Two people destined to be together. One wrong time after another.
Chelsea Bell and Seth Hansen find each other at eleven years old with a shared purpose—to run away.
At twenty-one, their paths cross again. They have an undeniable connection forged from childhood, but personal struggles and professional ambition tear them apart.
A decade later, haunted by what could’ve been, Chelsea’s starting over, desperate to claim her identity. Meanwhile, Seth’s established in his career as a chef, one step closer to accomplishing his dream of owning a restaurant.
Despite their bruised history, broken promises, and pride, their hearts can’t ignore the bond that still exists between them.
All Seth is asking for are answers from their past, but Chelsea is focused on chasing her future, terrified to live in the shadow of someone else’s success—again.
Will they find their place in time before the choices they make alter the course of their lives forever?
Synchronicity is a timeless love story that dares to test the hands of fate and chance, exploring what it means to fight for the right person, and for a love that refuses to be forgotten.
S.L. ASTOR writes emotional, heartwarming stories, with characters who love big and don’t always play by the rules. A fan of the em-dash and iced lattes all year round, she lives (and bakes) in NorCal with her husband and their cookie enthusiast children. When she’s not writing books and making playlists, you can find Sam on the beach, reading and dreaming, and probably taking a nap.
I don’t know how to begin telling you how incredible this book is! Sam writes the most beautiful stories full of love, healing, real and heartfelt moments, struggles, and strength. The prose was so lovely, raw, and emotional. One thing I really love about Sam’s writing is how she paints a picture with words that allows you to feel every emotion and experience all the little details in such a vivid way.
Chelsea and Seth meet as children and form a connection that spans decades. They both go through struggles in their lives, but their connection is undeniable and their growth is incredible! This story doesn’t shy away from the challenges of life, but the healing is breathtaking. Thank you Sam, for writing honest and relatable characters! With tears in my eyes, my heart was broken and then put back together again. I love Chelsea and Seth so much.
--"It means something a little different for everyone."
"What does it mean to you?"
--"it's kind of like magic. It's believing in something, even if you are the only one who sees it." • • 💭My heart is only half-beating after finishing this one. Seth and Chelsea are brought together and ripped apart "randomly" throughout their life. Right person, wrong time-- always. If it was meant to work, it would be easier right? Too bad it was never that simple.
This story was so beautifully written. The attention to details, the story-telling, it made me fall hopelessly in love with Seth and his world. My mama heart ached for Chels and all the curve balls she was thrown. The choices she had to make.
It took such a long time for them to find their way. And my heart broke a little every time it wasnt "the right time." I hurt for missed opportunities, for lost time. But I'm so happy they found their way to each other in the end. 🥹
Nan-- deserves her own dedication, that woman was incredible and I love her endlessly.
This was truly an unforgettable story of learning to love yourself, second chances and timeless love.
If you like: ⏳ Timeless love ✨ Second chances ⏳ Childhood friends ✨ Emotional scars ⏳ Right person, wrong time
It is no surprise that I devoured this book in one day. Sam know how to create characters and stories that just… wedge themselves into your heart.
There are some tougher subjects, loss, grief, mental health, etc. so if you have any triggers, be mindful of the acknowledgement at the beginning of the book. I thought the neurodivergent representation was incredible. To me, the different struggles both MCs went through, while wildly different, made them naturally magnets for each other.
Seth is this radiant, golden retriever energy boy who just refuses to give up on Chelsea. Chelsea is complicated, closed-off, a bit set in her ways. They found each other when they needed someone the most- but it wasn’t ever quite enough.
I loved the serendipity of this story. The timing is always wrong, the connections strong but missed…
If you enjoy those stories where people keep finding their way back into each others lives - please read this book. Call it fate, call it kismet, call it synchronicity. Whatever it is, I was gutted over and over and slowly healed.
This story was so beautifully written.
Thank you, Sam, for again allowing me to be one of the first to experience this story.
(4.5) I just knew going into this I would enjoy it. I loved Astor’s last book and her writing style and I quickly fell into a groove with this one. It has one of my favorite tropes which causes me to feel so many emotions. The story spans a few decades and I loved that we got to follow these characters through multiple chapters of their lives. There is a lot of character growth and challenges in these pages and I am very glad we got both of their POVs. The pacing was great and the way the story is told had me flipping quickly through dying to get to the end so I would know how they end. Such a good one!
Thank you S.L Astor for gifting me a copy of your beautiful book!
This is perfect for fans of 28 summers, Before We Were Strangers and Love Letter To Whiskey!
"Find me, any time, in any place. Find me, and I'll remind you. " -Seth
These characters had my heart immediately.
Seth and Chelsea are devastatingly perfect from our first meeting. I can remember what it's like to be 11 years old and feeling out of place in a world you don't fully understand yet. And having traumatic things happen to you that young changes the way you see things in life.
Chelsea is such a force in the literary world. I can remember being a new mom and how overwhelmingly lonely it can be even when you have the most supportive people in your corner. Even now with a young child, I still find myself questioning whether or not I'm making the right decisions and the thing I felt the most satisfied by with Chelsea was that she held her ground. Standing firm in doing what she felt needed to be done for herself and her children.
Seth is strength personified in every moment, even when he's so broken it sometimes hurts to read his thoughts. His resiliency and willingness to always keep trying to help people is just beautiful.
To write characters who can make people feel so much is nothing short of incredible. The realness and rawness of these two characters was breathtaking. I'm so proud of their growth and their love. I didn't want to leave them.
Finding love and having to put it on hold time and time again and still somehow finding your way back to one another led to such a beautiful twisting and turning.
The day I can physically purchase this novel cannot come soon enough!
For the record I would give this book 5 stars for the authors note alone. S.L. Astor has an impeccable way of explaining her thoughts in words. If you have the joy of experiencing her novels you will be better for it. Promise. ❤️
An unbelievably moving book about timing and circumstance that play a part in whether something is meant to work out or not. I was totally invested in Seth and Chelsea's story, so much so that I was hanging onto every single one of their meetups hoping that one would be the one that would work out.
SO much time passes them by that about the middle of the book I was beginning to wonder if the reviews I read(that promised an HEA) were even for this book. If you get to the middle of this book and feel it slows down and you want to DNF please see it through. It will lull in places but it's all for the build up near the conclusion of the book. Phenomenal book on how we treat the coincidences, people, time, and feelings we encounter. This book will break you apart and put you back together.
"Two people destined to be together. One wrong time after another.
Chelsea Bell and Seth Hansen find each other at eleven years old with a shared purpose—to run away.
At twenty-one, their paths cross again. They have an undeniable connection forged from childhood, but personal struggles and professional ambition tear them apart.
A decade later, haunted by what could’ve been, Chelsea’s starting over, desperate to claim her identity. Meanwhile, Seth’s established in his career as a chef, one step closer to accomplishing his dream of owning a restaurant.
Despite their bruised history, broken promises, and pride, their hearts can’t ignore the bond that still exists between them.
All Seth is asking for are answers from their past, but Chelsea is focused on chasing her future, terrified to live in the shadow of someone else’s success—again.
Will they find their place in time before the choices they make alter the course of their lives forever?
Synchronicity is a timeless love story that dares to test the hands of fate and chance, exploring what it means to fight for the right person, and for a love that refuses to be forgotten."-Goodreads
Synchronicity By @sl.astor.writes (Indie Author) Rating 5★ | Open door | Format📱ARC
A love story about Chelsea and Seth, who meet as kids and reunite in their twenties. They share a deep connection, but personal challenges and career aspirations drive them apart. A decade later, they struggle with what could have been, and their hearts can't ignore their bond. Seth seeks answers from the past, while Chelsea focuses on her future, fearful of living in someone else’s shadow again. The story explores their journey to find their place in time and the enduring power of love.
Oh my heart!!!!!!! These two are another set of special characters. Sam’s writing is so real and raw. It doesn’t feel like reading fiction as you get wrapped up in their lives sitting on the edge of your seat with your tissue box wondering what’s going to happen to these new friends! It’s heartbreaking, beautiful, and relatable!
They were meant to be, but the timing was never right. It was upsetting and unfair but understandable to see them separate and grow over the years. Though they always remained anchors in each other's life from afar. They held a place in their heart for the other, dreaming, somehow finding a way back, and when they were together it was so good.
It was their love story + more! Themes of childhood trauma, mental health, city life, parenthood, neurodivergence, self discovery, creating art, and grief. The descriptive imagery made me feel like I was exploring their adventures and tasting the yummy food. You could tell the research that went into the book.
If you haven’t read The Hope of You, I recommend grabbing it too. They are connected. Rory, the FMC in THOY, is an author who writes Synchronicity. How unique is that!! I loved both books!! Both available on KU. I hope you love them too!
Lyrical. The writing in this book moves flows like a masterful piece of music, taking us along for a ride amongst its notes. The main characters, Chelsea and Seth, felt not only real but unique. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book with characters quite like them.
The style of conversation in this book also felt unlike anything I’ve read before. The characters’ conversation didn’t always seamlessly flow, with every word between them spoken, as not every word needed to be spoken between the characters themselves. Instead, you read true, intimate conversations, the kind that at times jumps around and leaves thoughts hanging in the air. Please don’t let that be off putting, it was anything but. To me, this made the characters feel authentic with a deep intimacy between one another. How many times, in conversation with those you’re closest with, have you experienced this type of exchange of words? It’s relatable. Being able to follow along even when things seem left out just goes to show how well written these characters are: you don’t need to read every word between them, you are able to fill in the blanks.
Synchronicity is a slow burn, spanning decades. You become so eager for that fire to ignite and never end but realize, if it were to be rushed, self love and healing might be extinguished. Sensitive topics are handled with care amidst the lives of Chelsea & Seth. I don’t think I’ll forget them anytime soon.
Content Warning: As much as I adored this story, there were some explicit scenes that I chose to skip over. There is also language, which honestly, I don’t feel was needed.
Thank you to Sam for allowing me to enjoy this book as an early reader in exchange for my honest opinion.
🌼✨️read if you like: - right person, wrong time - second chances - childhood friends - slow burn - open door - dual POV
Chelsea and Seth meet at eleven years old, trying to escape from their individual personal struggles. Their undeniable connection hangs around them from the very beginning. Their bond is special. Nothing they've experienced before. You're being brought on their journey for several decades as they both try to figure out their place in the world and refuse to give up and forget about love.
⏳️
A bittersweet yet beautiful story about two people being endlessly in love, but time and life keeps tearing them apart, leaving them with the hope of finding their way back to each other.
This book was exactly what i needed! It pulled on my heartstrings, but still, it felt like a warm blanket on a rainy day. So beautiful and emotional. Reflecting on timeless love, hope, forgiveness, patience, healing, self-acceptance, and the challenges of motherhood. Sam has a way with words, her writing pulls you in immediately, and you find yourself being unable to put the book down. You're just completely lost in her wonderful world, created with such care and beauty.
Chelsea and Seth were created for each other, and it may have taken them a lot of time to circle back to one another other. It was all worth it. In the end, time was finally on their side.
Thank you to the author, @sl.astor.writes for sending me an eARC and allowing me to read this wonderful story. 🤎
I enjoyed The Hope of You from S.L Astor so much, so I was so excited for the chance to read an eARC this book. Synchronicity definitely did not disappoint! S.L. Astor has such a gift for writing beautiful, thought-provoking stories.
Chelsea and Seth meet by chance at 11 years old. They both are having trouble at home and plan to run away together, but their plans don’t work out and they don’t meet again for another 10 years. They are very different people after so long apart, but Chelsea and Seth still feel the undeniable connection they’ve had since they were children. Over the next few years they find themselves drawn together, despite it never seeming to be the right time.
I just adored Chelsea and Seth! I thought they were both such real, honest characters and I connected with them immediately. I really felt for them as they navigated such tough situations throughout the book and I rooted for them as they grew both separately and together. I thought the writing was wonderful and I really appreciated the attention to detail. I loved how small moments from their early years were recalled later in the book. It helped everything come full circle and I loved the symmetry when those details came up! Though this book definitely dealt with some heavy themes, I thought it was balanced well with happy moments that left me with a smile on my face.
Read if you like : ▫️Slow Burn ▫️Second Chance Romance ▫️Stories spanning many years ▫️Dual POV ▫️Thought-provoking, emotional storytelling
Thank you so much to S.L. Astor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Synchronicity is available on October 23rd.
Chelsea & Seth Right person wrong time Time line spanning decades Prologue/epilogue in third person POV - body of book in dual first person Slow burn 🌶️
This is the third book I’ve read in recent weeks that spans years/decades of the main characters circling each other. Coincidentally, all three books also feature MMC who is a cook/chef. It was hard not to compare the stories against each other but I will try not to.
At first I wasn’t sure where the story was going. It wasn’t until the second decade that things clicked for me. It’s the kind of second chance story I like where the characters keep finding their way back to each other but the timing is never quite right…until it is. And I’m rooting for every time to be the right time!
The beginning is chaotic as they’re both trying to find their way as young adults. Seth remained steadfast in his love for Chelsea throughout. It’s just a matter of timing working out. They had to live their lives, work through their childhood traumas, grow on their own until they were ready for each other.
It’s made me think about timing, history, fate, coincidence, belief…what are the forces behind the life we’ve lead so far and has timing lined up perfectly yet?? It had me all in my feels and had me crying and anxious to get to Chelsea and Seth’s HEA
**Big shoutout and thanks to SL Astor for the ARC. My opinions are entirely my own, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts on this book.**
This book is that fleeting feeling we carry all of our lives that we’ve let something wonderful slip through our fingers. But unlike reality, we find it in this story. Not just in the connection between Seth and Chelsea but in realizing the deeper need to find our way through both the best and worst parts of life even when we don’t feel like we know how to keep moving forward.
Chelsea has always been discordant with her surroundings, both people and places … except for Seth, that is, who even at the tender age of eleven Chelsea knows is someone who will change her life.
Seth has big plans and a seemingly endless supply of optimism despite life’s twists and turns … even when he finds and loses the woman he’s always been sure about over and over.
Seth and Chelsea’s connection cares nothing for limits even if their circumstances do. But will the right circumstances ever align?
There was so much reality in each of their journeys - Chelsea in breaking away on her own, grappling with motherhood, and ultimately finding her passion; Seth with chasing his dreams, facing challenges, and learning how to pick himself up after one tragedy too many. With nods to mental health, neurodivergence, the struggles of divorce and parenting, and enough food porn to make me one happy reader, all piled on top of a heart-rending love story that meandered through many lives and trials, Synchronicity is a masterpiece of emotion and the human experience. For women’s fiction and romance readers alike, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Unfortunately, this book annoyed me so much! :( Not something I expected while starting with this story. I was constantly waiting for something big to happen and though it looked like that it would, it didn’t.
Approaching the end of the book it felt like there were chunks of text put there just to fill the blank pages, nothing else. Nothing felt connected and important and as I said, I was eagerly waiting for something huge to happen.
Yes, I’ve got my desired ending but in order to get there I had to go through so much annoyance, confusion (why did the MC have to make such a stupid decision when everything could have progressed so much easier and nicer for everyone involved) and indifference in the end that I really couldn’t empathize with anyone anymore. I hate the way she handled their relationship. Bunch of stupid excuses. He was way too nice to her for it all to happen this way.
I don’t know how to review this without spoilers and I don’t want to go there because I’ve just got no strength in me. Seriously, this could have been handled so much better. But the writer obviously had her reasons which I can’t understand. I am so sorry because I really wanted to like this.
So yeah, that’s a no from me. Very sad and broken no.
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Friends to Lovers; Second Chance Romance Review:
I absolutely adored Synchronicity by S.L. Astor. A beautiful piece of fiction where I found myself curled up on the couch with a box of tissues just white knuckled hoping that Chelsea and Seth’s timing would be right this time! Synchronicity is a slow burn romance.
Without giving too much away, Synchronicity follows the two MCs Chelsea and Seth from childhood to adulthood (through several decades) as they share connections, and missed connections all the while loving each other and wanting the best for each other as their paths continually cross throughout their lives. Chelsea and Seth help each other discover what it means to take a chance, to trust, to believe in oneself and the vulnerability it takes to truly love someone else while they discover their truth.
Several themes run throughout, the sense of timing, missed connections, neurodivergence, self-acceptance, mental health, self-love, taking a risk, and finding ones true north. The story is beautifully woven with stunning imagery.
I have to say that I loved experiencing the decades within this book.
To start, thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review. I am always honored to read someone's work in advance of release!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ 4.75 stars
General Thoughts: This book completely exceeded my expectations. This was my first S.L. Astor read but it will certainly not be my last. The characters she has created are just phenomenal, they are personal, lovable, and enjoyable to read about. And the book in general was just beautifully written.
Tropes: 🩵 Right person, wrong time 🩵 Second chances 🩵 Childhood friends 🩵 Slow burn 🩵 Open door, IYKYK 🩵 Dual POV 🩵 Story spanning over years
What I loved: 😇 The characters never gave up on one another 😇 The characters were real and honest 😇 The true and genuine love and connection the characters you could feel through the pages 😇 The way that Astor was able to balance the idea of hard topics (childhood drama and mental health struggles) with the plot and happy moments of the story was wonderfully done.
Spice: 🌶
Thanks again for the opportunity to offer my honest review in exchange for an advance copy! 🫶
"I’m not thinking about answers anymore. I’m not thinking clearly at all, too busy committing her to memory. I’m lost in the throes of time—how one minute it robs you, and the next, rewards you." ✨ SYNCHRONICITY is an absolute beauty of a book. Chelsea and Seth met on the playground on the day Chelsea turned eleven, and their journey throughout the book—together and apart—spans several decades. Do you believe in "right person, wrong time?" Despite personal circumstances, Chelsea and Seth keep finding their way back to each other. S.L. Astor is a master of writing nostalgia, of making me homesick for places I've never seen and experiences I haven't had. Her writing is so gorgeous, and she tackles some incredibly weighty topics like survival, grief, parenthood, and identity with grace and understanding. I read the last few chapters of SYNCHRONICITY through tear-swollen eyes. It was a beautiful experience. Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. Readers: you are in for a delicious treat of a novel on October 23rd!
"If I'm the rainbow, you're the sun and the rain and all that's essential to make rainbows possible."
This is a timeless book and I can't think of a better way to describe it.
I just finished this book last night (stayed up until 12:30 to finish it because it was that good I couldn't put it down until it was finished) yes, I’m tired 😂
Seth & Chels are just two connected souls that met at the right time yet at the wrong time. Constantly playing catch up they're finding their timing is never 'right'.
"Give me your lips, Chels. I'll show you how to freeze time."
Seth is arguably now one of my top 10 favorite MMC ever. Just, do yourself a favor and go snag this book but warning, this baby is a SLOW burn but yet a fast one. It's so interesting and the Dual POV/timeline jumps keep you on your toes!
Seth and Chelsea understand the right person, wrong time. For decades they were right for each other but always the wrong time. In the beginning of the story I was a little confused on what was going on and where the story was going but it ended up coming together. Seth and Chelsea both have had hard times in childhood and through adulthood. Many of the dreams they had were successful and then not. There was a lot of healing and learning to love yourself in this book. Every time it was the wrong time for them my heart broke. Chelsea seemed to put herself on the back burner for her kids. But she also deserved to be happy. Eventually they did find each other at the right time. They were everything to each other and I just wish they could have all the lost time back. Enjoyed the author's writing style and will read more of her books!
SETH & CHELS!!💛 these two keep crossing paths, and are never quite ready for each other. but when they are, it is completely freaking perfect. over the years, Chelsea becomes a mother and her journey in parenting hits so close to home and her feelings. I felt everything. also, @sl.astor.writes writes with such a poetic vibe in this one I was so in love with the style👨🍳📷
This book made me smile, cleaved my heart, and pieced it back together. I saw Synchronity on Instagram - an author's book recommendation. I added this book to my list and picked it up recently. Not reading the synopsis was the right choice because I might've feared the emotional rollercoaster Seth and Chels take us on. As up and down as I felt, I couldn't sit here and keep quiet. The themes in this story are true of life (no one ever has the same story, but there are connections), and the lessons are universal. Please read this book. I HIGHLY recommend doing so. Do so with a hot beverage, a comfy reading chair, and a throw blanket on a rainy day.
Right person, wrong time…do you believe in fate? This story is full of second chances, rediscovering yourself & learning how to be honest with ourselves and each other. This story is raw, honest and gives us a glimpse into many challenging parts of life. I love finding stories of healing and love in books and this did not disappoint. I always know I love a book when it quickly relates to a specific song I know and love. I love Seth & Chelsea 🫶🏻
Synchronicity is a story about second chances and finding yourself. This was an absolutely lovely story that I highly enjoyed reading. The book was both heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved the characters in these books. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and to any romance reader! The author did an amazing job writing this! Thank you to the author for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review.
Overall the book was cute and sweet. The author did a good job writing San Francisco as the setting even if there were a few minor things that were slightly off. It does not get “hotter than a scorched tamale” here and “heavy spring thunderstorms” are rare in SF. I think I’ve heard three thunderstorms in my 5 years here. Nitpicky but SF weather is pretty much the same year round.
The characters were well developed and likable! I loved the ending and the daughter’s assist 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
You are going to want to get your hands on this one ASAP. What an absolutely beautiful story. Synchronicity is guaranteed to make you feel all the feels. As usual, SL Astor will leave you feeling completely and totally fulfilled after reading Seth and Chelsea’s story. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.
This book was an emotional roller coaster in the very best way. I absolutely love books about messy, complicated characters, and Seth and Chelsea definitely fit the bill. At times I wanted to knock some sense into them (one, the other, or both!), but now that I've finished the book, I feel like they're friends I've had to say goodbye to. I'll miss them.
5 estrelas e favoritado! Que livro profundo, meu Jesus Tive que parar para diversas vezes para digerir ele Muita dor e sofrimento. Mas também muito reencontros e superação. Um dos melhores livros que já li na vida por um autor independente, Recomendo ler primeiro "The hope of you" da mesma autora. Ver gatilhos no começo do livro.
Synchronicity is a timeless love. Astor writes poetic and lyrical, where each scene sucks you in and you can’t help but feel every sense. And just like her writing, the story will stay with you forever. ❤️
Mandy: When the timing is not right with your soulmate will you ever be able to find them. This book gives all the vibe and feels! Lo: When you meet soulmate but timing never works. Will you to finally be able to find each other. Both main characters have flawless but journey incredible