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To You, Iyla
“A chapter left un-told will become a book well-written.”
19 Years Ago
Celeste Kinney’s got it all. She’s young, bright, top of her law program at UCLA and well on her way to fulfilling her lifelong going to Stanford.
All it takes is one not-so-simple spring break to change everything.
Cue in Ezekiel Reeves. The complete paradox to everything Celeste ever thought she would desire—and worse, fall in love with. As the week unfolds, so do the realities of Ezekiel's true identity, leaving Celeste with a heartache and surprise that she’d never planned for.
Amidst a tragedy that results in her death, Celeste gives birth to a baby girl—one she never gets a chance to meet, and one whose journey has only just begun.
Present Day
Iyla Larson has wondered the same thing her whole life. Why have her adoptive parents kept her past a secret? And why can't she look ahead to the future?
It's been nearly two decades since the passing of her biological mother, and with that comes her determination to get the answers she deserves.
In an attempt to follow in her mother's footsteps, Iyla attends UCLA, where she soon discovers that sometimes in order for your future to begin, the past needs to be unveiled.
19 Years Ago
Celeste Kinney’s got it all. She’s young, bright, top of her law program at UCLA and well on her way to fulfilling her lifelong going to Stanford.
All it takes is one not-so-simple spring break to change everything.
Cue in Ezekiel Reeves. The complete paradox to everything Celeste ever thought she would desire—and worse, fall in love with. As the week unfolds, so do the realities of Ezekiel's true identity, leaving Celeste with a heartache and surprise that she’d never planned for.
Amidst a tragedy that results in her death, Celeste gives birth to a baby girl—one she never gets a chance to meet, and one whose journey has only just begun.
Present Day
Iyla Larson has wondered the same thing her whole life. Why have her adoptive parents kept her past a secret? And why can't she look ahead to the future?
It's been nearly two decades since the passing of her biological mother, and with that comes her determination to get the answers she deserves.
In an attempt to follow in her mother's footsteps, Iyla attends UCLA, where she soon discovers that sometimes in order for your future to begin, the past needs to be unveiled.
- GenresRomanceFound Family
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2023
10 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Kate Lauren
5 books166 followersKate Lauren is a “certified fangirl” whose passions include writing contemporary romance novels, using suggestive innuendos any chance she can, and subliminally tying Taylor Swift song titles into her books.
Based out of Toronto, Canada, when Kate’s not daydreaming about which fictional character she’ll create next, you’ll find her with her friends, family and husband—or nose-deep in her next novel.
Based out of Toronto, Canada, when Kate’s not daydreaming about which fictional character she’ll create next, you’ll find her with her friends, family and husband—or nose-deep in her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 7, 2023
ARC REVIEW💜
IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I MEAN IT!🥹🫶...This novel is something else. I haven't sobbed from reading a novel and it just proved me wrong. The characters, their names, their roles, the dialogues 'Oh My God' everything was perfect and my heart still aches for Celeste and Zeke😭. It honestly didn't feel like a debut novel to me. I was literally smiling and crying while reading the last few chapters. I loved the depiction of father-daughter relationship. It was so cute🤍. I had a fair share of my goosebumps moments when the story took those effortless twists. I loved the dual POV of mother and daughter and how they were so similar without their knowledge. It had some sad moments but the ending will definitely make you shed happy tears. I honestly didn't want it to end. I would highly recommend it to anyone!💜🥹🫰
•
Thank you so much Kate for sending me the digital ARC copy!💜
IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I MEAN IT!🥹🫶...This novel is something else. I haven't sobbed from reading a novel and it just proved me wrong. The characters, their names, their roles, the dialogues 'Oh My God' everything was perfect and my heart still aches for Celeste and Zeke😭. It honestly didn't feel like a debut novel to me. I was literally smiling and crying while reading the last few chapters. I loved the depiction of father-daughter relationship. It was so cute🤍. I had a fair share of my goosebumps moments when the story took those effortless twists. I loved the dual POV of mother and daughter and how they were so similar without their knowledge. It had some sad moments but the ending will definitely make you shed happy tears. I honestly didn't want it to end. I would highly recommend it to anyone!💜🥹🫰
•
Thank you so much Kate for sending me the digital ARC copy!💜
July 12, 2023
To You, Iyla was insanely good and absolutely amazing for a debut novel. I am still stunned by the greatness of this story and the way Kate knows how to use her words and put feelings into sentences. I felt so much things it was mind-blowing ! I fell in love with the dual timelines and every details we had about each characters. Every one of them was different and it was wonderful to read about such interesting characters.
I don’t want to spoil any thing, you have to read it to understand and go through all these feelings I had while reading. The story was amazing and I loved how it all made sense throughout the chapters. There is this mystery vibe that was immaculate and just perfect for this book.
This story is one of my top reads of the year and I obviously recommend it to you. It is so different from every other romance novels I read and I had an amazing time reading it !! This is your sign to give it a go and add this to your TBR.
Show some love and support to Kate, she is the cutest and deserves all the love. Her debut is impressive and you won’t be disappointed, I promise !!
Kate, my angel, you killed it with this one and I am so grateful I got to discover your book before release date. I wish you the very best for this brand new book release and I hope To You Iyla will find the readers it deserves. I love you. Thank you for being the brightest star.
With love,
Teddy
I don’t want to spoil any thing, you have to read it to understand and go through all these feelings I had while reading. The story was amazing and I loved how it all made sense throughout the chapters. There is this mystery vibe that was immaculate and just perfect for this book.
This story is one of my top reads of the year and I obviously recommend it to you. It is so different from every other romance novels I read and I had an amazing time reading it !! This is your sign to give it a go and add this to your TBR.
Show some love and support to Kate, she is the cutest and deserves all the love. Her debut is impressive and you won’t be disappointed, I promise !!
Kate, my angel, you killed it with this one and I am so grateful I got to discover your book before release date. I wish you the very best for this brand new book release and I hope To You Iyla will find the readers it deserves. I love you. Thank you for being the brightest star.
With love,
Teddy
July 13, 2023
if i didn’t know prior to reading this book, i would’ve never guess that this was a debut novel. kate lauren’s writing is full of heart and passion. the book was beautifully crafted and written, intertwined with a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about family, love, and fate.
the book is told in dual timelines. iyla in the present day and celeste 19 years ago. sometimes dual timelines can be difficult to follow or just plain confusing. iyla and celeste’s stories blended seamlessly together. i was captivated by them both. the supporting characters added even more depth and layers to the story.
the emotions i felt while reading this book. it was a rollercoaster. i’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and this book pulled me right out of it.
kate lauren, i’m officially a part of your fan club now. you’re such a gifted storyteller, my friend.
if you love books that are beautifully written and make you feel every emotion possible as well as books with dual timelines, you’ll devour this one. i cannot recommend it enough.
rating: 4.75⭐️
the book is told in dual timelines. iyla in the present day and celeste 19 years ago. sometimes dual timelines can be difficult to follow or just plain confusing. iyla and celeste’s stories blended seamlessly together. i was captivated by them both. the supporting characters added even more depth and layers to the story.
the emotions i felt while reading this book. it was a rollercoaster. i’ve been in a bit of a reading slump and this book pulled me right out of it.
kate lauren, i’m officially a part of your fan club now. you’re such a gifted storyteller, my friend.
if you love books that are beautifully written and make you feel every emotion possible as well as books with dual timelines, you’ll devour this one. i cannot recommend it enough.
rating: 4.75⭐️
June 27, 2023
An absolutely fantastic debut ✨
Thank you so much to Kate for gifting me an arc copy of her debut, forever grateful for these wonderful opportunities!
emotional rollercoaster ☑️
bad boy x good girl ☑️
found family ☑️
dual pov ☑️
This is such an emotionally touching story and it had me in tears, multiple times. I absolutely love the format and the dual pov. Celestes story in particular really hit me in the feels 😭. I also adored Zeke, such a great MMC and definitely a new fave book bf.
This is such a great read and I’m shocked to my core that this is a debut, it’s written phenomenally!! Defo will be picking up all future books Kate Lauren writes 🤍🤍
Thank you so much to Kate for gifting me an arc copy of her debut, forever grateful for these wonderful opportunities!
emotional rollercoaster ☑️
bad boy x good girl ☑️
found family ☑️
dual pov ☑️
This is such an emotionally touching story and it had me in tears, multiple times. I absolutely love the format and the dual pov. Celestes story in particular really hit me in the feels 😭. I also adored Zeke, such a great MMC and definitely a new fave book bf.
This is such a great read and I’m shocked to my core that this is a debut, it’s written phenomenally!! Defo will be picking up all future books Kate Lauren writes 🤍🤍
July 7, 2023
I read this book in about 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down once I started it! This review will be spoiler free of course but I’ll share some aspects I loved about this book! For starters, this book is dual-POV with Iyla’s perspective and journal entries from her mother, Celeste. I loved reading from both perspectives because I could pick up the similarities and differences between the two during similar years of their lives! There were lots of little parallels between their lives which I found so interesting! I also just adored the journal entries as I found myself connecting with Celeste’s character over some things she had talked about!
Also for the romance lovers out there (like me!) this book features both Celeste and Iyla’s love lives, and the boys both stole my heart! There’s a bit of spice in this book too, which is an added bonus!
I loved how complex and thought out all of the characters were in this book, from the main characters to the friends and family members! I found myself smiling throughout the book at the connections that different characters in the book had, and the found family trope that was portrayed in this book!
One last thing I wanted to mention was there were lots of little hints throughout the book and I found myself piecing together the story, which was fun as a reader! There were also plot twists that made me surprised and sad at different points! The abundance of quotes I highlighted in this book too, they were beautiful! Warning: you may cry reading this book, it is emotional!!!
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic debut novel and I will definitely be reading anything published by Kate in the future!✨
Also for the romance lovers out there (like me!) this book features both Celeste and Iyla’s love lives, and the boys both stole my heart! There’s a bit of spice in this book too, which is an added bonus!
I loved how complex and thought out all of the characters were in this book, from the main characters to the friends and family members! I found myself smiling throughout the book at the connections that different characters in the book had, and the found family trope that was portrayed in this book!
One last thing I wanted to mention was there were lots of little hints throughout the book and I found myself piecing together the story, which was fun as a reader! There were also plot twists that made me surprised and sad at different points! The abundance of quotes I highlighted in this book too, they were beautiful! Warning: you may cry reading this book, it is emotional!!!
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic debut novel and I will definitely be reading anything published by Kate in the future!✨
June 1, 2023
5/5⭐️
Thank you SO much, Kate, for sending me an arc copy of “To You, Iyla”! I absolutely LOVED this book and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
“You’re a destination, and I only want a one way ticket” 🥹
I don’t usually cry while reading books, but “To You, Iyla” had me SOBBING. I was devastated with how Celeste’s story ended, my heart was absolutely broken. The book definitely had super sad moments, but it ended happily (thank goodness, idk if I could have handled a sad ending). & omg Zeke! I loooved him, such a sweet little bad boy 😏 he was definitely my fav MMC.
✔️dual pov
✔️found family
✔️touch her and die
✔️good girl vs bad boy
An absolutely amazing DEBUT novel 👏🏻 I will definitely be reading more from Kate!
Thank you SO much, Kate, for sending me an arc copy of “To You, Iyla”! I absolutely LOVED this book and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
“You’re a destination, and I only want a one way ticket” 🥹
I don’t usually cry while reading books, but “To You, Iyla” had me SOBBING. I was devastated with how Celeste’s story ended, my heart was absolutely broken. The book definitely had super sad moments, but it ended happily (thank goodness, idk if I could have handled a sad ending). & omg Zeke! I loooved him, such a sweet little bad boy 😏 he was definitely my fav MMC.
✔️dual pov
✔️found family
✔️touch her and die
✔️good girl vs bad boy
An absolutely amazing DEBUT novel 👏🏻 I will definitely be reading more from Kate!
September 30, 2023
⭐️4.75/5
🌶️ 1/5
“A chapter left untold will become a book well-written.”
I have no words... THIS WAS HER DEBUT NOVEL? SERIOUSLY? Kate Lauren’s writing is not a joke y’all- Her writing is full of passion and emotions and omg- even now that I’m writing this review I’m freaking CRYING!!!! (I wish I was one of the arc reader for this book- But well I didn’t even have my bookstagram back then ahah!!)
This is my favorite book for the September wrap up... and not to mention this book will be on my list of favorite books in general! I can't explain, I can't find the right words to describe this wonderful book... really! I didn't think I'd be crying like a baby at 3am! Thank you so much to author Kate Lauren for writing it! I really couldn't put it down for a second... The story, the characters, the whole universe- the whole book broke me, it was literally a roller coaster… everything felt so real, so realistic! I wouldn't mind reading it again and again and again!!! Such a beautiful novel… Really…
🌶️ 1/5
“A chapter left untold will become a book well-written.”
I have no words... THIS WAS HER DEBUT NOVEL? SERIOUSLY? Kate Lauren’s writing is not a joke y’all- Her writing is full of passion and emotions and omg- even now that I’m writing this review I’m freaking CRYING!!!! (I wish I was one of the arc reader for this book- But well I didn’t even have my bookstagram back then ahah!!)
This is my favorite book for the September wrap up... and not to mention this book will be on my list of favorite books in general! I can't explain, I can't find the right words to describe this wonderful book... really! I didn't think I'd be crying like a baby at 3am! Thank you so much to author Kate Lauren for writing it! I really couldn't put it down for a second... The story, the characters, the whole universe- the whole book broke me, it was literally a roller coaster… everything felt so real, so realistic! I wouldn't mind reading it again and again and again!!! Such a beautiful novel… Really…
September 11, 2024
I almost cried, so that's why I'm giving this 5 stars. (FYI: I never cry).
January 19, 2024
i read this in one sitting and OHMYGOD? it was so so beautiful and sad, but in the bestest way possible. celeste deserved sm better, literally everyone in that book deserved so much better but i love that they all got a bittersweet ending with this sort of invisible string tie between celeste & iyla
August 29, 2023
Do you know that, that you see an unpopular booktok book and you think, this is probably going to be 5 stars that's this one! @theauthorkatelauren I want to thank you for writing this amazing book.
This book is really different the characters, the names of the characters. This book made me laugh and really sob. My heart beats for Celeste and Zeke. This book was a beautiful story about Family, love and destiny.
In this story we follow Celeste 19 years ago and we follow Iyla in the present. The further you read, the more puzzle pieces you see fall into each other. This book had me from the first page. And I had goosebumps at the end…
This book is different from all other romance books !
Other than that I can't say much about the book without spoiling it, if you have the book on your tbr, go read it! If you have the book on your wish list. Buy it you won't regret it 💜
This book is really different the characters, the names of the characters. This book made me laugh and really sob. My heart beats for Celeste and Zeke. This book was a beautiful story about Family, love and destiny.
In this story we follow Celeste 19 years ago and we follow Iyla in the present. The further you read, the more puzzle pieces you see fall into each other. This book had me from the first page. And I had goosebumps at the end…
This book is different from all other romance books !
Other than that I can't say much about the book without spoiling it, if you have the book on your tbr, go read it! If you have the book on your wish list. Buy it you won't regret it 💜
June 23, 2023
ARC REVIEW
INSTAGRAM REVIEW : https://instagram.com/p/Ct1k6M_Kxmn/
4,75 ⭐️ what a book omg! thanks again kate for making me part of this arc journey!
SOME POTENTIAL SPOILERS CAN BE HERE
where to begin?
there are two stories in this book, but it feels like you’re reading one. everything is linked and kate thought about everything! honestly i was so much into this book i never wanted to stop reading (and i had to WAY TOO MUCH TIMES)
i loved celeste and zeke’s story more than everything. their pure and endless love and their relationship’s dynamic was soooo interesting! even if i knew since the beginning the end of their love story, i never wanted to accept their fate. they deserved so much better
iyla’s character was one of my favourite! she’s so cute and i felt attached to her since the first pages! i wanted to help her to know her story and know more about her life. i am so glad she’s know happy and in peace !
this book is for a sure a romance, but it’s also the story of a girl who wants to retrace her mother’s steps and start a new life’s chapter. i loved everything about this book so much 💜 kate knows how to tell beautiful and meaningful stories and i can’t wait for her to write new books, honestly!
this masterpiece will be out on july 7th and i recommend you to read it ! ✨
INSTAGRAM REVIEW : https://instagram.com/p/Ct1k6M_Kxmn/
4,75 ⭐️ what a book omg! thanks again kate for making me part of this arc journey!
SOME POTENTIAL SPOILERS CAN BE HERE
where to begin?
there are two stories in this book, but it feels like you’re reading one. everything is linked and kate thought about everything! honestly i was so much into this book i never wanted to stop reading (and i had to WAY TOO MUCH TIMES)
i loved celeste and zeke’s story more than everything. their pure and endless love and their relationship’s dynamic was soooo interesting! even if i knew since the beginning the end of their love story, i never wanted to accept their fate. they deserved so much better
iyla’s character was one of my favourite! she’s so cute and i felt attached to her since the first pages! i wanted to help her to know her story and know more about her life. i am so glad she’s know happy and in peace !
this book is for a sure a romance, but it’s also the story of a girl who wants to retrace her mother’s steps and start a new life’s chapter. i loved everything about this book so much 💜 kate knows how to tell beautiful and meaningful stories and i can’t wait for her to write new books, honestly!
this masterpiece will be out on july 7th and i recommend you to read it ! ✨
June 6, 2023
4.5 stars!
Firstly thank you kate for this arc! (shes the best guys) i was so excited to get this in the mail because i knew from the first teaser that i would love it!
There’s so many elements to this story, and since finishing it a week or so back, i’ve thought back fondly to it multiple times - always an amazing sign.
Okay so this is Kate’s debut novel and what a debut novel it is, you can truly see the effort it took to craft this intricate story & it was so impressively done, the way the story wove together between past and present, the easter eggs, the plot twists. they were plentiful! i devoured this in under 24 hours & i NEVER do that with books anymore.
This is one of them romance books that feel like so much more, and for me personally the romance wasn’t the highlight of the book (still amazing though, felt like a fun bonus) i kinda wanna be vague here for the sake of people going in blind) But the story of family, friendship, grief and knowing who you are/where you come from was so so so strong. I was invested in the story from the get go and it’s one of them books where you HAVE to know what happens, a real page turner in that aspect!
I thought the second half was particularly strong, when you get to the nitty gritty parts of the story. i. could. not. put. it. down.
this book also packs such an emotional punch! i was crying on the floor to Taylor Swift at one point.. 🫣🫣🫣
all in all i’m bloody excited to see what kate writes next because i have a feeling this is going to blow up! especially on booktok! i think the girlies will LOVE it. 💜💜💜
Firstly thank you kate for this arc! (shes the best guys) i was so excited to get this in the mail because i knew from the first teaser that i would love it!
There’s so many elements to this story, and since finishing it a week or so back, i’ve thought back fondly to it multiple times - always an amazing sign.
Okay so this is Kate’s debut novel and what a debut novel it is, you can truly see the effort it took to craft this intricate story & it was so impressively done, the way the story wove together between past and present, the easter eggs, the plot twists. they were plentiful! i devoured this in under 24 hours & i NEVER do that with books anymore.
This is one of them romance books that feel like so much more, and for me personally the romance wasn’t the highlight of the book (still amazing though, felt like a fun bonus) i kinda wanna be vague here for the sake of people going in blind) But the story of family, friendship, grief and knowing who you are/where you come from was so so so strong. I was invested in the story from the get go and it’s one of them books where you HAVE to know what happens, a real page turner in that aspect!
I thought the second half was particularly strong, when you get to the nitty gritty parts of the story. i. could. not. put. it. down.
this book also packs such an emotional punch! i was crying on the floor to Taylor Swift at one point.. 🫣🫣🫣
all in all i’m bloody excited to see what kate writes next because i have a feeling this is going to blow up! especially on booktok! i think the girlies will LOVE it. 💜💜💜
May 30, 2023
ARC REVIEW
★ ★ ★ ★.5
this is the first ever arc i’ve read and i am so so happy it was my first!!
this group of characters really hit close to home for me, celeste specifically. her story was absolutely heartbreaking and i wanted to crawl into the book and comfort oh my god she deserved everything good in life my poor lil baby i could not stop sobbing while reading this 😭
it’s 4.5 stars because it left me wanting a little more out of some characters but celeste and iyla truly carried this book for me, the parallels between their lives and how they navigate young adulthood. and all the little clues that kate planted in this book had me searching like CRAZY
zeke was by far ny favourite out if the male’s, i love me a bad boy what can i say, they are just so yummy especially when they brood🤭 im not gonna say toooo much though so you’ll have to read for yourself💜 i am convinced though that invisible string was written about ambert and iyla though
my favourite quote: "a version where her scars did’t define her but allowed her to be brave.”
tropes
dual pov
timelines
don’t touch her trope
found family
opposites attract
hilarious best friend
★ ★ ★ ★.5
this is the first ever arc i’ve read and i am so so happy it was my first!!
this group of characters really hit close to home for me, celeste specifically. her story was absolutely heartbreaking and i wanted to crawl into the book and comfort oh my god she deserved everything good in life my poor lil baby i could not stop sobbing while reading this 😭
it’s 4.5 stars because it left me wanting a little more out of some characters but celeste and iyla truly carried this book for me, the parallels between their lives and how they navigate young adulthood. and all the little clues that kate planted in this book had me searching like CRAZY
zeke was by far ny favourite out if the male’s, i love me a bad boy what can i say, they are just so yummy especially when they brood🤭 im not gonna say toooo much though so you’ll have to read for yourself💜 i am convinced though that invisible string was written about ambert and iyla though
my favourite quote: "a version where her scars did’t define her but allowed her to be brave.”
tropes
dual pov
timelines
don’t touch her trope
found family
opposites attract
hilarious best friend
December 31, 2023
4.5⭐️
This book deserves so much more hype, it's so good.
Absolutely beautiful is how I'll describe it.
The the only reason i didn't give it a 5⭐️ is because i got the 2 storylines/timelines mixed up at times.
This book deserves so much more hype, it's so good.
Absolutely beautiful is how I'll describe it.
The the only reason i didn't give it a 5⭐️ is because i got the 2 storylines/timelines mixed up at times.
July 4, 2023
“A chapter left untold will become a book well written”
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
first of all I’m very grateful to have received an arc for this amazing book <3
I absolutely loved it. I was constantly smiling, crying all at the same time. I love how we follow both celeste’s and her daughter iyla’s story together. It was both comforting and heart wrenching at the same time somehow🥹🫶🏻
AND THE CHARACTERS. ALL OF THEM. ZEKE? AMBERT? I’m in love🤭
Definitely one of my favs this year <33
Read if you love🫶🏻
-dual povs
-past/present time lines
-journal entries
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
first of all I’m very grateful to have received an arc for this amazing book <3
I absolutely loved it. I was constantly smiling, crying all at the same time. I love how we follow both celeste’s and her daughter iyla’s story together. It was both comforting and heart wrenching at the same time somehow🥹🫶🏻
AND THE CHARACTERS. ALL OF THEM. ZEKE? AMBERT? I’m in love🤭
Definitely one of my favs this year <33
Read if you love🫶🏻
-dual povs
-past/present time lines
-journal entries
March 28, 2024
4,75/5 ⭐️
a HUGE thank you to Kate for sending me her book! it was my first physical ARC and i couldn’t be more grateful <3 To you, Iyla comes out on July’s 7th so don’t miss it out 💜
To you, Iyla is such a special and unique story, where we get to know both Iyla and her mother’s, Celeste, stories. Iyla never met her biological parents so she decided to go to UCLA, where Celeste studied, to follow her mother’s steps and try to learn more about her.
i went through an emotional rollercoaster reading this book! one moment i was smiling and the next one i was sobbing! Celeste, my sweet girl! my heart hurts for her because she went through so much and she deserved the world! getting to know her and her story through her journal entries was so much fun! Zeke is a bad boy with the sweetest heart and OMG the things he said to Celeste!! My heart skipped several beats while i was reading their scenes. the stars truly aligned so these two could meet!
Iyla has so much in commun with her mom, it’s actually insane!! she’s just as sweet as Celeste was and it warmed to heart to see her following her mother’s path! i love her so so much <3 Ambert, her love interest really got me! he’s the man of my dreams, sweet and funny and always taking care of Iyla and showing her how much he cares for her! these two were meant to be!!
this book is all about love and fate and i absolutely LOVED it!! love is so so important in this book and is shown in so many ways. we get relationships but also friendships and one of my favorite tropes: found family trope <3
this is Kate’s debut book and she did an amazing job!! can’t wait to see what’s next because i’ll be here to follow her in this amazing journey!
a HUGE thank you to Kate for sending me her book! it was my first physical ARC and i couldn’t be more grateful <3 To you, Iyla comes out on July’s 7th so don’t miss it out 💜
To you, Iyla is such a special and unique story, where we get to know both Iyla and her mother’s, Celeste, stories. Iyla never met her biological parents so she decided to go to UCLA, where Celeste studied, to follow her mother’s steps and try to learn more about her.
i went through an emotional rollercoaster reading this book! one moment i was smiling and the next one i was sobbing! Celeste, my sweet girl! my heart hurts for her because she went through so much and she deserved the world! getting to know her and her story through her journal entries was so much fun! Zeke is a bad boy with the sweetest heart and OMG the things he said to Celeste!! My heart skipped several beats while i was reading their scenes. the stars truly aligned so these two could meet!
Iyla has so much in commun with her mom, it’s actually insane!! she’s just as sweet as Celeste was and it warmed to heart to see her following her mother’s path! i love her so so much <3 Ambert, her love interest really got me! he’s the man of my dreams, sweet and funny and always taking care of Iyla and showing her how much he cares for her! these two were meant to be!!
this book is all about love and fate and i absolutely LOVED it!! love is so so important in this book and is shown in so many ways. we get relationships but also friendships and one of my favorite tropes: found family trope <3
this is Kate’s debut book and she did an amazing job!! can’t wait to see what’s next because i’ll be here to follow her in this amazing journey!
August 16, 2023
one of the most beautiful stories i have ever read so far this year, amazingly well-written. it did an amazing job of breaking my heart and then mending it back together. the characters here are everything to me.
i immediately fell in love with celeste and zeke. they were an ill-fated tragedy that deserved so much better. i felt the love they had for one another, and the heartbreaks as well :”) zeke tried to make himself better for her and rid of the things he (and celeste) didn’t want to be associated with anymore, warmed my heart. you can tell how much he loves her.
iyla and ambert are the definition of the invisible string theory, you cannot tell me otherwise. they are perfect for each other. i’m so glad they got their happy ending, i will defend them with my life.
iyla following her mother’s footsteps in the route to become a lawyer and learning about her, was everything. celeste was a mystery at the start, and i was very curious in getting to know her more, just like iyla. i can live in peace knowing that iyla got to know the mom she never met and can live to make her proud.
i loved the dual timelines of mother and daughter, it was a first for me. the plot twist and everything being broken down? had me speechless. not to mention, the entries of celeste being letters to iyla, was super clever.
if no one told me this was kate’s debut novel, i wouldn’t have guessed otherwise. kate, you blew me away with this one, i cannot wait for what more you bring in the future!
i immediately fell in love with celeste and zeke. they were an ill-fated tragedy that deserved so much better. i felt the love they had for one another, and the heartbreaks as well :”) zeke tried to make himself better for her and rid of the things he (and celeste) didn’t want to be associated with anymore, warmed my heart. you can tell how much he loves her.
iyla and ambert are the definition of the invisible string theory, you cannot tell me otherwise. they are perfect for each other. i’m so glad they got their happy ending, i will defend them with my life.
iyla following her mother’s footsteps in the route to become a lawyer and learning about her, was everything. celeste was a mystery at the start, and i was very curious in getting to know her more, just like iyla. i can live in peace knowing that iyla got to know the mom she never met and can live to make her proud.
i loved the dual timelines of mother and daughter, it was a first for me. the plot twist and everything being broken down? had me speechless. not to mention, the entries of celeste being letters to iyla, was super clever.
if no one told me this was kate’s debut novel, i wouldn’t have guessed otherwise. kate, you blew me away with this one, i cannot wait for what more you bring in the future!
June 4, 2024
4.5⭐️
review to come🥹
review to come🥹
June 30, 2023
Firstly, I want to thank the author for allowing me to ARC read To You, Iyla. I absolutely loved the book so so much you don't understand. This book is emotional and wholesome, and I just loved it. Found family at its best for sure.
To You, Iyla follows the story of Iyla Larson, who goes on a journey to find out more about her biological mother whilst studying Law at UCLA with her best friend. It's split into different POVs with mainly Iyla's mum (Celeste), 19 years in the past, and Iyla during the present.
The characters were so loveable and real. Ambert, Iyla, Zeke, Celeste, and Claire. They were all fleshed out and written wonderfully, especially Zeke, with his backstory. Each of them have unique personalities and were wholesome too! My favourite character has to be Celeste, though. She deserves the world.
There were so many little plot twists in the book that had me shook and made me stop reading for a second just to process it. And so many little hints and pieces that just came together beautifully.
I love how the author mirrored Iyla's life with Celeste's. Honestly, I felt so gutted knowing that Iyla would never be able to meet Celeste because she's just like her mother. There were so many similarities between them, and I just wished we could've seen them both together.
Either way, the parallels between their lives were done beautifully and kudos to the author !!
The last 100 or so pages were a rollercoaster of emotions, I was in tears. I was so happy for Iyla but also so incredibly sad. You'd just have to read it to find out tbh. It was a wild journey.
There was a lot of dialogue in the book, though, but honestly, I didn't mind it too much. I still thought it was really enjoyable and a good read. This is definitely a summer read that I couldn't recommend more !!
To You, Iyla follows the story of Iyla Larson, who goes on a journey to find out more about her biological mother whilst studying Law at UCLA with her best friend. It's split into different POVs with mainly Iyla's mum (Celeste), 19 years in the past, and Iyla during the present.
The characters were so loveable and real. Ambert, Iyla, Zeke, Celeste, and Claire. They were all fleshed out and written wonderfully, especially Zeke, with his backstory. Each of them have unique personalities and were wholesome too! My favourite character has to be Celeste, though. She deserves the world.
There were so many little plot twists in the book that had me shook and made me stop reading for a second just to process it. And so many little hints and pieces that just came together beautifully.
I love how the author mirrored Iyla's life with Celeste's. Honestly, I felt so gutted knowing that Iyla would never be able to meet Celeste because she's just like her mother. There were so many similarities between them, and I just wished we could've seen them both together.
Either way, the parallels between their lives were done beautifully and kudos to the author !!
The last 100 or so pages were a rollercoaster of emotions, I was in tears. I was so happy for Iyla but also so incredibly sad. You'd just have to read it to find out tbh. It was a wild journey.
There was a lot of dialogue in the book, though, but honestly, I didn't mind it too much. I still thought it was really enjoyable and a good read. This is definitely a summer read that I couldn't recommend more !!
July 20, 2023
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
“But I do know that people come into your life for a reason, whether we know those reasons or not. And Iyla Larson,” he leaned in to graze his lips against mine. “You’re meant to be in my life.”
I was sobbing. This book had me bawling my eyes out at 1 in the morning , & then some more the next morning when I remembered how the book ended. The last couple of chapters emotionally and mentally broke me apart but yet pull back together with such a beautiful ending that I’ll never forget. Kate if that was goal , you sure damn hit it. This book is everything & so much more; the romance , the spice , the found family , the journal entries, etc.. everything was so beautifully written. It did take me a while to get used to the past/present aspect of the journals & POV, but afterwards it was smooth sailing. I loved every second of this book. From the very beginning, I knew that I would absolutely fall in love with every single character throughout the chapters, & I did. They will always have a special place in my heart, especially Celeste Kinney. I know a day won’t go by where I don’t think about her at least once 🙁
“But I do know that people come into your life for a reason, whether we know those reasons or not. And Iyla Larson,” he leaned in to graze his lips against mine. “You’re meant to be in my life.”
I was sobbing. This book had me bawling my eyes out at 1 in the morning , & then some more the next morning when I remembered how the book ended. The last couple of chapters emotionally and mentally broke me apart but yet pull back together with such a beautiful ending that I’ll never forget. Kate if that was goal , you sure damn hit it. This book is everything & so much more; the romance , the spice , the found family , the journal entries, etc.. everything was so beautifully written. It did take me a while to get used to the past/present aspect of the journals & POV, but afterwards it was smooth sailing. I loved every second of this book. From the very beginning, I knew that I would absolutely fall in love with every single character throughout the chapters, & I did. They will always have a special place in my heart, especially Celeste Kinney. I know a day won’t go by where I don’t think about her at least once 🙁
January 20, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
The way that both storylines interlinked while still being in their own timelines made the book come together so well especially as we draw towards the end of the story because the two timelines become one. I don’t usually get very emotional during my reads but this read hit me hard.
I connected so much with Iyla in the way that she wanted to know where she came from and how much she was like her mum, (I only live with one parent so I completely understand her feeling for wanting to know more) as well as getting to see her develop into her own person as she followed in her mums footsteps. Her connection with Ambert was so natural and faultless they were truly meant to be 🥰
I also loved getting to see Celeste bring Zeke out of his shell as well as his character development throughout the book, the way that he put Celeste above everything was honourable especially alongside the way that he was willing to become a better man for Iyla. Overall I really liked this book, it hit me in the feels from start to finish but it was truly amazing and I can’t wait to read more of Kate’s work in the future!
The way that both storylines interlinked while still being in their own timelines made the book come together so well especially as we draw towards the end of the story because the two timelines become one. I don’t usually get very emotional during my reads but this read hit me hard.
I connected so much with Iyla in the way that she wanted to know where she came from and how much she was like her mum, (I only live with one parent so I completely understand her feeling for wanting to know more) as well as getting to see her develop into her own person as she followed in her mums footsteps. Her connection with Ambert was so natural and faultless they were truly meant to be 🥰
I also loved getting to see Celeste bring Zeke out of his shell as well as his character development throughout the book, the way that he put Celeste above everything was honourable especially alongside the way that he was willing to become a better man for Iyla. Overall I really liked this book, it hit me in the feels from start to finish but it was truly amazing and I can’t wait to read more of Kate’s work in the future!
June 21, 2023
There are books on my top books I’ve ever read list and there is an authors who’s books will always have my heart because of personal connections to the themes but I’ve never had a favourite book
I knew from the start that that position would go to To You, Iyla
And it most definitely was true - To You, Iyla is my favourite book ever!
This was more than a love story. This was more than a romance. This was life story, a masterpiece, a piece of perfection. I loved everything about it. The character development to the description to the structure to the Easter eggs to the links to the full circle moments - it was all beautiful.
I love how Kate used Easter eggs and hints to let us know about what will come soon and it was all put in perfectly - I loved putting the puzzle pieces together.
There were so many full circle moments in this masterpiece which made me internally cry.
There’s this special repetition triangle (that’s what I’m calling it) which Kate uses and it’s beautiful - it was used so many times but in the right place.
I love how this was a story explaining a backstory but not between two people who become lovers but between people who consider themselves family and who have gone through so many things to finally end up meeting with peace.
It’s a love story, well a double love story and there is romance but there is so much more to the book. So much more! So much more!
You will only find out once you read it.
And my favourite thing were the characters. Zeke, Celeste, Iyla and Ambert - these four Will always have my heart. These four are spectacular and wonderful and it’s not just the lives for each other that is beautiful but how it is all meant to be .
The stars and fate play a big role in this book and I know why, I love the way Kate implanted it.
Thank you so much Kate for having me on your arc team and I can’t wait for what the future holds with your writing.
I definitely recommend this book, there are not enough words to emphasis how much I loved it!
I knew from the start that that position would go to To You, Iyla
And it most definitely was true - To You, Iyla is my favourite book ever!
This was more than a love story. This was more than a romance. This was life story, a masterpiece, a piece of perfection. I loved everything about it. The character development to the description to the structure to the Easter eggs to the links to the full circle moments - it was all beautiful.
I love how Kate used Easter eggs and hints to let us know about what will come soon and it was all put in perfectly - I loved putting the puzzle pieces together.
There were so many full circle moments in this masterpiece which made me internally cry.
There’s this special repetition triangle (that’s what I’m calling it) which Kate uses and it’s beautiful - it was used so many times but in the right place.
I love how this was a story explaining a backstory but not between two people who become lovers but between people who consider themselves family and who have gone through so many things to finally end up meeting with peace.
It’s a love story, well a double love story and there is romance but there is so much more to the book. So much more! So much more!
You will only find out once you read it.
And my favourite thing were the characters. Zeke, Celeste, Iyla and Ambert - these four Will always have my heart. These four are spectacular and wonderful and it’s not just the lives for each other that is beautiful but how it is all meant to be .
The stars and fate play a big role in this book and I know why, I love the way Kate implanted it.
Thank you so much Kate for having me on your arc team and I can’t wait for what the future holds with your writing.
I definitely recommend this book, there are not enough words to emphasis how much I loved it!
June 21, 2023
To You, Iyla
☮️🌊🎡🎓📖🧳💜🐚🌺🏍️
Arc Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
(the book that got me out of my slump)
This book is extra special to me, because I’ve gotten to know the author quite well. Experiencing her kindness and watching her journey has been an amazing experience. I couldn’t be more proud of her and the amazing book she wrote. Thank you for sharing your story a little early with me!💜💜
This book left me completely speechless. I found myself staring down at the last page, at a loss for words. I expected the book to be good, but I didn’t expect it to BLOW MY MIND. This book is more than your typical romance. It’s a beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and grief.
This book is unique in the way it spans over a longer period of time and follows the story of both a mom and her daughter. The plot was amazing and complex, and I loved the way the story played out. All 4 main characters, were enjoyable and relatable and perfect for this book. I adored the setting being California, because it was easy to picture the story taking place there. I loved the way this book made be beyond happy at times, but also made me quietly sob into my pillow. What more could I ask for?
Out July 7! Mark your calendars💜💜
☮️🌊🎡🎓📖🧳💜🐚🌺🏍️
Arc Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
(the book that got me out of my slump)
This book is extra special to me, because I’ve gotten to know the author quite well. Experiencing her kindness and watching her journey has been an amazing experience. I couldn’t be more proud of her and the amazing book she wrote. Thank you for sharing your story a little early with me!💜💜
This book left me completely speechless. I found myself staring down at the last page, at a loss for words. I expected the book to be good, but I didn’t expect it to BLOW MY MIND. This book is more than your typical romance. It’s a beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and grief.
This book is unique in the way it spans over a longer period of time and follows the story of both a mom and her daughter. The plot was amazing and complex, and I loved the way the story played out. All 4 main characters, were enjoyable and relatable and perfect for this book. I adored the setting being California, because it was easy to picture the story taking place there. I loved the way this book made be beyond happy at times, but also made me quietly sob into my pillow. What more could I ask for?
Out July 7! Mark your calendars💜💜
July 3, 2023
I read To You, Iyla as an eARC thanks to the generosity of the author, Kate Lauren.
If I hadn’t known prior, I wouldn’t have guessed that that this book was a debut novel. From the very first chapter, you could tell that Kate poured her heart into the pages of her book. To You, Iyla is a beautifully written, heartbreaking yet hopeful story of family, fate, and love.
The book is a dual-timeline in the form of journal entries and present day. It follows Iyla (present day) and Celeste. Both timelines have their own stories that blend together into the overall plot and story. Sometimes it can be confusing with multiple plotlines, but Iyla and Celeste’s individual stories intertwine beautifully and seamlessly together. I loved the supporting characters as well. They added so much depth to the story and made me fall in love with the main characters.
I felt so many different emotions while reading, and I couldn’t put it down. My only thought after finishing this book is that I want more.
Recommend for those who love dual-timelines, fate, California, writing and poetry, found family, a little bit of emotional damage, and beautiful love stories.
If I hadn’t known prior, I wouldn’t have guessed that that this book was a debut novel. From the very first chapter, you could tell that Kate poured her heart into the pages of her book. To You, Iyla is a beautifully written, heartbreaking yet hopeful story of family, fate, and love.
The book is a dual-timeline in the form of journal entries and present day. It follows Iyla (present day) and Celeste. Both timelines have their own stories that blend together into the overall plot and story. Sometimes it can be confusing with multiple plotlines, but Iyla and Celeste’s individual stories intertwine beautifully and seamlessly together. I loved the supporting characters as well. They added so much depth to the story and made me fall in love with the main characters.
I felt so many different emotions while reading, and I couldn’t put it down. My only thought after finishing this book is that I want more.
Recommend for those who love dual-timelines, fate, California, writing and poetry, found family, a little bit of emotional damage, and beautiful love stories.
July 4, 2023
Okay... Kate did amazing with this book! I absolutely loved everything and all the characters!!! The plot twist we got was what we needed... 🤭Zeke and Ambert are so cute and polar opposites while Iyla and Celeste are similar! With every word I read, every scene and moment show up in a clear picture. I can't wait to see what more Kate has in store for us🥰
June 25, 2023
kate oh my god i love you, thank you so much for sending me the arc, and thank you for writing this amazing book, i LOVE it SO MUCH, im still sobbing, i cried a lot, what a beautiful story i loved all the characters, I couldn’t stop reading until i finished and omg im speechless for real, just read this book
July 10, 2023
This book 🥹 i’ve been in a reading slump for MONTHS now. This book right here got me out of it. You definitely need to read this. 🫶🏻
June 5, 2023
“She belonged to so much more that spread beyond his wings”
This book is pure crack and I am addicted!!
To You, Iyla follows two characters in alternating timelines between the past and the present.
We have Celeste in the past who is on her way to fulfilling her dreams of going to Standford but all it takes is a simple spring break to change everything.
In the present we follow Iyla who has been left with unanswered questions about her birth parents for years. It’s been nearly two decades since the passing of her biological mother and that leaves Iyla determined to finally find the answers she deserves. Following in her biological mothers footsteps, Iyla attends UCLA where the past starts to unveil.
I am unwell! Kate Lauren’s debut novel had me sobbig my eyes out, laughing until my stomach hurt, swooning for the romance and then sobbing just a little bit more!
The character development we get in this book is phenomenal! The romance is utterly swoon worthy and the spice had me fanning my face on multiple occasions. Lauren Kate you have officially become an auto-buy author for me and I cannot wait to see what you will release into the world next!
To You, Iyla is like a two for one deal! You’re getting two romance’s in one book so pre-order the digital copy right now!
To You, Iyla is up for digital pre-order now and paperback’s can be purchased on release day (July 7th 2023)
*Thank you so much to author Lauren Kate for providing me with an arc of your debut novel! Words cannot describe how grateful I am!
This book is pure crack and I am addicted!!
To You, Iyla follows two characters in alternating timelines between the past and the present.
We have Celeste in the past who is on her way to fulfilling her dreams of going to Standford but all it takes is a simple spring break to change everything.
In the present we follow Iyla who has been left with unanswered questions about her birth parents for years. It’s been nearly two decades since the passing of her biological mother and that leaves Iyla determined to finally find the answers she deserves. Following in her biological mothers footsteps, Iyla attends UCLA where the past starts to unveil.
I am unwell! Kate Lauren’s debut novel had me sobbig my eyes out, laughing until my stomach hurt, swooning for the romance and then sobbing just a little bit more!
The character development we get in this book is phenomenal! The romance is utterly swoon worthy and the spice had me fanning my face on multiple occasions. Lauren Kate you have officially become an auto-buy author for me and I cannot wait to see what you will release into the world next!
To You, Iyla is like a two for one deal! You’re getting two romance’s in one book so pre-order the digital copy right now!
To You, Iyla is up for digital pre-order now and paperback’s can be purchased on release day (July 7th 2023)
*Thank you so much to author Lauren Kate for providing me with an arc of your debut novel! Words cannot describe how grateful I am!
June 22, 2023
Thank you so much Kate for the opportunity to read the ARC.
This book follows Celeste and her daughter Iyla’s POV, in a dual timeline.
You’ll get to know Celeste’s story in the past and everything that leads to Iyla’s birth. You will also meet the handsome and loving Zeke and Celeste’s incredible best friend Claire.
The present tells you the story of Iyla, who is adopted. The only thing she knows about her birth mother is that she went to Pre Law at UCLA. So, as you might guess, in order to retrace her mother’s footsteps, she enrolls in the same college.
This book got me internally screaming, sad, overwhelmed, intrigued and crying! Yes, crying! And let me tell you… I never cry! And damn if Iyla’s adoptive parents aren’t the cutest.
Read if you like:
- Dual POV
- Dual timeline
- Romance
- Found family
- Strong friendships
- Spice
This book follows Celeste and her daughter Iyla’s POV, in a dual timeline.
You’ll get to know Celeste’s story in the past and everything that leads to Iyla’s birth. You will also meet the handsome and loving Zeke and Celeste’s incredible best friend Claire.
The present tells you the story of Iyla, who is adopted. The only thing she knows about her birth mother is that she went to Pre Law at UCLA. So, as you might guess, in order to retrace her mother’s footsteps, she enrolls in the same college.
This book got me internally screaming, sad, overwhelmed, intrigued and crying! Yes, crying! And let me tell you… I never cry! And damn if Iyla’s adoptive parents aren’t the cutest.
Read if you like:
- Dual POV
- Dual timeline
- Romance
- Found family
- Strong friendships
- Spice
June 1, 2023
4.5/5!!!!
This is my first ever physical arc and I am so so happy that it was this book!
This book follows Iyla, who is adopted and always wondered about her real parents, as she goes to UCLA to retrace her mothers footsteps and try to find answers. Half of the book is told in the perspective of Iyla present day, and the other half is told through journal entries from Iyla's mom, Celeste, leading up to her birth.
I absolutely loved this book and the storyline. I thought it was so meaningful and the ending really came full circle. I also loved the mystery aspect of this book and all the twists and turns that this book takes you on.
I really fell in love with all of the characters, especially Celeste and Zeke's story. I loved seeing the parallels between Celeste and Iyla's story and how similar Iyla is to Celeste without even knowing it. Zeke is my favorite character I feel for him so much! I loved all of the found family it was so so cute.
This book is absolutely devastating so be prepared to cry. The ending broke me, but I was also smiling. There were so many amazing quotes in this book and the writing was amazing! So many parts of Iyla's story felt like felt like a coming of age movie and I loved it so much.,
Thank you so so much Kate for sending this to me! I am so so grateful to have been able to read it. To you, Iyla comes out July 7th!
This is my first ever physical arc and I am so so happy that it was this book!
This book follows Iyla, who is adopted and always wondered about her real parents, as she goes to UCLA to retrace her mothers footsteps and try to find answers. Half of the book is told in the perspective of Iyla present day, and the other half is told through journal entries from Iyla's mom, Celeste, leading up to her birth.
I absolutely loved this book and the storyline. I thought it was so meaningful and the ending really came full circle. I also loved the mystery aspect of this book and all the twists and turns that this book takes you on.
I really fell in love with all of the characters, especially Celeste and Zeke's story. I loved seeing the parallels between Celeste and Iyla's story and how similar Iyla is to Celeste without even knowing it. Zeke is my favorite character I feel for him so much! I loved all of the found family it was so so cute.
This book is absolutely devastating so be prepared to cry. The ending broke me, but I was also smiling. There were so many amazing quotes in this book and the writing was amazing! So many parts of Iyla's story felt like felt like a coming of age movie and I loved it so much.,
Thank you so so much Kate for sending this to me! I am so so grateful to have been able to read it. To you, Iyla comes out July 7th!
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