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Sunset Cove #1
After All This Time
Two childhood rivals.
One summer that can change everything.
Will they finally succumb to their feelings for each other or let them boil over?
Dani Solomon started writing when she was eight years old. She’s on the cusp of publishing her debut romance novel she’s been working on for years. On top of that, she’s a full-time college student studying creative writing and magazine journalism.
When Dani was a teenager, she lost someone she was very close to. Now, almost a decade later, she’s still haunted by the traumatic experience when her eyes are wide open and when they’re tightly shut.
Luckily for her, she had a distraction in the form of the annoyingly charming Noah Kaplan. Okay, maybe she wasn’t so lucky. She had to endure spending time with him since she was a little girl because their mothers have been best friends since college. Dani and Noah were the bane of each other’s existence.
Noah Kaplan started writing when he was eleven years old. He’s close to publishing his debut mystery/thriller novel he’s been working on since high school. Along with getting his debut novel out into the world, he’s a full-time college student studying creative writing and film.
Five years have passed by since Noah and Dani uttered a single word to each other. An unexpected tragedy brings them back together and it’s like no time has passed. The only difference is the undeniable chemistry and palpable tension between them.
As the two of them reconnect, their distaste for one another transforms into something neither of them expect or maybe they saw it coming from the very beginning.
One summer that can change everything.
Will they finally succumb to their feelings for each other or let them boil over?
Dani Solomon started writing when she was eight years old. She’s on the cusp of publishing her debut romance novel she’s been working on for years. On top of that, she’s a full-time college student studying creative writing and magazine journalism.
When Dani was a teenager, she lost someone she was very close to. Now, almost a decade later, she’s still haunted by the traumatic experience when her eyes are wide open and when they’re tightly shut.
Luckily for her, she had a distraction in the form of the annoyingly charming Noah Kaplan. Okay, maybe she wasn’t so lucky. She had to endure spending time with him since she was a little girl because their mothers have been best friends since college. Dani and Noah were the bane of each other’s existence.
Noah Kaplan started writing when he was eleven years old. He’s close to publishing his debut mystery/thriller novel he’s been working on since high school. Along with getting his debut novel out into the world, he’s a full-time college student studying creative writing and film.
Five years have passed by since Noah and Dani uttered a single word to each other. An unexpected tragedy brings them back together and it’s like no time has passed. The only difference is the undeniable chemistry and palpable tension between them.
As the two of them reconnect, their distaste for one another transforms into something neither of them expect or maybe they saw it coming from the very beginning.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2024
28 people are currently reading
1218 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Sydney
2 books57 followersJessica Sydney is a romance author based on the east coast of the United States. She fell in love writing from a young age and how it's able to transport us into alternate realities. Her goal is to make you feel every emotion that exists when you read her books. She wants you to able to see yourself in the characters she writes. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching her favorite TV shows, listening to her Spotify playlists, or chaotically mood reading her way through her TBR. You can join Jessica's author journey by following her on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok at @authorjessicasydney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 17, 2024
DNF
The characters are a bit weird. I mean here they are all huddled together at the hospital waiting for some news, devastated with worry but all they can do is banter, go at each other’s necks and act WEIRD.
And then, a few hours after his dad dies he is flirting with her?! Ok what?!
And then she volunteers to stay with Lizzie while Lizzie’s mom and brother go rest at home? The girl just got out of a difficult surgery and lost her father which she still doesn’t know and her family just left her there. Weird family I tell ya.
This is so inappropriate it is utterly ridiculous! One minute they’re drowning in grief and eye blinding panic attacks and the next they’re retelling their best friends about the flirting, the checking out and the feeling the not-quite-right.
This book had all the works of a good story but their ridiculous flirtatious banter in such difficult moments of grief is preposterous!
I just couldn’t go on with it or maybe I am just not in the mood. Case in point, DNF.
The characters are a bit weird. I mean here they are all huddled together at the hospital waiting for some news, devastated with worry but all they can do is banter, go at each other’s necks and act WEIRD.
And then, a few hours after his dad dies he is flirting with her?! Ok what?!
And then she volunteers to stay with Lizzie while Lizzie’s mom and brother go rest at home? The girl just got out of a difficult surgery and lost her father which she still doesn’t know and her family just left her there. Weird family I tell ya.
This is so inappropriate it is utterly ridiculous! One minute they’re drowning in grief and eye blinding panic attacks and the next they’re retelling their best friends about the flirting, the checking out and the feeling the not-quite-right.
This book had all the works of a good story but their ridiculous flirtatious banter in such difficult moments of grief is preposterous!
I just couldn’t go on with it or maybe I am just not in the mood. Case in point, DNF.
May 18, 2024
2. ★★☆☆☆
some moments were so cute between them but the author kept ruining them with some weird line or awkward behaviour, both mcs were so childish and so annoying at times, some things were very weirdly written or i didn't understood them who knows😭
at some point i kept skimming through the book cause i wanted to finish it sooner so i could be done with it already
i was excited for this book, i remember back in january i loved the reels the author kept posting but the book completely disappointed
some moments were so cute between them but the author kept ruining them with some weird line or awkward behaviour, both mcs were so childish and so annoying at times, some things were very weirdly written or i didn't understood them who knows😭
at some point i kept skimming through the book cause i wanted to finish it sooner so i could be done with it already
i was excited for this book, i remember back in january i loved the reels the author kept posting but the book completely disappointed
May 20, 2024
SU PAPÁ MURIÓ y a todos, él incluido, lo único que les importa es si está enamorado de ella o no. Entiendo que todos vivamos el luto de formas distintas pero esto es RIDÍCULO. Se la pasaba más pensando en el trasero de ella que en su papá MUERTO. En fin, me gustó el libro pero esa parte me causó mucho conflicto.
May 20, 2024
imagine this, you just lost a parent and have a panic attack over it because we all understand grief is a heavy thing, BUT on the same day you’re thinking about how good she looks under the clothes because she wasn’t wearing a bra under her shirt. you go tell your best friends about her and then you’re feeling fine and you feel free while drive home. and throughout the story, you flirt with her and have sex with her until the very end, you finally decided to grieve for a parent but then you’re back to flirting with her.
Grief is a heavy topic and this author did not know how to write one. they’re college students wanting to be a writer but act so childish, WEIRD BEHAVIOR, weird lines written and all. tbh, i don’t know if they actually ever grieved a parent they just lost. it felt like i was reading a book 3rd grader would write.
i was so excited to read this but this.. really disappointed. the idea is cute but it wasn’t written well and it was VERY sloppy.
Grief is a heavy topic and this author did not know how to write one. they’re college students wanting to be a writer but act so childish, WEIRD BEHAVIOR, weird lines written and all. tbh, i don’t know if they actually ever grieved a parent they just lost. it felt like i was reading a book 3rd grader would write.
i was so excited to read this but this.. really disappointed. the idea is cute but it wasn’t written well and it was VERY sloppy.
June 29, 2024
save your precious time by not reading this book !
i saw some content from the author on instagram and it seemed interesting because it deals with anxiety, panic attacks and grief. unfortunately i did not enjoy the book for a lot of reasons and yes i (unfortunately) read all 400 pages wishing i was all dropping at every second.
⁀➴ poor writing
let’s talk about the writing because this was the first thing that caught my attention for a possible low rating. noah’s dad and sister end up on a car accident and the reader discovers by the end of chapter one but the way the author wrote it… seemed like it was anything but an accident. like how can you write this drop in such a funny way when it isn’t supposed to be funny. please i won’t even begin talking about repetitive stuff because i want to focus on other things.
the text messages through out the book? guys i understand we chat a lot but the texts would end up having a whole paragraph that could be used in a dialogue. texts are supposed to be brief, once or twice they can be longer but 90% of the time there were huge paragraphs in a bubble. and why did i read dani get undressed so many times??? i’m traumatized.
⁀➴ (not developed) plot
also the plotting… like it had a good potential but poor development. i say this because, as i said, grief was one of the main points for the story but it is not it on the book. we all know the five stages but noah’s attitudes were so weird, at some points it seemed like he wasn’t even grieving, like his dad wasn’t dead and his sister wasn’t in a coma.
in my opinion, if he was drinking to forget, it would be a better justification for him to act this way but i just don’t think the author knew how to work with it. it was also weird that his dad’s funeral was almost two months after he died, i get it that his mom probably wanted to wait for lizzie to wake up but it was just weird and it probably did not help with everybody’s grieving including noah’s.
⁀➴ main characters’ (lack of) chemistry
their banter???? HIS DAD DIED AND HE WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW HOT SHE IS AND TRYING TO FLIRT WITH HER???? “flirt” because it was cringe and icky as fuck. her mom told him to move in with her daughter because she was scared it would trigger something when he just learned that his dad died and his sister is on the hospital??? the main characters almost never visited her??? what’s this??? no seriously, the dude was having a PANIC ATTACK on the HOSPITAL and she kept picking a fight?? GROW THE FUCK UP.
half the time they mention how they actually don’t hate each other and have feelings. i’m tired. this wasn’t enemies to lovers okay. i know it’s hard to work with an actual enemies to lovers in a contemporary romance but this was terrible. they’re just two adults at their mid 20’s and acting like 10 years old (kids i’m sorry for offending y’all.)
there were so many attempts at delivering lines but they were unpleasant. i legit wanted to call the police because i was scared.
⁀➴ thoughts
400 pages. 65 chapters. lots of regrets.
it was so weird how they almost never visited his sister and how his friends kept her company like??? and i had to read “i’d be happy to rub my scent all over you” can i throw up? because i really want to.
well if you can’t tell, i hated this book. my rating is literally half star and it got half star because i reached the end. i’m sorry but this book is ridiculous. the fun part from this read was my countdown that i would do everytime i finished a chapter.
⁀➴ a message to all the readers
hi guys ! i’m so sorry to all of us that read this expecting an amazing read and got 400 pages of nonsense ! but at least we won’t come back ! to those who enjoyed reading, i envy you because i really hated reading this.
i saw some content from the author on instagram and it seemed interesting because it deals with anxiety, panic attacks and grief. unfortunately i did not enjoy the book for a lot of reasons and yes i (unfortunately) read all 400 pages wishing i was all dropping at every second.
⁀➴ poor writing
let’s talk about the writing because this was the first thing that caught my attention for a possible low rating. noah’s dad and sister end up on a car accident and the reader discovers by the end of chapter one but the way the author wrote it… seemed like it was anything but an accident. like how can you write this drop in such a funny way when it isn’t supposed to be funny. please i won’t even begin talking about repetitive stuff because i want to focus on other things.
the text messages through out the book? guys i understand we chat a lot but the texts would end up having a whole paragraph that could be used in a dialogue. texts are supposed to be brief, once or twice they can be longer but 90% of the time there were huge paragraphs in a bubble. and why did i read dani get undressed so many times??? i’m traumatized.
⁀➴ (not developed) plot
also the plotting… like it had a good potential but poor development. i say this because, as i said, grief was one of the main points for the story but it is not it on the book. we all know the five stages but noah’s attitudes were so weird, at some points it seemed like he wasn’t even grieving, like his dad wasn’t dead and his sister wasn’t in a coma.
in my opinion, if he was drinking to forget, it would be a better justification for him to act this way but i just don’t think the author knew how to work with it. it was also weird that his dad’s funeral was almost two months after he died, i get it that his mom probably wanted to wait for lizzie to wake up but it was just weird and it probably did not help with everybody’s grieving including noah’s.
⁀➴ main characters’ (lack of) chemistry
their banter???? HIS DAD DIED AND HE WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW HOT SHE IS AND TRYING TO FLIRT WITH HER???? “flirt” because it was cringe and icky as fuck. her mom told him to move in with her daughter because she was scared it would trigger something when he just learned that his dad died and his sister is on the hospital??? the main characters almost never visited her??? what’s this??? no seriously, the dude was having a PANIC ATTACK on the HOSPITAL and she kept picking a fight?? GROW THE FUCK UP.
half the time they mention how they actually don’t hate each other and have feelings. i’m tired. this wasn’t enemies to lovers okay. i know it’s hard to work with an actual enemies to lovers in a contemporary romance but this was terrible. they’re just two adults at their mid 20’s and acting like 10 years old (kids i’m sorry for offending y’all.)
there were so many attempts at delivering lines but they were unpleasant. i legit wanted to call the police because i was scared.
⁀➴ thoughts
400 pages. 65 chapters. lots of regrets.
it was so weird how they almost never visited his sister and how his friends kept her company like??? and i had to read “i’d be happy to rub my scent all over you” can i throw up? because i really want to.
well if you can’t tell, i hated this book. my rating is literally half star and it got half star because i reached the end. i’m sorry but this book is ridiculous. the fun part from this read was my countdown that i would do everytime i finished a chapter.
⁀➴ a message to all the readers
hi guys ! i’m so sorry to all of us that read this expecting an amazing read and got 400 pages of nonsense ! but at least we won’t come back ! to those who enjoyed reading, i envy you because i really hated reading this.
May 20, 2024
I feel really bad doing this, because I do see potential here, in what is clearly a self-published debut novel by a very young author. To see said potential, I just had to squint my eyes, turn my head, and take 6 tequila shots.
That said, maybe we do need more barriers to entry on how easy it is to publish books.
That said, maybe we do need more barriers to entry on how easy it is to publish books.
April 27, 2024
"You have no idea how remarkable you are Dani."
A beautiful love story that begins with hate, but slowly realising that love and hate go hand in hand.
overall rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
spice: 🌶️🌶️
tears wept: way too many ☔️
After All This Time is beautiful story about two childhood enemies who had a habit of making competition out of everything. But when Dani's father passed away, she changed and she left for college to become an author! Until one day she gets a call that her fathers best friend and daughter were in an accident, she rushes home to her small town to be there. Until she sees, HIM. Noah, Dani's childhood nemesis, who has always enjoyed annoying her, realises that maybe he hasn't always hated her, not even a little bit. And when his words get turned upside down, he finds ease and escape with the last person he thought he would need.
Together, Noah and Dani get through this time of grief, pain and anxiety. Dani gets Noah through the tough times, when he struggles with his anxiety attacks, talking to him and holding his hand. Forcing Noah to do deal with these strange feelings that have started surfacing, but that doesn't stop them both from still blowing up at each other.
But when they have to stay in Dani's house to take care of one another, the forced proximity brings out some deep rooted feelings that both Dani and Noah never realised had been there. Buried deep down.
From cooking together, to going into town to find inspiration for their books, to bonding over their fathers and their families growing up together, to going to the diners and helping each other through their panic attacks.
Their story is raw, rough and so heart breaking but they truly show that even when your start with hate (or dislike because hate is a big word) you'll find yourself on the other side of that scale. But don't be fooled, they like to flirt A LOT and make some teasing remarks without even knowing about it. Makes you kick your feet ion the air hehehehe
Noah's friendship with Grayson and Xander is so wholesome! The way they were there for Noah and wanted to help him through his rough time was so sweet! I adore Grayson so much and Xander is just such a vibe! I can say the same for Dani's friendship with Bella and Sage! Those girls love her so much and just want to make sure she's okay! Both Dani and Noah's friends try to push them to believe that they have had these feelings for each other since they were kids, but if course they both refuse to believe it! Until they slowly start to realise it, hehehe, aren't they great friends.
Their spice level may be low but they really do like to talk to each other through, both trying to dominate each other, whilst taking care of each other. Being each others first truly was so special. They care for each other and want to take care of each other through everything.
Such a wholesome and truly beautiful story that is worth every second of my tears that were spilled! I am so excited for whose book is next, although I feel like I have a fairly good idea of which one hehehe
TROPES IN AFTER ALL THIS TIME:
♡ childhood rivals to lovers
♡ he falls first and hard
♡ small town romance
♡ forced proximity
♡ no third act break up
♡ mental health rep
♡ they have 3 nicknames for each other
♡ f*ck ot trope
Thank you Jessica for accepting me as an ARC reader to read your debut book in exchange for a honest review! Truly feel so honoured!
A beautiful love story that begins with hate, but slowly realising that love and hate go hand in hand.
overall rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
spice: 🌶️🌶️
tears wept: way too many ☔️
After All This Time is beautiful story about two childhood enemies who had a habit of making competition out of everything. But when Dani's father passed away, she changed and she left for college to become an author! Until one day she gets a call that her fathers best friend and daughter were in an accident, she rushes home to her small town to be there. Until she sees, HIM. Noah, Dani's childhood nemesis, who has always enjoyed annoying her, realises that maybe he hasn't always hated her, not even a little bit. And when his words get turned upside down, he finds ease and escape with the last person he thought he would need.
Together, Noah and Dani get through this time of grief, pain and anxiety. Dani gets Noah through the tough times, when he struggles with his anxiety attacks, talking to him and holding his hand. Forcing Noah to do deal with these strange feelings that have started surfacing, but that doesn't stop them both from still blowing up at each other.
But when they have to stay in Dani's house to take care of one another, the forced proximity brings out some deep rooted feelings that both Dani and Noah never realised had been there. Buried deep down.
From cooking together, to going into town to find inspiration for their books, to bonding over their fathers and their families growing up together, to going to the diners and helping each other through their panic attacks.
Their story is raw, rough and so heart breaking but they truly show that even when your start with hate (or dislike because hate is a big word) you'll find yourself on the other side of that scale. But don't be fooled, they like to flirt A LOT and make some teasing remarks without even knowing about it. Makes you kick your feet ion the air hehehehe
Noah's friendship with Grayson and Xander is so wholesome! The way they were there for Noah and wanted to help him through his rough time was so sweet! I adore Grayson so much and Xander is just such a vibe! I can say the same for Dani's friendship with Bella and Sage! Those girls love her so much and just want to make sure she's okay! Both Dani and Noah's friends try to push them to believe that they have had these feelings for each other since they were kids, but if course they both refuse to believe it! Until they slowly start to realise it, hehehe, aren't they great friends.
Their spice level may be low but they really do like to talk to each other through, both trying to dominate each other, whilst taking care of each other. Being each others first truly was so special. They care for each other and want to take care of each other through everything.
Such a wholesome and truly beautiful story that is worth every second of my tears that were spilled! I am so excited for whose book is next, although I feel like I have a fairly good idea of which one hehehe
TROPES IN AFTER ALL THIS TIME:
♡ childhood rivals to lovers
♡ he falls first and hard
♡ small town romance
♡ forced proximity
♡ no third act break up
♡ mental health rep
♡ they have 3 nicknames for each other
♡ f*ck ot trope
Thank you Jessica for accepting me as an ARC reader to read your debut book in exchange for a honest review! Truly feel so honoured!
May 16, 2024
after all this time follows dani and noah who are childhood rivals who haven’t seen each other in 5 years. something unexpected happens bring them together again, leaving them to support each other through tough times. as they work through the struggles of loss and anxiety, they realize that their love was disguised as hatred all along.
did i read this twice already? yes. will i read it again? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! one thing is for sure, jess KNOWS how to keep readers HOOKED! the amount of detail in this book helps to perfectly envision not only sunset cove but the charters too. and the inner monologue🤭 it perfectly shows how unique their personalities are! the spice in this not only was it great, but it was the perfect amount where it wasn’t overwhelming.
jess did an excellent job portraying dani and noah’s mental health struggles. not only did this show how they faced and got through them, but it helps remind readers that they can get through it and that they aren’t alone. with that, please check trigger warnings (included in beginning) before reading.
dani is literally one of the most resilient fmcs. the way she put aside her own pain and grief just to help noah out🥺 i feel like anyone can connect with dani because of her relatability.
the only way to describe noah kaplan is a cinnamon roll with a dirty mouth. he had me constantly giggling from his quick comebacks. i loved how you get to see his growth to the point where he acknowledges his feelings for dani.
i am a noah and dani STAN! they were literally meant for one another. and it wouldn’t have been possible without dani’s mom😉
thank you jess from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to beta and arc read her debut novel. words can’t describe how proud i am of jess for pouring her heart into this book. i can’t wait to see what the future has to offer you and i will be here supporting you every single step of the way🩵
did i read this twice already? yes. will i read it again? ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! one thing is for sure, jess KNOWS how to keep readers HOOKED! the amount of detail in this book helps to perfectly envision not only sunset cove but the charters too. and the inner monologue🤭 it perfectly shows how unique their personalities are! the spice in this not only was it great, but it was the perfect amount where it wasn’t overwhelming.
jess did an excellent job portraying dani and noah’s mental health struggles. not only did this show how they faced and got through them, but it helps remind readers that they can get through it and that they aren’t alone. with that, please check trigger warnings (included in beginning) before reading.
dani is literally one of the most resilient fmcs. the way she put aside her own pain and grief just to help noah out🥺 i feel like anyone can connect with dani because of her relatability.
the only way to describe noah kaplan is a cinnamon roll with a dirty mouth. he had me constantly giggling from his quick comebacks. i loved how you get to see his growth to the point where he acknowledges his feelings for dani.
i am a noah and dani STAN! they were literally meant for one another. and it wouldn’t have been possible without dani’s mom😉
thank you jess from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to beta and arc read her debut novel. words can’t describe how proud i am of jess for pouring her heart into this book. i can’t wait to see what the future has to offer you and i will be here supporting you every single step of the way🩵
March 18, 2025
Thank you so much, Jessi, for an eARC!!!
Wowow, where to even start? Dani and Noah are both likeable and relatable characters. Their experiences and journeys through grief and anxiety were real, raw, and relatable. Tragedies really do bring people together, and as sad as it is that’s a big reality many people face. As much as I love reading as an escape, it was nice to read about similar situations and things that I have struggled through and deal with. It always fascinates me seeing the different ways people navigate feelings and circumstances, and this was no different.
Dani and Noah are both easy to read and get to know and it was fun seeing through their perspective. I found myself relating to them both a lot more than I anticipated, which made the book fly by even faster!
Wowow, where to even start? Dani and Noah are both likeable and relatable characters. Their experiences and journeys through grief and anxiety were real, raw, and relatable. Tragedies really do bring people together, and as sad as it is that’s a big reality many people face. As much as I love reading as an escape, it was nice to read about similar situations and things that I have struggled through and deal with. It always fascinates me seeing the different ways people navigate feelings and circumstances, and this was no different.
Dani and Noah are both easy to read and get to know and it was fun seeing through their perspective. I found myself relating to them both a lot more than I anticipated, which made the book fly by even faster!
May 18, 2024
After All This Time ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of After All This Time by Jessica Sydney. All opinions are my own and given freely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: explicit language, on-page sexual content, anxiety (on-page), panic attacks (on-page), death of a parent (past, off-page and on-page), depictions of grief, blood
“you’re my moonlight. the moon is just a mere shadow of the sun and for years, i thought i hated you for always being around. but even then, you were always there in the back of my mind. so goddamn persistent, too.”
this was such a fun and quick read for me. i can’t recommend this book enough!! i immediately fell in love with noah and dani’s story. and jessica did such a beautiful job of depicting a realistic experience of dealing with grief and mental health issues in both of our main characters.
noah and dani are childhood rivals who are brought together through their shared experiences of loss and grief. and i just wanted to give both of them the biggest hug and forehead kiss ever. the connection these two have throughout this story had me constantly rooting for them even when my heart was breaking. and the love they have for each other is so special.
for a debut novel, jessica did such an amazing job. everything from the main characters to the side characters to the mental health representation and everything else in between was so beautifully written! i’m so excited to see what she does next and cannot wait for the next book in this series!! once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to read after all this time early! 🩵
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of After All This Time by Jessica Sydney. All opinions are my own and given freely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: explicit language, on-page sexual content, anxiety (on-page), panic attacks (on-page), death of a parent (past, off-page and on-page), depictions of grief, blood
“you’re my moonlight. the moon is just a mere shadow of the sun and for years, i thought i hated you for always being around. but even then, you were always there in the back of my mind. so goddamn persistent, too.”
this was such a fun and quick read for me. i can’t recommend this book enough!! i immediately fell in love with noah and dani’s story. and jessica did such a beautiful job of depicting a realistic experience of dealing with grief and mental health issues in both of our main characters.
noah and dani are childhood rivals who are brought together through their shared experiences of loss and grief. and i just wanted to give both of them the biggest hug and forehead kiss ever. the connection these two have throughout this story had me constantly rooting for them even when my heart was breaking. and the love they have for each other is so special.
for a debut novel, jessica did such an amazing job. everything from the main characters to the side characters to the mental health representation and everything else in between was so beautifully written! i’m so excited to see what she does next and cannot wait for the next book in this series!! once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to read after all this time early! 🩵
May 18, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🥵🥵
Sometimes you read a book which is more than a romance novel, you see characters who are imperfect and broken like you but the way they find their other half gives you relief and hope. This book is one such book.
I want to thank @authorjessicasydney for giving me this review copy.
This book revolves around Noah & Dani who have been academic rivals from their early childhood but what doesn’t help their case is the fact that their families are close knit.
One mishappening in Noah’s family brings Dani back and in front of Noah after five years. Now they have to not only face each other but also live together because Dani’s mom wants so.
What’s the best way to describe then is that there was this invisible string that tied them together. How they both were there for each other gave me a sense of relief.
The banter but also poetic confessions made this book a perfect blend and an amazing debut.
Tropes you can find in this book:
✨childhood rivals to lovers
✨romance author x mystery/thriller author
✨forced proximity
✨found family
✨no third act breakup
✨coastal town
✨he falls first and hard- HE IS OBSESSED
✨banter
✨mental health rep
Spice 🥵🥵
Sometimes you read a book which is more than a romance novel, you see characters who are imperfect and broken like you but the way they find their other half gives you relief and hope. This book is one such book.
I want to thank @authorjessicasydney for giving me this review copy.
This book revolves around Noah & Dani who have been academic rivals from their early childhood but what doesn’t help their case is the fact that their families are close knit.
One mishappening in Noah’s family brings Dani back and in front of Noah after five years. Now they have to not only face each other but also live together because Dani’s mom wants so.
What’s the best way to describe then is that there was this invisible string that tied them together. How they both were there for each other gave me a sense of relief.
The banter but also poetic confessions made this book a perfect blend and an amazing debut.
Tropes you can find in this book:
✨childhood rivals to lovers
✨romance author x mystery/thriller author
✨forced proximity
✨found family
✨no third act breakup
✨coastal town
✨he falls first and hard- HE IS OBSESSED
✨banter
✨mental health rep
November 23, 2025
3.75/5⭐️
i genuinely do love this book! i think Jessica did so well capturing the grief of loosing someone so important and close. and she’s the absolute best at writing banter/flirty banter!!! Dani and Noah’s dynamic is so fun to read.
i only rated this book a 3.75 because of spice, im not a spicy girl lol so i always knock a star off if the book has spice. and only because i got a little turned around while reading. like one moment dani would be driving but then noah would say he’s driving and so it would get a little confusing.
i see so much potential in this book and author! i’m excited how well Jessica does with her 2nd book! proud of you girlie! it’s just gets better from here, promise 🫶🏼
i genuinely do love this book! i think Jessica did so well capturing the grief of loosing someone so important and close. and she’s the absolute best at writing banter/flirty banter!!! Dani and Noah’s dynamic is so fun to read.
i only rated this book a 3.75 because of spice, im not a spicy girl lol so i always knock a star off if the book has spice. and only because i got a little turned around while reading. like one moment dani would be driving but then noah would say he’s driving and so it would get a little confusing.
i see so much potential in this book and author! i’m excited how well Jessica does with her 2nd book! proud of you girlie! it’s just gets better from here, promise 🫶🏼
May 17, 2024
After All This Time takes you through a journey of finding love with the person you least expected, when you least expected. With the perfect mix of emotion, banter, and tension Dani & Noah's story will have you crying, laughing, and swooning until the very end.
May 31, 2024
2.5 idk why their interactions were just felt so awkward and childish
May 20, 2024
Love does not cure everything, guys. It was a cute idea for a book and I enjoyed it but his father died and this man was busier thinking about her and how she has such a beautiful ass and breasts and how he was in love with her this whole time. No. A parent loss is not an easy thing to handle and specially if that parent is such a wonderful person. If you are not going to take the topic seriously you better not write it.
July 5, 2024
This book has so much potential, but honestly it needed a major edit before being published. It is 400+ pages and honestly about a third of it could have been cut. I didn’t need multiple chapters on how hard it is to be an author and the work that goes into publishing, especially because that isn’t really what this book is about. There is way too much going on and not enough care given to the themes that really matter. There are some cute moments between the MCs, but it wasn’t enough for me to change my opinion of the overall story.
Though I feel like the anxiety the characters deal with is accurately portrayed, the themes of grief are not handled in a mature way. I hate saying it this way, and this isn’t an attack on the author, but can’t think of a better description - this feels like a middle school creative writing piece. The writing in general comes across very immature and underdeveloped, as do the main characters. I mean, in one moment they are at each other’s throats and the next moment they are flirting right after a fatal accident?? In the hospital??
Their brand of “enemies to lovers” consists of childish insults, elbowing each other, and telling each other to shut up. Rinse and repeat.
✔️childhood rivals/enemies to lovers
✔️no 3rd act breakup
✔️anxiety rep
✔️grief
✔️best friends brother
✔️he falls first/harder
Though I feel like the anxiety the characters deal with is accurately portrayed, the themes of grief are not handled in a mature way. I hate saying it this way, and this isn’t an attack on the author, but can’t think of a better description - this feels like a middle school creative writing piece. The writing in general comes across very immature and underdeveloped, as do the main characters. I mean, in one moment they are at each other’s throats and the next moment they are flirting right after a fatal accident?? In the hospital??
Their brand of “enemies to lovers” consists of childish insults, elbowing each other, and telling each other to shut up. Rinse and repeat.
✔️childhood rivals/enemies to lovers
✔️no 3rd act breakup
✔️anxiety rep
✔️grief
✔️best friends brother
✔️he falls first/harder
did-not-finish
August 7, 2024Another DNF. At 39%
The writing feels juvenile and overall not good. The idea for the story is cute but the execution isn’t there. If the mc-s were actual enemies, I would have liked to feel the tension etc but they instantly started to like each other and didn’t go back to the hospital for however long.
Also, the descriptions of people felt really out of place. Why would I need to know what the friend was wearing while you were rushing to the hospital? Or why should I know the colour of the doctor’s eyes while she’s telling that the dad has died? You know?
I just can’t do it. Maybe it would’ve been great when I first started reading again but not now.
The writing feels juvenile and overall not good. The idea for the story is cute but the execution isn’t there. If the mc-s were actual enemies, I would have liked to feel the tension etc but they instantly started to like each other and didn’t go back to the hospital for however long.
Also, the descriptions of people felt really out of place. Why would I need to know what the friend was wearing while you were rushing to the hospital? Or why should I know the colour of the doctor’s eyes while she’s telling that the dad has died? You know?
I just can’t do it. Maybe it would’ve been great when I first started reading again but not now.
February 27, 2024
review coming up soon <33
May 30, 2024
I'd rate this book at a 1.5 stars. I almost DNFed within the first 10%, but I had been anticipating this release for some time and wanted to give it a fair shot.
What to expect:
🌊 Childhood rivals-to-lovers
🌊 Forced proximity
🌊 Romance author x mystery/thriller author
🌊 Coastal small town Florida
🌊 Anxiety/mental health rep
Here is my non-exhaustive review:
Dani and Noah are our main characters. Their parents have been friends for years and the two of them grew up together; however, they were always at each other's throats, bickering, and competing with one another when it came to school, etc. When Noah's dad and older sister get in a car accident, Dani and he mother rally to help support Noah and his mother. This brings our FMC and MMC together for the first time in years.
My feelings about this book are so mixed. I loved the idea of these two coming together, finding love amidst tragedy, etc. Dani's father had passed away in high school, so I could see that things were being set up for her to help Noah through What immediately made me extremely uncomfortable was the bickering, fighting, and venomous insults being tossed around between Dani and Noah in the hospital. Not just in the hospital in front of their mothers--as in Noah's mom who was --but in the hospital room where his sister was staying. His sister is laying in a coma and they were arguing, he was ogling her, etc.
In the midst of these two characters are admiring one another physically, at times flirting, and then calling each other names. It was all wildly inappropriate and unbelievable. Yes, everyone processes grief differently, but one moment Noah was having filthy thoughts about Dani and the next he was breaking down crying. That balance seemed off between heartfelt moments of connection and steamy, lustful moments. These characters were incredibly immature, to the point I felt as though they were far younger than they were.
The rationale for the forced proximity was confusing. Dani's mom asks Noah to stay at their house with Dani to essentially look after her because seeing Noah What about how Noah is feeling? Why is he being additionally burdened to look after Dani during all of this? And then the two of them just concede. Very confusing.
I also thought that the two of them being writers was going to tie into their rivalry a bit more and it didn't at all. Them both being aspiring writers did bring them closer at times and their writing connected to their fathers, but other than that it seemed like something for them to be doing when they weren't at the hospital or lusting after one another. A lot of scenes felt like nothing more than filler and didn't offer much in furthering the story/plot.
Repetition in internal narrative was something I noticed a lot of as well. And the similes and metaphors did not make any sense. It made it very hard to understand what was trying to be conveyed coupled with the emotional whiplash of the character's themselves.
The anxiety representation was nice to see. I liked seeing how Dani helped Noah in this way. Those were the few moments where I felt they genuinely connected with one another. Dani and Noah's Jewish identities were also fantastic to see represented. Reading about them cooking traditional Jewish recipes was great.
All in all, I feel the story had great promise. The premise itself is interesting, I just feel like the execution was poorly done. This was the author's debut and I felt bad that I didn't have many good things to say. Hopefully, they will continue to work on their craft because as I said the story itself and the setting they've created do have promise. This is the first book of a series and I'm unsure if I will continue to read.
What to expect:
🌊 Childhood rivals-to-lovers
🌊 Forced proximity
🌊 Romance author x mystery/thriller author
🌊 Coastal small town Florida
🌊 Anxiety/mental health rep
Here is my non-exhaustive review:
Dani and Noah are our main characters. Their parents have been friends for years and the two of them grew up together; however, they were always at each other's throats, bickering, and competing with one another when it came to school, etc. When Noah's dad and older sister get in a car accident, Dani and he mother rally to help support Noah and his mother. This brings our FMC and MMC together for the first time in years.
My feelings about this book are so mixed. I loved the idea of these two coming together, finding love amidst tragedy, etc. Dani's father had passed away in high school, so I could see that things were being set up for her to help Noah through What immediately made me extremely uncomfortable was the bickering, fighting, and venomous insults being tossed around between Dani and Noah in the hospital. Not just in the hospital in front of their mothers--as in Noah's mom who was --but in the hospital room where his sister was staying. His sister is laying in a coma and they were arguing, he was ogling her, etc.
In the midst of these two characters are admiring one another physically, at times flirting, and then calling each other names. It was all wildly inappropriate and unbelievable. Yes, everyone processes grief differently, but one moment Noah was having filthy thoughts about Dani and the next he was breaking down crying. That balance seemed off between heartfelt moments of connection and steamy, lustful moments. These characters were incredibly immature, to the point I felt as though they were far younger than they were.
The rationale for the forced proximity was confusing. Dani's mom asks Noah to stay at their house with Dani to essentially look after her because seeing Noah What about how Noah is feeling? Why is he being additionally burdened to look after Dani during all of this? And then the two of them just concede. Very confusing.
I also thought that the two of them being writers was going to tie into their rivalry a bit more and it didn't at all. Them both being aspiring writers did bring them closer at times and their writing connected to their fathers, but other than that it seemed like something for them to be doing when they weren't at the hospital or lusting after one another. A lot of scenes felt like nothing more than filler and didn't offer much in furthering the story/plot.
Repetition in internal narrative was something I noticed a lot of as well. And the similes and metaphors did not make any sense. It made it very hard to understand what was trying to be conveyed coupled with the emotional whiplash of the character's themselves.
The anxiety representation was nice to see. I liked seeing how Dani helped Noah in this way. Those were the few moments where I felt they genuinely connected with one another. Dani and Noah's Jewish identities were also fantastic to see represented. Reading about them cooking traditional Jewish recipes was great.
All in all, I feel the story had great promise. The premise itself is interesting, I just feel like the execution was poorly done. This was the author's debut and I felt bad that I didn't have many good things to say. Hopefully, they will continue to work on their craft because as I said the story itself and the setting they've created do have promise. This is the first book of a series and I'm unsure if I will continue to read.
May 9, 2024
Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
"Noah Kaplan is a man written by a woman. That explains so much."
I was incredibly honoured to be one of the first few readers of the long-anticipated novel, 'After All This Time,' and let's say, the read was well worth the wait. The author, Jessica Sydney and I became friends on 'bookstagram' a little over a year ago, and what an incredible joy it has been to watch her on her author journey & tell the wonderful story of Noah & Dani.
Right from the get-go, I knew I would deeply indulge in this novel. Why? Three reasons. Quick-witted banter, page-turning dialogue and imagery that keeps you HOOKED. Jessi did an absolutely incredible job hashing out the details of 'Sunset Cove.' Wholeheartedly, you feel as though you're being immersed into another world, living vicariously through the characters. The attention to imagery shows the reader that the author has carefully considered every minor detail this book offers. *Sigh* Oh, how I wish Sunset Cove were a real place. If it were, I would consider it my next travel destination!
"Don't be afraid to let him in, even the parts you don't want him to see."
The shorter-style chapters of AATT allow you to have many intimate moments with the FMC Dani & MMC Noah. I enjoyed this significantly, given that it allowed the reader to see what goes on behind closed doors with the characters and helped build up their individual, unique, and complimentary personalities. Speaking of which...let's break down who Dani & Noah are, shall we?
If you're a fan of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' or 'The Kissing Booth,' Noah Kaplan is THE MAN for you. He was the epitome of Conrad Fisher x Noah Flynn with his quick remarks, alluring charm and dirty mouth. If that's your type, Noah Kaplan is your dream book boyfriend. PS: I think I'm totally convinced that guys in glasses have never been hotter...
And let's not forget about the one-of-a-kind Dani Solomon, a vivacious, sarcastic & RESILENT FMC to showcase. I adored her charisma, inner-most thoughts & overall relatability, one you don't always find in characters. Dani was the perfect contrast to Noah. The two of them just made sense, and now, I'm a Nani/Doah stan for life; mark my words (yes, I made up couple names).
Now, let's talk spice...this book HAS IT & not just in one chapter or two or three...there are 4-5ish chapters of spice that hit at just the perfect moment after an aching (yet amazingly) long, slow burn. The first kiss is the definition of a "f**k it" moment; therefore, if that's your favourite micro-trope, you're going to EAT THIS UP!
A final KEY note I want to pull out from this story is the re-occurring theme of mental health, a subject matter that I have rarely encountered in my reading journey yet is SO significant in many of our day-to-day lives. Jessi does an incredible job showcasing some of Dani and Noah's struggles while gently reminding the reader that you are not alone. You can do this & you WILL get through whatever stands in your way. More authors (myself included) should strive for such a strong representation of the modern-day challenges we face, which often is the battle against our minds. Please note that the book does contain several trigger warnings, on-page panic attacks being one of them. Always be mindful of the TW before you read.
All in all, I am so deeply appreciative of Jessica (Jessi) for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of the release date. This book will jerk some tears, force you to laugh, compel you to smile, but most of all, remind you just how important it is to love ♡
"We don't find love, it finds us."
°❀⋆After All This Time is out on May 17⋆ ❀°
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
"Noah Kaplan is a man written by a woman. That explains so much."
I was incredibly honoured to be one of the first few readers of the long-anticipated novel, 'After All This Time,' and let's say, the read was well worth the wait. The author, Jessica Sydney and I became friends on 'bookstagram' a little over a year ago, and what an incredible joy it has been to watch her on her author journey & tell the wonderful story of Noah & Dani.
Right from the get-go, I knew I would deeply indulge in this novel. Why? Three reasons. Quick-witted banter, page-turning dialogue and imagery that keeps you HOOKED. Jessi did an absolutely incredible job hashing out the details of 'Sunset Cove.' Wholeheartedly, you feel as though you're being immersed into another world, living vicariously through the characters. The attention to imagery shows the reader that the author has carefully considered every minor detail this book offers. *Sigh* Oh, how I wish Sunset Cove were a real place. If it were, I would consider it my next travel destination!
"Don't be afraid to let him in, even the parts you don't want him to see."
The shorter-style chapters of AATT allow you to have many intimate moments with the FMC Dani & MMC Noah. I enjoyed this significantly, given that it allowed the reader to see what goes on behind closed doors with the characters and helped build up their individual, unique, and complimentary personalities. Speaking of which...let's break down who Dani & Noah are, shall we?
If you're a fan of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' or 'The Kissing Booth,' Noah Kaplan is THE MAN for you. He was the epitome of Conrad Fisher x Noah Flynn with his quick remarks, alluring charm and dirty mouth. If that's your type, Noah Kaplan is your dream book boyfriend. PS: I think I'm totally convinced that guys in glasses have never been hotter...
And let's not forget about the one-of-a-kind Dani Solomon, a vivacious, sarcastic & RESILENT FMC to showcase. I adored her charisma, inner-most thoughts & overall relatability, one you don't always find in characters. Dani was the perfect contrast to Noah. The two of them just made sense, and now, I'm a Nani/Doah stan for life; mark my words (yes, I made up couple names).
Now, let's talk spice...this book HAS IT & not just in one chapter or two or three...there are 4-5ish chapters of spice that hit at just the perfect moment after an aching (yet amazingly) long, slow burn. The first kiss is the definition of a "f**k it" moment; therefore, if that's your favourite micro-trope, you're going to EAT THIS UP!
A final KEY note I want to pull out from this story is the re-occurring theme of mental health, a subject matter that I have rarely encountered in my reading journey yet is SO significant in many of our day-to-day lives. Jessi does an incredible job showcasing some of Dani and Noah's struggles while gently reminding the reader that you are not alone. You can do this & you WILL get through whatever stands in your way. More authors (myself included) should strive for such a strong representation of the modern-day challenges we face, which often is the battle against our minds. Please note that the book does contain several trigger warnings, on-page panic attacks being one of them. Always be mindful of the TW before you read.
All in all, I am so deeply appreciative of Jessica (Jessi) for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of the release date. This book will jerk some tears, force you to laugh, compel you to smile, but most of all, remind you just how important it is to love ♡
"We don't find love, it finds us."
°❀⋆After All This Time is out on May 17⋆ ❀°
May 14, 2024
“I need you in my life, Noah. I need my moonlight.”
Tropes:
🩵 Coastal Small Town Romance
🐚 Childhood Rivals to Lovers
🩵 Boy Obsessed
🐚 Forced Proximity
🩵 He falls first and harder
🐚 Mental Health Rep
🩵 Found Family
🐚 Nicknames
🩵 Forehead Kisses
🐚 Romance Author x Mystery/Thriller Author
🩵🐚 ARC Review 🐚🩵
Oh my god, this is such an incredible and sweet debut - I'm so proud of you Jessica!!! This book was absolutely beautiful! I loved the deep love and connection between the characters— familial, friendly, and romantic. The love between Noah and Dani is so special and lovely 🥹
Both Noah and Dani will always hold a piece of my heart. The amount of love I have for these two is infinite. The connection these two have throughout the entire story had me constantly rooting for them even when my heart was breaking.
I want to hug Dani and Noah forever and never let them go. They are absolutely the most precious people ever! Both of them are battling so much loss and pain while also battling their own minds. The mental health rep of this book is done so realistically and respectfully, I love it and felt so seen in so many aspects of it.
I also loved how Noah helped Dani with her writing process. How he went to the bookstore with her - especially his mom's romance bookstore. Also, how he read Dani's fave romance books to feel connected to her and how Dani had books that reminded her of Noah on her bookshelf was so adorable 😭💗
Dani is just like us - she loves romance novels and has a crush on Noah.
Throughout the book, I was rooting for them both. Especially when they were both staying at Dani's parents' house, they soon realized that they have feelings for each other for a long time and are absolutely in love with each other.
Noah's friendship with Grayson and Xander is so wholesome! I loved how both Xander and Grayson were always there for Noah and trying to help him through his hard times! I adore Grayson so much and Xander is just such a sweet guy! Also, Dani's friendship with Bella and Sage is absolutely adorable 🥹 These girls love her so much and want to make sure she's okay! What I adored is how both Dani's and Noah's friends try to convince them that they've had these feelings for each other since they were kids, but of course, they both refuse to believe it 🤭
I'm so proud of you Jessica 🥹 The whole book I was smiling and falling in love with Noah and Dani. I love your writing style so much - it made me feel like I've known the characters and was a part of their friendship group. I'm so excited about whose book is next🤭💗
When can we move to Sunset Crove? 🤭
Thank you so much Jessica for the ARC 🐚🩵
Tropes:
🩵 Coastal Small Town Romance
🐚 Childhood Rivals to Lovers
🩵 Boy Obsessed
🐚 Forced Proximity
🩵 He falls first and harder
🐚 Mental Health Rep
🩵 Found Family
🐚 Nicknames
🩵 Forehead Kisses
🐚 Romance Author x Mystery/Thriller Author
🩵🐚 ARC Review 🐚🩵
Oh my god, this is such an incredible and sweet debut - I'm so proud of you Jessica!!! This book was absolutely beautiful! I loved the deep love and connection between the characters— familial, friendly, and romantic. The love between Noah and Dani is so special and lovely 🥹
Both Noah and Dani will always hold a piece of my heart. The amount of love I have for these two is infinite. The connection these two have throughout the entire story had me constantly rooting for them even when my heart was breaking.
I want to hug Dani and Noah forever and never let them go. They are absolutely the most precious people ever! Both of them are battling so much loss and pain while also battling their own minds. The mental health rep of this book is done so realistically and respectfully, I love it and felt so seen in so many aspects of it.
I also loved how Noah helped Dani with her writing process. How he went to the bookstore with her - especially his mom's romance bookstore. Also, how he read Dani's fave romance books to feel connected to her and how Dani had books that reminded her of Noah on her bookshelf was so adorable 😭💗
Dani is just like us - she loves romance novels and has a crush on Noah.
Throughout the book, I was rooting for them both. Especially when they were both staying at Dani's parents' house, they soon realized that they have feelings for each other for a long time and are absolutely in love with each other.
Noah's friendship with Grayson and Xander is so wholesome! I loved how both Xander and Grayson were always there for Noah and trying to help him through his hard times! I adore Grayson so much and Xander is just such a sweet guy! Also, Dani's friendship with Bella and Sage is absolutely adorable 🥹 These girls love her so much and want to make sure she's okay! What I adored is how both Dani's and Noah's friends try to convince them that they've had these feelings for each other since they were kids, but of course, they both refuse to believe it 🤭
I'm so proud of you Jessica 🥹 The whole book I was smiling and falling in love with Noah and Dani. I love your writing style so much - it made me feel like I've known the characters and was a part of their friendship group. I'm so excited about whose book is next🤭💗
When can we move to Sunset Crove? 🤭
Thank you so much Jessica for the ARC 🐚🩵
May 29, 2024
𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 by Jessica Sydney | Short Review (including spoilers)
#1 in Sunset Cove Series - ★★★ stars
I haven't read a book since last year and I'm very ashamed. So, I'm gonna start binging and decided to start with some indie books that I've been looking at for a couple months! I read a significant amount of indie books last year so I wanted to start that again!
We didn't start the year with a five-star, but hey, it's me, are we really surprised? (I'm not)
After All This Time has been a book I've been REALLY excited for. I haven't read too many romances where one of the characters is a writer, so having both was incredibly cool! I also do think the author is really good at painting a scene, I want to go to Sunset Cove so badly. Additionally, the representation in this book when it comes to anxiety is top tier and something that I think really really needs to be displayed more in romance. I think Sydney put a lot of care into demonstrating how difficult severe anxiety can be, just a lot of care and love into the book in general.
But unfortunately, that's all I liked about the book.
This might not be the author's fault but I've just been having a hard time connecting with characters lately, and Dani and Noah were no different. I sympathized, sure, but they were quite bland to me and had no real unique personalities. Additionally, they were incredibly inappropriate, especcciiialllllyyyyy at the beginning of the book. . Perhaps the book should have been longer to give the author the time to explore the themes she tried to convey. It felt like a Rom-Com was having a war with the Contemporary is the best way I could explain it.
Regardless of this, I still think it's a decent debut <3
Thank you for attending the ted talk and see you next time!
#1 in Sunset Cove Series - ★★★ stars
I haven't read a book since last year and I'm very ashamed. So, I'm gonna start binging and decided to start with some indie books that I've been looking at for a couple months! I read a significant amount of indie books last year so I wanted to start that again!
We didn't start the year with a five-star, but hey, it's me, are we really surprised? (I'm not)
After All This Time has been a book I've been REALLY excited for. I haven't read too many romances where one of the characters is a writer, so having both was incredibly cool! I also do think the author is really good at painting a scene, I want to go to Sunset Cove so badly. Additionally, the representation in this book when it comes to anxiety is top tier and something that I think really really needs to be displayed more in romance. I think Sydney put a lot of care into demonstrating how difficult severe anxiety can be, just a lot of care and love into the book in general.
But unfortunately, that's all I liked about the book.
This might not be the author's fault but I've just been having a hard time connecting with characters lately, and Dani and Noah were no different. I sympathized, sure, but they were quite bland to me and had no real unique personalities. Additionally, they were incredibly inappropriate, especcciiialllllyyyyy at the beginning of the book. . Perhaps the book should have been longer to give the author the time to explore the themes she tried to convey. It felt like a Rom-Com was having a war with the Contemporary is the best way I could explain it.
Regardless of this, I still think it's a decent debut <3
Thank you for attending the ted talk and see you next time!
May 17, 2024
Jessica really out did herself with this book!
This book especially has a huge place in my heart because I know the author personally and it was so heartwarming and special to see parts of herself in this book.
Dani is such a feisty and caring fmc. I loved reading about her and how even though she has a hard exterior she is actually quite sweet and caring. I loved how Dani helped Noah even though they were rivals. It just shows how good of a heart Dani really has. I also loved seeing her feisty side and how she bickered with Noah. They really had the best banter!
I’m claiming Noah as my new book boyfriend cause oh my gosh I loved him. He was so funny and charming I loved it. I loved reading about all his thoughts on Dani. Some were super hilarious and some were super romantic.
These two characters couldn’t be more perfect for each other. I loved seeing how the helped and supported each other even through they had difficulties with each other in the past. It really shows how much they grew as people. They also had the best banter. The best I’ve ever read if I’m being honest. 🤭
This book also had such great mental health representation. Jessi you definitely outdid yourself with writing anxiety and panic attacks in such a realistic way. This book is also just a beautiful reminder that we shouldn’t let our anxiety come in the way of having a great life.
Also just one last thing the fact that I know the author did not have an impact on my overall opinion of this book. This is my honest opinion on this book and I can with all honesty say that I loved every second of it!
Thank you Jessi for writing such a beautiful book and for providing me a gifted copy. I cannot wait to see what comes next for you! 🫶
This book especially has a huge place in my heart because I know the author personally and it was so heartwarming and special to see parts of herself in this book.
Dani is such a feisty and caring fmc. I loved reading about her and how even though she has a hard exterior she is actually quite sweet and caring. I loved how Dani helped Noah even though they were rivals. It just shows how good of a heart Dani really has. I also loved seeing her feisty side and how she bickered with Noah. They really had the best banter!
I’m claiming Noah as my new book boyfriend cause oh my gosh I loved him. He was so funny and charming I loved it. I loved reading about all his thoughts on Dani. Some were super hilarious and some were super romantic.
These two characters couldn’t be more perfect for each other. I loved seeing how the helped and supported each other even through they had difficulties with each other in the past. It really shows how much they grew as people. They also had the best banter. The best I’ve ever read if I’m being honest. 🤭
This book also had such great mental health representation. Jessi you definitely outdid yourself with writing anxiety and panic attacks in such a realistic way. This book is also just a beautiful reminder that we shouldn’t let our anxiety come in the way of having a great life.
Also just one last thing the fact that I know the author did not have an impact on my overall opinion of this book. This is my honest opinion on this book and I can with all honesty say that I loved every second of it!
Thank you Jessi for writing such a beautiful book and for providing me a gifted copy. I cannot wait to see what comes next for you! 🫶
May 16, 2024
ARC Review 📚
Rating 5/5 ⭐️
Spice 1.5/5 🌶️
Pages 406📄
Pub date 5/17/24
Tropes 🤍
- Childhood rivals to lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Mental Health representation
- Small town
- He falls first
- Nicknames
- No third act break up
If I didn’t know and you told me this book is a DEBUT 🤭 I would fully not believe you
This book was so beautifully written I felt every emotion that was on the page x10 😭
I feel so connected to this book (I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 12 and I sadly lost my dad at 15) and I can definitely see myself coming back to this book time and time again 🤍
The way mental health is represented in the book is so delicate but raw at the same time 🥹 I truly felt represented
The journey the main characters take from dislike to friends to lovers is so precious 🥹
The love they develop for each other is so pure and sweet 🫶🏻
The characters experience a lot of pain but throughout the book they learn to lean on each other and they both grow through it 🤍
The writing in this book was amazing, the pacing was terrific, and I’m just so in love!!!
You don’t want to miss this release! Order here > https://a.co/d/5qbHh3b 🤍(paperbacks are available now!)
The last couple things I’ll mention are they both have nicknames for each other, I had so much fun getting to know the side characters and can’t wait for the next book, and thank you so much to Jessica for letting me be apart of your Arc team 😍🤍 I can’t wait to see what else you are capable of 🫶🏻
Rating 5/5 ⭐️
Spice 1.5/5 🌶️
Pages 406📄
Pub date 5/17/24
Tropes 🤍
- Childhood rivals to lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Mental Health representation
- Small town
- He falls first
- Nicknames
- No third act break up
If I didn’t know and you told me this book is a DEBUT 🤭 I would fully not believe you
This book was so beautifully written I felt every emotion that was on the page x10 😭
I feel so connected to this book (I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 12 and I sadly lost my dad at 15) and I can definitely see myself coming back to this book time and time again 🤍
The way mental health is represented in the book is so delicate but raw at the same time 🥹 I truly felt represented
The journey the main characters take from dislike to friends to lovers is so precious 🥹
The love they develop for each other is so pure and sweet 🫶🏻
The characters experience a lot of pain but throughout the book they learn to lean on each other and they both grow through it 🤍
The writing in this book was amazing, the pacing was terrific, and I’m just so in love!!!
You don’t want to miss this release! Order here > https://a.co/d/5qbHh3b 🤍(paperbacks are available now!)
The last couple things I’ll mention are they both have nicknames for each other, I had so much fun getting to know the side characters and can’t wait for the next book, and thank you so much to Jessica for letting me be apart of your Arc team 😍🤍 I can’t wait to see what else you are capable of 🫶🏻
May 21, 2024
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ - ᴊᴇꜱꜱɪᴄᴀ ꜱʏᴅɴᴇʏ 🐚
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: 🌶️½
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
☀️ coastal small town romance
🫶🏻 childhood rivals to lovers
✍🏼 romance & mystery/thriller author
🥵 forced proximity
🧠mental health representation
🚪 open door spice
🔥 slow burn
🩵 he falls first
𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲:
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒎, 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕���.”
𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
after all this time is a debut novel about childhood rivals dani & noah that run into each other 5 years later and fall in love.
i absolutely loved this book & thought that jessica did such a great job of really allowing you to connect with the characters. i felt like i was right there with them and experiencing what they were going through.
dani & noah had great chemistry and it was hot! even though it was open door spice there was so much tension & banter between them. noah is such a cinnamon roll & i loved how he would read romance books just to feel close to dani when they weren’t talking. i loved all the booktok references such as flawless, icebreaker and beach read.
dani is strong & resilient! she cares deeply about her family and the ones she loves, especially the way that she cared for noah & was there for him. i thought all the pet names they had for each other were so cute and that he calls her sunshine & she calls him moonlight and the EPILOGUE!!!
overall - i would definitely recommend reading after all this time! it is the perfect summer beach read and i can’t wait for what’s next!
thank you jessica sydney for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own. 🫶🏻
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: 🌶️½
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
☀️ coastal small town romance
🫶🏻 childhood rivals to lovers
✍🏼 romance & mystery/thriller author
🥵 forced proximity
🧠mental health representation
🚪 open door spice
🔥 slow burn
🩵 he falls first
𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲:
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒎, 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕���.”
𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
after all this time is a debut novel about childhood rivals dani & noah that run into each other 5 years later and fall in love.
i absolutely loved this book & thought that jessica did such a great job of really allowing you to connect with the characters. i felt like i was right there with them and experiencing what they were going through.
dani & noah had great chemistry and it was hot! even though it was open door spice there was so much tension & banter between them. noah is such a cinnamon roll & i loved how he would read romance books just to feel close to dani when they weren’t talking. i loved all the booktok references such as flawless, icebreaker and beach read.
dani is strong & resilient! she cares deeply about her family and the ones she loves, especially the way that she cared for noah & was there for him. i thought all the pet names they had for each other were so cute and that he calls her sunshine & she calls him moonlight and the EPILOGUE!!!
overall - i would definitely recommend reading after all this time! it is the perfect summer beach read and i can’t wait for what’s next!
thank you jessica sydney for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own. 🫶🏻
March 9, 2025
I was giving it a chance... I ignored the cringy dialog, the scene that made no sense, the characters going to places and then doing nothing and coming back home, and even the inaccurate representation of a hospital and how to deal with someone in a coma... But I draw the line where she makes HIS father's death about her. like, what the fuck?
I understand the author wrote from some personal experience, but as a psychologist, there is a big difference between a diagnosed anxiety disorder and a pathological grief or melancholy, and worst of all, the mcm never seems to grieve the loss of his father, they staple the "anxiety" stamp on it, and the moved on, he never deal with it, and when the book does knowledge this death, it's always in regards of the fmc. Like, HIS FATHER DIE, ITS NOT ABOUT YOU AND HOW YOURE FATHER ALSO DIE.
The book has no actual plot; it's just a recollection of awkward interactions between the MCs, then both of them talking to their friends about said interaction, to then them acknowledging they have feelings for each other, and the loops start once again. There's no build-up to them realizing they like each other, there's no reason for him to agree to move in with Dani, most of the decisions made by every other character make no sense, and there's no high stakes nor plot points, just a bunch of scenes put together.
I made it up to 75% and then had to quit. It irked me the wrong way.
I understand the author wrote from some personal experience, but as a psychologist, there is a big difference between a diagnosed anxiety disorder and a pathological grief or melancholy, and worst of all, the mcm never seems to grieve the loss of his father, they staple the "anxiety" stamp on it, and the moved on, he never deal with it, and when the book does knowledge this death, it's always in regards of the fmc. Like, HIS FATHER DIE, ITS NOT ABOUT YOU AND HOW YOURE FATHER ALSO DIE.
The book has no actual plot; it's just a recollection of awkward interactions between the MCs, then both of them talking to their friends about said interaction, to then them acknowledging they have feelings for each other, and the loops start once again. There's no build-up to them realizing they like each other, there's no reason for him to agree to move in with Dani, most of the decisions made by every other character make no sense, and there's no high stakes nor plot points, just a bunch of scenes put together.
I made it up to 75% and then had to quit. It irked me the wrong way.
May 25, 2024
3.5 / 5 ☁️🌷🌊☀️
Thanks so much to Jessica for the ARC copy, I absolutely loved my time reading.
I knew the minute I saw the cover, I wanted to read this book and Jess’ marketing was absolutely incredible, both her tiktok and instagram content was insane, she has poured so much love into this book and it reflects on the page <33
This book was really good and there were elements I absolutely loved, but I do feel like it missed the mark for me. The writing was incredible for a debut though. I just felt that Dani and Noah’s personalities were very dual-toned and they didn’t have little things that made them ‘them’, and I missed connecting to them in that way. However, as a fellow anxious girlie the portrayal of anxiety was done so well.
Despite missing something, this book was a quick, fast-pasted time filled with all the romance love. Because this book truly felt like a romance book for romance readers, it had everything we know and love and for that I appreciate it so very much. I binged it in a day and it was an enjoyable time.
I do encourage everyone to read this book (to check TW - they are listed in the first few pages of the book, which appreciate so much)!!
Tropes
☁️ best friend’s brother
🌷 hate to love
🌊 forced proximity
☀️ mental health (anxiety + panic attacks) rep
Thanks so much to Jessica for the ARC copy, I absolutely loved my time reading.
I knew the minute I saw the cover, I wanted to read this book and Jess’ marketing was absolutely incredible, both her tiktok and instagram content was insane, she has poured so much love into this book and it reflects on the page <33
This book was really good and there were elements I absolutely loved, but I do feel like it missed the mark for me. The writing was incredible for a debut though. I just felt that Dani and Noah’s personalities were very dual-toned and they didn’t have little things that made them ‘them’, and I missed connecting to them in that way. However, as a fellow anxious girlie the portrayal of anxiety was done so well.
Despite missing something, this book was a quick, fast-pasted time filled with all the romance love. Because this book truly felt like a romance book for romance readers, it had everything we know and love and for that I appreciate it so very much. I binged it in a day and it was an enjoyable time.
I do encourage everyone to read this book (to check TW - they are listed in the first few pages of the book, which appreciate so much)!!
Tropes
☁️ best friend’s brother
🌷 hate to love
🌊 forced proximity
☀️ mental health (anxiety + panic attacks) rep
May 28, 2024
𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐒𝐲𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲
𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟽𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 — 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝙽𝚘𝚠!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌴 childhood rivals
🌊 anxiety representation
🌴 on & off page death of a family member
🌊 FMC & MMC aspiring authors
🌴 slow burn
🌊 open door romance
🌴 dual POV
Dani, an aspiring romance author, who is currently in college, gets called back to her small coastal hometown when a tragic car accident happens that involves a friend of her’s from childhood & her friend’s father. Dani knows all too well with dealing with grief & loss. Dani wants to be there for their family, but the only problem is that Noah is the brother of her childhood friend. Noah is Dani’s childhood rival & she cannot stand to be around him. Dani’s mother is best friends with Noah’s mother & both Dani & Noah want to be there for their mothers. They can barely stand to be in the same room as each other. So when Dani’s mom plans for Noah to stay with Dani as her mom stays at the hospital with her best friend, Dani & Noah try to keep their distance, but it seems like hate is a very similar feeling to love.
I loved the raw & real representation that was depicted in this debut when dealing with anxiety (specifically panic attacks) & how this one also tackled grief & how grief looks different for everyone! I also loved how the forced proximity of having to both stay in Dani’s childhood home brings up both positive & negative memories for them & how the close proximity to each other makes them both realize & accept some deep rooted feelings about one another. This one definitely took me on a roller coaster of emotions!
𝚁𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟽𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 — 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝙽𝚘𝚠!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
🌊 enemies to lovers
🌴 childhood rivals
🌊 anxiety representation
🌴 on & off page death of a family member
🌊 FMC & MMC aspiring authors
🌴 slow burn
🌊 open door romance
🌴 dual POV
Dani, an aspiring romance author, who is currently in college, gets called back to her small coastal hometown when a tragic car accident happens that involves a friend of her’s from childhood & her friend’s father. Dani knows all too well with dealing with grief & loss. Dani wants to be there for their family, but the only problem is that Noah is the brother of her childhood friend. Noah is Dani’s childhood rival & she cannot stand to be around him. Dani’s mother is best friends with Noah’s mother & both Dani & Noah want to be there for their mothers. They can barely stand to be in the same room as each other. So when Dani’s mom plans for Noah to stay with Dani as her mom stays at the hospital with her best friend, Dani & Noah try to keep their distance, but it seems like hate is a very similar feeling to love.
I loved the raw & real representation that was depicted in this debut when dealing with anxiety (specifically panic attacks) & how this one also tackled grief & how grief looks different for everyone! I also loved how the forced proximity of having to both stay in Dani’s childhood home brings up both positive & negative memories for them & how the close proximity to each other makes them both realize & accept some deep rooted feelings about one another. This one definitely took me on a roller coaster of emotions!
August 16, 2024
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Butterfly count: 🦋🦋🦋♾️
Fav statements and quotes:
She doesn’t say anything. Instead, she sits down next to me and holds my hand. She’s looking up at me with those big brown eyes of hers. This is when I realize I don’t hate Dani Solomon.
“When are you finally going to tell Dani you’re in love with her?” Grayson blurts out.
If I’m being honest here, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I’ve always thought that she was beautiful, but I could never tell her that. Not even now.
I want her to know that she’s safe with me. I don’t want to be a source of anxiety for her. I want to be the calm before the storm. I want to be her everything.
I was absolutely enamored by every aspect of "After All This Time" by Jessica Sydney. The slow burn, the witty banter, and the gradual build-up were executed flawlessly, creating a perfect blend that left me utterly satisfied.
The inclusion of the mental health and Jewish representation in the story was both insightful and expertly woven into the narrative. Jessica Sydney's writing was impeccable, effortlessly capturing the essence of these important themes.
Without giving away any spoilers, the fact that both characters were celibate added an extra layer of depth and emotional resonance to their first intimate moment, making it all the more special and heartwarming.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read, but I do advise checking the trigger warnings beforehand. In my opinion, "After All This Time" is an undeniable 5-star read that exceeded all my expectations. I am eagerly anticipating all of the literary treasures Jessica Sydney has in store for us readers. 🩵🥺
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Butterfly count: 🦋🦋🦋♾️
Fav statements and quotes:
She doesn’t say anything. Instead, she sits down next to me and holds my hand. She’s looking up at me with those big brown eyes of hers. This is when I realize I don’t hate Dani Solomon.
“When are you finally going to tell Dani you’re in love with her?” Grayson blurts out.
If I’m being honest here, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I’ve always thought that she was beautiful, but I could never tell her that. Not even now.
I want her to know that she’s safe with me. I don’t want to be a source of anxiety for her. I want to be the calm before the storm. I want to be her everything.
I was absolutely enamored by every aspect of "After All This Time" by Jessica Sydney. The slow burn, the witty banter, and the gradual build-up were executed flawlessly, creating a perfect blend that left me utterly satisfied.
The inclusion of the mental health and Jewish representation in the story was both insightful and expertly woven into the narrative. Jessica Sydney's writing was impeccable, effortlessly capturing the essence of these important themes.
Without giving away any spoilers, the fact that both characters were celibate added an extra layer of depth and emotional resonance to their first intimate moment, making it all the more special and heartwarming.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read, but I do advise checking the trigger warnings beforehand. In my opinion, "After All This Time" is an undeniable 5-star read that exceeded all my expectations. I am eagerly anticipating all of the literary treasures Jessica Sydney has in store for us readers. 🩵🥺
May 19, 2024
I loved this book!! I went through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story, it was so beautifully written! I'm so jealous of everyone who gets to read this for the first time.
I especially love Noah and Dani's banter!! It was funny and super cute. Their relationship grew into something so pure, and the way they understand and are there for each other through everything is so precious. The mental health representation in this story is so realistic that I was able to relate and connect with the characters.
I also love all the side characters! Their family and friendships are so adorable and wholesome. I hope we get books about each of their friends too!!
If you love childhood rivals to lovers, forced proximity, found family, he falls first and harder, dual POV, and no third act break up, I definitely recommend this!!
Thank you for the ARC!
I especially love Noah and Dani's banter!! It was funny and super cute. Their relationship grew into something so pure, and the way they understand and are there for each other through everything is so precious. The mental health representation in this story is so realistic that I was able to relate and connect with the characters.
I also love all the side characters! Their family and friendships are so adorable and wholesome. I hope we get books about each of their friends too!!
If you love childhood rivals to lovers, forced proximity, found family, he falls first and harder, dual POV, and no third act break up, I definitely recommend this!!
Thank you for the ARC!
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