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Wilder Family #3
Promise Me This
Imagine this: an author with a raging case of writer’s block finds an unexpected source of inspiration in her grumpy, gorgeous new roommate. Sounds amazing, right? Except that new roommate is my childhood best friend. And Ian Wilder has been off-limits since I was five.
It’s been over a decade since I’ve seen him, but when I return to my hometown after years away, Ian’s exactly the man I remembered. The same guy who gave me his coat on a playground when we were kids and promised he’d take care of me forever. I need a quiet place to work with this deadline looming. I need a place where my daughter can unwind. Enter Ian with an offer I can’t refuse: his spare bedroom.
It’s an easy yes. Except now the problem is I can’t stop thinking about him, and these thoughts? They’re wandering out of the friend zone. I keep imagining very creative ways to rip off his clothes. And Ian starts giving me looks of his own, the kind that make my heart race.
One night, we cross a line we can’t uncross. The lines have blurred, and our friendship is hanging by a thread.
Imagine this: a woman falling for her best friend. And she has no idea if he feels the same.
It’s been over a decade since I’ve seen him, but when I return to my hometown after years away, Ian’s exactly the man I remembered. The same guy who gave me his coat on a playground when we were kids and promised he’d take care of me forever. I need a quiet place to work with this deadline looming. I need a place where my daughter can unwind. Enter Ian with an offer I can’t refuse: his spare bedroom.
It’s an easy yes. Except now the problem is I can’t stop thinking about him, and these thoughts? They’re wandering out of the friend zone. I keep imagining very creative ways to rip off his clothes. And Ian starts giving me looks of his own, the kind that make my heart race.
One night, we cross a line we can’t uncross. The lines have blurred, and our friendship is hanging by a thread.
Imagine this: a woman falling for her best friend. And she has no idea if he feels the same.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2024
1223 people are currently reading
2798 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 617 reviews
May 13, 2024
Wait. Do I like slow burns and man buns now? What is happening to me?
The grumpiest friends to lovers with a hero who only shows his soft side to his life-long bestie and ‘person’ and her daughter? Ugh kill me with the feels.
I will start this off by reassuring you that I do not support manbuns in any way, shape or form and the only acceptable reason to have a long haired hero (outside of pirate books) is so he can be available as a hair model to show a little girl how to braid. I stand by that. Ian Wilder is allowed his long hair because he uses it for good!
The Wilder men continue to set the bar in contemporary romance with this book. Caretaker heroes are my 2024 crack and I loved Ian. The dynamic between him, Harlow and Sage was so sweet that I forgave the slowest of slow burns (they don’t go to Bangtown until 92% folks). Was it frustrating? Yes. Do I love slow burns now? Also yes. And we have no third act break up, a nice ending and an epilogue to wrap this book up. Not sure if Karla took my notes on that one 😉 but I complained loudly about the lack in the last book (I know she didn’t do it for me but I can pretend).
So books two and three in this series were both five stars and highly recommended (we won’t talk about book one 😏).
Thank you to the author for an early copy of the book, it was my pleasure to provide a review.
********************
Got the ARC, now I’m preparing to have my heart ripped out of my body.
The grumpiest friends to lovers with a hero who only shows his soft side to his life-long bestie and ‘person’ and her daughter? Ugh kill me with the feels.
I will start this off by reassuring you that I do not support manbuns in any way, shape or form and the only acceptable reason to have a long haired hero (outside of pirate books) is so he can be available as a hair model to show a little girl how to braid. I stand by that. Ian Wilder is allowed his long hair because he uses it for good!
The Wilder men continue to set the bar in contemporary romance with this book. Caretaker heroes are my 2024 crack and I loved Ian. The dynamic between him, Harlow and Sage was so sweet that I forgave the slowest of slow burns (they don’t go to Bangtown until 92% folks). Was it frustrating? Yes. Do I love slow burns now? Also yes. And we have no third act break up, a nice ending and an epilogue to wrap this book up. Not sure if Karla took my notes on that one 😉 but I complained loudly about the lack in the last book (I know she didn’t do it for me but I can pretend).
So books two and three in this series were both five stars and highly recommended (we won’t talk about book one 😏).
Thank you to the author for an early copy of the book, it was my pleasure to provide a review.
********************
Got the ARC, now I’m preparing to have my heart ripped out of my body.
June 4, 2024
I'm honestly and truly not sure what my deal is with this author lol. I do want to say that this is my favorite story out of this series - so far? Not sure if there's going to be more. But I didn't enjoy it enough to kick it up to 4 stars.
The story is nice, the characters are likable - I just don't get a giddy feeling with any of them. I don't find myself smiling non stop or really being emotionally pulled in any direction.
It's just good. It's safe and inside the lines - I guess I just want to read outside of the lines and this series never got there for me.
The story is nice, the characters are likable - I just don't get a giddy feeling with any of them. I don't find myself smiling non stop or really being emotionally pulled in any direction.
It's just good. It's safe and inside the lines - I guess I just want to read outside of the lines and this series never got there for me.
May 10, 2024
4.5 stars
returning to Karla Sorensen's world, where exquisite prose intertwines with the endearing Wilder family and the quaint backdrop of 'Sisters Town', consistently evokes the comforting embrace of a substantial hug. however, as the narrative delves into a new stage and form of grief within the family, the main character's journey authentically imbues the story with a layer of realism and rawness, infusing a delicate touch of melancholy that the author consistently captures.
Ian and Harlow forged an unbreakable bond since he protected her in elementary school, literally rescuing her from potential hypothermia. however, upon graduating high school, they diverged onto different paths, residing in separate cities. during their childhood to their late teenage years they epitomized the cliché of being "each other’s person." yet, Harlow, recognizing Ian's propensity to upend his life for her, decided to sever ties for his own well-being. she refused to rely on him, unwilling for her happiness to overshadow his, as their dynamic dictated for yeara. a decade later, they found themselves reunited and he proposed to her and her daughter to live in with him.
Ian, a character who had piqued my curiosity for years, finally received his own book, and to say I was eager to read it would be an understatement. He exuded plenty of grumpiness, yet within those pages, I unearthed new dimensions of his character: the caring son and brother, and the devoted friend. Above all, I cherished his beautiful bond with Sage, Harlow’s daughter. Their friendship, laced with shared sarcasm, evolved into a heartwarming father-daughter dynamic that captivated me from start to finish.
Harlow was a-down-to-earth bestselling author, cursed with a severe case of writer's block. I admired how her muse for her forthcoming book, reigniting her passion for writing, blossomed through her journey of falling in love with her lifelong best friend. The dynamic she shared with Sage was particularly charming; she treated her with the camaraderie of an adult best friend while seamlessly transitioning into her maternal role when needed.
the romance unfolded with a meticulously crafted slow burn, characterized by a deliberate pace as they navigated their emotions and tackled personal hurdles before baring their hearts. after years of yearning, they finally found solace in each other's arms. Every aspect was delectable, from the gradual intensification of their attraction to the undeniable chemistry conveyed through inadvertent touches and the inner monologues filled with fantasies of one another. "Promise Me This" unfolded as expected—an exquisite love story that I savored every moment of.
many thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing for providing an ARC in exchange of an honest review
———
after YEARS we finally got Ian’s book!! (& i got the arc 🥂)
”whatever I was made of, whatever made me me, she was a part of it. The best part.”
returning to Karla Sorensen's world, where exquisite prose intertwines with the endearing Wilder family and the quaint backdrop of 'Sisters Town', consistently evokes the comforting embrace of a substantial hug. however, as the narrative delves into a new stage and form of grief within the family, the main character's journey authentically imbues the story with a layer of realism and rawness, infusing a delicate touch of melancholy that the author consistently captures.
”she is your person, and she always has been.”
Ian and Harlow forged an unbreakable bond since he protected her in elementary school, literally rescuing her from potential hypothermia. however, upon graduating high school, they diverged onto different paths, residing in separate cities. during their childhood to their late teenage years they epitomized the cliché of being "each other’s person." yet, Harlow, recognizing Ian's propensity to upend his life for her, decided to sever ties for his own well-being. she refused to rely on him, unwilling for her happiness to overshadow his, as their dynamic dictated for yeara. a decade later, they found themselves reunited and he proposed to her and her daughter to live in with him.
Ian, a character who had piqued my curiosity for years, finally received his own book, and to say I was eager to read it would be an understatement. He exuded plenty of grumpiness, yet within those pages, I unearthed new dimensions of his character: the caring son and brother, and the devoted friend. Above all, I cherished his beautiful bond with Sage, Harlow’s daughter. Their friendship, laced with shared sarcasm, evolved into a heartwarming father-daughter dynamic that captivated me from start to finish.
Harlow was a-down-to-earth bestselling author, cursed with a severe case of writer's block. I admired how her muse for her forthcoming book, reigniting her passion for writing, blossomed through her journey of falling in love with her lifelong best friend. The dynamic she shared with Sage was particularly charming; she treated her with the camaraderie of an adult best friend while seamlessly transitioning into her maternal role when needed.
”I let her win because I liked her smile when she did. Sharing our dreams and burdens. When my dad died, hers was the voice I wanted to hear when I pulled my suit on for his funeral, and when I watched Mom toss her handful of dirt onto his sleek navy coffin.”
the romance unfolded with a meticulously crafted slow burn, characterized by a deliberate pace as they navigated their emotions and tackled personal hurdles before baring their hearts. after years of yearning, they finally found solace in each other's arms. Every aspect was delectable, from the gradual intensification of their attraction to the undeniable chemistry conveyed through inadvertent touches and the inner monologues filled with fantasies of one another. "Promise Me This" unfolded as expected—an exquisite love story that I savored every moment of.
”this story always ended with us together, no matter when it happened.”
many thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing for providing an ARC in exchange of an honest review
———
after YEARS we finally got Ian’s book!! (& i got the arc 🥂)
May 25, 2024
Let's find out if this is where I keep trying or give up on the series.
Update: this was a slow burn, single parent, friends to lovers and it was cute.
- When they say merry your best friend, this is what they mean.
Update: this was a slow burn, single parent, friends to lovers and it was cute.
- When they say merry your best friend, this is what they mean.
May 14, 2024
Starting this series out of order; been seeing it all over my feed so FOMO. Also I confess that this particular man-bun and beard totally caught my eye. Anyone who doesn’t love a sexy grumpy caretaker lumberjack is obviously lying or one of those people who just doesn’t like chocolate. 😎
May 14, 2024
Before we start I’d like take a moment to blame thank my bestie Kristina for making me love a dude with a manbun 🫶. (Because c’mon, A MANBUN!)
This was one of the best friends to lovers ever. Ian and Harlow were childhood best friends. They haven’t seen each other for years but reconnected when she moved back to town. Yes, people, it happens that you are very close with someone but then you grow up and go separate ways. It was realistic, especially since they had never been a couple before. I adored their dynamic and their banter, the way their friendship slowly evolved into love was so sweet and perfect!
It was a very slow burn but it was worth the wait 😏
I love the Wilder family and I can’t wait to read Poppy’s book!
This was one of the best friends to lovers ever. Ian and Harlow were childhood best friends. They haven’t seen each other for years but reconnected when she moved back to town. Yes, people, it happens that you are very close with someone but then you grow up and go separate ways. It was realistic, especially since they had never been a couple before. I adored their dynamic and their banter, the way their friendship slowly evolved into love was so sweet and perfect!
It was a very slow burn but it was worth the wait 😏
I love the Wilder family and I can’t wait to read Poppy’s book!
July 3, 2024
Ian (H) and Harlow (h) were genuinely made for each other and it was precious. I loved that the story begins where their friendship began as children in the prologue and how little Ian was immediately protective of little Harlow. That never changes, despite years passing and them falling out of touch, he would do anything for her and that's how I love my men to be. It was also self-aware and realistic of their younger selves to recognize that they were co-dependent and to be careful of how they needed to be in order to still pursue their dreams, even if it took them away from each other for a time. And they did achieve success, Ian as a woodworker and Harlow as a published author. Then they both find themselves returning to their small town, though for different reasons, since Ian had come home to be with family before his father passed away and Harlow's daughter wanted to be close to family. Their reintroduction to their adult selves had me grinning like a fool and then Ian's first meeting with Sage had the same result.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama (though an ow does hit on H and he declines), tiny amount of om drama when h is hit on by another man and H has lots of feelings about it, and both are experienced (both have also been celibate for a long time and very little was shared about their histories other than they had them).
My heart honestly felt full through this entire book, sometimes it thumped a little more slowly and harder during a moment of grief or a little faster when all the sexy tension kept ratcheting up with no relief, but I just felt hard and consistently throughout. I also appreciated that this wasn't a second chance romance, it was a "you are my person, but I never allowed myself to consider anything romantic because I need you as my person but hey, it's been almost two decades and we're really different but you're still my person and oh look, we're kinda falling in love and this is scary but I need you" romance. Whew, that was a mouthful y'all, sorry. Also, I'm a sucker for a single mom romance especially when the H and the h's child(ren) bond, which Ian absolutely does with Sage.
This is strictly character and relationship driven with loads of time spent of the characters talking, their daily lives, their relationships with others, and most definitely all the ways they interact with each other. Quick shoutout to the rest of the Wilder clan for always being entertaining, supportive, and nosy as hell. I did feel the pacing didn't quite work for me personally and some of the internal monologues felt repetitive in places over certain details, which is why this was a four star and not a five star for my reader experience. Ian's arc also didn't quite hit the right notes in my mind, though it was heart aching.
I did cry, but I knew I was likely to and I also cheered (mostly at Sage). Plus, once Harlow and Ian finally, FINALLY, faced their fears, confessed their feelings, and started tossing clothing off (it's late in the book, just settle in to wait), man it felt good. The epilogue was also a short jump ahead in time and sweet in their HEA. I'd been putting this book off, as you do sometimes when your reading is driven by some weird internal mood gauge that makes no sense, but I'm glad I made myself pick it up and I did enjoy Ian and Harlow's childhood friends to lovers journey.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama (though an ow does hit on H and he declines), tiny amount of om drama when h is hit on by another man and H has lots of feelings about it, and both are experienced (both have also been celibate for a long time and very little was shared about their histories other than they had them).
My heart honestly felt full through this entire book, sometimes it thumped a little more slowly and harder during a moment of grief or a little faster when all the sexy tension kept ratcheting up with no relief, but I just felt hard and consistently throughout. I also appreciated that this wasn't a second chance romance, it was a "you are my person, but I never allowed myself to consider anything romantic because I need you as my person but hey, it's been almost two decades and we're really different but you're still my person and oh look, we're kinda falling in love and this is scary but I need you" romance. Whew, that was a mouthful y'all, sorry. Also, I'm a sucker for a single mom romance especially when the H and the h's child(ren) bond, which Ian absolutely does with Sage.
This is strictly character and relationship driven with loads of time spent of the characters talking, their daily lives, their relationships with others, and most definitely all the ways they interact with each other. Quick shoutout to the rest of the Wilder clan for always being entertaining, supportive, and nosy as hell. I did feel the pacing didn't quite work for me personally and some of the internal monologues felt repetitive in places over certain details, which is why this was a four star and not a five star for my reader experience. Ian's arc also didn't quite hit the right notes in my mind, though it was heart aching.
I did cry, but I knew I was likely to and I also cheered (mostly at Sage). Plus, once Harlow and Ian finally, FINALLY, faced their fears, confessed their feelings, and started tossing clothing off (it's late in the book, just settle in to wait), man it felt good. The epilogue was also a short jump ahead in time and sweet in their HEA. I'd been putting this book off, as you do sometimes when your reading is driven by some weird internal mood gauge that makes no sense, but I'm glad I made myself pick it up and I did enjoy Ian and Harlow's childhood friends to lovers journey.
May 8, 2024
Ian and Harlow just gave me all the friends to lovers feels! These two have been best friends since they were kids. They went their separate ways when Harlow moved across the country and Ian moved to England for their respective careers. Years later, and Ian has returned home to the family business, and Harlow and her daughter have recently moved back in with her parents while she works on her next novel. Though they haven't spoken in years, it doesn't take them long to rekindle their friendship. And when Ian realizes that Harlow's writer block is worsened by her unsupportive parents, it makes total sense to him to let Harlow and her daughter move into his empty rooms upstairs.
Ian and Harlow were so at home with each other, and time couldn't lessen their understanding and support for one another. It's no surprise that they are now confused by their romantic feelings because they've played the "we're just friends" card for as long as anyone has known them. That excuse doesn't last for long when they're living together and getting to know the new versions of the person they love the most. Though both had their reasons for not wanting to rock the boat, nothing warmed my heart more than them deciding to take a leap of faith on creating their own little family.
As usual, the Wilder family is the best supporting cast in that they were #TeamIanandHarlow from day one. It was great catching up with the past couples, as well as seeing Ian's role in the family dynamic. I can't wait for Poppy's story next!
TROPES: best friends to lovers, single mom, thriller author (heroine), roommates/forced proximity, mutual pining, slow burn, he's a grump, but not with her; big family
TRIGGER WARNINGS: grief from parental death, parental abandonment during pregnancy
Ian and Harlow were so at home with each other, and time couldn't lessen their understanding and support for one another. It's no surprise that they are now confused by their romantic feelings because they've played the "we're just friends" card for as long as anyone has known them. That excuse doesn't last for long when they're living together and getting to know the new versions of the person they love the most. Though both had their reasons for not wanting to rock the boat, nothing warmed my heart more than them deciding to take a leap of faith on creating their own little family.
As usual, the Wilder family is the best supporting cast in that they were #TeamIanandHarlow from day one. It was great catching up with the past couples, as well as seeing Ian's role in the family dynamic. I can't wait for Poppy's story next!
TROPES: best friends to lovers, single mom, thriller author (heroine), roommates/forced proximity, mutual pining, slow burn, he's a grump, but not with her; big family
TRIGGER WARNINGS: grief from parental death, parental abandonment during pregnancy
May 20, 2024
I know I'm like the only one not loving this.
I had hoped for a decent slow burn romance, with adult MCs (they were 35!).
What I got instead:
-Uninspired, lackluster writing, bland characters who the author tried to make interesting with inner monologues.
-A ridiculous set up. No contact between the MCs for 17 years.. because they felt too co-dependent, helping each other when they were needed?
-Awful stereotype - families, meddling siblings (the kind of know-it-all-better characters, who can't stay quiet and have opinions on everything, the kind that are banning friends from looking at their sisters because they know best), a mother who doesn't accept her 35 year old daughter's life choices (being a writer and having a daughter but no husband). Ian's mother was a saint instead, spreading love and wisdom just opening her mouth. Every interaction with Ian's siblings, Harlow's mother and Ian's mother was sooo cliché.
-Zero attraction and chemistry between the MCs for 70% of the book, just thoughts that there were no feelings, then thoughts that everything had gotten strange what could that mean, then thoughts that nothing could happen as not to jeopardize the friendship, and then: bam! Fireworks, explotions, earthquakes and atom-melting during their first kiss.
-A 35 year old woman nearly breaking down because she had to make her own birthday cake.. OMG so sad!! And it's not even her favorite kind of cake!!! Welcome to adulthood, dear. Should have bought your favorite mix then and not the one you don't love??? And what's sad about baking your own cake? I thought she was this tough, fierce, independent woman.
I won't even go into the author's depiction of what/how a man ought to be.. I wasn't aware that letting your best friend's daughter use your long hair to learn to braid is equal to saving a child from a shark (but because it's NOT manly nobody can know about it, obviously). I felt I was reading about a MMC from 70 years ago and not about a standard decent human being in 2024.
Well.
I gave up at 93%, knowing that after their first night together and the five (!) orgasms he had given her, yay!!! he would marry her!!! (obviously the most important thing to tell her when you're such a manly man, after the first time you had sex, before the next four rounds.. ).
I wanted to give contemporary MF romance a chance again.. but failed. I'll better stay close to my trusted go-to authors like Mhairi McFarlane or Lucy Parker for contemporary MF next time.
I had hoped for a decent slow burn romance, with adult MCs (they were 35!).
What I got instead:
-Uninspired, lackluster writing, bland characters who the author tried to make interesting with inner monologues.
-A ridiculous set up. No contact between the MCs for 17 years.. because they felt too co-dependent, helping each other when they were needed?
-Awful stereotype - families, meddling siblings (the kind of know-it-all-better characters, who can't stay quiet and have opinions on everything, the kind that are banning friends from looking at their sisters because they know best), a mother who doesn't accept her 35 year old daughter's life choices (being a writer and having a daughter but no husband). Ian's mother was a saint instead, spreading love and wisdom just opening her mouth. Every interaction with Ian's siblings, Harlow's mother and Ian's mother was sooo cliché.
-Zero attraction and chemistry between the MCs for 70% of the book, just thoughts that there were no feelings, then thoughts that everything had gotten strange what could that mean, then thoughts that nothing could happen as not to jeopardize the friendship, and then: bam! Fireworks, explotions, earthquakes and atom-melting during their first kiss.
-A 35 year old woman nearly breaking down because she had to make her own birthday cake.. OMG so sad!! And it's not even her favorite kind of cake!!! Welcome to adulthood, dear. Should have bought your favorite mix then and not the one you don't love??? And what's sad about baking your own cake? I thought she was this tough, fierce, independent woman.
I won't even go into the author's depiction of what/how a man ought to be.. I wasn't aware that letting your best friend's daughter use your long hair to learn to braid is equal to saving a child from a shark (but because it's NOT manly nobody can know about it, obviously). I felt I was reading about a MMC from 70 years ago and not about a standard decent human being in 2024.
Well.
I gave up at 93%, knowing that after their first night together and the five (!) orgasms he had given her, yay!!! he would marry her!!! (obviously the most important thing to tell her when you're such a manly man, after the first time you had sex, before the next four rounds.. ).
I wanted to give contemporary MF romance a chance again.. but failed. I'll better stay close to my trusted go-to authors like Mhairi McFarlane or Lucy Parker for contemporary MF next time.
May 9, 2024
I am reading this and I actually like this author.
However on the first book we have a solo father who co parent with the mother of his child and she is a great mom
Here we have a solo mother but guess what? The father vanished.
I am tired of this, of course an absent father is way more frequent than the opposite but there are good father out there. Heroes usually are and thanks god for that. But why the father of the h's baby if he is not the H, always have to be such a crap human being?
This is getting old. So many single dads romances like this is the norm but then its the completed opposite when its the h having a child wit someone else.
Ohh she also had been celibate for years, since the last decade so at least four years, because duuh mothers are not allowed to date, or have one free night at a bar or I dont know, dowload tinder. They have to be moms and work to support their child. They are not rich of course, they need the struggle.
The single father hero of the first book tried going out with women after becoming a parent, he didnt enjoy casual sex but he did it with one women and realized it. He also tried going out more but it never went past the first evening. He tried. He was also loaded.
Funny, those small little differences.
Review after finishing
Fuck, the author is good.
Amazing kid, adorable couple. Strong heroine who doesnt back down for her parents and a caring hero who is not into people but likes the hero.
He is an adorable grumpy
However on the first book we have a solo father who co parent with the mother of his child and she is a great mom
Here we have a solo mother but guess what? The father vanished.
I am tired of this, of course an absent father is way more frequent than the opposite but there are good father out there. Heroes usually are and thanks god for that. But why the father of the h's baby if he is not the H, always have to be such a crap human being?
This is getting old. So many single dads romances like this is the norm but then its the completed opposite when its the h having a child wit someone else.
Ohh she also had been celibate for years, since the last decade so at least four years, because duuh mothers are not allowed to date, or have one free night at a bar or I dont know, dowload tinder. They have to be moms and work to support their child. They are not rich of course, they need the struggle.
The single father hero of the first book tried going out with women after becoming a parent, he didnt enjoy casual sex but he did it with one women and realized it. He also tried going out more but it never went past the first evening. He tried. He was also loaded.
Funny, those small little differences.
Review after finishing
Fuck, the author is good.
Amazing kid, adorable couple. Strong heroine who doesnt back down for her parents and a caring hero who is not into people but likes the hero.
He is an adorable grumpy
January 20, 2025
Spoilers ahead, my first 5 star in quite some time 🤭
Friends to lovers is not a trope I gravitate too mainly because of the execution, most times it's one of two things
h pining for H with her vagina collecting dust for years or
H fighting his feelings for h while he fucks everything with a warm hole
None of these apply here and I'd like to thank this author for not traumatising me further with this trope. Onwards
********
Harlow and Ian have been best friends since they were very young but as the years passed their friendship had a codependency that would've held them back. They drifted apart and went their own way, now they're both back in town and it's like the time in between never happened. They are once more each others person. When Harlow needs to escape her parent's house to find her muse again Ian welcomes her and her daughter to his home, but the years apart have changed them subtly and time spent together have these once best friends seeing what their family have seen for years......they were meant to be.
**********
The wilder family has to be one of my favourite families I've ever read. I loved them all and I grieved the death of their dad all over again.
I'm an impatient reader, I prefer my mcs to meet early on and things to start progressing at a reasonable pace, this is actually a slow burn and I read EVERY single word. It was beautifully written and I enjoyed every moment.
Sage the very outspoken and precocious ten year old was icing on the very delicious cake that this novel was. I love kids in my romances and she was such a sweetheart.
Ian and Harlow had to work forward from what they knew of their feelings for each other to what was newly discovered, it would've bothered me if they'd had feelings for each other for years and just denied it but they were true and genuine friends. They dated op when they were younger and were not interested in each other in that way. It's only in the present that the attraction and chemistry forms, deepening and strengthening and forming a love that was already there.
Sighhhhhhh this book had me heavily in my feelings, when Ian was dealing with his fear of losing Harlow with his grief over his dad I cried man 😂. I remember their dad's death from the previous books and I cried buckets, he was such a good man and tge family just wonderfully close.
All in all I've had quite a few hits from this author, I rated book 1 low so I'm going to reread it because I just love this family.
**********
No cheating
Friends to lovers
h had a child by OM, he wasn't around and caused no drama. He didn't want a child and disappeared
Slight OM drama from a very persistent coach but the h wasn't really interested
Just one instance of OW that didn't go anywhere
Non manwhore H (I'm ready to send this author a gift basket for this 😂)
It'd been a while for both mcs
2 epilogues, a little from Sage's pov as a big sister and I melted into a pile of goo
Friends to lovers is not a trope I gravitate too mainly because of the execution, most times it's one of two things
h pining for H with her vagina collecting dust for years or
H fighting his feelings for h while he fucks everything with a warm hole
None of these apply here and I'd like to thank this author for not traumatising me further with this trope. Onwards
********
Harlow and Ian have been best friends since they were very young but as the years passed their friendship had a codependency that would've held them back. They drifted apart and went their own way, now they're both back in town and it's like the time in between never happened. They are once more each others person. When Harlow needs to escape her parent's house to find her muse again Ian welcomes her and her daughter to his home, but the years apart have changed them subtly and time spent together have these once best friends seeing what their family have seen for years......they were meant to be.
**********
The wilder family has to be one of my favourite families I've ever read. I loved them all and I grieved the death of their dad all over again.
I'm an impatient reader, I prefer my mcs to meet early on and things to start progressing at a reasonable pace, this is actually a slow burn and I read EVERY single word. It was beautifully written and I enjoyed every moment.
Sage the very outspoken and precocious ten year old was icing on the very delicious cake that this novel was. I love kids in my romances and she was such a sweetheart.
Ian and Harlow had to work forward from what they knew of their feelings for each other to what was newly discovered, it would've bothered me if they'd had feelings for each other for years and just denied it but they were true and genuine friends. They dated op when they were younger and were not interested in each other in that way. It's only in the present that the attraction and chemistry forms, deepening and strengthening and forming a love that was already there.
Sighhhhhhh this book had me heavily in my feelings, when Ian was dealing with his fear of losing Harlow with his grief over his dad I cried man 😂. I remember their dad's death from the previous books and I cried buckets, he was such a good man and tge family just wonderfully close.
All in all I've had quite a few hits from this author, I rated book 1 low so I'm going to reread it because I just love this family.
**********
No cheating
Friends to lovers
h had a child by OM, he wasn't around and caused no drama. He didn't want a child and disappeared
Slight OM drama from a very persistent coach but the h wasn't really interested
Just one instance of OW that didn't go anywhere
Non manwhore H (I'm ready to send this author a gift basket for this 😂)
It'd been a while for both mcs
2 epilogues, a little from Sage's pov as a big sister and I melted into a pile of goo
June 4, 2024
100% in love!
Ian and Harlow gave me all the feels! So much chemistry. Every minute Ian became more of a father figure to Harlow's daughter the more I swooned.
Childhood friends to lovers, single mom, forced proximity
Ian and Harlow gave me all the feels! So much chemistry. Every minute Ian became more of a father figure to Harlow's daughter the more I swooned.
Childhood friends to lovers, single mom, forced proximity
May 9, 2024
I love this author and this series, but PROMISE ME THIS was a Slow Burn that was entirely too slow for me. There isn't even sexual chemistry until about 70% into the book.
I loved Ian and Harlow and their friendship was amazing and came with all the feels. But I needed this Friends to Lovers to ramp up the sexual tension and have that sexual tension manifest itself in heated looks and touches a lot sooner.
The middle of this book had a lot of scenes moving the plot forward, but almost no scenes moving the romance forward.
PROMISE ME THIS has great characters, fun big-family antics, and a strong friendship connection, but I was left wanting more.
If you hate a 3rd Act Break-Up you'll be happy to know there isn't one here.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG-13 / Only 1 descriptive sex scene, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: recent death of parent, past unplanned pregnancy leads to break-up
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 ➡️ INSTAGRAM
I loved Ian and Harlow and their friendship was amazing and came with all the feels. But I needed this Friends to Lovers to ramp up the sexual tension and have that sexual tension manifest itself in heated looks and touches a lot sooner.
The middle of this book had a lot of scenes moving the plot forward, but almost no scenes moving the romance forward.
PROMISE ME THIS has great characters, fun big-family antics, and a strong friendship connection, but I was left wanting more.
If you hate a 3rd Act Break-Up you'll be happy to know there isn't one here.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG-13 / Only 1 descriptive sex scene, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: recent death of parent, past unplanned pregnancy leads to break-up
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 ➡️ INSTAGRAM
December 9, 2024
really cute; im just in a non-romance era! was not able to appreciate this truly great friends to lovers book🦋
April 28, 2024
Ahh! This story... AMAZING! Best friends-to-lovers (especially childhood friends) romances holds a special place in my heart, and Karla Sorensen has absolutely STOLEN my heart with this book. Its meaning and storyline hit me so freaking deep. I loved this book. Blissfully romantic, deeply heartfelt, and so freaking swoony, it’s an absolutely beautiful read.
Ian and Harlow’s love story is so emotional, but it’s a beautiful, beautiful story. He's been the best part of her life since childhood, and the one person she can count on no matter what. He's her rock, and her safe place. She's never shared a connection that compares to theirs. The slow burn and the tension between them was such sweet torture!! I was more than willing to go along for the ride on this one instead of wanting to push these two together right away. I fell in love with how in love these two are, and relished in every moment of them exploring their new-found connection.
Promise Me This was pure friends to lovers magic. I loved everything about Ian and Harlow’s poignant and moving love story. It was romantic and sexy, hard-fought and difficult at times, but Karla Sorensen tempered those deep emotional moments with the ease and lightness of this couple’s long-standing friendship. I positively devoured this book, I didn’t want to put it down, I didn’t want it to end. An absolute joy to read, Promise Me This is a new favorite of mine from Karla Sorensen and a top favorite for this year.
Ian and Harlow’s love story is so emotional, but it’s a beautiful, beautiful story. He's been the best part of her life since childhood, and the one person she can count on no matter what. He's her rock, and her safe place. She's never shared a connection that compares to theirs. The slow burn and the tension between them was such sweet torture!! I was more than willing to go along for the ride on this one instead of wanting to push these two together right away. I fell in love with how in love these two are, and relished in every moment of them exploring their new-found connection.
Promise Me This was pure friends to lovers magic. I loved everything about Ian and Harlow’s poignant and moving love story. It was romantic and sexy, hard-fought and difficult at times, but Karla Sorensen tempered those deep emotional moments with the ease and lightness of this couple’s long-standing friendship. I positively devoured this book, I didn’t want to put it down, I didn’t want it to end. An absolute joy to read, Promise Me This is a new favorite of mine from Karla Sorensen and a top favorite for this year.
Read
February 2, 2024Damn. This woman can write.
June 5, 2024
omg i’m so in love with this series!!!!
one of the best reading decision i’ve made for myself this year was starting this series because i am having the best time with the wilder family!! they are just so loveable and ian really blew me away. i was not his biggest fan but i am now obsessed with him so…
as a person who dislikes the friends to lovers trope, i was so scared to start this book. i just never vibe with it as much as i do with other tropes like second chance or enemies to lovers. ian and harlow did hook me though. there connection was so sweet and i loved seeing them fall in love! harlow was such a good character and i really loved her and the relationship she had with her daughter. sage was such a good kid, her personality was just great and the way her and ian became so close was perfect!! the ending was very rushed but the slow burn was great!! i can’t wait to see more scenes with them as a couple in the books to come!!
speaking of books to come… POPPY AND JAX ARE NEXT!!!! their book has somehow become one of my most anticipated reads and i only learned of its existence two weeks ago!!! i am so ready for their story, i have been waiting and waiting for it. plus after that we get parker’s and i’m equally as excited to read his love story!! this series is going to end with two bangers, i’m manifesting it!!! 🙏🙏🙏
one of the best reading decision i’ve made for myself this year was starting this series because i am having the best time with the wilder family!! they are just so loveable and ian really blew me away. i was not his biggest fan but i am now obsessed with him so…
as a person who dislikes the friends to lovers trope, i was so scared to start this book. i just never vibe with it as much as i do with other tropes like second chance or enemies to lovers. ian and harlow did hook me though. there connection was so sweet and i loved seeing them fall in love! harlow was such a good character and i really loved her and the relationship she had with her daughter. sage was such a good kid, her personality was just great and the way her and ian became so close was perfect!! the ending was very rushed but the slow burn was great!! i can’t wait to see more scenes with them as a couple in the books to come!!
speaking of books to come… POPPY AND JAX ARE NEXT!!!! their book has somehow become one of my most anticipated reads and i only learned of its existence two weeks ago!!! i am so ready for their story, i have been waiting and waiting for it. plus after that we get parker’s and i’m equally as excited to read his love story!! this series is going to end with two bangers, i’m manifesting it!!! 🙏🙏🙏
April 27, 2024
ARC Review
5⭐️
Tropes~ childhood friends to lovers, foced proximity, single mom, slow burn
✨ This might be my favourite slow burn to ever exist!! The tension in this book was like nothing I’ve read and I’ve never wanted a couple to get together so much, I literally couldn’t put this book down because I needed to know how it ended.
✨ Ian and Harlow stole my gear instantly from the prologue, their friendship was so perfect from the beginning and you could just tell everyone already knew these two were perfect for each other but didn’t want to risk their friendship. I loved watching the journey of their friendship slowly shifting to what it was always meant to be.
✨ Sage was such a fun character and her relationship with Ian was so sweet from the start. I loved seeing all the family together and seeing them all tease Ian. There were Seens that had me crying and laughing out loud, Karlas best book to date. Now we finally get Poppy’s story next and I am damn excited!!
5⭐️
Tropes~ childhood friends to lovers, foced proximity, single mom, slow burn
✨ This might be my favourite slow burn to ever exist!! The tension in this book was like nothing I’ve read and I’ve never wanted a couple to get together so much, I literally couldn’t put this book down because I needed to know how it ended.
✨ Ian and Harlow stole my gear instantly from the prologue, their friendship was so perfect from the beginning and you could just tell everyone already knew these two were perfect for each other but didn’t want to risk their friendship. I loved watching the journey of their friendship slowly shifting to what it was always meant to be.
✨ Sage was such a fun character and her relationship with Ian was so sweet from the start. I loved seeing all the family together and seeing them all tease Ian. There were Seens that had me crying and laughing out loud, Karlas best book to date. Now we finally get Poppy’s story next and I am damn excited!!
May 10, 2024
Ian and Harlow’s love story is everything good about romance - all the heart eyes for these two and definitely one of my favourite reads of 2024.
This is a heartfelt, deliciously slow burn, character driven romance with the kind of simmering chemistry that will have you happy kicking your feet as you read. There’s plenty of raw emotions in this one, but they’re sandwiched between genuine LOL moments and swoon worthy scenes that will have you smiling like a loon.
I adore this family of Wilders and seeing the grumpy Ian get his much deserved HEA had me finishing the book with a contented sigh. Definitely recommend.
I received an arc of this book.
This is a heartfelt, deliciously slow burn, character driven romance with the kind of simmering chemistry that will have you happy kicking your feet as you read. There’s plenty of raw emotions in this one, but they’re sandwiched between genuine LOL moments and swoon worthy scenes that will have you smiling like a loon.
I adore this family of Wilders and seeing the grumpy Ian get his much deserved HEA had me finishing the book with a contented sigh. Definitely recommend.
I received an arc of this book.
May 8, 2024
“You are it, Harlow, for the rest of my life. I'll want to marry you soon. Fuck dating, we've known each other way too long to deal with that bullshit. I want everything. You, me, Sage, whatever little smart-ass kids come after. Everything.”
4.5 stars 🌟
Promise Me This is the third installment in the Wilder Family series and follows Ian and Harlow. They have been best friends since the age of 5 but haven't seen or spoken to each other in over a decade. Now that Ian and Harlow are both back in their hometown, they are picking up right where they left off, especially since she and her daughter are moving in with him.
Ian caught my eye as soon as he was introduced in the Wilder family series, so I was eager to find out more about him and his broody attitude. Let's just say I wasn't disappointed because I completely fell in love with him, and he is one of my favorite heroes Karla Sorensen has written. The bond he shares with his mom and siblings is so precious, and I could read a whole book about their interactions. They are always in each other's business, and I love their bickering!
When it was revealed that his love interest was going to be his childhood best friend, I was over the moon and couldn't wait to see their dynamic. Although they haven't seen each other in over a decade, Harlow and Ian's friendship has remained intact, and they're still comfortable with each other. Their bond is pretty special, and I loved seeing glimpses of their younger selves together. Harlow is a badass and independent woman. She is an incredible character, and I instantly liked her. Her writing journey was interesting to follow, and I loved how Ian always had her back and wanted nothing but the best for her.
The best friends-to-lovers trope was so well-written between these two and also felt authentic. It was very slow-burn and it added so much angst and tension between Harlow and Ian. I was so happy when they finally admitted their feelings for each other and got together. The fact that Harlow's daughter Sage and Ian's whole family were rooting for them to be in a relationship was so cute too. I love these characters so much 🤧
After the events that happened in the previous installment, the story was also emotional, and not to lie, I shed a few tears, especially during that conversation between Ian and his mom. Sage was endearing, and it was great to see her determined to play the sport she loves. The bond she had with Ian was also very sweet!
Overall, Promise Me This is another masterpiece from Karla Sorensen. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I'm in for a great read. The Wilder family series is slowly becoming my favorite of hers, and I'm so excited to read Poppy's book. She has been my favorite since I started reading the series! I'm also looking forward to reading Parker's story, and I have a feeling it's going to be very emotional.
*ARC kindly provided by the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions in exchange for an honest review
May 16, 2024
Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 2/5 🌶️
Audiobook 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Best Friends to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Single Parent
- Slow Burn
- Close Proximity
- Roommates
Promise Me This is a beautifully written friend-to-lovers story. I was locked into Ian and Harlow's romance from the beginning. Ian and Harlow were childhood best friends. After being away for many years, they have both returned to their hometown for different reasons. Ian has always protected Harlow and made her feel seen. Even after years apart, this hasn't changed. When Harlow needs a peaceful place for her and her daughter Sage to stay, Ian offers a spare room in his home. I loved Ian and Harlow and enjoyed witnessing the evolution of their relationship. The tension, slow burn, and build-up were worth it. Ian and Harlow fit perfectly together. Ian is grumpy and broody, but his heart is wide open to Harlow. Ian and Harlow made their way back to each other, and it was beautiful. I love Karla Sorensen's writing style and can't wait to read what's next in the Wilder Family series.
NARRATION:
Per usual, CJ Bloom and JF Harding did an amazing job. They gave the characters so much personality and brought them to life. CL and JF did a wonderful job with the fun and sweet moments. I could really feel the chemistry between Ian and Harlow.
Thanks to Karla Sorensen and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the gifted eARC and ALC for review. Opinions expressed are my own.
Heat Rating: 2/5 🌶️
Audiobook 5/5 🎧
What to Expect:
- Best Friends to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Single Parent
- Slow Burn
- Close Proximity
- Roommates
Promise Me This is a beautifully written friend-to-lovers story. I was locked into Ian and Harlow's romance from the beginning. Ian and Harlow were childhood best friends. After being away for many years, they have both returned to their hometown for different reasons. Ian has always protected Harlow and made her feel seen. Even after years apart, this hasn't changed. When Harlow needs a peaceful place for her and her daughter Sage to stay, Ian offers a spare room in his home. I loved Ian and Harlow and enjoyed witnessing the evolution of their relationship. The tension, slow burn, and build-up were worth it. Ian and Harlow fit perfectly together. Ian is grumpy and broody, but his heart is wide open to Harlow. Ian and Harlow made their way back to each other, and it was beautiful. I love Karla Sorensen's writing style and can't wait to read what's next in the Wilder Family series.
NARRATION:
Per usual, CJ Bloom and JF Harding did an amazing job. They gave the characters so much personality and brought them to life. CL and JF did a wonderful job with the fun and sweet moments. I could really feel the chemistry between Ian and Harlow.
Thanks to Karla Sorensen and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the gifted eARC and ALC for review. Opinions expressed are my own.
May 6, 2024
i loved this more than I thought possible. karla is such a master at writing deep emotional stories and this one definitely made me cry. one of the most beautiful childhood friends to lovers stories ever. ian, sage and harlow are a family that will stay with me for a while. i love this series so much.
November 2, 2025
This was the very best kind of friends to lovers, slow burn. Ian and Harlow were soulmates in the most platonic way, but also completely codependent to each other. This is a slowwww burn - the first and only detailed spicy scene comes at 90%! But the ending and epilogue did not in any way feel rushed or unfinished.
This book is a 3.5 stars because the relationship and the more exciting parts of the story took too long to develop. There were also too many unnecessary details that slowed things down. However, it was still a lovely, slow-paced read.
**Best Friends-to-Lovers
**Roommates/Forced Proximity
**Single Mom
**Grumpy x Sunshine
**Small Town
**Blended Family
Spicy 🌶
This book is a 3.5 stars because the relationship and the more exciting parts of the story took too long to develop. There were also too many unnecessary details that slowed things down. However, it was still a lovely, slow-paced read.
**Best Friends-to-Lovers
**Roommates/Forced Proximity
**Single Mom
**Grumpy x Sunshine
**Small Town
**Blended Family
Spicy 🌶
May 5, 2024
5 ⭐️’s
The Wilder’s books have gotten better with each new addition to the series - and the first one was already exceptional! The bar is HIGH my friends!
Ian and Harlow are masterpieces. (And of course cannot forget sweet Sage). I don’t know what I was expecting from their story, but the fraught tension and slow burn had me losing my mind in the best ways. Once upon a time I used to stay away from childhood friends to lovers trope, now I love it - but Karla may have just written the best story in the trope that I’ve ever read. The chemistry was dripping off the pages! The banter was god-tier! The emotions that were evoked were visceral!
Everything about this universe is unique and special, but the family dynamic of the Wilders may be the best I’ve ever read (and keep in mind I’m a Wards loyalist! Isabella can do no wrong!). Currently, I’m still surviving off of the high from reading this. It’s not a book that will soon be forgotten. I can’t wait for Poppy and Parker’s books. This world Karla has created has carved a permanent place in my heart that will never be filled by any other stories.
Oh, and beware the inevitable tears that will escape during your time reading this. No one is safe. You’ve been warned.
The Wilder’s books have gotten better with each new addition to the series - and the first one was already exceptional! The bar is HIGH my friends!
Ian and Harlow are masterpieces. (And of course cannot forget sweet Sage). I don’t know what I was expecting from their story, but the fraught tension and slow burn had me losing my mind in the best ways. Once upon a time I used to stay away from childhood friends to lovers trope, now I love it - but Karla may have just written the best story in the trope that I’ve ever read. The chemistry was dripping off the pages! The banter was god-tier! The emotions that were evoked were visceral!
Everything about this universe is unique and special, but the family dynamic of the Wilders may be the best I’ve ever read (and keep in mind I’m a Wards loyalist! Isabella can do no wrong!). Currently, I’m still surviving off of the high from reading this. It’s not a book that will soon be forgotten. I can’t wait for Poppy and Parker’s books. This world Karla has created has carved a permanent place in my heart that will never be filled by any other stories.
Oh, and beware the inevitable tears that will escape during your time reading this. No one is safe. You’ve been warned.
May 12, 2024
Since the first book that i have read of this author, i have loved every single one.
I loved Ian and Harlow friendship, how despite being apart for a long time, they still will do everything for helping the other. This is my new favourite couple.
The slow burn was killing me, becuase i wanted them to be together for so long, but let me tell you that it was worth it, this slow burn was so worth it.
They are all the good that there is in the world.
Sage was something that i loved from this book, she was super funny snd she knew what she wanted.
Tropes:
- small town
- friends to lovers
- single mom
- slow burn
I received an Arc copy in exchange of an h0nest review.
I loved Ian and Harlow friendship, how despite being apart for a long time, they still will do everything for helping the other. This is my new favourite couple.
The slow burn was killing me, becuase i wanted them to be together for so long, but let me tell you that it was worth it, this slow burn was so worth it.
They are all the good that there is in the world.
Sage was something that i loved from this book, she was super funny snd she knew what she wanted.
Tropes:
- small town
- friends to lovers
- single mom
- slow burn
I received an Arc copy in exchange of an h0nest review.
September 23, 2024
4,5 ⭐️
Ci hanno fatto attendere questi due! 😅🫠 Palesemente innamorati da sempre e perfetti l’uno per l’altra… ma loro due ci hanno messo del tempo per capirlo! È stato bello scoprire un altro lato di Ian comunque, nel libro precedente sembrava tutt’altro, qui è stato facile farsi prendere da lui. E poi adoro le storie con bambini, quindi è stata una lettura molto carina! 🥰
Ci hanno fatto attendere questi due! 😅🫠 Palesemente innamorati da sempre e perfetti l’uno per l’altra… ma loro due ci hanno messo del tempo per capirlo! È stato bello scoprire un altro lato di Ian comunque, nel libro precedente sembrava tutt’altro, qui è stato facile farsi prendere da lui. E poi adoro le storie con bambini, quindi è stata una lettura molto carina! 🥰
March 30, 2025
Ian y Harlow son mejores amigos de la infancia que se convierten en extraños antes de que ambos regresen a su pequeña ciudad natal 17 años después. Él la invita a ella y a su hija Sage a mudarse a su casa. La proximidad forzada les permite aprender cosas nuevas el uno del otro mientras encuentran consuelo en su pasado compartido. También aumenta la tensión, por supuesto, que Karla deja que se acumule durante mucho tiempo en este delicioso romance de combustión lenta.
Ian y Harlow son la definición de que siempre estuvieron destinados a estar juntos. Es muy fácil ver cuán perfectos son el uno para el otro, incluso si son los últimos en saberlo.
Una de las cosas que más me encanta de este libro y de la serie es cómo Karla nos ofrece historias románticas que también te hacen sentir bien. Además, ella logra añadir profundidad a través de las diversas dinámicas familiares. Ian está lidiando con la pérdida de su padre, mientras que Harlow enfrenta su complicada relación con su madre. Todo el desarrollo de los personajes se hizo a la perfección porque desde los libros anteriores de la serie tenía una percepción contradictoria sobre Ian, pero en su historia pude ver los cambios en él. Disfruté mucho la relación entre madre e hija de Sage y Harlow, su conexión es evidente y se nota lo mucho que significan la una para la otra. Por último, Ian y sus hermanos son fantásticos. Sus bromas y la competencia amistosa entre ellos son lo mejor, y al mismo tiempo, queda claro que harían cualquier cosa por el otro.
Ian y Harlow son la definición de que siempre estuvieron destinados a estar juntos. Es muy fácil ver cuán perfectos son el uno para el otro, incluso si son los últimos en saberlo.
Una de las cosas que más me encanta de este libro y de la serie es cómo Karla nos ofrece historias románticas que también te hacen sentir bien. Además, ella logra añadir profundidad a través de las diversas dinámicas familiares. Ian está lidiando con la pérdida de su padre, mientras que Harlow enfrenta su complicada relación con su madre. Todo el desarrollo de los personajes se hizo a la perfección porque desde los libros anteriores de la serie tenía una percepción contradictoria sobre Ian, pero en su historia pude ver los cambios en él. Disfruté mucho la relación entre madre e hija de Sage y Harlow, su conexión es evidente y se nota lo mucho que significan la una para la otra. Por último, Ian y sus hermanos son fantásticos. Sus bromas y la competencia amistosa entre ellos son lo mejor, y al mismo tiempo, queda claro que harían cualquier cosa por el otro.
May 8, 2024
Did I pause reading for a day to prolong the slow burn because it was just TOO GOOD? Yes.
Did this book turn me into a slow burn trope fan? Yup. Definitely.
Between the different family dynamics, adorable relationship between Ian & Sage, the embracing of grief, the avoidance of grief, the laugh out loud humor, and, of course, the CHEMISTRY I couldn’t get enough and I never wanted it to end!!
This book is AMAZING.
Did this book turn me into a slow burn trope fan? Yup. Definitely.
Between the different family dynamics, adorable relationship between Ian & Sage, the embracing of grief, the avoidance of grief, the laugh out loud humor, and, of course, the CHEMISTRY I couldn’t get enough and I never wanted it to end!!
This book is AMAZING.
May 15, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I have constantly had unkind feelings towards Ian, from the moment we meet him in Erik's book. He was such a jerk. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN this would translate into him being one of my favorite Karla men ever (like... Logan, Emmett, Beckett, IAN???? REALLLLLLY?).
Okay so this is ABSOLUTELY a slow burn, and it felt SO NATURAL. I think a lot of times, childhood friends-to-lovers doesn't always hit for me because there's so much waiting... like one character knows how they feel and it takes the other one so long to figure it out. This is not that book at all. Ian and Harlow are childhood friends to strangers to friends again to lovers, and it just feels so natural. I loved that they both went off on their own adventures and lived their lives. Things happened to them when they weren't best friends. That's sad, but they also never ever forgot about one another.
When Ian finds himself back in his hometown for family reasons, he decides he's ready to settle down and stay. Harlow finds herself back in her hometown with her daughter for family reasons, too. And when they reconnect, it's like they can both take a deep breath again. These two are meant to be in each other's lives. When Ian opens his home up to Harlow and Sage, it's like finding gold at the end of the rainbow.
The force proximity, the normal every day life (like having dinner together and chore charts and avoiding each other lol), the meddling family, and the ~only for you~ vibes make this story MAGIC.
My absolute favorite parts:
- Ian + Sage's relationship
- Sage's love of football
- All the cameos!
- The Wilder siblings and their meddling!
- Ivy. Such a great addition to the Wilder crew!
- Ian going to bat for Sage, showing up for Sage, throwing the football with Sage, stressing about Sage's flag football game... I could go on - this might be my favorite part of the whole book!
- The cleverness of Harlow being a writer and Karla uses plot devices as plot devices within the story
- Sheila Wilder + even Tim Wilder wisdom (thank you for including beautiful parts of Tim in this book)
- How ENCOURAGING Ian + Harlow are of each other, even just as friends
- Sexy porch kisses
- That Ian + Harlow's relationship with each other was so important to both of them that the minute they both started to have The Feelings, they both thought about how their actions could change their relationship, what it would mean for Sage, what it would mean for them, but we didn't dwell in the back-and-forth of "do they or don't they feel the same?" There was such confidence in their communication with each other and such TRUST, it flowed perfectly.
- The hug: "My person was hugging me..." ughhh I almost died
- The scene at the grave just about split me in 2
Karla's books always make me have The Feelings, but this one had me in my feelings even more. There's grief in this book that's present that you just feel in your bones, but then there's also so much joy. There's lessons on navigating family dynamics and expectations and disappointments, which we've all gone through. This book is the chaotic holiday meals with such love and tenderness and warmth and goodness... like a chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven. Gooey and soft and maybe too sweet... maybe even bittersweet. But there's also the hard things. The changes that hurt. The passing of important people. The people who decide not to stay. Those who don't try to understand. Those who hurt you while they're trying to help you, but they're doing it THEIR way. And then, there's also the coming together. The things that are working out this time. The words that flow. Making the team. Trying the thing. Telling the truth. Acting on something important to you. Individually, these things are meaningful, but together, they're something more. And it's magic.
5 huge stars for this book.
Thanks to Karla & Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the eARC of this book. These are my honest thoughts. Out May 9th!
Okay so this is ABSOLUTELY a slow burn, and it felt SO NATURAL. I think a lot of times, childhood friends-to-lovers doesn't always hit for me because there's so much waiting... like one character knows how they feel and it takes the other one so long to figure it out. This is not that book at all. Ian and Harlow are childhood friends to strangers to friends again to lovers, and it just feels so natural. I loved that they both went off on their own adventures and lived their lives. Things happened to them when they weren't best friends. That's sad, but they also never ever forgot about one another.
When Ian finds himself back in his hometown for family reasons, he decides he's ready to settle down and stay. Harlow finds herself back in her hometown with her daughter for family reasons, too. And when they reconnect, it's like they can both take a deep breath again. These two are meant to be in each other's lives. When Ian opens his home up to Harlow and Sage, it's like finding gold at the end of the rainbow.
The force proximity, the normal every day life (like having dinner together and chore charts and avoiding each other lol), the meddling family, and the ~only for you~ vibes make this story MAGIC.
My absolute favorite parts:
- Ian + Sage's relationship
- Sage's love of football
- All the cameos!
- The Wilder siblings and their meddling!
- Ivy. Such a great addition to the Wilder crew!
- Ian going to bat for Sage, showing up for Sage, throwing the football with Sage, stressing about Sage's flag football game... I could go on - this might be my favorite part of the whole book!
- The cleverness of Harlow being a writer and Karla uses plot devices as plot devices within the story
- Sheila Wilder + even Tim Wilder wisdom (thank you for including beautiful parts of Tim in this book)
- How ENCOURAGING Ian + Harlow are of each other, even just as friends
- Sexy porch kisses
- That Ian + Harlow's relationship with each other was so important to both of them that the minute they both started to have The Feelings, they both thought about how their actions could change their relationship, what it would mean for Sage, what it would mean for them, but we didn't dwell in the back-and-forth of "do they or don't they feel the same?" There was such confidence in their communication with each other and such TRUST, it flowed perfectly.
- The hug: "My person was hugging me..." ughhh I almost died
- The scene at the grave just about split me in 2
Karla's books always make me have The Feelings, but this one had me in my feelings even more. There's grief in this book that's present that you just feel in your bones, but then there's also so much joy. There's lessons on navigating family dynamics and expectations and disappointments, which we've all gone through. This book is the chaotic holiday meals with such love and tenderness and warmth and goodness... like a chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven. Gooey and soft and maybe too sweet... maybe even bittersweet. But there's also the hard things. The changes that hurt. The passing of important people. The people who decide not to stay. Those who don't try to understand. Those who hurt you while they're trying to help you, but they're doing it THEIR way. And then, there's also the coming together. The things that are working out this time. The words that flow. Making the team. Trying the thing. Telling the truth. Acting on something important to you. Individually, these things are meaningful, but together, they're something more. And it's magic.
5 huge stars for this book.
Thanks to Karla & Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the eARC of this book. These are my honest thoughts. Out May 9th!
May 1, 2024
I don’t even know where to start, because I don’t have the words that will justify just how special and perfect this book was. Karla has this incredible way of writing where she pulls you in and takes you on this beautiful, emotional journey with the characters, individually and together. This one was something else, a truely beautiful childhood friends to lovers romance with so much mutual pining, tension and angst and the slowest, most delicious of slow burns I’ve possibly ever read. Karla is one of the only authors I’ll trust a slow burn with, and she absolutely knocked this one out of the park.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: best friends to lovers, single parent, slow burn, he’s grump with everyone but her, roommates, big family dynamics.
Ian + Harlow have been best friends since they were five years old but lost touch when she moved away after high school and he ends up moving too. Fast forward almost 17 years and one sweet little girl later, they’re both back in their hometown and pick up where they left off like no time had passed at all. But somewhere along the way, they start seeing each other in a different light, feelings develop and lines get blurred.
Ian is the stoic brother who rarely shows his emotions, he’s broody and prefers to be alone. Except when it comes to Harlow. Does it take him a long time to realise? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes! Because the moment everything clicked into place for him was so beautiful and from chapter 29 onwards, I was pretty much a ball of emotion. Grab the tissues and prepare yourself.
Sage was an absolute highlight for me in this. This girl was wise beyond her years and I loved the relationship she and Harlow had. Then the relationship Ian built with her was incredibly special and I adored their moments together.
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚, 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚.”
I was already completely invested in the Wilder family and this book just cemented it even more. The dynamic, banter, support and pure love between them was palpable through the pages and there were so many of their moments that had me smiling, giggling and then just plain teary!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: best friends to lovers, single parent, slow burn, he’s grump with everyone but her, roommates, big family dynamics.
Ian + Harlow have been best friends since they were five years old but lost touch when she moved away after high school and he ends up moving too. Fast forward almost 17 years and one sweet little girl later, they’re both back in their hometown and pick up where they left off like no time had passed at all. But somewhere along the way, they start seeing each other in a different light, feelings develop and lines get blurred.
Ian is the stoic brother who rarely shows his emotions, he’s broody and prefers to be alone. Except when it comes to Harlow. Does it take him a long time to realise? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes! Because the moment everything clicked into place for him was so beautiful and from chapter 29 onwards, I was pretty much a ball of emotion. Grab the tissues and prepare yourself.
Sage was an absolute highlight for me in this. This girl was wise beyond her years and I loved the relationship she and Harlow had. Then the relationship Ian built with her was incredibly special and I adored their moments together.
“𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚, 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚.”
I was already completely invested in the Wilder family and this book just cemented it even more. The dynamic, banter, support and pure love between them was palpable through the pages and there were so many of their moments that had me smiling, giggling and then just plain teary!
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