamlessly it shifted between the present and the past, giving us flickers of memories that made the emotions of the book that much more real. I do wish that we had got an explanation for what really happened with Beckett back in high school and his reasoning for what he did, but other than that I honestly have no complaints! I was definitely on the edge of crying several times while reading.

Thanks to Alexis Noel for the ARC!

[Veronica Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute second chance love story! I can’t wait for the second book

[Cassidy Paredes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written second-chance romance with great pacing, characters, and witty banter that sucks you right into the story. Alexis Noel perfectly portrayed all the heavy and complicated emotions Elodie was going through, and I don’t know if I’ve ever loved a main character more! Thoroughly enjoyed this read and can’t wait for book 2!

[Sydney Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good!!! This is my first time ever doing a ARC review and it was so good. I found myself really connecting to Elodie as a character the relationship between her and her best friend reminds me of me and my best friend, which I thought was funny. This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster. I want the sequel to come out already, so I can read it. I can’t wait lol. I highly suggest this book if you’re looking for a small town sort of childhood enemies to lovers coming back together and this is a very good book for you.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC, here is my honest review:


As we all know the pandemic was rough and so many relationships were tested during this time.

Elodie giving her fiancé the ring back and moving back home was not her ideal life plan. As a reader, we follow her go through the struggle of dealing with planning a wedding, to have to cancel it due to Covid, then deciding to leave her fiancé.

Moving in with her parents she pretty much is emotionless and just goes from day to day. Being Maid of Honor in her sister’s upcoming wedding, her mom and sister trying to set her up to move on, her best friend’s spunkiness and now her high school crush has moved back home.. NEXT door! This story provides a lot of story lines.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I was sent this ARC in exchange for my honest review**

⭐️⭐️/5

First and foremost, the author has said that this will be a duology with an eventual HEA. The series pair is marked as YA romance, but I want to preface this all by saying that book 1 is not a romance. Book 2 will hopefully be one, and we end off on a hopeful yet abrupt cliffhanger leading to that eventuality, but book 1 is a book about grief and loss after a major breakup.

COVID greatly effected a LOT of relationships negatively, not to mention ruined a LOT of weddings. The world went through a shared trauma and everyone learned quite a few things about themselves and their loved ones. We get a deep dive into Elodie's grief over her lost love, her lost wedding, and the general loss of the person who she initially fell in love with as they both changed throughout the pandemic. This will be a relatable, if not difficult, read for anyone who went through something similar during that time. We get a close look at so many sides to her grief and it is definitely a raw emotional place to be. If any of that sounds triggering to you, this is not the book for you.

The thing that became clear to me as I read was that Elodie has been living in the stages of grief where she can't see past the hurt. Her every thought, her every action, her every feeling is somehow tied to this old relationship and how it ended and what it could have been. This leads to her being in a place, emotionally, where she can't genuinely be happy for herself or anyone else. Her interactions with friends and family make them all come off as being insensitive or shallow, but in a lot of cases she's in fact the one that is so far gone in her own issues that she can't see the forest for the trees. Some of their interactions do in fact sound insensitive, (eg. Elodie is helping her sister to plan her wedding even though she had to give up her own), but most of the animosity otherwise stems from Elodie herself.

These are people who care about her. She just needs to get to a place where she is less angry / judgey / ready to lash out and instead get ready to accept a helping hand to get out of her rut of sadness.

Through the first 75% of the book we are swapping between present day sad/depressed Elodie and flashback memories of her relationship with Grayson, leading up to the eventual breakup. (Side note, we literally spent 75% of the book talking about the ex. we are supposed to be leaving him in the rear view mirror right?) In the last 25% we finally start to spend some time with Beckett, the high school sweetheart who left her heartbroken. While we spend most of this book examining the scars left by Elodie's relationship with Grayson, in the last part we also examine the ones left long ago by Beckett. This book is about Elodie's journey to finally find the strength and courage to let both of those scars heal enough to actually find happiness again.

Overall this was a raw and intense look inside the reality of so many relationships during the pandemic. Canceled weddings, numerous lockdowns, and general health scares are a lot of stress to put on a couple. Going back to that time, even as someone who didn't have a major breakup during COVID, was intense and at times unpleasant to recall. The author does a good job of diving into those uncomfortable emotions, so kudos for having the guts to go there. However, the thing that really docked the stars from the rating for me was that this was marketed as a small town / second-chance ROMANCE. I don't think I've ever had a book that was sold as a romance... only to have to wait until book 2 for the actual romance to start. We get the foundations, the backstory, and the first hints of potential. But the actual romance part will literally all be in book 2.


My final verdict / feeling is that this was a relatively short book (218 pages) and that by breaking up the story into two parts, book 1 ended up just feeling like the prequel / introduction to the real love story. At this point I've invested the time and I want to see if Elodie and Beckett can actually reach that HEA, so I'll probably be reading book 2. But in the end, the duology should probably just be combined into one book. The first part of the story was a bit too steeped in Elodie's sadness, and also her readiness to blame everyone else for her problems instead of addressing her own grief head on. Hopefully book 2 can show us a new side of Elodie, add a bit of love into her life, and redeem the overall storyline for me.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elodie has just moved back in with her parents in her small hometown following an emotional broken engagement. Her wedding was delayed by COVID and then the relationship slowly fell apart. Now she is trying to mourn her imagined life while helping her little sister prepare her own wedding and try to figure out what her life is going to be like now. Unexpectedly, her first love shows up again to clean up his parent's old to sell and he seems interested in rekindling what they had. She has to figure out how to work through the pain of both heartbreaks to see if she might want to have a better redo of the high school almost relationship.

This book was heavy and poetic, the raw inner dialogue was so real and easy to relate to, it was a great portrayal of the up and down of mourning the end of love and life plans. It's a hard thing to capture all the different dimensions so it was impressive to be able to so thoroughly go on this emotional journey with Elodie. There were a few weird repetitive parts and errors (random but Bride Wars starred Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson not Hilary Duff). It was slightly a romance book with no spice but I'm guessing most of the romance will come in the next book. This was obviously just one book of a series, the ending was a cliffhanger, can't wait for the end of the story. It's not a stand-alone book at all, nothing is satisfactorily wrapped up by the end of the book so be aware you will get sucked into an incomplete series if you read this book.

[Kayla Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesterday’s Plans: Elodie broke up with her fiancé, quit her job in Boston, and moved home to live with her parents. She is still heartbroken, even though she knows it was the right decision, and feels adrift. Nothing has worked out how she planned. Then she sees her old neighbor, Beckett. Elodie thought they had something in high school, but then Beckett stood her up at prom. Now they keep getting thrown together and Elodie isn’t sure what she and her heart want.

I really liked Yesterday’s Plans. Elodie is an extremely relatable character. It can be hard to bounce back from a big life change/disappointed, especially when it seems like those closest to you have it all figured out. Her best friend is married with a kid, her little sister is getting married, and Elodie feels like she is going back to square one. As a person who can’t stop with comparing myself with anyone and everyone, I really felt for her.

Elodie’s friend Marissa is a delight. She was a lot of fun! Her wife was hilarious, too. And I love Beckett! He likes to tease, he is good with his hands, and is really helpful. Very acts of service. Very hot. VERY. He and Elodie have great chemistry.

Yesterday’s Plans has a lot of flashbacks: to Elodie and Beckett in high school and to Elodie and her ex-fiancé as they fall in love and fall apart. I loved it. Elodie is looking back on her life, the ways things went awry, as she is trying to heal and figure out her future, so I thought all the flashbacks were just perfect.

My only issue: this is book one of two, and it ends before anything is really resolved. I know the HEA is coming but I want it now!!

Thank you to Alexis Noel and LibraryThing for the ARC!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sonya Rivest · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good story overall however I am not a fan of how it was hinted at being a romance book only to have no real conclusion or main romance. The majority of the book was about Eloise grieving her past relationships and issues. I also found Eloise to be an unlikeable protagonist and was making questionable decisions.
I also didn’t like the back and forth storytelling from past to present and it was confusing to follow at times for me.
There was a lot that I think could have been cut or edited out story wise to allow for longer book to make it into one complete book and story as opposed to making it a duology.
I know it’s a debut author and first book and it shows a lot of promise, maybe just needs better marketing on focusing more on grief of a relationship and moving forward during covid vs romance novel.
Also bride wars is Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson not Hilary duff - small research mistake like that is also a minor irritation of mine when reading because it is very easy to have fact checked before publishing.

[Bookish Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a duology with a good for now ending but definite cliffhanger. I didn’t really understand that when I selected this book to read and I was greatly disappointed. Not only could this book have been edited down to one book, but this first part is not a romance. It is a wonderfully written book about grief, relationship loss, and family dynamic, but not romance. A burning touch and abandoned kiss does not a romance make. Eloide’s sister and family are horrible and frustrating. She’s in a relationship for 5 years and only leaves 2 months prior and there is literally no compassion. Instead they bully her into uncomfortable situations she clearly voices her opinion about. Brynn is just straight up rude and annoying. Honestly, Beckett is the only person worth reading about and we got nothing of his story. I’m now invested and want to know more of Beckett’s past and present and wish it was in one complete book. Be prepared for a cliffhanger and no romance. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the right person, time is irrelevant. With the right person, the outside world is irrelevant. With the right person, the future is you and it is him, and that is enough. The right person transcends time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yesterday's Plans is a nice, sweet, and touching friends to enemies to friends to lovers /second chance romance. It is a tale of a broken heart and its healing journey. It is a story that makes you feel... all the feels. As a matter of fact, while reading Yesterday's Plans, to me, It was just as impossibile not to ache while witnessing Elodie world crumbling down as it was impossible not to be happy for her from the moment a glimmer of hope finally re-entered her life. Since I am a sucker for books that make readers experience a range of strong emotions, I liked Yesterday's Plans a lot. I can't wait to read the next chapter of Elodie's story. I really hope she gets the happy ending she deserves, this time.

Ps: can we take a moment to discuss Beckett (aka one of the most thoughtful, sweet, and mouth-wateringly attractive book boyfriend of all time)?

[readundancies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t understand why this story is split into two parts. I think it’s highly unnecessary when it could’ve just been edited down a bit into one so that it’s a more cohesive tale. As such, it’s hard to remember what happened when since the story is literally bridged across two novellas that could’ve just been a single novel.

I’m salty about that of you couldn’t tell.

Elodie is a bit of a wet blanket throughout because of her perpetual pity party which is explained and makes sense but is still a lot to stomach when reading.
Beckett is a bit too good to be true on the other hand right down to his forever mentioned southern drawl.

The family dynamics in this are well done for the most part, as was the friendship between Ellie and Riss.

The one main difference between the two parts is that Part One is a bit more slower paced than Part Two, or at least it felt that way. But I think they both end up with the same rating since the story takes place across both parts.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to go in a different direction.
But, damn, did I feel Elodie's pain for the end of her relationship with Grayson. It hit me right in the feels of my last breakup and I definitely shed a few tears in empathy.
I wish this had been a full-length novel exploring Elodie and Beckett's past and future.
Brynn. Ugh. Actually, Brynn, Marissa, and Elodie & Brynn's parents were super frustrating.
A couple months, after a four-year relationship with their entire future planned out, is like the blink of an eye. Their expectation of Elodie to be over it enough to date, let alone celebrate her sister's wedding when hers never happened is so annoying. I was really hoping Elodie would tell them all where to go. Stop being a people pleaser and really rage at them.
I received a free copy of this from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Lisa Gaede · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cozy read! This is one of those books where you feel like you could step right into and be a part of-such realistic characters and events. Yesterday's Plans ties in small town living, past loves, rethinking adulthood, and best friends there with you through it all. What happened with Elodie and Grayson during the pandemic was so relatable. Alexis Noel weaves a touching story that takes you through all the feels. There is just something so sweet and romantic about unexpectedly being face to face with your past love as an adult, and all the complexities it involves. Definitely a book you will adore!

[MEL_ReadsSmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Debut!

The first installment of When You Walk Away is a haunting and at times laugh out loud funny exploration of what it’s like to found out that “rock bottom has a basement.” Elodie’s journey is of second chances and long forgotten crushes and finding yourself stronger than you thought possible.

Noel’s writing is witty and her main character Elodie is charming. I found myself cheering for the MC.

The choice between our pasts and our futures makes this rekindling women’s romantic relatable. This is a healing journey. Plus, Becket is swoon worthy.

I know I am waiting to read the end of her story.

[Ellen Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elodie is home after breaking her engagement to Grayson. She is helping her sister with the plans for her wedding. Beckett is back fixing up his parents house to sell. Her family keeps pushing them together, but Elodie just thinks of the boy who stood her up at prom. I enjoyed the book very much. It shows how you think you have your life planned and then things get in the way. Love the characters, especially Marissa. I will be looking for more books by this author.

I was given an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more, but ultimately, I felt like it was unpolished and didn't follow genre standards enough to be classified as a romance. The focus of the entire book was in the past with Elodie's ex Grayson, not the "love interest" Beckett. The time jumps were not clear and were confusing to follow throughout. I think the premise was strong, but I feel like it needed a longer beta-reading/editing process before being published.

[Victoria Blank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yesterday Didn't Go As Planned

Alexis Noel gives us this down to earth, realistic view of any of us after a long term break up. I enjoyed watching Elodie heal from Grayson. I feel like we spent maybe a little too long getting to know her past, and it taking away from us getting to know Beckett. On the plus side, we know there's a happy ending to come!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this book could have done/been so much more. The author, whose style and flow I quite enjoyed, has laid the ground works for a wonderful story but to me just didn't feel very well rounded. I didn't get enough meat from the story to really have that desire to dive into the next book when it's released.

[Anne Trowbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great debut! I love boy-next-door stories, so that's what spoke to me! I was a little faked out at first...I thought for sure the story was heading in a different direction. But I really felt for Elodie and dealing with her unsupportive family!

[Chelsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for an easy read and palette cleaner this is a great pick. The ending leaves you hanging but lucky her second book just came out and is even better.

[Oksana (myreadsjournal) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm kinda overwhelmed right now. I definitely didn't expect this rollecoaster of emotions with this book.

Elodie Hudson comes back home and moves back in with her parents after breaking off the engagement with her ex-fiancé, Grayson. She's completely heartbroken, it's too early to start feeling better despite her parents and sister's attempts to "make" her put herself out there. It's just that enough time hasn't passed for her to be okay - although what is "enough time" anyway in a situation like this?

Eventually she does cave in and goes on a date her sister arranges, which btw, goes terribly wrong. So when Elodie comes home she definitely isn't expecting to find her High School love, Beckett, sitting on her parents' couch. What is happening right now?

The last time Beckett and Elodie saw each other was 10 years ago. It was also the time Beckett broke Elodie's heart to pieces. They haven't seen each other nor spoken to one another since.
How is Elodie supposed to recover now? There's only so much her poor heart can handle.

I enjoyed getting to know Elodie so closely, to understand how her mind and her heart work and to learn what's been happening to her and with her throughout the years.

I loved the little moments and little details between Beckett and Elodie - he's the sweetest.
Elodie's best friend is amazing and I just love their friendship.

For some reason I don't like Elodie's sister very much. Perhaps this "some reason" is just the way she treated Elodie in some moments of the book, but I just want better for her. For Elodie, of course.

This is such heartbreaking story. If you're looking for a light read - let me tell you this isn't it.
This book is about heartbreak(s) and pain and suffering. It's about trying to recover from said hearbreaks, trying to move on, trying to understand what happened that caused Elodie's life go from "under control" to complete unrecognition and disaster.

This book does end on a teeny-tiny cliffhanger, so of course I'm excited to read the second book in the series. And of course I'm rooting for Elodie and Beckett, because they deserve their "happily ever after". Elodie deserves to be happy and smile more.

[Charity King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will HAVE to read the second one for closure. Emotional in a good way!