The One You're With

by Hannah Rae

Everyone lives a day differently… and sometimes the lives of the people living that day intersect.

As Doc Delaney prepares for his annual party on Christmas Eve in Lake Caywood, so do Jack and Amelia Porter, Ruby Gallagher, and Jasper Lane. The season is one that should be full of wonder and merriment, but a specific box on the page of a calendar doesn’t necessarily eliminate the secrets that exist in a town, nor does it prevent unexpected truths from being shared. Over the course of twenty-four hours, the lives of several locals are changed for both the better and the worse—just in time for the holidays.

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2023

About the author

When she was in the fourth grade, Hannah Rae couldn't fall asleep one night. She climbed out of bed, padded down the hallway to her parents' bedroom, and said, "Mom, I can't sleep." To which her mother replied, "Make up a story in your head." So Hannah created a cast of characters, and a setting, and a plot... and to this day, the first thing she thinks about when she snuggles under the covers each night are those characters and that setting. But the plot is always changing.

Reviews

[Darrenglass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows what a great author Hannah Rae is, as she looks at the same day from different perspectives. As always, she develops three dimensional characters and has an interesting plot with just a splash of magical realism mixed in. All of her novels interweave with each other, and I think this book would be a particularly good starting point!

[Carlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not even know where to start with this novella. I guess I should start by saying that I do know this author, however, this relationship does not have any bearing on my review. Now, time to get down to business. This novella had no right to be this heartbreaking out of nowhere. I had no idea that I was going to be so sad once I had closed this book. Jack was deceptive because I wanted to like him at first, but he gave vibes that weren't quite right, and then, as I continued through the novella, there was no way that I was ever going to see things his way. I wanted more from Ruby but not in a way that made me feel like the novella was lacking. I enjoyed the glimpse of her life that we got, but I think that there is so much more, and I look forward to reading the novel that is more centered around her. Jasper was another character that I wanted more from. His snippet of the novella had a lot of intriguing threads woven throughout the short time, and there was a tiny cliff hanger at the end of his moment that really had me wanting more. Amelia was the character that turned everything on its head. She dropped the bombs that changed my entire perspective of certain characters. She is also one of the character's that I most conflicted about. I want to like her and approve of her choices, but there is something holding me back. If I were in her situation, I would not be making the choices that she makes, and I guess that is what is holding me back...maybe. Of the characters in this novella, I think that Doc was my favorite. My heart easily went out to him, and I am a bit of a sucker for when characters are loved by so many, but nobody knows what they are actually going through. Doc deserves better. Overall, I loved how the novella was organized with the chunks of different perspectives that molded together to create a complete story. While I have yet to read much from Hannah Rae, I do know of some of the major characters in her universe, and it was beyond cool to see how those characters came into play within this novella. I think that this is a great introduction to the world, and it left me itching to read more from these characters. As I said before, this novel was heartbreaking. Most of these characters, except for the last one that readers want to be happy, are left without what they truly want. The characters are trapped in a world where they know what they want but are left unable to obtain it. This author handled the frustration that comes with that in a beautiful way, and there was not a second of this novella when I was not invested. I do remember there being some cursing in this novel, but there was not really any violence. There was a dash of sexual content that wasn't explicit but was not suited for younger audiences either. With the age of the characters, this novel probably fits best in the adult category, but there is nothing inappropriate for YA age readers. I highly highly recommend this novella! It was a wonderful read, and it was one of those works that addresses the holidays as a major part of characters' lives without being too much holiday. I do not know where this book fits best in regards to when one should read it in the order of the rest of this author's novel. However, I am reading this novella without reading any of the other major power player books, and I was still able to devour this read. I also think that I will like having this background knowledge going into the other novels. If it isn't already obvious, I will be reading a whole lot more from this author in the future, and I cannot wait to do so!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One You're With

By: Hannah Rae
Narrated by: Cassandra Alling

Captivating with an incredible feel!

Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 12-17-23

Jack, Amelia, Ruby, Jasper, Doc … all preparing for Doc’s annual Christmas Eve party. The day’s events, some years in the making, affect each differently. These are their stories, beautifully, interestingly, and yes, captivatingly told from each’s individuals perspective. I listened enthralled, and then I listened again, from start to finish! Not because I didn’t understand, everything was perfectly clear. I was just awestruck by this story! I needed to experience it again! No spoilers! Go in cold like I did, you won’t be sorry! The writing, the characters, the dialogue… it ALL felt so eerily REAL! This stunning, eye opening, story about choices made, and futures altered, came alive thanks to the brilliant, beautifully clear, emotional narration that perfectly captured the haunting ambiance intended by the author! The feel I got while listening was incredible! This story really made me think! There will be another listen in my future, probably more than one! Five soul searching stars! I loved it!

[Haley Orner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this opportunity to view some of the reoccurring characters in their posts. The style of writing in this book where it was multiple people's perspectives on the same day made it a fun and, overall, easy read. The change in writing provides some diversity between the books, but the plot keeps it really in the Hannah Rae universe, which I must say is one of my favorite universes to read about. The author's perspective of the characters allows for such a deep understanding of their personalities and lives, which makes connecting to the characters so much easier. There's also something to be said about reading this book after some of Hannah Rae's other books, and knowing their futures because of doing so, then reading this is getting this in-depth background that's really just amazing. Thank you for another great read. I definitely appreciate the simplicity, but understanding that came from this book.

[Theresa Hardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Rae does a spectacular job taking us to Lake Caywood during the holiday season. Fir those of us who love knowing what is in the mind of others, this novella satisfies that curiosity. Each character tells the events as they are living them, which makes things interesting, and at times, answers our questions. Hannah Rae’s visualization is also excellent, as you can “see” the holiday and festivities as you read. A very special read!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has all the elements of the perfect holiday read: a small town, romance, friendship, and a sprinkle of magic. Hannah Rae’s descriptive language will make you feel like you are walking the streets of Lake Caywood, heading to the Tavern where Doc is ready to serve you a cold beer. Although, the characters are not new, “The One You’re With” can be read as a standalone. If you’re looking for a quick read to get you ready for the holiday season, then look no more.

[Mary McDannell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One You're With transports you to the small town of Lake Caywood on Christmas Eve. Through the course of a day, you learn about the complexity of the characters' lives and how they are all intertwined. Rae's imagery paints the town as one reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. The characters are well-developed, complex, and relatable. You can't help but fall in love with the town and the characters as you read this book. It is the perfect holiday read.

[Hannah Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may have written this book, but I also really like it! There are some backstories that come into play regarding the other things I've published (and will publish) and it was fun to explore characters such as Doc, Amelia, Ruby, Jack, and Jasper as younger residents of Lake Caywood. Plus, I had a blast writing the same day from different perspectives!

Not to mention the snow. I really enjoy writing about snow. It, like snow itself, brings me joy.

[Lindsay Penvose · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fun, festive read this holiday, look no further! This charming novel immediately had me envisioning a cozy small town getting ready for Christmas, with all the trimmings. A bit of a mystery between some of the main characters was just the right touch to keep me turning the pages. I also loved the touch of magical realism with the dried flowers and the powers they held- no spoilers though so I’ll leave it there for you to find out!

[Jori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read! I have read most of Hannah's books so far, and this one answers a lot of questions left open in the other books about Lake Caywood. It was nice to revisit older characters--and this one seemed very heartfelt. Definitely recommend!