Begin Again

by Taylor Epperson

I never planned on marrying my best friend. I never even planned on falling in love.

I’ve spent my entire life telling anyone and everyone who would listen that I’ll never get married, that I’ll never even date. My mother made marriage and dating look completely unappealing, so romance is not in the cards for me.

What I never counted on was Sam Holland. He was my brother’s best friend first, but somewhere along the way, he became my closest friend, the person I told all of my news to, the one I wanted by my side through it all.

Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with him.

But me and Sam? It won’t ever work, not like this. Because he wants a romance-worthy marriage and love story, and I don’t feel like I’ll ever be worthy of that type of love.

In the end, though, I did marry Sam, and now he’s standing in the hallway, waiting for me to let him into my hotel room after not seeing him for six months, and before I let him into my heart again, I need to go back to the beginning to where all of this started. To see if we have what it takes to make this work. To make marriage work. To make us work.

Begin Again is a standalone romance connected to the Nelson Sisters series. It’s got swoony kisses and tender, romantic moments that will have you melting (while keeping everything behind closed doors).

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Closed Door Romance

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2024

About the author

Taylor Epperson writes sweet romances that are sure to make you laugh and swoon!

Reviews

[Lynn Meeuwissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual POV: Annie & Sam
Brother’s best friend
Friends to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Healing after trauma
Taylor Swift references
Closed door

I was so happy to get to know the full story of Annie, after being referenced to in book 1. Despite all the challenges she faces, Annie is such a strong character and I love how supportive Sam is, being ready to follow her pace!

I listened to the audiobook for this one, though I would recommend reading the paper or digital version: it was a little harder to follow with the timelines for me and I always prefer a dual narration for dual POV.

[Ella Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are the literal cutest 🥹💖🫶🏼I love the way Sam
helped her through her panic attacks and was always there for her🤭💗💗
spice 🔥 kisses and innuendo
language 🤐 none

[Kim Golding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just l loved this cute story of Sam and Annie! It’s a mix of a teenage friend/brothers best friend with a marriage of convenience added in.

Sam has loved Annie from the first day. He saw her and she was 14 years old and he was 16 years old. Being neighbors, and best friends with her brother, they spent a lot of time together, but nothing beyond friendship ever happened. Fast-forward several years and Sam and Andy are still a part of each other‘s lives , though they each are pursuing their own path. And Sam comes home to find Annie fully cooled and crying in the shower, he helps her through her trauma. And when Annie find Sam in pain for an accident with no health insurance, she offers to marry him so that he can get the care he needs.

I thought these two just had the sweetest relationship, from friendship to more. I loved how Sam called her “Sunshine“ and how he was just there for her wherever and whenever she needed it! Annie went though so much from a rocky upbringing with her flaky mom, to finding herself in an abusive relationship, to struggling with panic attacks and “running” when things got tough. And through it all, Sam was her rock.
Such a sweet story!

(Trigger warning: domestic violence)

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marriage of convenience + closed door + healing after trauma!

Annie & Sam have been friends since high school. Sam has always loved Annie, but Annie wants nothing to do with marriage.

When circumstances outside of their control lead to a marriage of convenience, they both have to deal with their feelings all while Annie processes & heals from an abusive ex.

Read if you love…
✨marriage of convenience
👩🏻‍🍳FMC chef
🏝️Hawaii
✨healing after trauma
🫶🏼dual perspective & dual timeline
✨friends to lovers
✨brother’s best friend / best friend’s sister
👏🏼secret tattoo
✨it’s always been you
🏙️New York City
📷MMC adventure/travel YouTuber
✨closed door

I’ve been waiting for Annie & Sam’s story since book one, and it did not disappoint!

Having gotten to see early drafts of these two and go through the full editing process (developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading), I’m just so endlessly proud of Taylor for her third book baby.

There were so many aspects of both Sam & Annie I felt deeply relatable with my own story with emotionally & verbally abusive parents and a past relationship, but also the deep desire to just be loved and for a happy marriage.

I loved how much depth and relationship building the dual perspective gives the reader. The insight to the entirety of their friendship is just so beneficial to the present day chapters. We really understand where they’re both coming from, and why they are the way they are.

While not necessary, I highly recommend you go back and read The Luck of Finding You and The Rules of Mistletoe!

📍Hawaii; New York; Colorado
✨Rep: PTSD
‼️Content: physical abuse, off page; emotional/verbal abuse from partner (not MMC), off page; emotional/verbal abuse from parent, on page; panic attacks, on page

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Begin Again is connected to the Nelson Sisters series but can absolutely be enjoyed just fine as a standalone. It did definitely have me intrigued to go back and get Noah's story in the first book of that series, which I haven't read yet.

This book... oh my goodness. So many feelings! The story drew me in right away with the prologue as Annie is preparing to see her husband/best friend Sam for the first time in six months. The story then goes back to their teenage years, and we slowly get to watch their relationship build throughout the years. Let me tell you, this is truly the very definition of a slow burn... but done in the absolute best way possible. Seeing their relationship through the course of so many years and so many ups and downs had me rooting for them all that much more. While Sam's feelings are very clear from the start, Annie has a lot of baggage she has to work through to get there. I love his steadiness and patience throughout the story... and couldn't help but love the beauty of their love story. It's certainly not an easy story though. While it may end in a happily ever after, it's a rough road to get there. The story deals with abuse and trauma but does so with grace in a way that feels very real and genuine but is balanced with those sweet moments to keep it from feeling too heavy overall. I truly just adored this book and these characters so much!

Begin Again is a closed-door romance with kisses only.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 3 out of 5]

“There’s about six inches between us, but that distance is lined with gasoline and I’m a match ready to catch fire and burn us both.”

These characters were introduced in The Luck of Finding You and I was excited to read their story after those brief appearances. Begin Again follows the highs and lows of their relationship from their first meeting as teenagers all the way through their late twenties.

Annie deals with a lot of trauma after a difficult childhood and grows up to find herself in an abusive relationship. While we don’t see any of the physical abuse on page, we do see how this changes Annie. Although difficult to read, I found these scenes moving because they felt very real.

I liked the relationship between Annie and Sam but at the same time I thought there were some toxic elements to how they treated each other and others that were never really addressed or resolved. And while I do appreciate a dual perspective story, their voices often sounded too similar and I would forget who I was supposed to be following.

I had a lot of fun reading this and will probably pick it up again in the future. If you enjoy first person, dual perspective romances that deal with some heavier topics, this would be a good one to pick up.

I do want to mention that while this is closed door, there is a scene that involves one of the main characters having to undress the other. It made sense in the story and was handled well, but I know that this might be off putting for some readers.

[Ashley Sills · Rating 4 out of 5]

For lovers of…
💍 marriage of convenience
❤️‍🩹 PTSD and anxiety rep
💚 MMC’s with every green flag
💕 imperfect love stories
🎤 Taylor Swift references (the title?!)
☀️ cute nicknames

…this book is right up your alley. I really enjoyed Taylor’s first two rom coms and was excited to jump into this new one.

While I personally had a harder time connecting with this story, I still related to Annie in some ways and thought this book handled + explored mental health struggles really well. Annie and Sam’s relationship isn’t perfect—it’s messy and hard, but I think realistically, a lot of love stories are.

Don’t worry though, there is a happy ending! And I loved it ☀️ Sam is the definition of a green flag and honestly should be a standard for what to look for in a husband/partner 😆💕 Everyone deserves someone who will love and support them through their struggles.

This one wasn’t quite five stars for me—I found myself really wishing Annie + Sam had communicated more, I didn’t connect to the story as well, like I said before, and the timeline felt rushed at times. Finally, there were quite a few errors that could have been cleaned up with a little extra line/proofreading (typos are normal but these made it a little hard to read). But I still think this is both a good story and an important one — I really hope this book finds someone who needs it. 🫶🏻

🌶️ kisses, one brief, non-descriptive fade-to-black scene
⚠️ emotional and physical abuse implied, PTSD and panic attacks on page

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with Sam right from the start. I’m a huge friends to lovers trope fan and it’s always the best when it’s the brother’s best friend. I love watching crushes grow up with each other and having that solid base of friendship.

I really wish we could have like two more books on Sam and Annie’s history because I love them so much. I wish we got more of their childhood and teenage years together even though this book takes place when they’re much older.

I really appreciated how concerned, understanding, and alert Sam was in regard to Annie’s struggles. I felt a bit confused throughout the book because there was a lot of talk about how she was never going to date and she couldn’t ever give Sam what he wanted in life but there wasn’t ever talk about why. It seemed like something had happened to Annie at a young age but it was never discussed. I think in the end Annie expresses her feelings of not wanting to end up like her mother but it didn’t make me think that was why she swore off dating. There were some connections throughout the book that just didn’t officially click for me.

Overall, cute story, loved the Taylor Swift references.

***I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.***

[Mai | mai.readingnook · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️s, rounded up.
ARC provided by author.
CW: domestic abuse+violence, verbal+psychological abuse by a parent, PTSD, panic attacks

Friends to lovers, but make it brother’s best friend. Add in a layer of marriage of convenience? Say less.

I loved how this book started out in the present day and then jumped back in time to tell their whole story. I loved that.

Sam, my guy. I was immediately endeared to him. I thought he was really sweet, and there was never any doubt about how much he loved Annie. He was supportive, respectful, and just a really good friend to her. Even if it pained him to “just be friends”, since Annie has been saying she’d never date anyone. Speaking of that, I wish we got more explanation as to WHY Annie kept saying that. I know that she says she doesn’t want to end up like her mother, in one unhealthy relationship after another, but it still would have been nice to know how that translated in her mind. Many of her contradicting actions might have been less confusing if we had that insight.

I want to commend Taylor for telling this story. I think it was very brave, and that many folks will find solace in this.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a change of pace from Taylor’s other books and it was done so well! I loved that we got the WHOLE picture, going back to when Sam and Annie met was crucial to the story. I loved watching their friendship grow and then their feelings, and denial of feelings!! The slow burn was very much worth the wait for them. I would have loved to see a tiny bit more of them really together but the way it happened made 100% sense for the story!!

I loved Sam’s unwavering support for Annie. His feelings were clear the entire time, he even told her so. And I really liked that he never held it against her that she felt like she couldn’t reciprocate. She had so much trauma from her mother it was seemingly impossible to see through it all.

Annie’s story was written with so much love and care and I thought it was done so well. All of the things she faced in her life were HARD. But she was able to eventually get to a place in her life where she could really work through things, and it was a work in progress because that’s how these things go and she was doing that and doing well!

Thanks so much to Taylor Epperson for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Brittany Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite book of the series! Sam and Annie are so sweet! I loved that Sam loved Annie since forever! And I loved how great friends they were (along with Noah). I love that he moved to New York to be with her and I love how he was always trying to be there for her.

This book definitely deals with heavier elements (IE physical and emotional abuse) and I thought that Epperson did a good job of being real and including those elements while also keeping the romance of the genre.

I liked the dual POVs and that the book flashed back in time to explain their relationship. I also appreciate that all of the flashback was done consecutively. Going back and forth in timelines is sometimes hard for my brain to wrap around. I also liked how Epperson put the ages of both Sam and Annie at the top of each chapter, so helpful so I'm not here trying to do the math on how long it's been, how old they both are, etc.

My heart definitely broke when Annie left Sam but I'm glad she was able to find herself again after being abused. And I'm glad that Sam was patient and waited for her to be ready. I loved that they were secretly married! :)

[Tati Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Begin Again" is a heartwarming novel that was written for all the girls who have been told that they're not easy to love. The author, Taylor, reminds us that we are worthy of love, no matter what anyone else says. The story follows the lives of two childhood friends, Annie and Sam, as they navigate the challenges of life and love.

Annie and Sam's relationship is not your typical brother's best friend trope. Sam is Annie's refuge from an abusive family member. He is protective and loving from the start, but it is hard for Annie to accept his love. As someone who didn't have the best example of love growing up, Annie's journey to healing was relatable to me. Her journey inspired me to believe that I too am worthy of love.

"Begin Again" is a book that everyone can enjoy. Whether you're looking for a good love story or needing a little healing in your life, this book has something for everyone. By the time you finish the book, you'll be clutching it to your chest with a heart full of satisfaction.

[Mashell · Rating 1 out of 5]

One thing I appreciated about this book was how clean and wholesome it was. The romance stays sweet and closed-door, which made it an easy and comfortable read.

However, I struggled to connect with the main character, Annie. She knew she was in love but her friends spend the length of the book talking her into being in love..She often came across as whiny and needy rather than taking charge of her life and moving forward. That made it harder for me to fully engage with her story. It’s possible that listening to the audio version affected how I perceived her character, but I still found myself wishing she showed more growth, strength, and trust in herself and Sam.

Overall, the story is a clean romance, but the nickname ‘sunshine’ was overused, and Annie’s character made it difficult for me to fully connect with the book. Readers who enjoy wholesome, friends-to-lovers stories may still find it appealing, especially if they appreciate a softer, more emotional, contemporary style of storytelling.

[Kristiann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie has never been shown what a healthy relationship looks like and decides to focus on her career despite pressure to do otherwise. Sam has probably loved Annie since they met but he tries his best to only be her friend because that’s what she needs. Things get complicated when they end up getting married.

This book was one that made me choke up multiple times. I cannot get over the patience Sam has with Annie. He truly shows her constant and consistent love. It had me reflecting on my own marriage and the steadiness of my partner. Those of us who live with messy mental states sincerely appreciate the ones who choose to love us and Annie and Sam’s story embodies that.

Please read the Author’s Note to make sure this book is for you because as sweet and swoony as it is, it addresses some hard topics.

[Stephanie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, easy read

I was looking for a light contemporary romance and I was not disappointed. I needed a sweet love story that didn’t do a super deep dive into some heavy things and this was just the book for that.

I enjoyed that the chapters had dates and the ages of the characters to help with pacing since a little more than half of the story takes place in the past. I loved the alternating perspectives from the two main characters.

I never read the other books in the series so not sure how it connects with the other ones, only that they are interconnected stand alones.

There’s nothing that really makes this book stand out. It reminds me of those Hallmark holiday movies where the characters and plot are very similar, but that doesn’t make them less enjoyable if that’s what you’re looking for.

[Liberty Munson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult story to read because Annie suffers from several abusive relationships that impact her willingness and ability to love Sam. While I understand the difficulties of mental illness, the story did become frustrating when she decides to try a relationship with her boss rather than try with Sam and the fact that she runs hot and cold with Sam's emotions. This is probably a realistic representation of her mental state, but the fact that the consistency of Sam was overlooked time and time again was difficult for me.

This is not a happy story, and the ending didn't really leave me with HEA vibes.

I listened to this on Audible. This is a dual POV read by a female narrator. At times, it was difficult to know who was speaking because there wasn't much difference in the voices used by each character.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cutest book! The two main characters were so easy to fall in love with and the story was entertaining from beginning to end!

Sam and Annie meet the summer before Annie starts high school, and the book takes you through their lives as backstory before catching you back up in the present!

There are some sensitive topics such as verbal & physical abuse (only the aftermath is shown on the pages) as well as anxiety & PTSD! Taylor did an amazing job navigating those topics and I really appreciate her bringing awareness of what Anxiety & PTSD look like!

Begin Again was such a fun read and I couldn’t put it down! (Easily finished in one night!) I 10/10 recommend and cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

[Ashley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷 Friends to Lovers
💜 Dual POV
🩷 “My wife”
💜 He falls first
🩷 Marriage of Convenience

Begin Again is a sweet, closed door romance featuring Annie and Sam, friends and next door neighbors since high school. He loves her, but she doesn’t date. Ever.

Follow along as Sam slowly shows he cares for Annie while she processes all of the reasons she doesn’t want a relationship.

I loved this book, Taylor has done a fabulous job of wrapping up the Nelson Sisters Series and I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

There are quite a few trigger warnings to be aware of including: physical and emotional abuse, parental verbal abuse regarding weight, mental health issues, ptsd flare ups, and panic attacks.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: 2.75⭐s
Spicy: kissing only

This book is mostly focused on abuse. For me, it was very heavy in regards to that. Currently experiencing it or dealing with the affects of mental/physical abuse. For me, it definitely had a heavy feel throughout the entire book.

Annie + Sam were so good together. So wonderful as best teen friends. It's a very long road between the two of them being together or separated by distance. It is not a light & floofy read. Most of the book takes place in the past. I'd say only about 30 or 40% is present day. I liked having Noah & Tally being in this one mostly towards the end.

This was hard for me. Just an overall heavy feeling to this book with the effects of abuse.

[Camille Dayton Fostering.literacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute YA novel! The book starts hinting of a marriage of convenience, then flashes back to Annie and Sam's high school days, where the brother's best friend trope is heavily evident. The book also addresses parent abuse and breaking generational cycles.

Overall its a great book, and is kept to kisses only. I will say that there is a one bed scene, but it is kept pretty platonic, especially form the girl's perspective. I read this book on KU.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Sam and Annie together. I loved that their relationship began so simply and how they grew to love each other. I loved Sam’s willingness to do whatever Annie needed. Their marriage was always meant to be.

Favorite Quote:
“You know it’s just on paper, right?”
He doesn’t look at me when he speaks next, and it’s probably a good thing I can’t see his face. “It’s never been just on paper for me, Annie.”

[Debbie Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved seeing this friendship build into something so much deeper. Sam had so much patience with Annie as she worked through her denial, trauma and PTSD, then growing feelings, and he never gave up! Sweet, clean romance. I also loved getting both Annie’s and Sam’s viewpoints and that it wasn’t one-sided. Well written.

Book 3 of the Nelson Sisters but can be read as a stand-alone.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF There is slow burn and then there is “this book is never going to end and they are still trying to figure it out”. I was at chapter 32 and still had several to go before I threw in the towel. This book was torture and not in a good way. Like, I don’t even know where to start. There were so many moments where I was ready to hit my head against the wall in frustration with them both.

[Brenna D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute read. Slow burn but this book touches your heart. The bonds of friendship were so sweet and the main characters made me feel a wide array of emotions. I highly recommend this book series. 🥰

[Toria Nieto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triggered but needed this

Absolutely loved the childhood love story and yet mix of mental health issues. Overcoming obstacles and yet recognition of the time it takes to work on it all.

Quite a few typos though.

[Christine Shortridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite of the 3. I rounded up to 4 stars. I couldn’t in my heart give a 3 to this author. This one I felt the depth Epperson was trying to convey but it just didn’t do it for me. One thing I liked about the first two was the airiness and lighthearted storylines.

[Bonnie O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Tough topic

This book is very well written. Annie goes through some very difficult stuff and Sam is amazing how he hangs in there. This book deals with the aftermath of mental and physical abuse. So, it’s tough but well worth the read.

[Sophie Toovey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh this book! Annie and Sam's story is just so beautiful. Full of brokenness too, but also healing. My favourite part was the early days when they were teens. Loved this story ❤️

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A important story

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was a comedy. I wish I had known what was in here. It's just too sad for me to finish.